May Day review: "You'll struggle to keep your paws to yourself"

May Day (£2.95) is a lovely badger bath bomb in aid of selected charities this May.  This is the second year Lush have brought this little guy around and he hasn't changed much at all.  But for those of you who have not used May Day before, he has a distinctive fragrance, an appealing and cute design and will give you a great bath experience.  And him helping a good cause only adds to our pleasure. 

 

Combining fennel oil and rosewood oil together is May Day's structure.  Rosewood Oil's spicy yet sweet, citrusy yet smokey aroma defines May Day's liquorice and slightly sherbet fragrance, along with fennel oil's liquorice-like fragrance.  Personally, I don't think it is the best fragrance Lush have created for a bath bomb but it is still lovely.  What I find so peculiar about May Day is he has the tendency to change his most prominent fragrance.  Before use he is a rough liquorice like a Bertie Basset sweet.  But when he fizzes he is very anise-like (sweet smelling) rather than liquorice.  However that's about it.  After May Day has fizzed away his fragrance dies down and becomes none existent which is disappointing.  Though he does make the water feel like silk.  There are no typical surprises from May Day.  The bath bomb gets to work as soon as you plop it into the bath and it fizzes until it can't fizz no more.  The lack of Cream of Tartar makes the speed of the bath bomb's fizz very much like Avobath.  In between the start and end, there is no rainbow magic (colour changes) so you can expect a creamy or murky white water outcome.  But just like May Day 2014, May Day leaves you with a little message.

May Day is a joy to use in the bath as he leaves you feeling comforted and rested with smooth and soft skin.  I'd even go so far to say he moisturises the skin.  Last year I wasn't his biggest fan but this time around I can't get enough.  Sure he doesn't hold my favourite Lush fragrance but it is beautiful nonetheless.  And what he stands for makes him even more wonderful.  May Day is an exclusive charity product in the UK where all profits minus VAT go to the benefited charities.  This is an excellent bath bomb for anyone who has animal welfare on their mind, and anyone who loves light sherbet and liquorice scents.  For £2.95 show your support and pick May Day up once, twice or how many times you like! He is available throughout the month of May.  Give this little badger a home (or bath) and let him help ease your day.  You'll struggle to keep your paws to yourself...  Just remember all the good the badger does.

Thanks for reading! Look below for photos of May Day and a demo video.

Instagram: @lushvoyage

Click here to read What's Behind May Day and how your support helps.

Photos of May Day in action:

May Day demo:

Lush UK: Votes For Animals campaign

In 1918 women were first granted the vote.  Although it wasn't an equal progression it was progress nonetheless.  For those who do not know, women campaigned peacefully and violently to be granted the vote and to be able to speak up for a better life.  Groups like NUWSS and the WSPU challenged their lack of voice for years and it is a huge mark on history.  It took 21 recorded years that we know of, of campaigning before change came.

Now 2015, anyone who has seen photos of people dressed like Suffragettes and wearing animal masks like something out of the 2011 You're Next horror movie, must be very intrigued.  Well it is all tied to, in aid and benefit of the "Votes for Animals" campaign.  

The Votes For Animals campaign wishes us to remember our little friends who cannot speak up for their rights for this General Election.  In the run up to elections people usually begin to investigate, little or large, on who should be voted into power.  Many of us will watch live debates - as I have done this past month - to see where certain parties loyalties lie and their proposed promises.  Such an example is free education in Scotland and who wants to continue this system or introduce a money making racket.  Votes for Animals aim for us as voters to determine which party is best for our animals.  To do this we must learn what our local candidates plans are for Animal Welfare and where each political party stands.  And trust me - each party's plans are different.

On the 24th of April I had a sit down with a lovely Lush employee in Lush Buchanan St where we chatted about the campaign and it's purpose.  She explained who we vote into power affects animals just as much as it affects us.  When we make our votes we will think about what we want from our government - minimum wage increase, tax reductions, policies and so forth.  But Lush's new campaign would like us to think of our friends who cannot speak for themselves and do not have a vote.  It's the old chestnut: animals cannot speak for themselves so we must give them a voice.  It's sad though, don't you think? That this has literally become an old chestnut.

