Lush Oxford Street Is Coming!

Hello Lushies!  Here's something exciting to feast your eyes upon - if you haven't already seen it all on my Instagram account.

Below I've listed all the collages I made and posted on my IG @lushvoyage of the new Lush products currently exclusive to Lush Oxford Street, but hopefully are going to be available to buy online sooner rather than later.
From bath oils to bath bombs, soaps to showders... They are all below for you to see, so take a look and a peak! This is an exciting time for Lushies everywhere.

UPDATE: I'm reading here, there and everywhere that the launch of Oxford Street products will be July! July people! Better get saving... It's still not known what products are definitely going to be exclusive to Oxford Street but by any indication I think it's safe to bet that most will become available, considering they're up online hidden like Christmas presents by Santa (cough, parents, cough).  I personally have not had this launch confirmed for July, I'm reporting a rumour among us all on IG but if it is true, there isn't long to wait now.

As you can see the products have been put onto the website.  Although they are hidden they are there and I did my digging and found almost all of them.  Whether it's a weeks time or even a month away - Lush are preparing for something by uploading these all online.  Perhaps... They launch? It's just a question of when.  Fingers crossed it's soon!  I hope you are all really excited just like myself and seeing everything above has made you squeal.  Comment below and tell me what you're most excited about or what's caught your interest from the collages.  Or tell me when you think they'll launch.  Have you heard anything that's better shared than a secret?? 



Thanks for viewing and seeing!

Instagram: @lushvoyage








The pictures of the products in the collages are from Lush's website and I in no way take credit for them.

Salted Coconut hand scrub: "This is Brilliant"

Co-co-nuts! Go-go-nuts! It's Salted Coconut!

As a massive lover of the coconut fragrance and begging Lush to make a shower product holding the same or a similar fragrance of Curly Wurly, I was thrilled to learn of not one, not two but three coconut products! (Yuzu and Cocoa and Coconut Scrubby).  I opted for Salted Coconut since I like body scrubs and albeit this is labelled as a 'hand scrub' I couldn't help but think... Naaaaah.  I'll get it and use it as a body scrub.

The first thing to surprise me was Salted Coconut's fragrance.  I expected this to smell like a sea salted coconut product or something similar to sea salted caramel soap.  No there isn't any caramel in this, but I thought the caramel would be replaced with coconut and the outcome would be Salted Coconut.  However, this has a really earthy coconut fragrance.  But to cut the mystery down for people, the pot states this has the fragrance of Furze perfume.  

And in case you're like me and have never smelt Furze, imagine Curly Wurly with an earthy note or Kerbside Violet perfume with a coconuty bang.

The second surprise was the actual structure of the scrub.  I expected this to be like Rub, Rub, Rub but it couldn't be any more different.  Salted Coconut doesn't have the same consistency regarding the salt and liquid part.  In Rub, Rub, Rub there is an abundance of salt with a kind of shower gel.  When you spread this across your skin it's more like an oil and doesn't lather whatsoever.  The salt is sand like and there isn't so much of it that really makes this a 'scrub'.

In saying that, the lack of scrub properties is made up for in other ways.  The next thing I didn't expect was how moisturising this was.  Salted Coconut leaves a coat of moisture on the skin giving a lovely silky and soft finish. 

When reading the ingredients and know more about them it really should come as no surprise why this is so moisturising.  The two things that really stood out to me was the Japan Wax and Cupuacu Butter.  Japan Wax and Cupuacu Butter are emollients and are great for providing moisture to the skin.  Argan oil also stands out because of it's popular use in skin and hair conditioning products.  So considering this, there is no denying how nourishing and skin friendly Salted Coconut is.  And if you try this out yourself you'll see what I mean.

The fragrance left on the skin is much lighter than the fragrance from the pot since it isn't as in your face.  It settles on the skin and lingers for as long as 4 hours.  I like the creamy earthy coconut smell on the skin but I'll admit I was scared I wouldn't like this at all.  When I first smelt Salted Coconut I really liked it.  And then after I kept smelling it and found it to be a little overpowering.  I was trying to keep Salted Coconut until June but I realised I was going to have to use it sooner rather than later, or I was never going to use it because I'd convince myself I hated it.

