So White review: "Sing a happy little working song"

So White was originally a bath bomb at Christmas inspired by Snow White and the poisonous apple.  However, for Christmas 2014 Lush introduced So White in a brand new form - a shower gel!  At Christmas time I didn't like the fragrance of this... It just felt out of place.  What made it fit in is it's lovely shimmering white colour.  It says on the label "pure as the driven snow".  I do agree this shower gel gives off a look of snow, but there's so much more to consider with this beauty.

This could pass as an all year round shower gel because of its fresh and natural fragrance.  I think it would succeed as one if I'm honest.   I don't think this is a shower gel that would easily sicken people.  Since apple is my favourite fruit I'm well acquainted with it's fresh, slightly sweet, slightly watery and crisp aroma.  So White captures this delicate aroma in one sniff.  What a delight!  I would prefer this shower gel in the lighter months when you are possibly showering twice a day because of the heat.  I just feel this doesn't fit in with the Christmas theme whatsoever.  I may be alone in that thought or not, but I just don't get it.

The Apple Infusion makes this a really light, lovely and fresh shower gel.  But it's not just an addition to the fragrance. The Apple Infusion will 'de-grease' the skin as it has the ability to contract the skin cells with its acidic properties.  Also, it has skin softening qualities that will leave skin clean and refreshed.  So White contains Cyder Vinegar which contracts the skin cells too and tones the skin.  All of this, especially in a liquid form, helps balance the skin's PH levels which is good for battling dandruff and acne.  And the addition of Rose Water will soothe the skin and calm your mind, making this shower gel a treasure in your Lush shower gel line up.

The biggest criticism I have for this shower gel is it's water-thin.  It really is water-thin, more so than Happy 4 Sad!  This causes a looooot of waste in the shower because it comes out like spitfire.  I've also kind of noticed it likes to separate a lot, I don't know why that is, but I give it a good shake and that solves that issue.

Overall, So White gives a pleasurable shower experience.  It lathers well - particularly if you don't lose half of what you pour - and it's fragrance of fresh cut up apples intensifies in the shower.  You think you can smell it from the bottle? Wait until you shower.  It's fragrance leaves you feeling clean and smelling great and lingers on the skin for a good few hours.  This shower gel does really make you feel clean so this will undoubtedly be my go-to shower gel in the summer.  Snowflake Lustre through the gel adds a little touch of discreet glamour to your everyday shower experience.  You'll be feeling fair using this! This shower gel perks up my mood too - it puts me in the mood to sing a happy little working song.  Do you get it?? Get it?? Never mind.

I recommend So White for anyone who is hungry for a fresh and near enough natural fruity fragrance.  I cannot stress how clean, crisp and strong smelling this shower gel is - it's blowing me away, almost.  I'd definitely say this was the underdog of Lush Christmas 2014 because of how simple it is.  Bringing simple and spectacular together boils a bottle of So White.  Go on, try it... Have a bite.

Thanks for reading!

Instagram: @lushvoyage
Facebook: LushVoyage

Violet Nights Bath Oil

Violet Nights was one of my first ever Lush Kitchen products and I bought it to celebrate my exams finishing.  I bought this on a pure whim thinking full heartedly I couldn't not like it because I assumed it would smell like parma violets.  I was very lucky, because initially I didn't like Violet Nights as my hope for a Daddy-O fragranced oil fell through.  Violet Nights isn't anything like the violet scents Lush have been producing but it's fragrance can be found in their Tuca Tuca.  The bottle reads Violet Nights "will leave your skin as smooth as silk" which isn't an exaggeration I swear.

As I wrote above, Violet Nights isn't like Daddy-O or Lush's earthy violet scents in Ultraviolet, but more of a blend in between somewhere.  It isn't candy-violet like the shampoo and it isn't grassy/earthy like the bubble bar.  It's rather strange to explain.  It has the distinctive violet background which is sweetened beautifully by the addition of vanilla.  It's actually the same scent as Tuca Tuca for anyone who has smelt that - so you have your answer.  Violet Nights is a nice addition to Lush's current taste for violet.  The shower gel Don't Rain On My Parade smells just like it which I'm very pleased about.  Finally Lush are going for a sweet violet!

Whilst £14 may at first seem pricey and too costly it is in fact fair.  You see, there is no way anyone would use this less than at least ten times (especially when bath combos happen).  In the long run it is a cost effective product but on the other hand, you don't get the variety of ten different kinds of bath bombs.

The oil from the bottle is a very deep and dark purple colour but the most peculiar part is... It is a milky cloudy colour when poured into the bath!  The colour outcome is most strange indeed.  Some people will love it and some will hate it but honestly it just makes Violet Nights even more special.  The first time I used this I expected the water to be a lilac colour at least.  But no it was like a murky white colour that once you've seen it and experienced with - you couldn't imagine it to be anything else.

