Lush reviews: The good, the bad and the undecided

I cannot deny how much I love Lush. I'll never forget my first venture into one of the stores. Suddenly, I was surrounded by an array of delicious scents encased in beautiful packaging. For a young Jemma, it was heaven. And I still get the same feeling today. Yesterday, I want on a little spree in Nottingham and the moment I set foot into their Lush store, I was in my element. I've been trying a few things from the brand recently. There's one that I'm addicted to, one that I'm not sure of and one that I really don't like. So I thought it'd be worth sharing my thoughts with you... After all, who doesn't love a bit of Lush?!

Angels On Bare Skin Fresh Cleanser* - £16.00

When it comes to Lush's skincare, in the past I've liked everything that I've tried. But I just can't seem to get on with this cleanser. The gentle exfoliant uses lavender oil, rose absolute, kaolin and ground almonds to soften, tone, brighten and calm the skin. There's nothing wrong with the ingredients, there's nothing wrong with the cleanser itself. But I just can't get on with the smell. I'm really not a fan of lavender and sadly, it puts me off using this cleanser. I always promised myself I wouldn't be "one of those people" but I can't help it. So if you love lavender and you're wanting a fabulous daily cleanser, head on over and pick this up! But if you're like me, and you're a lavender hater. I'd steer clear and stick to the Let The Good Times Roll Cleanser (which smells like cake)!

Sesame Suntan Lotion Sunscreen - SPF 10 Low* - £15.00

First of all, I must say that I'm very happy Lush have started bringing out SPFs. If you know me then you'll know I'm not a sun worshipper, and I'm constantly slathering on SPF. First of all, this SPF is expensive considering most are on offer for around £10. Secondly, it is only SPF 10 which is quite low in my opinion, and I'd always recommend using at least SPF 30. Those little remarks aside, I really enjoy using this. It uses cocoa butter and aloe extract which both nourish and soothe the skin. It's very cooling which is fabulous when you're in the heat. I also quite like the smell - it's a toasted sesame seed lotion so as you can imagine, that's what it smells like. So I'm in two minds about this. I think it's fine when the weather is like it currently is in the UK, but I wouldn't recommend it abroad (unless you're using it as an aftersun).

D'Fluff Strawberry Shaving Soap* - £5.75

I could rave about this stuff all day! This pink shaving soap uses fresh strawberries and cocoa butter which leaves the skin silky smooth. It's a strange consistency as it really is like using a whipped soap, but it smells delicious. If you remember Lush's Yummy Yummy Yummy then you're going to love this. YYY was my all-time favourite shower gel but sadly, they discontinued it. So this takes me back to my 16 year old self. So basically, this shaving soap looks great (pink!), smells even better and leaves the skin beautifully soft, smelling gorgeous and helps get a close shave. It's perfection in a tub.

What are your favourite items from Lush?
*PR sample
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Marshmallow Blends; the perfect Lush alternative

I've loved Nicoletta for a long time now. Her blog was one of the first ones I followed and over the years, we've kept in touch. Back in 2011, she opened up her very own online shop called Marshmallow Blends which I've kept up to date with since the start. I constantly see the delicious products that she's currently making and testing out on Facebook and dream of getting my hands on a few of the products. Recently, I got the opportunity to try some out (and now, I can't wait to branch out further).

Activated Charcoal & Red Clay Soap* - £4.50

This soap is aimed at those with oily or problem skin. With activated charcoal, rose clay, tea tree oil and grapefruit essential oils, this soap gently cleanses the skin and keeps it looking clear and healthy. I received this just as my beloved Clearasil face wash ran out and this became a godsend. I haven't used a bar cleanser for a very long time and although it was strange at first, I've been loving it. It doesn't foam up much but instead creates a small lather of what feels like silk that massages into the skin and removes any impurities. I've only been using this in mornings so I can't comment on what it's like with make up removal, but when it comes to keeping shine at bay throughout the day, this is actually perfect.