The only things I don't like about this product is how water-thin it is.  Salted Coconut is really, really, reaaaaally runny.  It's not as thick as shower gels and it isn't as water-thin like So White, but I'd be really anxious if I knocked this over because I wouldn't need to look to know I'd lose some if not most of it to the drain. 

Salted Coconut isn't the scrub I imagined it to be but maybe that's because it isn't a body scrub.  This is a hand scrub and I can already tell this will be magic partnered up with Golden Handshake hand mask.  It will take your hands to pamperdise heaven.  I tend to take my hands for granted since they never really act up by cracking or suffer serve dryness.  However, my mum on the other hand is in desperate need of major TLC for her hands.  I persuaded her to try this out with me to see how it benefits someone with skin problems relating to their hands.  Below is a direct description of how she felt after using Salted Coconut:

"Well I definitely feel as though a skin has been put over them.  That's [the rough and flakey feeling] kind of gone if you know what I mean.  I feel as though my hands have gone all soft.  It's totally different.  Around the quicks it's totally brilliant.  So brilliant.  The dryness is gone from the edge of my fingers, the roughness that catches and tears things like my tights.  They feel so good and soft.  I'm really impressed. When do I use it again?"

Together my mum and I had a pamper night where I massaged her hands with Salted Coconut.  This leaves hands so conditioned, moisturised and soft even a hand cream isn't desperately needed.  My mum (a person who's struggled with cracked skin on her hands throughout life) recommends this to people with a similar condition.  She felt the sand-like salt wasn't harsh because of how small the granules were.

All in all Lush have created a product I'm rather impressed with.  I have to give credit where it's due - this isn't what I expected at all.  It isn't impossible to use this as a body scrub but do not think it's like Ocean Salt and Rub, Rub, Rub.  It's more like a gritty water-thin body conditioner.  It's purpose as a hand scrub is 100% effective and I'd suggest people to use it for what it is and not for what they'd love it to be.  I wouldn't purchase this again solely as a shower product because it's design isn't practical for the shower.

As a hand scrub, I think this is bloody brilliant for hand treatments and I cannot stress this enough.  It was excellent to see my mum chirpy and to be thrilled something helped her hands.  Actually, I'm feeling really thankful because of this.  Not only has it helped her it's brought us together, as Lush tends to do.  Salted Coconut is a great creation and I have no doubt will be a popular product among Lushies.

Thanks for reading! 

Instagram: @lushvoyage

Ingredients: Fine Sea Salt, Glycerine, Fresh Lemon Infusion, Organic Silken Tofu, Japan Wax, Argan Oil, Cupuacu Butter, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Perfume, Neroli Oil,
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Hydroxycitronellal, Amyl Cinnamal, *Geraniol, *Famesol, *Limonene, *Linalool

*Occurs naturally in essential oils.

More photos of Salted Coconut:

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 Oxford St New and Exclusive Products: What we know of and Prices

So Lush Oxford St opened its doors today to all the Lushies out there desperate to get their hands on exclusive products and new ones too.  Sadly I'm not going to Oxford St but I do have my fingers crossed I'll be getting my hands on some goodies very shortly from the lovely gals in the Lush Community.  But whilst you and I wait, I thought I'd list all the products I've seen, heard or read of until I can actually get some of the products.  Here's what's up for grabs and what's hopefully coming to all stores sooner rather than later:

Bath Bombs:

Frozen bath bomb (£3.75)

Cyanide Pill bath bomb (£3.50)

Guardian of the Forest (£3.50)

The Experimenter bath bomb (£3.75)

Yoga Bomb bath bomb (£3.75)

Lava Lamp bath bomb (£3.35)

Intergalactic bath bomb (£3.50)

The Sacred Lotus Flower bath bomb (£3.50)

Golden Slumbers (£3.35)
Ylang Song (£3.35)

Bubble Bars:

Granny Takes a Dip bubble bar (£3.65)

Pink Flamingo bubble bar (£5.95)

The Windmill bubble bar (£5.95)

Milky Bottle bubble bar (£3.75)

Cherry Blossom bubble bar (£5.95)

