Lush Goodies!

Just a lil' video to share some of my recent purchases from Lush! It had been so long since I shopped at Lush last, so this was super exciting for me. Hope you all enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day!
xoxo- Tiffany

LUSH Halloween Collection!

SO EXCITED! I just went today to pick up my LUSH Halloween goodies and I'm so excited. I have actually used the "Ghost" last year and LOVE it. The other three were demo-ed for me at the Lush store for me and they smell and feel amazing-- Can't wait to use them :) The pumpkin soap and bath bomb were unexpected surprises. Not your typical "pumpkin" scent. Lush did pumpkin a little spicier, and I really like it. They used the scent of Spice Curls soap actually. The Pumpkin soap is so creamy feeling, it almost melts in your hand. I honestly thought it was a massage bar at first! Here are pics of the goodies I bought :)

The Great Pumpkin soap $5.95




Jacko Bath Bomb $4.95


Cobweb Bath Bomb $5.95


Ghost Shower Gel $16.95

My Lush Must-Haves

Whenever I do a LUSH review video, I ALWAYS want to mention these products because I love them so much! But I can't always keep repeating myself :) Anyway, these are my absolute MUST-HAVE items from LUSH that I cannot live without!

1. Dream Cream

If I could only use one LUSH product and give up all my others (terrifying), it would be this. This body cream makes my skin feel and look amazing. I use it everyday. It's extremely moisturizing, but doesn't feel thick and sticky like some body creams do. It absorbs quickly and when you apply it, it almost melts into your skin and glides right on. You don't have to work to rub it in like with some stuff. It doesn't leave a residue or feel oily, but it gives my skin the healthiest glow. The scent is unique-- Herbal, but with a vanilla sweetness. Best part is that it's so gentle, people with the most sensitive skin (even on babies' skin!).

2. Big Shampoo

A good hair day in a little black pot. Seriously, when I use this stuff, my hair changes. It seems a little strange with the large salt chunks, but the stuff works. I like to use really nourishing things on my hair (it's color treated) so this would not be something I'd be drawn to. I nervously tried a sample of this and have been hooked since. It lathers like crazy. It has seaweed in it (which you can't see at all in the product), so maybe that's what makes it feel so great in my hair. It just feels moisturizing. Yet, when you rinse, your hair is squeaky clean, but doesn't feel stripped. Best part is the amazing results-- mega volume for even the most lifeless hair-- like mine :)

3. Rock Star Soap

My all-time favorite LUSH soap. The smell is hard to describe-- Like sweet candy. The scent really lingers on your skin too.

4. Ocean Salt
One word- amazing. I can use this stuff on my body or my face (yep, face). While you might think the salt sounds a little harsh, it leaves your skin feeling so soft and has really nourishing ingredients. *If you have sensitive or dry skin, I'd avoid using it on the face.

Not many products, I know. But these are truly the ones I cannot live without! While I've been using some of the skin care products on my face recently (and am loving lots of them--reaching "must-have" status quickly...), it's still too soon to add those to this list. However, I promise a full review next month of my LUSH skincare products after I've had some time to get a good feel for them :) Maybe even a must-have skincare post? ;)

HAPPY EASTER! (Lush style)

What better way to say Happy Easter to someone special (or to yourself) than with a few Easter-inspired goodies from Lush??
They have the CUTEST (and yummiest smelling) gifts and bath bombs right now! (Think egg and bunny-shaped bath bombs in delicious scents!) Here's what I got as an early Easter gift from my husband.

• The Yellow One Easter Gift set
• Magic bath bomb (egg shaped)

You can see a picture of the "Yellow One" gift set above, containing a Honey I Washed the Kids Soap, Mar Bar bubble bar and all encased in a big Honey Bee bath bomb. It smells good enough to eat! It also comes in a "Pink One" version, containing a Rock Star soap and Frosty Gritter bath bomb all encased in a Candy Fluff bath bomb. Here is a picture of mine (you can see just how HUGE the set is compared to my hand! It weighs a good 1.5-2lbs.!)