We went on to discuss how Lush employees get campaign training to educate them on what the principles of the campaign are, and to further their understanding of charities.  It helps increase awareness from employee to customer. But I clocked something else from this discussion.  With campaign education or training, Lush are not only increasing awareness from employee to customer, but also general awareness overall.  This really impressed me and left me speechless since hypothetically, a Lush employee would go on training and reiterate it to customers in store.  But that is only one part of that individual's life.  They could be a student at college or university, they could be involved in a drama club/organisation or attend an art club where word of mouth turns up the volume.  The campaign training provides the information for employees to become advocates.  They are the water and sunshine that will encourage growth until seeds become plants.  This was proven when Lush marched with the Votes For Animals campaign on the 23rd of April, in a silent protest to the UK Parliament passing Downing Street from Lush Cosmetic's brand new Oxford Street store.  

Involved in the march was Dr Brian May who's organisation (Common Decency) supported Animal Aid, The League Against Cruel Sports, Save Me and Lush employee campaigners.  Wildlife expert Bill Oddie was also involved.  Each organisation rallied at the Lush's Oxford Street store before setting off in protest to the UK Parliament.

Behind #VotesForAnimals are three advocacy groups; 
The League Against Cruel Sports, Animal Aid and Common Decency.  They want us to remember animals from all walks of life - domesticated, wild, in laboratories - affected by the choices we make and who we vote into power.  Arguably the two biggest issues surrounding animals in government are the Hunting Act and the badger cull.  Although 80% of the British public support the Hunting Act (which makes dogs hunting animals illegal since 2004) some political party groups wish to repeal this legislation and legalize hunting once again.  Another divided political opinion is on the Badger Cull. The Badger Cull happens since in the 1970s badgers were identified to be an animal infected with Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB).  This is harmful to farmers, can be caught by human and the cause of thousands of slaughtered cattle.  bTB is a disease hard to eradicate which is why badgers are also being slaughtered.  Uninfected badgers can be vaccinated with the Badger BCG which protects them from bTB, theoretically making killing badgers a sport. Therefore it is a necessity we choose with caution who is voted into power.  

While it is pretty clear which political party has animals in mind, it is of course any person's right to vote who they want to vote and to keep their vote private.  This is what I like about Lush as when I asked which party should Lushies vote the question was deflected.  Instead it was suggested the information was readily available online if I wanted to know the answer.  This is what I'm going to suggest as well.  I would very much like to write which political party is best for animals and I would like to list the pros and cons of each party too - I have done my research.  However, I want to stress that each individuals vote is private and I am not a spokesperson for any political party either.  Nonetheless I am a supporter of Votes For Animals, Lush Cosmetics and I am a blogger. I will conclude this blog post strongly suggesting each person who reads this to do your own research and make your own conclusion.  Below I have listed all the websites you need to learn who is and isn't against improving animal welfare.  And I wish you and all the little furry creatures big and small, the best and most positive outcome with this General Election.

"The lives of domestic pets, farm animals, wildlife and the millions of animals in research laboratories are dictated by decisions made by government. The government that we choose for them!" - Lush Cosmetics UK 

Don't forget to pick up the exclusive charity aiding bath bomb 'May Day' available across UK Lush Stores throughout May and available online now - click here - all profits go to the charities Animal Aid, Save Me and The League Against Cruel Sport.
I'd also like to mention a big thank you to the Lush Buchanan ladies Lousie and Maddie for their time, kindness and patience in support of this blog post.  Thank you!

And thank you for reading!

Click here to go to Votes For Animals official website.
Click here to go to League Against Cruel Sports official website
Click here to go to Animal Aid official website
Click here to go to Common Decency official website

Click here to go to Wintercroft website (the company which makes the masks seen in the march and the badger one I wear above)




Photo credits of the march and forest campaign photos go to Lush Cosmetics Facebook.  They do not belong to me and I in no way take ownership of them.  They are used in evidence and support of this blog post. 

Lush New Zealand: Stop Seabed Mining with Lush

Stop Seabed Mining with Lush is a campaign in support of protecting New Zealand's natural coastlines.  These natural coastlines are in danger from seabed mining since as much as a third of future mineral production could come from beneath the oceans, and mining here has put it's marine life in danger.  The Seabed Mining experimental industry collects sand primarily for construction and also for the replenishment of urban/popular beaches.

Seabed Mining is a problem since the sea floor is the home to loads of ocean creatures such as mussels, worms and many others.  These creatures are part of an ecosystem and support a food chain that leads all the way up to sharks and dolphins.  Anyone who knows me and has read some of my other posts know by now I'm a massive shark lover.  This, therefore, is very serious to me.  It not only affects the sea creatures that live where the mining occurs, it also affects distant habitats due to the plume created when mining.  Each time seabed mining takes place all the creatures that live there die.  This turns the seabed into a dead-zone.