Diviation 'Pendulum' bubble bar (£5.95)

Little Dragon bubble bar (£5.95)

Flowering Teabag "Bath Dunk" bubble bar (£5.95)

Supertramp bubble bar (£3.75)

Grass bubble bar (3.75)

Big Bang bubble bar

Luxury Bath Oils (all £2.00):

Razzle Razzle bath oil - pink coloured ball

Ginger bath oil - gold coloured ball

Orange Blossom bath oil - orange coloured ball

I Am A Radiant Being bath oil - pink/purple star 

Furze bath oil - looks like a Scottish thistle 

Flowers Barren bath oil - petal covered ball

Lime Pastille bath oil - light green coloured ball 

Shark Infested Custard bath oil - yellow coloured ball 

Sun bath oil - bronze coloured ball

Delight bath oil - silver coloured ball 

Monsieur Gustav bath oil - purple coloured ball 

Johnny Appleseed bath oil - Apple green ball

Happy Thoughts bath oil - red coloured ball

Oil on Troubled Waters bath oil - royal blue glitter coloured ball

Double Vitality - star

Soaps:

Bertie soap (starting at £3.70)

Zen soap (starting at £6.50)

Sticky Banana soap (starting at £3.10)

Respect Your Elders soap (starting at £3.40)

Out Back Mate soap (starting at £3.40)

Sea Salted Caramel soap (starting at £4.10)

Cream of Tomato soap (starting at £2.95)

Layer Cake soap (starting at £3.40)

Maypole soap (starting at £3.10)

Green Gold soap (starting at £3.50)

Devil's Night Cap soap (starting at £5.50)

Apandapand soap (starting at £3.70)

Milk Bottle soap (starting price at £2.95)

Lush Hippy cold pressed soap (£4.95)

Lush Mechanics cold pressed soap (£4.95)

Lush Gardeners cold pressed soap (£4.95)

Serendipity soap (starting at £3.40)

FUN (all are £5):

Sea monsters FUN

Mermaid FUN

Monsters and Aliens FUN

Purple FUN

Orange FUN

Speedboat FUN

Gold FUN

Shower Gels/Creams (all range between £4.75 - £27.50):

Yuzu and Cocoa shower cream

Lord of Misrule shower cream

Comforter shower cream

Beautiful shower gel

Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair shower gel

Don't Rain on My Parade shower gel

Shower Jelly (£3.50 100g / £6.95 250g)

Refresher shower jelly

93,000 Miles shower jelly
Needles and Pine shower jelly 

Shower Scrubs/Butters/Powders/Smoothies

Life's a Beach! shower scrub (£9.99)

Candy Floss showder (£9.95)

Lemon Serbet showder (£9.95)

Washchinno showder (£9.95)

Rub, Rub, Rub body scrub (solid version - £3.95)

Rough with the Smooth body butter (£4.95)

Enzymic shower smoothie (£5 per 100g)

Coconut Scrubby shower smoothie (£5 per 100g)

Berry shower smoothie (£8.50 per 100g)

Orange shower smoothie (£4.50 per 100g)

Blueberry Roulade shower smoothie

Cleansers:

Havana Sunrise cleanser (£12.95 per 300g)

Face Moisturisers:
Magical Moringa (£29.95 - but was £28.00 in the Lush Kitchen)

Fresh Face Masks:

Prince of Darkness (£6.50)

Rosy Cheeks (£6.50)

Don't Look at Me (£6.50)

Man in the Mushroom Mask (£6.50)

Cup o' Coffee (£12.00 for 250g)

Deodorant:

Sunflower solid deodorant (£4.95/100g)

Lip Balms:

Vegelene all purpose balm (£2.95)

Buttered Brazils lip balm (£6.75)

Passion Fruit lip balm (£6.75)

Rose Lollypop lip balm (£6.75)

Key Lime lip balm (£6.75)

Hot Hand Mask:

Golden Handshake (£2.95)

Hand Scrub:

Salted Coconut hand scrub (£7.95 small size / £13.95 large size)

Hand cream/treatments:

Love and Light hand cream (£7.95 small size / £13.95 large size)

