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?
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Holiday packing: body care

On Tuesday, I'll be going on my first cruise. I'm incredibly excited as I haven't been on holiday for a while and also there are eight other family members going. For me, the best part about going on holiday is picking up miniature beauty products. They look adorable, and you get the chance to try out new things. So although I have another week before I go away, I have already packed my beauty bits (minus fragrance and make up) so I thought I would show you.

Sunscreen

Soltan Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30 and SPF 50 - currently £5 each

For me, sun protection is very important and was the first thing I bought for my holiday. I haven't tried Soltan before but the 5* UVA rating really drew me into the product. I also love that it has protection against insects too as apparently, I'm attractive to insects. Nice.

KIKO After Sun Milk* - currently £11.10

I've never tried this before but I was sent it last year and considering I steered clear of the sun last summer, I had no reason to use it. As a brand, I love KIKO so I have high hopes for this aftersun. KIKO claim that this is fast-absorbing, moisturising and that it prevents peeling and prolongs suntan.

Soltan Baby Hypoallergenic Sunscreen SPF 50 - currently £2

I bought this to pop in my everyday bag for touch-ups throughout the day. In case you didn't know, I'm going on a cruise so I won't be sat around the pool all day, I'll be out and about. Because of this, I don't want to be carrying around the full-size sunscreens.

Mouth

Dentyl Active Plaque Fighter Mouthwash* - £1.20 and Arm & Hammer Advance White Toothpaste - £1.25

Of course, the essentials. I had the Dentyl mouthwash laying around and I'd enjoyed using it in the past. The toothpaste is one that I randomly picked up as I thought it was cute in the tube. I'm hoping that it has a nice taste.

Wisdom Travel Toothbrush - £1.49

I did originally want to take my electric toothbrush with me but it's heavy and bulky and it meant I would also have had to have packed my charger. So instead, I bought a classic travel toothbrush. It's nothing special but it is really cute.

Others

Mitchum Advanced Control Deodorant - £2.99

I have no idea why I bought such a big deodorant. But seeing as Mitchum is a great brand, I decided to stick to it. This deodorant is unscented so it doesn't interfere with any fragrances and it's also the most hardcore deodorant I've ever used. Perfect for the sun.

Gillette Satin Care with Olay Shaving Gel - full size currently £2.74

I don't like showcasing my legs very often, but summer is one time when my pins are constantly out. So because of this, I need to make sure they're fuzz-free. I did want to take my RazorPit Bump Foam with me as I'm prone to ingrown hairs but it's too big so this one will have to do.

Kiehl's Creme de Corps* - full size £45

I haven't tried this body lotion before but I've heard good things about it. In fact, I've never tried anything from Kiehl's before so hopefully this product will set off a love affair. It's supposed to have a dramatic effect on skin texture whilst providing intense hydration.

Butter London Scrubbers* - £6 for ten

I'll be painting my nails the day before I go away but in case of chips, I'll be taking the bottle along with me. I've popped one of these Scrubbers in my case as they're perfect for travelling. It's basically a cotton pad soaked in nail polish remover.

Shower Gel

For shower gel, I could either have taken one decent sized shower gel or three minis. And considering I love having a variety of body washes in different fragrances on offer, I decided to take three smaller ones. The first is the Korres Basil Lemon Showergel* - full size £8 (from the Best of Korres Gift Set* - currently £12.67) which smells absolutely delicious. I then have two from Weleda. The Citrus Creamy Body Wash* - £1.95 and the Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash* - £1.95 which once again smell incredible. 

#1 Holiday Packing: Skin Care

#2 Holiday Packing: Body Care

#3 Holiday Packing: Hair Care

Are you going on holiday this year? What beauty products will you be packing?
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The SPF wardrobe

Sun protection is a beauty product that is incredibly important to me. No matter where I am, what I'm doing or what the season is, I'll always have some form of SPF on my face - whether it's in my moisturiser, foundation or a standalone sun protection. The sun's rays are extremely dangerous and as well as increasing your risk of skin cancer, they also age the skin a lot. As someone with dark spots and scars, it's important that I protect my skin on a daily basis. As the UK has been heating up, I've been switching between two SPFs...

Rodial X-Treme Dark Spot Sun Filter SPF 30* - £45

This sun protection is pricey but there's a reason for this; it's also a skin care product. After 30 days, this SPF promises to brighten the skin and with continued use, correct sun damage, increase radiance and even out skin tone. This SPF is a sunscreen moisturiser so it's what I reach for if my skin is in need of a bit more moisture. It's easily absorbed and helps to mattify shine whilst hydrating the skin. I also find that this provides an instant "blurring" effect to my skin when it's applied and makes pores appear reduced. Despite the high price tag, it's a product I know I'll be repurchasing as it's helped my skin no end. It treats and corrects my skin whilst protecting it and preventing further damage; perfection.

Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful Sunshield Superfluid SPF50+ - £15 (currently on offer for £10)

As far as sunscreen goes, this one has to be the most lightweight one I've ever tried. It's so lightweight that you don't have to massage it into the skin - it simply disappears. A lot of people seem to dislike the packaging but I think it's simple, clean and great for throwing in your bag for daytime touch ups. The SPF is instantly mattifying and I use this when I'm having a particularly oily skin day. The only problem I have with this is I think that it interferes with certain foundations. I'm still testing this "theory" out though and I'll keep you updated. 