The coastline is also facing coastal erosion from mining.  Coastal erosion happens because of the removal of large amounts of sand.  In past mining cases, coastal erosion was predicted, but the outcome of erosion was much higher than predicated.  Therefore the science behind seabed mining isn't as "carried out" as it should be.  Coastal Erosion is a battle on it's own never mind it being increased by seabed mining.  Coastal Erosion is responsible for the destruction of sand dunes, beaches and coastal rock (stacks, stumps, cliffs).  So it's really important awareness of Seabed Mining's impacts come to public's knowledge to be a part of something greater than what it may seem at first glance.  This is clearly important and I'm really pleased Lush are supporting such an incredible campaign.

Plus, if you're a surfer you'll want to support this.  No sand means less waves or no waves at all! Waves won't be able to take the distinctive shape they do, what all you lovely surfers enjoy to ride.  Time to find a new hobby, I guess.  Skateboarding is just like surfing, right?

From April 8th to April 15th Lush New Zealand have ran a campaign to help stop Seabed Mining.  Lush has teamed up with the organisation Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) to bring awareness to it's impacts and to help raise funds for KASM's campaign.  The aim of the campaign is to put pressure on legislators to implement a moratorium (a temporary halt of action) until a thorough scientific investigation has been carried out on the impacts and implications seabed mining could cause.

Gathering awareness and support for campaigns such as Stopping Seabed Mining is vital in achieving a victory. Below is a direct quote from Phil McCabe, the founder of KASM.

"New Zealand is an Island Nation full of Coastal People. We love our marine environment and will not allow it to be damaged by an unproven industry called Seabed Mining. Our government has underestimated the destructive nature of seabed mining as well as the commitment of New Zealanders to protect our oceans for future generations. We’re stoked to have LUSH standing beside us as we call on our government to place a moratorium on seabed mining."

Lush created a body scrub called "Life's a Beach" to raise the funds to go toward KASM's campaign.  It's a one week exclusive product available both online and in store and has been a complete success.  Unfortunately, Lush New Zealand don't ship internationally like Lush Australia so Lush Australia's campaign was the only option of purchase before it went out of stock.  Thankfully, I was able to pick up a couple of pots (happy dance!)

The problem overall is a lack of oceanic knowledge and understanding.  People don't know and don't realise the damage humans are inflicting on the ocean and sadly, seabed mining is only one problem on a list.  I myself didn't comprehend the massive impacts seabed mining would have so I am very thankful for Lush to join in on this campaign.  Not only has it brought awareness to me, sharing it now here, it's given me another campaign and organisation to support, not only for the better good but for my sharks too.   We need to stop taking beautiful and natural resources for granted before the damage is irreversible and all that's left in it's wake is regret.  I was out with my driving instructor last week and we discussed the ocean and what she said (in my opinion) is a perfect fit to the ignorance of these actions.  

'If I can't see the sea bottom then I'm outta there! Noooo way, I don't like it.'

Just because we can't see it doesn't mean it isn't there.  Just because it isn't our day-to-day habitat doesn't make it any less important.  And just because the damage inflicted each day is gradually unseen, it doesn't mean the damage will be unseen in years to come.  It doesn't mean the damage isn't happening right now.  Seabed Mining has to stop now! And hopefully, with growing awareness, it will soon.


Click here to go to Kiwis Against Seabed Mining's official website to learn more and to see what else you can do!


Thanks for reading!

Instagram: @lushvoyage

Lush Australia: Grave Barrier Reef Campaign

The Grave Barrier Reef is a campaign in support of protecting Australia's Great Barrier Reef - the largest collection of corals off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

Over the years the Great Barrier Reef has declined in liveliness and will continue to do so.  The Reef once thrived back in 1980 and now in 2015 it's a shell of what it once was.  Did you get my pun?  Yeah, I know this is a serious post and what not but there are many different headsets this needs to get through to.  Despite the Reef's decline, it is in a much better standard than what it is going to be by 2050.  By 2050 it truly will be a shell of what it once was.

The causes for the Barrier Reef's destruction range from climate change to industrialisation for coal and gas along the coastline.  There are too many threats to the Barrier Reef and this is why action must be taken.  Further damage to the Barrier Reef will have a powerful and negative effect on ecosystems and marine creatures such as humpback whales and green sea turtles.  Oh! Clownfish also live here.  That's right, if you don't help little Nemo and Marlin, they won't be able to tell Clownfish jokes.  And Finding Dory may not happen (dun-dun-dunnnn).