Foot Lotion:

Softy foot lotion (£4.95 small size / £9.95 large size)

Go Faster Feet foot lotion (£6.95 small size / £13.95 large size)

Pink Peppermint foot lotion

Foot Soap:
Pumice Power foot soap (£3.10 per 100g)
Foot Soak foat soak (£3.95)

Tooth Products:

Tooth Fairy tooth powder (£4.95)

Atomic tooth powder

Ultrablast tooth powder

Oral Pleasure toothy tabs (£5.95)

Miles of Smiles toothy tabs  (£5.95)

Boom toothy tabs (£5.95)

Bling toothy tabs (£5.95)

Limelight toothy tabs (£5.95)

Body Spray:

Uptown Funk (small size £25 / large size £45)

Princess Cottongrass

Hot Oil Treatments(haircare):

Tangled (£6.50)

Damaged (£6.50)

Kinky (£6.50)

Shampoo: 

Odango solid shampoo (£7.95)

Waves solid shampoo (£6.50)

Hairy McClaggy (£6.95)

Avocado Co-Wash (shampoo + conditioner; £9.95)

Jersey Bounce shampoo (£6.50 small size / £12.95 large size)

Hair Conditioner:

Super Daddy-O solid hair conditioner (£5.95)

The Plumps hair conditioner (£5.95)

Hair Dressings:

Hair Custard hair dressing (£12.95)

Giants Gel hair dressing (£9.95 - £19.95)

Mr Dandy's Hair Candy hair dressing (£12.95 - £24.95)

Hair Product:

Sunny Day anti-static hair detangler (£9.95 small size / £19.95 large size)

Queen Bee hair wax (£9.95)

Jo Jo hair wax (£9.95)

Candles:

Inhale candle (£25.00)

Exhale candle (£25.00)

Voice of Reason candle (£30.00)

Vanilla Brûlée candle (£25.00)

!!!CANDLES HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF SHELF FOR INVESTIGATION DUE TO CLAIMS THEY ARE FIRE HAZARDOUS!!!!

Make-up:

Bold solid lipstick (£13.50) - pink shade with reddish notes

Secure solid lipstick (£13.50) - a midnight blue and black shade

True solid lipstick (£13.50)

Just solid lipstick (£13.50) - blood red shade

Beautiful solid lipstick (£13.50)

Energy solid lipstick (£13.50) - creamy light pink shade like a rose

Soul solid lipstick (£13.50)

Amorous solid lipstick (£13.50)
Ambition solid lipstick (£13.50) - poppy red shade
Passionate solid lipstick (£13.50) - twilight bath bomb shade

Faithful solid lipstick (£13.50)
Tenacious solid lipstick (£13.50) - hot pink shade
Tenacity solid lipstick (£13.50) - fuchsia (pink purple) shade
Witty solid lipstick (£13.50) - lilac shade
Elegance solid lipstick (£13.50) - milk coffee shade
Stand Out solid lipstick (£13.50) - mauve shade
Decisive solid lipstick (£13.50) - bright red shade

Joy solid lipstick (£13.50) - coral shade 

Lovely blusher powder 

Elated blusher powder

Refresh bronzer
Dark Brown colour supplement
Light Brown colour supplement

Moisturising Bar:

Elbow Grease moisture bar (brightens tattoos) (£5.95)

Dusting Powder:

Gymslip dusting powder (£6.95)

Princess dusting powder (£9.95)

Get Closer dusting powder (£6.95)

Lush Oxford Street Canvas Bag: £8.95

Please note there are other new products that I do not know of - I will be updating this post regularly when I find out about new products and can confirm prices to products that don't have a price label next to them.

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. 


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Instagram: @lushvoyage

Curly Wurly shampoo review: "For it's scent alone this is a winner"

Curly Wurly (£10.25/220g) was one of those impulse buys from Lush.  I don't really have curly hair and I don't really need a moisturising hair shampoo either.  But yes, I bought Curly Wurly nonetheless.  I was actually going to buy Big shampoo but that didn't happen - until next time.