I left the bath with silky and soft skin that felt and smelt incredible.  Containing Soya Oil makes Violet Nights a really rich skin benefiting product since this oil softens and conditions the skin.  The difference in how soft skin is after using Violet Nights is undeniable.  My skin didn't feel dried up but rather silky and soft.  I guarantee anyone who buys this bath oil will be enthralled with it entirely.  I could see all the oils in the water showing just how rich Violet Nights is.  Depending on how this bath oil is used it can also create a foam layer just like bubble bars do.  However, the foam layer I found was very different to what bubble bars produce - it was softer which I preferred.
I found this to help really relax me and comfort me - especially when I paired it up with The Comforter bubble bar.  It is one of the best (if not THE best) bath combo's you could try.  Trust me, you need to try that out!

Violet Nights is the kitchen product I'd still argue should be available in store.  This gives everyone a magnificent bath that undoubtedly would be suitable for Cleopatra.  It's different from all of the other bath time products and I've heard other customers ask employees if Lush do any bath oil when I've been in store.  With the Oxford Street bath oils proving popular and a treat, Lush should really think about bringing this purple beauty back to shelves... Nevertheless, we'll enjoy the new bath oils Lush are offering us but will continue to indulge in Violet Nights when the kitchen makes it.





Thanks for reading!

Instagram: @lushvoyage


Photos of Violet Nights:

Ingredients: Soya Oil, Laureth 4, Perfume, Cassie Absolute, Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute, Sandalwood Oil, Vetivert Oil, Violet Leaf Absolute, Ylang Ylang Oil, Alpha Isomethyl Ionone, *Citronellol, *Eugenol, *Benzyl Alcohol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Farnesol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 60725, Propylparaben
Suitable for Vegans

Love and Light hand cream review

Whilst I was really excited for the shower creams, I was looking forward to getting my hands on a pot of Love and Light.  What peaked my interest the most was it's lovely name.  I'm all about feeling happy and promoting positive vibes and I felt the name of this hand cream reflected this.  The only other way I can explain my desire for this hand cream was a gut instinct.  The pot states Love and Light will give you a "quick hydration fix" and so far I don't disagree.

Love and Light has a really uplifting but also comforting fragrance derived from Neroli oil and Brazilian Orange oil.  The best way to describe it is a mash up of orange and floral notes.  My personal opinion on Love and Light's fragrance is like Fruit Loops cereal only when you spread it onto the hands.  But a lot of people have been wondering if this smells like Happy Happy Joy Joy conditioner, and where there are similarities due to the Neroli, I'd say Love and Light is much sweeter.  Imagine the smell of a cup of black plain coffee and then the smell of a cup of coffee with sugar.  That's what the difference is like - you can detect a much sweeter note in Love and Light, which smells entirely fresh and uplifting.  It's like Happy Happy Joy Joy has had Brightside bubble bar mashed into it.

The cream spreads lightly and it sinks into the skin, but if you use more than enough I've noticed my hands can be film coated and feel sticky.  But when you use the right amount, the cream feels like silk and my hands are super soft and moisturised.

I've found most of Lush's lotions don't sink but instead sit on the skin, and whilst this can annoy me and also not bother me, I'm impressed with Love and Light's outcome.  With the addition of Jojoba Oil this cream is designed to be really kind and gentle to the skin.  Jojoba Oil's similarities to our sebum makes the oil better tolerated by the top layer of our skin.  Both Jojoba Oil and Cocoa Butter work brilliantly to condition and soften the skin, and with it's uplifting fragrance you can't go wrong with this hand cream.  And that's exactly that - you can't go wrong.  It is very different to all the other hand creams available and it quite frankly is the best. 

Whilst I love really nourishing and rich products, the combination of cocoa butter and shea butter I feel can be too heavy for certain skin types.  Products that contain both of these butters may sink into the skin for some and it may sit on the skin for some others.  I'd recommend Love and Light to anyone who feels a combination of butters is too heavy (leaving films on hands or leaving the skin greasy/oily).  This isn't a runny cream like Sympathy for the Skin or Formulae Known As and it isn't as thick as the New Charity Pot.  I'd say it's consistency is almost like Dream Cream but it feels thinner and spreads thinner.  It's actually really soft to touch as well.

If I'm honest I don't have dry hands or skin problems regarding my hands, and I use a hand cream for a little moisture when I feel the need to use some.  Love and Light makes hands smooth, softer and nourished but I can't give an indication on how well it really tackles dryness since I don't suffer it.  I don't know if Love and Light will help cracked skin mend or anything miraculous.  Love and Light will give any thirsty hands a little top up of juice whenever necessary, I can promise that.

I had to indulge in this because I had a good feeling about it and it certainly hasn't disappointed me.  Hands down in my opinion this is the best hand cream Lush have ever created.  It's got such a lovely light fragrance suitable for the incoming summer months but would also aid in perking your mood up in the following winter months.  It doesn't leave your hands soaking in greasy oils or butters, just like Lush promised to make "light work" of taking care of your hands.  It's got the whole package.  Now all I need to do is keep my fingers crossed and hope this will eventually branch out to all stores.  For now I'll use it and treat it like the treasure it is and feel love and light.

Thanks for reading!

Instagram: @lushvoyage


More Love and Light photos:

Ingredients: Water, Organic Jojoba Oil, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Neroli Oil, Brazilian Orange Oil, Orange Flower Absolute, Cetearyl Alcohol, *Citral, *Famesol, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
*Occurs naturally in essential oils
Suitable for Vegans.