Avobath review: "Miracle Worker"

Avobath (£3.35) is a vibrant green bath bomb that is of citrus joy and lemongrass goodness.  And my favourite bath bomb.

Made with Fresh Avocado and Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Avobath is one of the most skin hydrating bath bombs Lush have to offer.  Extra Virgin Olive oil is packed with vitamin E providing good antioxidant properties.  Also packed with oleic acid and squalene, creating a moisturising and nourishing product that with no doubt will benefit the skin.
Avocado, like Extra Virgin Olive oil, contains vitamin E but it also has vitamins A, B and C.  These help to maintain skin and improve it's appearance.

In my opinion, Avobath is the fastest fizzing bath bomb from the bath bombs Lush offer all year round.  Since it doesn't have any rainbow magic (colour changes) or Cream of Tartar, the citric acid gets to work and within a minute this dissolves.

Avobath is my favourite bath bomb as it truly does refresh me and brings a smile to my face.  I recommend this for anyone who is feeling under the weather since it miraculously clears up the flu, the cold or any kind of bug I pick up.  It also perks up my mood.  I don't know how it does it but it does! I genuinely see it as a miracle worker.  This is also a pretty good alternative to Butterball bath bomb if you don't want as much greasiness and want a kick-ass fragrance.  Lemongrass oil has a sweet lemon like aroma and mix that with the Bergamot oil - this is a citrus wonder.  Due to the Avocado and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, this bath bomb is suitable for people with sensitive or dry skin as these are full of oil that hydrates the skin.

Coming out of the bath you should expect your skin to feel nourished and softer than before.  It leaves a discreet fragrance similar to the bath bomb before use, but it isn't identical to the bath bomb.  This is most likely because in build the most prominent thing you smell is the Lemongrass oil but in the bath it's most likely the Extra Virgin Olive oil and/or Avocado.  Avobath isn't Lush's best bath bomb for leaving a fragrance on the skin never mind a nice one.  So if you're wanting a nice scented skin outcome, Avobath may not be the one to use.  Avobath is definitely more for skin hydration and mood improvement.

Turning plain bath water into a luxurious green and giving a good bath experience, anyone who uses this will be in for a treat and be granted the promise of never having a dull or unsatisfying bath ever again when Avobath is involved.  





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Ingredients:

Sodium Bicarbonate,Citric Acid, Fresh Avocado, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Bergamot Oil, Rosewood Oil, *Citral,*Geraniol, *Farnesol, *Limonene *Linalool, Perfume, Gardenia Extract, Lustre Holly Sparkle

Photos of Avobath:

Calacas shower gel review: "It's magical and creepy!"

I think many of us Lushies from time to time (not at all every week...) have the dilemma of deciding what our favourite Lush shower gel is.  Is it Snow Fairy? Is it Twilight? Or maybe even Rose Jam?  I think we're all a little guilty of loving almost every single one.  

One of Lush's shower gels that are high on my list is Calacas.  I got a bottle of Calacas the first time it ever came up in the kitchen because everyone else got it.  Yes I do admit, I bought this because everyone else did.  I want to blame it on peer pressure and lack of self control but maybe it was a higher calling.  Why? Because I'm certain Calacas is my favourite shower gel by the Lush Kitchen.  And I picked up two more when it recently featured online.

On one hand Calacas has a really indescribable fragrance because it's just so strange.  But it's clear this is a sweet citrus scented gel.  The Lush Community like to compare Calacas' fragrance to gummy bears and whilst this is a very good comparison, I think Calacas to be much sweeter.  Think of gummy bears, pear drops, tooty frooties, fruit pastilles all together and then you've got Calacas in one.  Basically, it's candied fruit.  Something else to bare in mind I've found Calacas to be like Back for Breakfast shower gel but much, much sweeter.  Other than that description there aren't many other products I can compare this to as it's fragrance is a one of a kind creation by Lush.

Arguably the most fascinating quality Calacas possesses is it changes colour! One minute it's orange, next it's green and then suddenly becomes yellow.  It's magical and creepy!  Anyone who searches Calacas on Instagram will see loads of posts of Calacas being different colours which is absolutely brilliant.  That's the novelty of Calacas.  It may also be seen in a different from too - Calacas was first released as a green skull shower jelly in Lush's halloween seasonal line up.

Containing Lime oil and Neroli oil to perk up our moods along with toning and protecting our skin, Olibanum oil adds a protective film over the skin which softens the skin.  And Aloe Vera Gel gives a protective and soothing quality to the gel making it perfect for sunburn or redness from the cold.  And I also praise how soft my skin is because of Calacas and how gentle it is on my eczema too.
  

I find using Calacas always enjoyable since it isn't harsh on my skin and also leaves it smelling yummy since the delectable fragrance of fruit candies lingers on the skin for hours.  As well, the gel is a little thicker than most gels which I suspect is because of the Aloe Vera but it lathers and glides over the skin effortlessly.  Afterward, my skin is left smelling edible, very soft and in good condition.  This is one of the only gels by Lush I've found effective for redness from the cold.  And whilst the UK doesn't get a lot of blistering heat where I'll fry - I'd definitely use this if I got burnt since it is really good in cooling me down.