On the pot, it explains Mark Constanine gets really "cross" when companies make a coconut shampoo but don't actually have real coconut in them.  So Mark was inspired to do the complete opposite with his coconut shampoo and has put a hell of a lot of coconut in it.  You can actually see, feel and smell the true coconut inside this shampoo.

This is a really personal product to me even though it probably isn't the best shampoo Lush can offer my hair type. Curly Wurly doesn't just leave a fragrance I like for my hair but a smell of a personal memory.  Every summer when I was a child, my family and I travelled to America where I would be at the pool everyday for two weeks.  I'm not kidding it was hours on end... 9am to 5pm everyday.  At the pool side there were certain things I smelt, just like at the seaside.  At the pool, I would smell chlorine, palm trees, hot air and coconut.  The fans around the hotel blew these scents in my face as well.  Curly Wurly delivers such a personal memory and experience of these fragrances that I've not experienced in years.  I swear I even smell chlorine in Curly Wurly but that obviously isn't possible when it isn't in it.
The coconut oil, vetivert oil and vanilla infusion come together to make a holiday destination, a really beautiful and sweet scented product.   For it's scent alone this is a winner.

Not only does the product smell a-freakin-mazing its pretty amazing itself.  It is a really moisturising product with all of the butters, oils and fruit.  Curly Wurly contains Papayas and Avocado butter - have I ever wrote before I LOVE both of these ingredients?  Avocado anything will receive my unconditional love.  Both of these fruits add nourishment and betterment to the state of hair.  Curly Wurly also contains eggs so unfortunately it isn't a vegan product for any vegans out there.  That kind of makes me sad that you'll miss out on this experience but then again it is personal, no one else may feel the way I feel about Curly Wurly.  But the eggs provide a conditioning and strengthening element to the product that will benefit hair, and lemon Juice provides a good clean by refreshing the hair.

Although Curly Wurly isn't a skin care product but rather a hair care product, I had it tested on my arm in my Lush store and it felt incredible.  It was super soft and gentle - which surprised me with the desiccated coconut.  It was also really thick and spread like a paste before water got involved.  It also felt really creamy and bursting with goodness.

The first time I used this in my hair I was a little apprehensive.  It was so thick and sticky I didn't know how it was going to lather, and I also felt nervous in case it wouldn't come out my hair! But, as usual, Lush products aren't to be underestimated or misjudged.  To be fair, Curly Wurly didn't lather as quickly as shampoo bars do (HIWMH being an example).  It took more than a couple of palms to bring its lather out but overall it's alright.  The shampoo made a thick white lather that felt really juicy and fluffy, full of goodness and being palmed into my head.  However, as I've wrote, it's lather is a little weak compared to Lush's shampoo bar.


Curly Wurly is the fourth shampoo I've tried by Lush and I opted for this over Big because of its smell.  I have found myself a little disappointed by the lather of this shampoo considering I used a generous amount.  Nonetheless, I'm rather thankful I bought this shampoo opposed to Big as I found Curly Wurly's desiccated coconut pieces a challenge enough rather than pieces of sea salt.  The coconut pieces were tangled in my hair and I spent more time brushing my hair to get them out.  I love the fragrance of this shampoo and if the pieces of coconut are necessary then dismiss my criticism.  But if the product could survive without, I'd be much, much happier.  I do recommend Curly Wurly shampoo as it is a really beautiful hair care product that stands out from the crowd.  With its incredibly sweet and emotion-tied fragrance this was a winner to start with.  But after using it, it's fragrance lingered in my hair naturally and I even had compliments from people.  My hair didn't feel as soft as I pre-thought it would without a conditioner, but it certainly felt nourished and not in need of moisture from a conditioner.  My hair was easier to brush out after using this compared to shampoo bars, and it also had a lot of bounce and lightness to it that it usually doesn't have.  I wouldn't say it adds volume to your hair but it definitely succeeds in lifting it discreetly to bounce about and also revives my childhood curls slightly.  Curly Wurly adds a look of health to hair and my hair certainly felt better using it.  

