Holiday LUSH Haul

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I went into LUSH recently intending to get a block of the "Figs and Leaves" soap, as I mentioned in my previous haul/review. When I got to their soap display, however, I realized that they already had all of their special holiday items in, and ended up getting distracted by those. I figured "Figs and Leaves" could wait while I explored the holiday soaps.

I had noticed from browsing their website that a large proportion of their holiday soaps don't contain SLS, which I was really pleased about. I'm hoping that means they might be willing to make more year-round soaps that are also SLS-free. If not, at least I get to try a lot of their yummy-smelling holiday ones.

I ended up walking out with bits of "Baked Alaska," "Yog Nog," and "Icing on the Cake." I spotted two other soaps there that I didn't end up getting because they do contain SLS - "Reindeer Rock" and "Snowcake." I was actually quite sad about "Snowcake" because it looks so very pretty with gold glitter on white, and it smells lightly of vanilla/white cake batter.

I'm still finishing up my Sultana soap, so I probably won't be getting to any of these too soon, but here are my first visual and scent impressions for those who might not be able to get to a store but are curious.

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Baked Alaska

This one is extremely eye-catching on display. The whole shape from the outside is supposed to be a snowball, hence the white outer rind. Much like the eponymous dessert! Then the inside is like an explosion of greens, blues, yellows, and oranges. It reminds me of what an aurora might look like contained inside a ball. The piece I got is mostly green and blue, but there were definitely bits with bright orange and yellow in them on display.

Scent-wise, it's exactly as advertised. It smells like a generic citrus scent. To me it leans more towards lemon, and less orange, if that is a distinction you make in your citrus scents. It smells quite strong if you hold it up to your nose, but the scent doesn't linger long or have a wide radius of dispersion, so it probably won't make your entire bathroom smell like citrus.

I think this one will be a really refreshing soap to use, because it doesn't seem overly creamy or melty, and the citrus gives it a wake-up type of scent.


Yog Nog

This soap was the one I really wanted to try when I saw it go up online. The giant block looks like a caramel flan with light brown powder dusting on top. It's molded with little stars and other holiday-ish shapes on the top, but that's not really apparent in individual pieces unless you get really lucky and/or get a really large chunk. The powder does sort of go everywhere when you unwrap it, so I wonder how it will look after dousing in the shower for the first time.

The smell is exactly like spiced eggnog. It's got a primarily vanilla flavor, with hint of cinnamon or clove. It's quite a strong scent, and this one definitely does linger and expand to fill the room. It's sitting on my bathroom shelf and about a 1.5-foot spherical radius around it smells like eggnog.

The texture of the soap feels a bit more creamy in the hands than "Baked Alaska," so I think this one is perfect for something a bit more luxurious and getting in the Christmas spirit.


Icing on the Cake

This one was designed to trap me. It is pink, glittery, and just beautiful. The large-form shape of it is like a big pink roll cake or Buch de Noel, with a dusting of gold glitter across the top. Inside, you can see the spiral of pinks and golds. So so pretty, I almost don't want to use it!

This one actually has quite a light scent. I have to hold it up against my nose and really inhale deeply (coating my lungs with glitter, of course), to actually smell it. I can't really identify what it smells like beyond a generic "sweet" scent. Because it's so light, it doesn't have a sickly or cloying feel to it, but based on the name I guess they wanted it to be a cakey sort of sweetness. To me, it just smells slightly sweet, a bit powdery, and almost a floral type of sweetness. Maybe it will be more clear once it comes into contact with water, but I actually quite appreciate that it's a light scent.

The soap itself feels extremely melty, just holding onto it with my hands. It is advertised as being softening, so that does make sense. I think this one will be really lovely on days when my skin is super dry and irritated. And anyone who likes pretty pink things will probably get a kick out of it too!


In addition to the two soaps I decided not to try, they also have special holiday bath bombs and bubble bar things, but because I'm not a big bath person, I didn't get any of those. There are some shower jellies and body washes as well, but all of those are high in SLS, so no go for me either. But many people love those, so definitely give them a try if you're interested!

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Mini LUSH Haul and Review

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LUSH opened a store in Madison fairly recently (just this past summer), and I was pretty excited to take a wander through it, because I've always enjoyed shopping there. I've enjoyed some of their solid  shampoo and conditioner bars, and especially their massage bars for travel, because of the liquid restrictions for carry-on luggage.

I had found the remnants of an old massage bar, but I think it was so old that the fragrance had completely degraded. Unfortunately it smelled exactly like varnish, so I decided it was time to get something new.