What sun protection do you use on your face? Are you religious with it?
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Favourite sun protectants

When it comes to sun protection, I use it religiously. I'm one of those people that will always - without fail - use SPF on my face. It doesn't matter if it's snowing or if the sun is blaring through the sky, it's something that I always use. You see, my theory is that there's no point in me spending money and time on all of these wonderful skin care products if I'm not going to protect myself from the biggest anti-ager of all time: the sun. The sun is deadly and I'm someone who has pretty fair skin - I basically burn and then go white again - so protecting myself is very important. I also use a lot of acids and brightening products in my skin care routine which makes protecting my skin from the sun even more important.

La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Invisible Nutritive Oil SPF 50+* - £17.50

This is the SPF that I use all over my body. I used to be one of those children who hated having sun cream applied to them. It was sticky, heavy and it just didn't feel nice on the skin at all. Luckily for us, technology has advanced meaning that applying SPF is no longer a chore and wearing it on the skin feels as beautiful as wearing your favourite moisturiser. This sun protectant is waterproof and it has an innovative nourishing oil texture. It glides easily onto the skin, moisturises it, sinks into the skin easily and quickly and leaves behind a subtle and pleasant fragrance. I also love the fact that this is SPF 50+ as it means you're going to get the highest protection available. One question I get a lot working at Boots is; "will I still tan if I use SPF 50?" The answer is yes, you just won't burn and it might take a little bit longer.

Korres Sunscreen Face Cream SPF30* - £16.50

I think finding the perfect facial suncream can take some time. I don't have sensitive skin but I am prone to breakouts and sometimes that one extra SPF step can really take its toll on my skin. I do have sun protection in my daily moisturiser but for me, that's not enough and I like applying more protection "just in case." This face cream by Korres is a real pleasure to use. It contains organic yoghurt, proteins, minerals and vitamins which means not only is it good and soothing for your skin, it's also going to protect you pretty well. The texture of this is very light - lighter than my moisturiser and so far, I've seen no signs of breakouts. It smells absolutely delicious which is always a bonus and it's water and sweat resistant. When it comes to facial SPFs, I always look for water/sweat resistant because facial SPF isn't something that you want to be reapply daily - especially in England - as the chances are, you're going to have make up on. This is a real pleasure to use and my skin laps it up. I would recommend using no less than SPF30 on your face - especially if you're using acid exfoliants.

Vichy Capital Soleil Beautifying Sun Protection Compact SPF30* - £11.33

This is a product that I was a little bit apprehensive about. As I say in most of my blog posts - sorry if it annoys you! - I do have badly scarred skin so I'm not one of those people who can apply SPF on holiday, no make up and be good to go. I like having the extra bit of coverage to give me confidence. This product is genius for us blemished skin beauties. Essentially, this is a make up product but it protects the skin in the exact same way as a suncream does. I didn't think that this would have a lot of coverage in it - if any - but it does. I'd say it's medium coverage and it covers up any spots and some of my scarring. Although it's a cream foundation, it mattifies the skin like a powder so you don't have to worry about shiny skin. For me - whilst I'm in England - this is the perfect primer when the sun is scorching hot. I don't have to add any unneccesary steps to my skin care routine and I can cut my usual foundation out completely as with concealer, this provides enough coverage for me. When I'm abroad, this is going to become my best friend as it's something that I can wear around the pool to protect my skin while still feeling confident knowing that my scarring has virtually disappeared. An absolute genius of a product and I can't believe it hasn't been thought of sooner.

So these are my sun care summer picks - or just my all year round SPF favourites. What are yours? Have you tried any of the products I've mentioned above? Are you like me when it comes to sun protection - do you wear it all year round?

xxx

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REVIEW: No7 Anti-Dark Spot Facial Sun Protection

My number one beauty tip would be to always, always.. regardless of the weather, wear sun protection on your face. The sun is the biggest factor when it comes to your skin ageing so sun protection is vital if you want to keep your skin looking young. With my No7 £5 vouchers I thought I'd dabble in their sun protection and it's a good job I did!

This sun screen helps to reduce the signs of sun damage and it contains a patented antioxidant complex and sunfilters that help protect the skin from damaging free radicals. It also has a skin brightening complex which helps to improve the appearance of skin tone and colour whilst also helping to prevent dark spots and hyper-pigmentation which is caused by the sun. Like all Boots own brand sun protection this has a five star UVA protection and No7 also do the same sun protection in factor 30 and 50+. Unlike most sun protections this is very light and absorbs instantly and easily into the skin. It isn't oily, it doesn't break me out and it immediately leaves me skin feeling moisturised. The best thing about this sun screen is that it instantly adds radiance and smooths over my skin. It acts as a great primer and I feel comfortable wearing this out alone. It doesn't add colour and it doesn't provide coverage but it does blur and disguise the appearance of blemishes mildly. I'm absolutely addicted to this and I think that this has become my go-to sun protection for my face. I only picked up the factor 15 because it was all that Boots had in stock at the time and I needed it for my holiday. But next time I buy one (when the next No7 vouchers come out) I'll be picking up a factor 50+ on as my skin is prone to burning.
You can buy this sun cream here for £12.00.
Have you tried this sun protection before? What's your favourite facial sun screen?
xxx