Lush

Next time you happen to pass within 100 yards of a LUSH store and catch yourself breathing deeply of its fragrant aroma (“ah…”), I encourage you to follow your nose and stop by.

The company just reformulated a few of its most popular products, making them from hence forth “self-preserving.”

LUSH Dream Cream Hand and Body Lotion, Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub and Mask of Magnaminty Face and Back Pack are now all “self-preserving.”

So — self-preserving — what does that actually mean?

Well, it’s LUSH lingo for “We reformulated a few of our bestselling products to make them more natural.”

LUSH removed the synthetic preservatives, which were already pretty minimal (small amounts of methylparaben and proplyparaben), according to LUSH product trainer Jeff Brown, and replaced them with preservatives that the average person can actually pronounce, like honey, clay, cocoa butter, vegetable glycerin and sea salt…and tofu (say wha?!).

They also reduced the water content in the products, which they did to discourage bacterial growth. Less water means less space for microorganisms to multiply.

Dream Cream is $26.95 for an 8.4-oz. jar; Ocean Salt is $21.95 for a 4.2-oz. jar and $35.95 for an 8.8-oz. jar; and Mask of Magnaminty is $12.95 for a 4.4-oz jar and $24.95 for a 11.1-oz. jar. All three products are available now at LUSH counters, stores and online at lushusa.com.

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Two of the many reasons I like to run…

1. Because it means I get to eat more candy. Copious, vast, galactic quantities of candy, like OMG! — milk chocolate butterscotch squares from See’s, which are and always will be my caloric downfall.
2. Because of the post-run shower. Sure, I can shower anytime — not just after a run (obvs), but there’s something extremely satisfying about rinsing away all of that sweat after a good run, ya know? And in the summer when it’s hot, it’s even more satisfying because there’s more sweat. Sorry, truth! 🙂

This morning after my run I showered with a few new products from Lush. They released six new things this summer, all of them cruelty-free and handmade. Lush calls them “self-preserving,” because they contain high levels of oil, butter and glycerine and a reduced amount of water, which altogether are supposed to stop bacteria from coming around and messing with yo’ groove.

1. Mangnificent Soap

“Mangnificent,” as in mango-nificent, especially if you’re into mangos, which I am.

When I was a kid, dried mangoes were some of my favorite treats in the whole wide world.

Still are, actually. But back in the day they were kind of hard to get here in the U.S., so I’d have to wait for relatives to bring them over when they visited from the Philippines.

There’s nothing quite like dried mango… Sweet, a little tangy and chewy… YUM!

Yes, I’m starved right now.

Anyway, this bar smells just like that! It actually contains both dry and fresh mango (for antioxidants). There’s dried mango on the outside and fresh pureed mango throughout.

The bar also contains Sicilian Lemon Oil and Tunisan Neroli Oil, with the former supposedly increasing seratonin levels in the brain.

Hmm… I am feeling pretty good right now, but that could be ’cause it’s Friday. 😉

2. D’Fluff Shaving Cream

I guess you really do learn something new every day, because this stuff was inspired by strawberry marshmallow fluff, which I did not even know existed.

But it does.

Because I Googled it.

And OMG it looks good!

D’Fluff feels fluffy and light directly from the tub, but once you get it on your skin and work it in a little bit, it thickens into a lotion (like this Shave Cream by EOS).

I definitely feel like I get a closer shave with my razor when I use it.

Surprisingly, it’s not as sweet-smelling as I expected. Rather, it’s more tart, like real life fresh strawberries.

In additional to the strawberries, which are supposed to help cleanse the skin, it also contains egg whites to tighten skin and cocoa butter to moisturize.

Both guys and gals can use it, too.

Hint, hint, El Hub. It’s time you parted with that stubble you’ve been rocking all week. #justsayin

3. African Paradise Body Conditioner

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I doubt it’s appropriate to be writing about Lush bath products while I’m — sorry, TMI — completely filthy. Haven’t showered, still wearing stretchy pants, hair’s up in a scrunchie (a bright neon orange one!), and there’s a fine film of fuzz on my teeth.

Gross, I know.

Tabs, glamorous maven of grooming that he is, does not approve.

It’s been one of those days…but things are looking up! #glasshalffull

Weird as it sounds, I’m getting pretty psyched to hit that shower ’cause of these new limited edition Lush Valentine’s Day treats.