I ended up walking out with a bar of the "Organic Therapy" massage bar, a small block of "Honey I Washed the Kids" soap, and a "Ceridwen's Cauldron" bath melt.

I've written up some thoughts regarding these items (and another soap) below, for those who haven't tried them and may be curious. I tend to have sensitive dry skin, so a lot of my focus in choosing body products is geared towards making sure they won't cause too much irritation or excessive dryness.

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Organic Therapy Massage Bar  == Excellent!

"Organic Therapy" has a nice scent that's slightly spicy, slightly herbal, and not too sickly sweet. I usually enjoy sweet and floral scents, but in the form of massage bars, most of them make me feel a bit ill because they're too cloying. This one is nice because it smells good but isn't overly strong. The moisturizing power of the bar is just as I expected from their previous bars. It melts nicely after a few seconds of rubbing either between the hands or directly wherever you're trying to put it, and at least for me, the moisturizing effect lasts much longer than most regular lotions. I do prefer to use it before bed, so that it can sit overnight, because it does initially leave a film of old on the skin. If you're not a fan of that feeling, then these probably won't be the thing for you.

Honey I Washed the Kids Soap == Okay

I bought this soap because people mentioned that they liked how it worked on their sensitive skin. I often have issues (especially in colder, dryer seasons) with my skin getting extremely dry and irritated. The smell of this soap is delicious, it's like inhaling a caramel flan. I do appreciate that it has a sweet caramel smell, but it is not artificial and cloying like some "candy" scents can be. As for the soap itself, it is quite nice and worked fine for middle of summer, but I think it's still too stripping for my skin in autumn and winter. I hadn't read the ingredients carefully enough the first time, because I was just going off recommendations, but this soap *does* contain SLS, which is the main stripping ingredient. While it is lower on the list than some of LUSH's other soaps, it is still pretty prominent. As much as I love the scent, I probably wouldn't buy this soap again for regular bathing use.

Ceridwen's Cauldron == TBD

I also bought "Ceridwen's Cauldron" because it was mentioned as being really good for moisturizing and soothing sensitive skin. I'm not generally a big bath person, as I don't generally have time and just never really grew up with that sort of habit. However, I thought this one might be a nice one to try this winter if I want a bath to warm up or something. The ingredients in this look promising, particularly the oatmeal, which I have found to be a good skin soother, so I look forward to trying this out.

Sultana of Soap == Very Good

After I finished "Honey I Washed the Kids," I returned to LUSH to try another of their soaps. I did pay more attention to my research this time, and concluded that the only two of their regular soaps that do *NOT* contain SLS are "Sultana of Soap" and "Figs and Leaves." After sniffing both soaps, I went with "Sultana" because I liked the scent a little more. It's supposed to look like a fruit nougat, which it sort of does. The scent to me smells like sweetened baby powder, which can be good or bad depending on your preferences. I don't mind it, and the soap really is very moisturizing and cleansing without leaving my skin with that squeaky stripped feeling like most other soaps do. I forgot to take a photo of the raw block, but it basically looks like the way it does now but with sharp edges.

The one thing I'm not liking so much about "Sultana" as I'm nearing the end of the block is that the little fruit and nut bits in it are actually fruits and nuts embedded in the soap. So now I end up leaving some soap detritus in the bathtub that I need to clean up after I shower. I think when I finally run out, I'll give the "Figs and Leaves" soap a try.

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Weekly Favorites #10

(via Lush)

So, I decided to visit my local Lush store before going home for Christmas, because I needed to replenish my supply of non-liquid toiletries for air travel. I wanted to get as many of my toiletries in some solid, powder, or otherwise non-liquid form as possible just to cut down on how tightly I have to stuff that quart-sized Ziploc bag.

One of the things I decided to venture into was solid lotion bars, and I smelled all of the ones in the Lush store and decided that the Strawberry Feels Forever massage bar was my favorite. How could it not be - it's a lovely shade of pink, and it's strawberry-shaped!

I like to use it right after a shower, when my skin is still warm and a bit damp, because that makes the bar melt better. If I'm just trying to use it any old time of day, it takes quite a bit of holding the bar and rubbing it to get any significant amount to melt off. Maybe I just have really cold hands.

The bar has lasted me quite a good while now with regular use (about every other day is sufficient to keep my skin hydrated). It does an excellent job as a moisturizer, and I absolutely love the smell. I'm terrible at describing scents, but it smells to me something like strawberries and cream ice cream, or milkshake, or something involving strawberries and a bit of milk. I've noticed that it does leave a bit of a shimmer on my skin, but there's no obvious pink tint, if you're the type to worry about that.