Sugared Rose Lip Butter* - £4.00

I love my lip balms and this one has made its way to my coveted bedside table of beauty products. This lip balm is bursting with natural butters and oils that all work together to hydrate and keep lips soft and supple. This scent in particular - which is Sugared Rose - is one that I didn't think I'd like originally. I'm not a rose fan at all but this (like Korres) has converted me. It's a sweet rose that is relaxing and perfect for smothering onto your lips before bedtime. 

Rhubarb & Custard Bath Bomb* - £2.75

I do love my bath bombs, and having tried all of the Lush's offering, I was excited to branch out into another brand. The topping is a bath melt and the base is a bath bomb which has been made into a beautiful sweet shop favourite fragrance. The scent fills the room and for hours after, my housemates were commenting on how delicious the bathroom smelt - literally exactly like the sweets. It was uplifting and relaxing at the same time. The bath bomb itself didn't change the colour of the bath but it did add bubbles and moisture which left my skin feeling incredible soft afterwards.

Have you tried anything from Marshmallow Blends before? You can view their entire range here.
*PR Sample

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SKIN CARE | Green People Gentle Cleanse & Make Up Remover

Cleansing is without a doubt the part of my skin care routine that I enjoy the most. There's nothing more satisfying than removing the days dirt, grime and make up. Green People's Gentle Cleanse & Make Up Remover* is an alcohol-free cleansing lotion that instantly dissolves make up. It's a pleasure to use and feels incredibly luxurious when it's being massaged into the skin. The light lotion is extremely gentle on the skin due its anti-inflammatory qualities and once removed with a warm flannel, the skin is left feeling soft and refreshed. As I'm currently using the Epiduo cream, my skin has been angry and aggressive recently and this cleanser has helped to calm it down and provide instant moisture.

Green People are currently running a "12 days of Christmas" event on their website. For the first 12 days of December, a different product each day will have a special offer attached to it and today, the Gentle Cleanse & Make Up Remover is just £14.95 - that's a saving of £4! You can view this wonderful offer here. There's also free delivery available throughout the 12 days.

Will you be taking advantage of this wonderful offer?
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FAVOURITES: Pre-Cleansers

Pre-cleansing is something that I've only recently started doing, which now seems quite bad. A pre-cleanse is basically exactly what it sounds like. You are removing your make up before cleansing your skin fully. Since doing this, I've found that my skin has become a lot clearer and brighter. And although it does take an extra few minutes in the morning and at night, the end benefits are definitely worth it.

No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Water - £9.00 I bought this with my No7 voucher and I wasn't expecting much from it. That's probably because it does look just like water. But I've fallen in love with this product. It smells fresh and clean and it removes make up nicely. Especially around the eye area. It doesn't irritate the skin at all and I also love using this as a toner as I find it very refreshing. It's definitely one of those things that I love having around for quick fixes etc. It's a great multi-tasking product. 

Rhodes to Heaven Juniperberry Cleanser & Tonic - £17.00* I've had this quite a while now and this was one of the first products I used to pre-cleanse my skin. This product has quite a strong smell but it's nothing that annoys me personally, even though it might do you. It removes make up very well and I love using this when I've wore heavy base make up as you can see how much make up it removes.

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Neroli Firming Lift & Hydrate Facial Oil - £14.99* I really have saved the best till last. If you'd have told me a few months ago that I'd soon be using an oil on my skin I'd have laughed. My skin is combination so the thought of using an oil to cleanse my skin was alien to me. But I love using this. It's very simple to use; you pump the oil out, warm it up between your palms and then massage it into the skin before washing it off. It removes my make up exceptionally well and I've found that since using this, I haven't been using as much of my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish which is fabulous as that's so expensive. I also love how soft and glowing this makes my skin look. The overall appearance of my skin has improved dramatically since using this and I can see myself repurchasing this for the rest of my life!
What products do you pre-cleanse with? Do you pre-cleanse at all?
xxx
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What's On.. My Bathroom Counter?