From April 8th to April 15th Lush Australia have ran a campaign to help the cause of protecting Australia's Great Barrier Reef.  Lush teamed up with 1 Million Women (Environmentalist Organisation) to raise funds and collect signatures to help.  The signatures collected will go toward the World Heritage Committee urging it to recognise the Great Barrier Reef's endangerment and the funds will go toward 1 Million Women.  The entire aim of the campaign is to successfully declare the Great Barrier Reef in danger and to bring awareness to it's frightening decline.  

Lush created a body scrub called "Life's a Beach" to raise the funds to go toward 1 Million Women's campaign.  It's a one week exclusive product available both online and in store and has been a complete success.  Australia's website has had to restock multiple times before it went out of stock - thankfully I picked up some pots before this happened.

Although a new product by Lush was a very exciting prospect for many of us Lushies - it is the reason of why this product came about that is most important.  I'm very passionate about the ocean and although I am in awe of all the contributions Lush pay toward selected charities, I do wish more of those charities were ocean and marine life focused.  This is why the 'Grave Barrier Reef' campaign meant a lot to me, why I took action and bought pots and why I'm writing about it here.  I want people to learn and to join the fight to help the ocean's current threats.  And I'm delighted Lush took it upon themselves to create a product that without a doubt received mass attention.  And fingers crossed, it will help declare the Great Barrier Reef "World Heritage in Danger" and give it a fighting chance.


Click here to read about Lush New Zealand's campaign to Stop Seabed Mining. 


Thanks for reading!

Instagram: @lushvoyage

Why I'm Happy Lush Cosmetics supports Fin Fighters UK

I can't remember exactly when I became obsessed with Sharks.  Maybe it was the time I found a sharks tooth on the beach.  It might even have been the time I first saw Deep Blue Sea.  I don't know.  I just remember arguing with a boy named Fraser in primary school about how he was a nasty little creep for hating sharks and wanting them to die.  I decided because of that experience to learn everything I could about sharks and 14 years later I'd definitely say I've progressed.

First off, I now know it wasn't hatred he had for sharks but it was fear.  This fear stemmed from the famous summer blockbuster Jaws.  I think I can safely say the majority of people have seen Jaws, it's like Star Wars, you can't not see it.  I'm sure I'd seen it before I actually saw it.  The chilling music... The daunting music... It's famous.  So why was he afraid? Well, it's the first movie to install shock into a young mind or even the mind of an adult that there is the possibility if you step into ocean waters you may lose your leg.  Or life.  There wasn't a movie of its kind back in the 70s and suddenly people were scared of the water.

Jaws taught us there's a really big shark that eats people.  

And not only does it like to eat people, it likes to stalk ocean shores waiting for little boys on floaties to go out for a paddle.  And this was as powerful as it gets.  Why? Well, we are either that little boy as we're around his age and think a shark would eat us.  Or we're an adult and maybe even a parent who can replace that little boy with a little kid we know ourselves.  Kids are as innocent as it gets in this world and a shark ate one.  It's the devil walking but swimming.

It's a great thriller.  It's even a great book if you've got the chance to read it.  But that's what it's down to... The story is fictitious.  It's been grafted, expanded and exaggerated enormously on true events that happened 10 years before the book was written.  Peter Benchley wrote the book based on personal events and events in 1964 of a man who purposely hunted down Great Whites for sport.  Sounds familiar? Hello Quint.

When Jaws came out in cinemas there was a great enthusiastic reaction to sharks as people wanted to learn about them to be like Hooper (a marine biologist)  On the other hand, there was a really bad reaction which no one foresaw.  Groups of men went out on a shark killing spree to be like Quint and they slaughtered so many sharks wanting to catch "Jaws".   But they entirely ignored Jaws was a fictitious piece.

Today, 40 years later the slaughter still goes on.  However, it's even worse as it really is for personal gain rather than a reaction of underlying fear hidden by a shaking pride and ego.  Sharks are brutally murdered for their fins for a delicacy in cultures.  Shark Fin Soup is a delicacy in China usually served at weddings and for anniversaries.  This sickens me.  What sickens me even more is how this comes about.  Sharks are hauled onto fishing boats by bait and their fins are cut off.  The sharks are then dumped back into the ocean to die an inhumane death.