Something to note is that this massage bar doesn't actually fit in any of the tins they sell. Goodness knows the lovely salesgirl tried, but nope, it's just a bit too big. Luckily I have a large collection of random boxes so I had something I could store it in. Otherwise, packaging and storing it, especially for traveling, might have gotten messy.

I'm really pleased with my venture into solid lotion, and I'll definitely be trying out various other massage bars from Lush in the future!

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I hope you have a delightful week, and if you live anywhere with weather like Chicago, stay warm!

Weekly Favorites #9

LUSH Tisty Tosty Bath Bomb ~ This bath bomb is perfect for people who love rose scents, like me. Not only does it promise to smell delightful, but it also looks absolutely beautiful. It's almost too pretty to use!

(via LUSH)

Modcloth Key Change Wallet ~ I've actually seen this wallet in a brick-and-mortar store near my apartment, but I found it online to share. It's a lovely incorporation of piano and music themes into a very functional-looking wallet. I like that it's not too cartoony but still cute.

(via Modcloth)

Sockdreams Cheshire Cat Striped Tights ~ Cute cat and bunny imitation thigh-high tights have become really popular lately in Asian fashion, but these are yet another awesome twist. I adore Alice in Wonderland, and these tights capture the whimsy of the Cheshire Cat perfectly!

(via Sockdreams)

Sockdreams Eye Exam Chart Printed Tights ~ How cool is this? You can wear your very own eye exam chart on your legs!!!! I just love quirky things like this. Plus these tights are advertised as being really stretchy, so they can accommodate all shapes and sizes of legs! They also come in black with white lettering.

(via Sockdreams)

Ikea SPÖKA LED night light ~ I have a thing for spherical animals (fantastical or otherwise), and this adorable night light would be a perfect addition to any toy animal menagerie. It's functional as well as decorative!

(via Ikea)

~ I hope your upcoming week is blessed by the glitter fairy and all her sparkly attendants! ~

Weekly Favorites #7

DreamV Lovely Heart 2way Bag ~ Pastel heart-shaped bags have always struck me as really whimsical and fun, and this one is even a nice size for carrying necessities and more! Plus the strap vs. handles option is always nice, since it allows more flexibility for carrying.

(via Rakuten)

Forest Girl Fans Patchwork Infinity Scarf ~ Patchwork is always a fun and cute way to add a splash of color to an outfit, and this scarf just looks super cozy for cold winter months!

(via Taobao)

LUSH Sakura Bath Bomb ~ The smell of cherry blossoms always reminds me of spring and cheery weather. Plus the actual bath bomb itself is just really pretty, almost too pretty to use!

(via LUSH)

DreamV Merry-Go-Round Cardigan ~ Merry-go-rounds always have such a dreamy quality to them, maybe because they hearken back to times past. The design on this cardigan is just perfect - it's big enough to see the details, but not so large that it overwhelms the overall design.

(via Rakuten)

Modcloth Hedgehog Friend Bath Mat ~ Hedgehogs are cute. Swimming hedgehogs are even cuter. Why not have a hedgehog bath friend that helps dry your feet and keep you from slipping?

(via Modcloth)

May your upcoming week be wonderful and full of cozy blankets and hot chocolate!

Weekly Favorites #6

Modcloth Clear Agenda Flat ~ Who wouldn't want a pair of pastel saddle shoes? These would look super cute with a variety of styles, and could easily be dressed up or down as needed. Replace shoelaces with ribbons for extra frilly power!

(via Modcloth)

Modcloth Legit's a Beautiful Day Umbrella in Cream ~ I've been looking for a new umbrella that's a bit girly but still a practical (ie compact) size for carrying around daily. This one fits the bill, and I have a weakness for both ruffled edges and polka dots, so it's just perfect!

(via Modcloth)

Barry's Farm Owl Laptop Sleeve ~ Owls are cute, and every laptop or tablet deserves a nice sleeve for protection. These can be custom sized for a huge range of laptop brands and models, so that's even more convenient!

(via Barry's Farm)

Forest Girl Fans Floral Mori Pleated Skirt ~ Patchwork clothes always look so whimsical and comfortable to me, and this pleated skirt is a lovely combination of girly and country casual. The waist is fully elastic, so it's sure to be comfortable for a range of sizes.

(via Taobao)

LUSH Magic Wand Bubble Bar ~ Here's the magical girl item for this week... Bubble baths are fun, but they're 20% cooler if you can make pink bubbles appear with a pink magic wand! It even comes with ribbon streamers and a bell!

(via LUSH)

Happy New Year, and may your coming week and coming year be filled with wonder and joy!