Dipping into Lush

I've never been big on Lush. When I was younger, I never understood the appeal. Each time I found myself near one of their shops, I had to hold my breath. I could smell a Lush store from a mile away, and it wasn't a pleasant experience. The only time I've tried their products was a few years ago, when they were giving out a sample pack with a purchase of $10 or more. I thought it was a good opportunity to at least see what the fuss was about, and I remember being pleasantly surprised by what I tried. I especially liked the nutty, bumpy Noubar, the good-enough-to-eat Strawberry Feels Forever Massage Bar, and this refreshingly light body lotion that smelt just like young coconut juice (to this day I have no idea what the name of it was). But despite enjoying the samples, I never repurchased anything after I'd finished them.

Lately though, Lush has been on my mind. It might be the constant exposure on the beauty blogs I frequent, or the fact that body stuff is naturally next in line now that my makeup quota is exhausted, or the 50% off sale on Christmas stock, but I found myself more than eager to get my hands on some of their products. After deliberating on which Christmas gift set I should buy (and being seriously tempted by an enormous box that was a whopping $180 originally), I settled on the Festive Fiesta tin. The shower-centric products suit me more as I rarely take baths, and definitely won't be taking them any time soon now that it's the Australian summer.

Northern Lights Soap Lather up with this startlingly refreshing, fresh pine, cypress and lime soap.
This one smells a bit like liquid detergent or laundry powder, and I'm sure it'll leave you just as squeaky clean.

Snow Globe Soap Get zest for success! Refreshing, summery lemon myrtle and grapefruit soap for dark winter days. 
The blurb was clearly written with the Northern Hemisphere consumer in mind, since it's far from dark and wintry here! Like the Northern Lights soap, it has a zesty vibe. I prefer this one though, as the lemon scent is more pronounced and subtly sweet.

Sandy Santa Sugar Scrub Buff your bum for Santa this Christmas! Exfoliating body scrub with Brazilian orange oil.
Resembles a cookie and crumbles like one too. Seems ultra messy but fun. I'll probably try to put this in a container and break it apart first so I won't have to use it all up in one go.

Sweetie Pie Shower Jelly Sparkling blackcurrant, cherry and coconut Shower Jelly that sweetly washes your hair and body.
How weird does it look? I love the smell though, mainly because I'm big on anything blackcurrant. It has little bits of purplish blue glitter suspended in it as well, making it extra pretty. This whole shower jelly is a new concept to me, but apparently you can "chill it, freeze it or use it straight from the pot". I guess a blob of semi-frozen jelly applied to the body could be appealing for when it's especially boiling. I'm all about the novelty.

Whoosh Shower Jelly Grapefruit, rosemary and geranium essential oil shower jelly: perfect for jetlag and everything else that gets in your way.
This one is supposed to reinvigorate and make you refocus if you're feeling distracted or sluggish. (If that's the case, I should've had a major supply when I was studying for exams, and a major water bill too.) I smell the lemon, lime and grapefruit ingredients strongly. I like that it's not too sweetened so the citrus kick really comes through.

Rub Rub Rub Shower Scrub Sea salt shower scrub with tropically scented blossoms. Scrubby, cleansing, fresh and even doubles up as shampoo!
This inviting shade of blue reminds me of a holiday pool. Using a scrub in my hair could be a nice massage for my scalp, though I think it'd feel too much like I was rubbing sand in it.

Ponche Shower Gel Fruity plum and orange gel with davana, buchu and petitgrain oils (and a splash of tequila!)
At first, I was put off by the splash of tequila, mainly because it's become repellent to me (or my liver, rather). But thankfully, it's almost undetectable. What's left is a sweet, fruity shower gel, very faithful to its Mexican Christmas punch inspiration.

Twilight Shower Gel You asked for it, we made it. Deeply relaxing lavender, benzoin and tonka shower gel
The only product that I've actually tried so far, and I really like it. I'm disappointed that I missed out on Snow Fairy (next year, I suppose), but at least I could try Twilight. I'm partial to anything lavender, so I knew this one would be a winner. It's very calming, soothing and leaves your skin delicately fragranced with a sweet lavender scent. I wish I snapped up a bigger bottle at 50% off when I had the chance.