Soap & Glory Wash Your Hands Of It Hand Wash - £5.00
The hand wash I use is of course a Soap and Glory one but I have decanted it into this hand wash dispenser to match my bathroom. I love this hand wash because it's non-drying and moisturising and of course, it smells incredible which is always a bonus.
Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser* - £14.25
My favourite cleanser. It's just perfection. I'm not going to go into too much detail as I've posted about it many times before but it really is the most wonderful cleanser on the market.

Vichy Normaderm Purifying Cleansing Gel - £10.50
Another cleanser that I love. I use this whenever my skin breaks out a little bit but as it's one of my favourites, I also keep it up their with my other 3 favourites.

No7 Beautiful Skin Foaming Cleanser - £9.00
My daily morning cleanser that although I've had it since its release date and I've used it every day since, never seems to go down so great value for money. It's brightening, mops up oil and smells really fresh and clean.
The Body Shop Facial Brush - £3.00
I don't know why I have this - it's not very good at all. It's scratchy and horrible but I keep it up there because it looks pretty and shabby chic. I wouldn't recommend it though at all - unless you have very dry skin.

Pearl Drops Instant Whitening Toothpolish - £5.10
I don't have perfect teeth and currently, I'm getting them sorted out but anyone who's had them sorted out before knows how lengthy and expensive the process is. So for now, I'm keeping them as white as I possible can. This is a great product. It does make the teeth a little bit sensitive but it makes them look amazing in photos and is a great instant whitening solution.
The Cor Silver Soap* - £35.00
This cleanser is also one that is amazing and I'd say it's up there with the Liz Earle one however, it's very expensive. I don't have much of this left but I use it whenever my skin breaks out badly as it gets rid of bad skin in an instant. It's a miracle worker and a wonder product.

Colgate Max White One Active - £3.99
This is my daily toothpaste and it's another whitening one. Apparently it gets your teeth one shade whiter after just one week but I've only been using this for a few days so I can't really report on it. It does leave them feeling squeaky clean though.

Corsodyl Daily Defence Mouthwash - £4.69
This isn't the nicest mouthwash out there and I do have another in my drawers for when I actually want a nice taste in my mouth. But this really does the job. My gums do bleed quite a bit but since I've started using this they have stopped bleeding which is wonderful.
I do have many different things in my bathroom but this is just what I keep on my mirror counter. What are your bathroom essentials?
xxx
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SKINCARE ROUTINE: Cleansers

Recently, my skin care routine has changed. It isn't as long as it used to be and it definitely doesn't contain as many items as before. But of course, I still like a bit of a choice. So I decided to show you all it. But instead of doing a big, long skin care post, I've decided to do a series of mini posts so that I can go into detail a bit more about each product and how I like to use them. So first up is cleansers!

No7 Beautiful Skin Foaming Cleanser for Normal/Oily skin - £9.00

I've had this cleanser for quite a long time and as you can see, I've only used half of it. I use one pump in the morning to really wake up my skin and remove any excess oil so my skin is kept shine free throughout the day. I really love this as it's easy to use and gets the job done very quickly and easily. It doesn't break me out and it's very refreshing and leaves my skin looking healthy and bright. Whilst it does remove make up well it isn't to be used around the eye area so I don't use this before bed when taking my make up off. But it's definitely a lovely one to use in the morning.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser* - £14.25

My all-time favourite cleanser. I stopped using this for a while because I just couldn't afford it but now, I have it back and I can't believe how long I went without it. It removes make up perfectly and exfoliates the skin at the same time as you use a muslin cloth to remove the cleanser with. It's very luxurious, smells beautiful and leaves skin looking brighter, cleaner and just in better condition. Even though I'm on a tight budget I now know that this is something that I will always, always repurchase. I've been without it for too long now to let it go. It's the perfect cleanser.

Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Purifying Gel for Acne-Prone Skin - £10.50

This is another one that I use in mornings and if I have a breakout, this is the one that I'll use. It pretty much does the same as the No7 one except it's a gel cleanser and not a foam one. Plus it has ingredients in it to tackle breakouts which is why I use it when I get spots. It's very refreshing and wakes the skin up wonderfully. It's also great for removing any excess oil that you might have on the skin but it doesn't strip it so you don't have to worry about dryness.

xxx

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