It seems that the Yellow set is a little more popular, as it was all sold out at our Lush store. We ended up buying the second to last one our Macy's Lush section had to offer. Both the store and Macy's had countless pink sets. Same with the Magic bath bomb. It smells super sweet and yummy, but there were very few left as well.

It looks a little more "dinosaur egg" than "Easter egg" to me though.... :)

I was looking at the egg and bunny-shaped bath bombs on the website just a few days ago and it seems they're all sold out! If you want any of those, you should probably head to your nearest store! I know Magic has been a limited edition before and I've heard people rave over it. If you guys have tried it, let me know what you think!
The sets will probably be discounted after Easter, so if you're brave enough to wait until then, you could probably get a sweet deal.

Head to lush.com for more information :)

LUSH Fresh Face Masks...Reviews!

LOVE LUSH! As I've said many times...but dislike their face/skincare products for the most part. Well, all except their masks at least. Over the past few months, I've tried several of them and actually LOVE a few. Before I get started, here are some things to remember about their fresh face masks:

1. They expire. I believe most have a shelf life of about 2 weeks. So unless you're going to use it often and in large amounts, purchase the smallest container. If you buy a larger size, it will probably end up going to waste.

2. Consider your skin type. They have a wide variety of fresh face masks made to suit your skin type. If you're still unsure and don't want to take the plunge to buy a full sized one, ask for a sample. Lush is always pretty generous.

3. KEEP IN THE REFRIGERATOR! ...they expire, remember?

4. Save your old containers! Return 6 empty containers to Lush and get a free fresh face mask.

5. The fresh face masks are not available for order online because of the fresh ingredients... They would be ruined by the time they got to you! So if you want any of these, you'll have to purchase directly from a Lush counter or store.

Here are my thoughts...

BB Seaweed mask:
This mask was just ok. It's supposed to be best for those with normal to combination skin. It is lightly exfoliating (VERY lightly) which is nice, but isn't super effective. Also, the chunks of seaweed are quite annoying, as they'll just fall off your face as the mask dries. I just felt like it really didn't do...well, anything.

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Cupcake mask:
This is actually one of my favorites. Who doesn't like chocolate right? The chocolate scent isn't the only reason I like it though. It actually makes my skin feel amazingly soft and look brighter. According to Lush, this mask has detoxifying ingredients and is best for people with oily or breakout prone skin. It really reminded me of spreading brownie batter on my face which was a little strange at first, but it honestly grew on me. It also has super small gritty granules (similar to that of a cake batter) that creates a light exfoliation as you rinse it off.

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Love Lettuce mask:
This is my absolute favorite out of the Lush masks I tried. This one smells a bit..."fresh". Like a mix of fresh veggies. You apply the mask, let it dry for about 10 minutes (like the others), but when you rinse it off, you lightly massage it into the skin so that the exfoliating granules can go to work. After treating my skin with this mask, I can't stop touching it. It really makes it baby smooth.

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Cosmetic Warrior mask:
Honestly, I didn't even make it 2 minutes with this stuff. It's supposed to be good for treating breakouts and calming oily skin. Which maybe it does, but the scent of garlic is so off-putting that there is NO way I could ever actually use the stuff. I applied it and had to hold my breath as I tried to get it all rinsed off. No thanks!

Lush/Hate relationship....Lush Skincare Review

Ok, so I've made it a little over a week with my new skincare routine. Sadly, I've got to say that I was a little disappointed. I wanted to LOVE everything, I really did. But unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. Staying true to my commitment issues with skincare (other than my old trusty Proactiv), I didn't even make it the full 2 weeks. Read on for the full reviews of each product and why I stopped using these products.
**Please keep in mind that what works/doesn't work for me, may do the total opposite for you. These are just my honest opinions.

