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:

What's Behind May Day

The prospect of a new bath bomb from limited edition ranges get us Lushies hyped up.  It is no surprise the return of May Day bath ballistic was great news and a happily awaited return.   May Day is a beautiful liquorice and light sherbet scented bath bomb with a cute little badger design.  The best part of May Day is that it is a charity aiding bath bomb.  All profits collected from the May Day bath bomb go toward helping animal focused charities and supporting Lush UK's Votes for Animals campaign.

There are four supported charities in May Day: The League Against Cruel Sports, Animal Aid, Save Me and Common Decency.  All of these charities took part in the march to the UK Parliament for the Votes for Animals campaign.

Animal Aid is an animal rights group that campaign peacefully and desire a cruelty-free lifestyle.  Founded in 1977, this group exposes animal cruelty.
There is no doubt this organisation has animals in mind and their campaigns, actions and results prove this.  Animal Aid has been behind installing CCTV cameras in slaughterhouses tied to UK supermarkets like Tesco, ASDA and Marks and Spencer.  Every supermarket in the UK has CCTV cameras active in their slaughterhouses due to Animal Aid.  Animal Aid called on each supermarket to install these cameras to prevent brutality against animals which was a necessary change, as laws were being broken in slaughterhouses Animal Aid observed.  
Animal Aid has done so much more to help animals.  They go head to head with anyone or any company who they believe are being cruel to animals.  For example, Animal Aid stopped horse drawn-carriages coming about in Oxford in 2001.   There is no doubt in the good Animal Aid has done for animals and will continue to.  The organisation has lobbied politicians and fought for animals rights for 38 years.  It is fantastic Lush has included Animal Aid in this year's May Day bath bomb.  To read more about the incredible work Animal Aid does click here to go to their official website.

2014 May Day ballistic message

Another charity behind 2015's May Day bath bomb is the non-profit organisation Save Me.  The aim of this organisation is to bring awareness to the minority of animal's voices and the cruelty inflicted on them.  Last year, Lush Cosmetics teamed up with Save Me and produced May Day bath bomb to assist in the fight against the Badger Cull.  Save Me believe the culling of badgers could in fact make the bTB disease worse instead of better.  Founded in 2010 by Dr Brian May, the organisation believe with the scientific evidence of large period culling being more harmful than helpful should be taken seriously by government.  However, the scientific evidence or long culling periods spreading bTB has been ignored which makes campaigning more important.  To read more about Save Me and the work it does to help furry little creatures click here to go to Save Me's official website.

The League Against Cruel Sports is an organisation which campaigns to stop animal cruelty in animal sport.  Current examples are the Leagues desire for an end of the use of a whip in horse racing, and more defense and protection for greyhounds.  The League bring awareness by lobbying politicians and businesses, and expose the cruel actions to animals in animal sport.  The League was responsible for exposing the snaring of foxes, badgers and even domesticated animals to kill and capture them.  Also, the League provides animal sanctuary in dangerous areas to protect animals in need.
During the Votes for Animals campaign the League asked candidates to illustrate where they stood on specific animal cruelty grounds.  One of these issues is the Hunting Act of 2004.  The Hunting Act makes it illegal across the UK to hunt animals by dogs for sport since 2004.  For this General Election, the League want to know which political parties plan to not only defend the Hunting Act but will also strengthen it.  This Hunting Act has come under attack from political parties such as the Conservatives who wish to repeal the legislation and legalize hunting animals by dogs once again.  Obviously, this is not only animal cruelty but animal slaughter.   They have proposed a bunch of improvements for animal welfare but it must be considered as a mask to a degree.  Hiding behind all of these incredible promises is also the aim to change the Hunting Act.  To read more about The League Against Cruel Sports click here and to learn about Politcal Parties policies on animals click here, to go to a very user friendly website that has all the information a voter needs to learn who has animals in mind.  

May Day is a statement, promise and calling in the form of an adorable fizzing badger.  Lush Cosmetics accurately demonstrate their creativity and their passion in the form of what they do best - aiding a cause and a community with an imaginative product that could melt the coldest heart.  May Day bath bomb is a symbol very much the the Mockingjay.  This Badger shows how Lush feel about the appalling treatment of animals which mirrors Lush's heart and soul devotion against animal testing.  People who do not necessarily shop in Lush must know by now how Lush feels about this issue.  The high street is a long street and Lush's 'Fighting Animal Testing' bags that travel up and down, proudly and elegantly, show the sentiment involved within the company.  

2015 May Day ballistic message

So this May Day whip out your May Day and plop him into your bath - which I what I'll be doing.  Show your support of animals and your belief in Lush.  Happy May Day folks! 

Thank you for reading!

Instagram: @lushvoyage

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