The heart-shaped bath bomb! The pink and red heart soap! PRINCE CHARMING SHOWER GEL! I don’t even know where to start… I kind of want to take everything in the shower all at once and use it in a single bubbly bonanza of cleanliness. I’m going to be really, really clean when I’m done. 🙂

Love Locket Bath Bomb, $10.95

Nobody likes a broken heart (aww), but breaking this heart is apparently a good thing. Lush designed this oversized heart-shaped bath bomb so that you can divvy it up to use in two separate baths. Oh, and hidden inside the big heart is a smaller heart for yet another bath, so it’s a triple threat of bath bombs. Three bath bombs in one.

It’s scented with vanilla, jasmine and neroli oil (yum), and when you drop it in the tub, paper hearts embedded in the bath bomb float up to the surface of the water.

How cool!

Neon Love Soap, $7.85

On second thought, maybe I should start with the Neon Love Soap instead, and save the Bath Bomb for when I need some serious meow time.

Bergamot, rosewood, cinnamon leaf and passion fruit scent this soap, but I think it smells more like having a freshly baked plate of ginger cookies in front of you while you’re drinking a passion fruit smoothie. Mmm…

Lush Prince Charming Shower Gel, $19.95 for 8.4 ounces

Why kiss all of those pesky frogs when you can have Prince Charming in a shower gel instead? 🙂

The pomegranate, grapefruit, marshmallow and vanilla scent is both refreshing and comforting at the same time. I bet if I still had some Lush Celebrate Hand and Body Lotion around (*sniffs*), the citrus notes would work wondrously with this shower gel.

Tender Is the Night Massage Bar, $11.95

Shout-out to F. Scott Fitzgerald! Although I prefer The Great Gatsby, I suppose “The Great Gatsby Massage Bar” doesn’t sound nearly as Valentine-y. This bar melts right into my skin and smells divine — like a bouquet of Jasmine flowers.

To El Hub, on the off chance that he’s reading this, the knots in my lower back and I will be “kneading” your in-house massage tech services soon. I’ll bring the bar; you bring the muscle. 😉

The Kiss Lip Tint, $9.25

Totally not for either the bath or shower, but it’s V-day related, so why not? This tin o’ lip tint is for the gals who like sheer color and non-sticky formulas. It tastes a little like marmalade (the jelly, not the stuffed cat).

You can find these products, along with the rest of Lush’s limited edition Valentien’s Day collection, at Lush stores now and online at lushusa.com.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I tell you what — I’d have a BIG reason to celebrate if Lush ever decided to make limited edition Celebrate Hand and Body Lotion permanent, because it’s the absolute best scent I’ve ever sniffed from them, hands down.

Citrusy and fresh, like a walk through a grove of blossoming orange trees (or the aroma wafting from a mimosa on Sunday morning), I can’t even begin to describe just how yummy this smells to me… I wish there was a scratch-and-sniff plugin for computer screens.

Oh, and it’s insanely good for dry skin! The shredded carrot cuticles on my toes (sorry, TMI, I know!) disappeared when I started using it on the regular.

Being so rich and decadent, Celebrate does leave behind a slightly greasy feel, but for me the scent and how good it makes my skin feel more than make up for it.

If your skin needs heavy-duty hydration, this is the stuff. 🙂

I just might cry the day I hit the bottom of this tub. Oh, if only it were permanent…

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Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good from Lush!

Wait — what? That’s not how the rhyme goes, you say?

That’s weird. I thought it was… 🙂

Forgive me. I must’ve been temporarily distracted by the intoxicating aromas from these Halloween-themed bath products by Lush.

The new limited edition Creatures of the Bath collection launched today with some really cute things, like…

This Pumkin Bubble Bar ($5.95)

Why would I want to be all up in this club when I could be all up in my tub with the Pumkin Bubble Bar ($5.95) instead?

It smells amazing! Lush gave it the same scent as their Fig and Leaves soap, which has notes of orange flower and ylang ylang oil.

Truth be told, right now I’m using Pumkin as a decoration in my bathroom. The lovely scent fills the lavatory, and whenever those great big eyes greet me as I walk into my “office” (it’s where I handle my business, yo!), I can’t help but smile. 🙂

But if you want to, like, use Pumkin in an actual bath, just crumble it into the running water as you fill the tub. The stronger the water pressure, the more bubbles you get!

Lord of Misrule Bath Bomb ($5.95)

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