Lush Coal Face Cleanser:
At first I LOVED this stuff. If you're like me and you're used to a really deep cleanser that makes your face feel super clean, this is probably the best Lush cleanser for you. It has small exfoliating bits in it as well, which was important to me because I pretty much have to have an exfoliating cleanser after being used to using the Proactiv cleanser for 8 years. Unfortunately, the little bits are few and far between in the soap and while you can feel them in the lather, it really doesn't do a thorough job of exfoliating. It's just kind of scratchy. The soap lathers beautifully into a rich grey lather. The smell, which was kind of weird at first, really grew on me. It rinses very clean and easily. The downfall of this cleanser is that it's very drying. I felt like it wasn't really doing anything for my skin, just cleansing it and making it very dry. Not really putting anything back. I felt like I could have gotten the same cleansing effect with a bar of dial soap.

Tea Tree Water Toner:
The best part about this stuff is the packaging. I love how you can spray it directly onto your face or onto a cotton pad. I really didn't care for the scent. It reminded me of bathroom cleaner. I really didn't find it to do anything really. After washing my face, it really didn't make my skin feel any more comfortable or like it had truly "toned" it and put anything back that my skin needed. I know this stuff claims to be pretty effective, but it just wasn't for me.

Vanishing Cream:
This is supposed to be the least oily moisturizer Lush has. That being said, it still contains oils. I had been using this in place of my Benefit Dear John cream that I LOVE and really found that it didn't hold a candle to it when my skin was really uncomfortable. The Benefit Dear John however, is not completely oil free and I find it to do a better job of moisturizing without feeling as oily as the Vanishing Cream. Something that kind of freaked me out about it was the Johnson's Baby Oil-ish after scent. That, I did not like. At $35 for the small container, I just wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be after using it consistently.

Mask of Magnaminty:
This cleanser/mask feels really nice on the skin and has a really strong minty/tingling sensation as it dries on the skin. I actually found the sweet mint scent to be kind of nauseating. Like mint and something else I couldn't quite put my finger on. However, it's a little difficult to rinse. When I would rinse the mask, I would rinse it to begin with with my hands and warm water so I could get all the exfoliating benefits of the mask (which I really didn't find to be all that exfoliating), then to get the rest of it off, I would have to really work at it with a washcloth and warm water. Then, my washcloths would get stained and that was no fun. I actually really prefer the Love Lettuce mask by Lush. It's actually exfoliating, cleansing, and easy to rinse off. It just seems to work better with my skin. I also LOVE the Cupcake mask for when I need less exfoliation. I guess I shouldn't have tried to find something new when I already had found two masks by Lush that were working perfectly.

Philosophy On a Clear Day Retinol Treatment:
This was the only keeper out of the bunch. I found that during the course of using all of this new stuff, I didn't get any acne-like blemishes or anything like that. Just clogged pores (ew). Which I think the other products were more to blame for. I felt like this stuff kept most areas of my face acne free and really smooth. I also feel that when I use a retinol treatment, my pores are less noticeable. The only downfall to this stuff is the price. At $40 for such a small tube, that's a little much in my opinion. My biggest piece of advice would be to head to the drugstore and pick up some of the Neutrogena Anti-Wrinkle Cream with Spf. That one comes in a much larger tube, is 1/4 of the price and adds the spf protection which is crucial for retinol treatments since sunlight breaks down the active ingredients in any retinol treatment. Also, never pair a retinol with a leave-on benzoyl peroxide treatment (like a cream). They kind of cancel each other out and renders both uneffective. At least that's what the derm. says!