Organisations like Fin Fighters UK are working to serve and protect an animal that should be left the hell alone to begin with.  It shouldn't need defending.  It's the King of the Ocean! But sadly they aren't left alone.  And even more devastating is sharks actually need our help.  I was so pleased when I heard Lush were supporting Fin Fighters.  I'll try and put it into words actually; I felt this really funny feeling in my stomach and it fluttered up to my chest and my chest swelled and felt tingly.  It felt lighter even though my heart beat a little faster.  I was so proud to be a Lushie that day.  In America I know Lush do 'Shark Fin Soap' in protest to this horrible act and I asked whether Lush UK would consider doing the same campaign.  It doesn't matter if the UK doesn't have shark 'attacks' or finning occur... The UK can be a voice in this issue and we are neglecting it terribly.

Although Lush support and respect this cause, I'm aware quite a few Lushies might not know a lot about Sharks even if they know about the cause.  Here's some things that I found really cool when learning about sharks:

• The most threatening shark to humans actually isn't the Great White ("Jaws") It's the Bull Shark as this shark can come into shallow water and can be found in rivers, unlike Great Whites.  You can be knee high in water and a Bull Shark can grab you - I've seen it! It's also pretty aggressive and territorial and if you're on the receiving end of an 'attack' you would have a fight to get away opposed to Great Whites.  When a Great White 'attacks' it usually takes a bite - which unfortunately can result in the lose of limb, have you seen how big their jaws are? - it quickly realises you aren't what it wants and will go away.  Whereas the Bull Shark likes to continue on in 'attacks' since you are its prey regardless of you tasting good/bad
• The majority of shark 'attacks' are a case of mistaken identity.  From the depths of the ocean humans tend to look and sound like sharks delicacy of seals.  The way we flap around and move in the water amits the same frequency seals do in the water.  This is where Great Whites releasing you ties in as they quickly realise you aren't a seal and don't taste great. Also wearing a watch in the ocean can be a big no-no. 
• Places like Sea World and other Aquarium places like to use the Sand Tiger Shark as the shark to display, as it looks pretty terrifying in dimmed lighting and being in a tight room like you've got no escape only makes this fear worse.   But in reality, it's pretty much non-threatening and won't harm humans.  It's only known to attack when provoked.
• The fastest shark in the world isn't even the Great White either, it's the Mako Shark.  
• Sharks are much older than Dinosaurs! They were roaming the Earth's ocean long before Dinosaurs existed.
• The biggest shark in the ocean is the Whale Shark and although it's big in size, it poses no threat to humans.  It must use its entire body to swim so it won't attack humans like other sharks do.  However, don't be mistaken.  If you are hit by its tail it could cause some serious damage as the force would be really, really strong.  The Whale Shark glides along in water and takes food from water it picks up.  Basically, it filters food from water it takes in.
• And a Great White has really impressive teeth.  Not the kind of teeth a dentist wants to look at though! Its teeth can tear through flesh, meat and bone effortlessly.  So just remember - if a Great White wants to eat you, it certainly will!

And here is a true picture of a Shark that needs our help.  Not an electronic flop.

I also want to write about why you should support this cause.  I use to wonder how people couldn't be fascinated by sharks since I was fascinated by them.  I didn't realise then it was a personal interest and not a global or shared one.  It's like a hobby in one way.  Some like the piano and some don't.  Some aren't interested in sharks and some are.

My breath was taken away when I first learned and then saw Sharks breach the water when jumping for prey.  Yes, this is true! I've watched a lot of documentaries involving Chris Fallows who was heavily involved in Cape Town Africa capturing (photographs) the first ever Great White breaching the water.  It's truly something magical for shark lovers when you first see it.  Every time you see it afterwards its always really amazing but there's nothing like the first time you see it. My breath was taken away.

Sharks are amazing creatures and humans are killing them.  They are one of the oldest creatures (if not the oldest one) we have remaining on Earth and they are being slaughtered.  They hold so much history humans can't compare to and they're not receiving respect where it is due.  Sharks are not like chickens or sheep where humans have fields of them and breed them for human diet.  We have no control over their breeding like we do farm animals (please note I'm not saying farm animal breeding is right I'm only stressing we're about to cause extinction beyond the cruelty already served for sharks)  We are about to cause extinction in sharks.  And it's rather incredible that the king of the ocean becomes the size of an ant to our hands.  I hope and hope and hope we will be 'Fin Free by 2023' ending the sale and distribution of sharks fins.  And with Lush supporting this amazing organisation I feel more free to speak my mind on the matter as I know Lush and Lushies are behind this organisation, behind me and behind the creatures I love.

Thank you for reading.

Instagram: @lushvoyage

Click here to go to Fin Fighters UK website 

All images in this post are from Google.  I did not take or create any of them and I do not take ownership of them.  I use them as part of this post in support.  

'Fin Fighters' graphic is from Fin Fighters UK website.