A shower gel inspired by the Mexican holiday Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead), and presumably named (and designed shower jelly) after the Calaca skull,  Calacas captures an awakening, phenomenal and memorable fragrance.  It really is no surprise Calacas is a sweet candy fragrance since sugar in the form of sugar skulls, sugar coffins and other sugar treats are a massive part in the celebrations.  Lushies across the world can honour this sweet Mexican festivity with a sweet shower gel.   There isn't anything else like this by Lush which makes me cherish the gel even more, and I cannot recommend this enough to anyone reading - it is the best shower gel the kitchen has to offer.

Top Tip - If you combine Red and Green FUN you'll create the Calacas scent! I do believe you need to use more Green than Red.

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Extra photos:

Ingredients: water (aqua), Aloe Vera Gel, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lauryl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Perfume, Lime Oil, Olibanum Oil, Neroli Oil, Lactic Acid, *Citral, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 45410, Colour 45350, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
*Occurs naturally in essential oils
Suitable for Vegans

Sonic Death Monkey review: "The hype is real"

Sonic Death Monkey (£11.95/250g) is a cult classic by Lush and when the Lush Kitchen made it a couple of weeks ago, Lushies went mad.  It's a product loads rave about or simply talk about and was surely a sell out product - which it was FYI!  I've been eager to try this shower gel since missing out on it almost a year ago when the Kitchen just started up.  Naturally, when the Kitchen announced this on their weekly menu, I jumped for it and got two bottles.

Mysterious in appearance and a mind-boggling fragrance, Sonic Death Monkey is a delight.  Just like Hot Toddy this is like a layered cake and maybe more so.  From the bottle the first thing I smell is the citrusy notes of Tangerine Oil and Sweet Orange Oil.  And both of these are rounded off by the addition of Fresh Lime Juice too.  It is lovely and refreshing but becomes so bewitching when the chocolate fragrance shines through.  Together they create a really unique smell and you're either going to love or hate it.  And I love it!  I very faintly smell the thread of coffee in the bottle too - I smell a depth to the sweet and citrus notes presented by the addition of the coffee.

In the shower this shower gel is a totally different story.  The most prominent smell in the shower, for me, was the ground coffee.  I genuinely felt as though I was showering with a cup of coffee.  And somewhere in between the chocolate mixed with the coffee to create a beautiful cocktail.  It's sweet and sour - the chocolate makes a delicious sweet smell that makes you swoon whilst coffee centres you and brings you back from cloud nine.  And in all of that goodness there are citrus products that are nowhere to be detected.  Maybe slightly but not much.

The benefits of Sonic Death Monkey provide an uplifting fragrance through the tangerine oil and sweet orange oil, both of which tone the skin too.  You should step into your shower with a grey cloud over your head but step out feeling on top of world.  Or at least your mood.  The best part of SDM though is the black horse of the product - hemp oil.  Hemp Oil is known to be a medicinal oil used in traditional Chinese medicine and is thought to help conditions like varicose veins.  It is also believed to be a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory which we are all in need of from time to time.  So, albeit there are incredible oils that present good moods and delicious smelling ingredients - the best thing about Sonic Death Monkey, in my opinion, is this little hidden product within.

Attractive by name, attractive by reputation and attractive at first glance.  The colour of Sonic Death Monkey is peculiar enough to spark interest.  As you can see! The milky top hat to the shower gel adds a good quality to the overall opinion of the shower gel.  Because as much as we may not like to admit it, packaging and presentation are very, very important. It makes you more curious and drives your want to test it out.

I wouldn't say it's very skin conditioning or softening but rather refreshing and cleansing.  The likes of Snow Fairy shower gel is a good example of making skin soft from the Carrageenan Extract.  Whereas with this, the outcome wasn't really like that.    It gives a really clean feeling which can be a must have in the morning.  This will definitely be one of my top used summer shower gels.  That doesn't mean it isn't suitable for winter or the harsher months - granted I do prefer hydrating gels during these months though.  The squeaky clean feeling this gives you will make the clammy and hot air during summer more durable. 

Sonic Death Monkey is one of the best shower gels I've purchased from the Lush Kitchen.  I didn't expect to love it like I do but I do and I think others will too.  I am of the opinion that this shower gel is more in the aromatherapy bracket than skin benefiting but do remember this does have its merit.  I find this a really comforting fragrance and go as far to say its actually my "comforter" fragrance opposed to the real thing.  As I've also got Heavenly Bodies and do not take such comfort from it as I do Sonic Death Monkey, I believe my attachment to SDM is largely based on the blend of chocolate and coffee.  These two smells coming together as one is a magical experience for your nose.  Hogwarts has nothing on this!  I do recommend Sonic Death Monkey for its uplifting citrus oils and juice, it's comforting chocolate and awakening coffee fragrance.  It truly is the best shower gel I've bought from the kitchen and will buy more when needed and where possible.  It was the most surprising shower gel I've come across too and admittedly wouldn't have given it the time of day if it wasn't for the hype Lushies gave this product.  But do believe it! The hype is to be believed! The hype is real!

                             

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