Ok, so the main reason I stopped using these products were because of the clogged pores that resulted. Not blemishes or acne or anything like that, but my skin just looked bumpy. Just on my forehead and chin. Something I've never really experienced before. Needless to say, I wasn't too happy about that. I feel like it was a combination of two things. Not enough exfoliation and not using any type of acne treatment (other than the retinol). While I've never had any real acne issues, I've always needed to use skincare aimed toward treating acne to prevent it since my skin can break out easily.
So, I've decided to go back to my old faithful Proactiv. It was good to me for 8 years. It really has everything I need: An exfoliating, medicated cleanser, a toner with glycolic acid (which will help smooth the appearance of my skin and fade any acne scarring), and a benzoyl peroxide acne treatment lotion. Since I stopped using this because it had become a little harsh on my skin, I'm planning on using the benzoyl peroxide lotion much less often. For moisturizer, I'm going to use my MAC Lightful Deep Ultramoisture cream day and night and the Benefit Dear John Cream when my skin feels like it needs some extra moisture. As for the retinol treatment, I'll use that at night if I feel I need it.

So needless to say, I haven't had the best of luck with Lush's skincare. In the past, I have also tried their Fresh Farmacy, Herbalism, and Angels on Bare Skin cleansers. I honestly didn't care much for those either. Yeah they were fun to use and different, but they just didn't deliver any real results. Out of all the cleansers by Lush, I actually like the Angels on Bare Skin the best, but I've realized that I need something with more cleansing, active ingredients. So as far as Lush skincare goes, the Love Lettuce mask and Cupcake masks are really all that works for me.
**EDIT** Also, the Ocean Salt Scrub. I actually like that a lot. Probably won't use it as much now that I'm back on Proactiv, but it's still awesome.

I LOVE Lush. Their skincare....umnotsomuch.

LUSH Skincare--My new routine

Ok guys... this post is going to serve more as an "accountability" thing for me more than anything. LET ME EXPLAIN... I'm all about immediate results, which where skincare is concerned, really isn't realistic. So by posting what I'm going to start using and promising a video review on my channel in a few weeks to update you all, I'm forced to stick with it. Good idea huh?
So, for 8 years I used Proactiv with great results, but about 6 months ago, I started noticing a change in my skin. I began getting some hormonal breakouts and it seemed that nothing was really working. Where I used to be able to apply all that harsh benzoyl peroxide to my face twice a day, it seems that now my skin doesn't really respond well to having it's top layer burned off you know? Dry, flaky, irritated skin over long periods of time=wrinkles=no fun. So I'm trying to take a more natural approach. Hmmm....I WONDER what brand I looked to for skin care?? :)

These are the products I got and how I plan to use them:

*LUSH products*

Coal Face cleanser
I'm going to use this twice a day. This cleanser has purifying ingredients which is great for acne-prone skin. It also contains exfoliating granules.



Tea Tree Water Toner
Again, I'm going to use this twice a day after cleansing. You can spray it directly on the face, or onto a cotton pad (which is what I'm going to do). Again, this has ingredients that are purifying and great for clogged pores and blemishes.



Vanishing Cream
(Moisturizer)
This moisturizer is great for people with oily and acne-prone skin. It's the lightest moisturizer LUSH has, however, makes skin feel really comfortable (I've tried this in a sample before). It feels really clean on the skin without the layer of "grossness" some moisturizers can leave behind.



Mask of Magnaminty
I'm going to use this 2-3 times a week as a mask. I decided to purchase this one rather than another one of my beloved fresh face masks by LUSH because this one is the most deep cleansing for breakout-prone skin and is great for clearing blackheads when used properly. Also, it lasts 4 months, so I got the smaller 4.4 oz. container.




THEN, because my skin reacts well to retinol treatments...

Philosopy "On a Clear Day" Retinol Clarifying Lotion
I'm going to use this at night (since retinol breaks down and loses effectiveness in sunlight). This particular lotion treats acne, congested pores, acne scarring/discoloration, and fine lines. This particular formula is great because it's gentle enough to even be used twice a day and contains super moisturizing hylauronic acid and soothing cucumber extract.

Alright, so now I have motivation to stick with this! Expect a review/update video in 2-3 weeks :)

To find these products and for more information, visit www.lush.com.

Lush Goodies and Reviews

After a long strike, I was accidentally sucked in to Lush again. Long story short, I had a bad experience at a Lush store about a year ago and really just haven't been "wowed" by any other visits since. So on a recent trip to Macy's (driven by an unused gift card) I was sucked into the little new Lush section. I had a great experience. I found so many good things...and some great deals!

...and of course, the goods:

Yummy Yummy Yummy Shower cream Wash (8.4oz) $14.95 ...also comes in a smaller and larger size

This is the main product that drove my little Lush shopping spree. I had previously tried the Rockstar soap and loved the scent so much. Well this smells very similar to that. Passing by Lush, this little pink bottle caught my eye and I smelled it. SO glad I did. So, I decided to pick it up and I found so many other great things too! This is my favorite scent ever. The scent is hard to describe...maybe like a vanilla, honey, super sugary, strawberry...but fresh?? The product can settle, so it's a good idea to shake it gently every few times you use it. It's a little on the thin side, but leaves my skin baby soft and smelling so good.

Love Lettuce Mask (2.6oz) $7.95

I had used a sample of this mask a few months back and loved it, but never got around to purchasing some. Since buying this one, I've used it once with great results. Since it contains no preservatives, it must be refrigerated and has the shelf life of about a month. That's why the small container is so nice. It smells a little "vegetable-y", but fresh. It's very exfoliating. When using it, I apply a generous layer to my whole face, avoiding my eye area. After 10 minutes, I rinse with warm water with my hands and lightly work the mask into my skin in circular motions to allow the almond shell bits to exfoliate my skin. However, it's not scratchy. When rinsed off, my skin feels moisturized, smooth, and so soft.

**AMAZING DEAL**
Best Wishes Set: $4.99 (Originally $19.95)

If you plan on visiting Lush soon, definitely ask them if they still have any discounted holiday sets! At 75% off, this is a great find. In the set:
Christmas Kisses Bubble Bar (Full Sized!): It smells so good...like spicy, sweet cinnamon. It's actually supposed to create a warming sensation. Instead of using it all at once, I like to break these into pieces and drop them into the bath under runng water.
Marzibain Bubble Bar (Full Sized!): mmmmm...sweet almond frosting. This smells so good, I want to eat it! Again, break it into smaller pieces to make these last longer and drop into running bath water.
Mr. Butterball Bath Bomb (Full Sized!): This bath bomb is supposed to create a creamy, vanilla scented bath that softens skin. It smells so good...like sweet, musky vanilla.

Soft Coeur Massage Bar: $8.20

Vanilla. Honey. Chocolate chunks. What more can I say? This thing smells delicious. It's exactly what it says. When rubbed on warm skin, it melts on contact (but not in your hand). Super moisturizing. Love it.

Sex in the Shower -Shower bomb (and full-sized "sample" of Double Fast Luck -Shower bomb) $3.95

LOVE THESE. Like a bath bomb for your shower. I've only used the Sex in the Shower one and it smells fantastic...like sweet vanilla and jasmine. To make one bomb last for several showers, break it up in the bag. Just bang it a few times on the bathroom counter or tile and only use a chunk or two.

(with soaps, prices vary based on amount)
A Ring of Roses- Butter Cream, Rock Star Soap, Sultana Soap

A Ring of Roses Butter Cream - a fresh, rosey smelling soap. Butter creams are like super moisturizing, creamy soaps. DON'T LEAVE THEM IN THE SHOWER!! Break or cut off the amount you need and keep it stored in the container.

With soaps, cut off a slice large enough for a few showers or baths and store the rest.
Rock Star Soap - Smells similar to the Yummy Yummy Yummy body wash. My favorite smelling soap by Lush. Makes a super thick lather. Enough lather to even use with a loofah.

Sultana Soap - Sweet smelling also, but a little more like almonds...haha, it's so hard to describe these scents! Lathers really well also.

I also got a generous sample of the Vanishing Cream for the face, however, I haven't used it yet.

Overall, I'm super happy with what I purchased. I can safely say that the strike is officially over.