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Instagram: @lushvoyage

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Ingredients: 

Ammonium, Laureth Sulphate,

Desiccated Coconut

,

Cetearyl Alcohol,

Propylene Glycol

Water (Aqua),

Fresh Organic Lemon Juice

,

Glyceryl Stearate & PEG-100 Stearate,

Perfume

Linseed Infusion,

Fresh Papaya

,

Lauryl Betaine,

Fresh Organic Free Range Eggs,

Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter,

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

,

Shea Butter,

Organic Jojoba Oil,

Avocado Butter

,

Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute,

Vetivert Oil

,

Benzoin Resinoid

Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil,

Alkanet Extract,

Lanolin

Cetrimonium Bromide

*Coumarin

 

Golden Egg Review - 'Golden Egg really is one of Lush's most specialbath products a Lushie can try'

As of late, at least one product from Lush's seasonal goodies is a beautiful, sparkling, glitter bomb (or bubble bar).  There was Sparkly Pumpkin in the Halloween Collection, 

Holly Go Lightly bubble bar and Star Light Star Bright bath melt in the Christmas Collection and the Lonely Heart bubble bar in the Valentines Collection.  And in the delightful 2015 Easter Collection there is once again Golden Egg.

Golden Egg is the bath bomb/bath melt all lush employees seem quite pleased to see the back of when Easter is over.  Glitter goes everywhere and I mean everywhere.  There is no escape from the Golden Glitter of Golden Egg!

But whether you love or hate the glitter monster, Golden Egg really is one of Lush's most special bath products a Lushie can try.  When I first discovered Lush, it was Easter and Golden Egg was one of the first bath products I tried.  I immediately fell in love with its toffee and caramel fragrance... Its fragrance is very much like Honey I Washed the Kids soap, Honey I Washed My Hair shampoo bar and It's Raining Men shower gel.  Smelling Golden Egg and It's Raining Men together, there is a difference between the two fragrances but all in all the similarities overrule their differences.  I'm guessing it is the lack of honey in Golden Egg which causes the slight difference. 

It's price is £3.75 and it's a steal when you consider it's a bath bomb and bath melt.  When you plop the egg into the water the bath melt gets to work first and then when that's melted, the bath bomb begins to fizz away.  Trust me, you'll see the difference.  

The fragrance stays constant throughout the entire bath.  I was in the bath the other night for almost over an hour and the fragrance didn't die down whatsoever.  And the fragrance left behind on skin? YUM.  The way Golden Egg smells when picked up in store or delivered in hauls is exactly how you smell when coming out of the bath.  This would be a really good pre-outing bath product since it leaves a beautiful glitter blanket on the skin and you smell delicious, incredible and you surely will feel comfortable in your own skin.

As soon as you step into the bath you can feel within minutes your skin is moisturised and nourished.  It may feel greasy and for some people it may actually be too greasy but that's a personal preference.  Imagine your body after using King of Skin, African Paradise conditioner or Ceridwen's Cauldron bath melt.  Just don't expect to go into a bath with Golden Egg and come out with 'soft' or 'smooth' skin by the likes of Honey Bee ballistic.  The bath melt is a bath melt regardless of it being a bath bomb as well.

The only criticism I have for Golden Egg is it is one hell of a mess to clean up after using it.  Even if you just shower the bath down whilst your draining it - the glitter still sticks to the bath! It kind of annoys me that some Lush employees tell customers this doesn't happen OR a specific employee once told me; it's because I used hot water. And why wouldn't I use hot water? It's a bath! But that's really besides the point.  Please just be aware that the glitter does stick to the bath, particularly the bottom, and it will also stick to the sides if you don't hose the bath down whilst draining.   Last year I got out the bath and drained and walked away to get a drink and planned to clean it later.  When I went back... My bath looked similar to sandpaper.  And it felt like it too, actually.  It took me half an hour to clean my bath - going through a quarter of cleaning product and it ruined my cleaning cloth too.

As I previously said, Golden Egg is a treat for any Lushie to try and you'll see why yourself when you try it.  It's kind of special.  I'd recommend it to anyone who hasn't tried it before.  And I'll conclude by writing that Golden Egg is the best Easter product in the Easter Collection by Lush.

Click here to see Golden Egg demo 


Thanks for reading!

Instagram: @lushvoyage


 

Ingredients: 

Sodium Bicarbonate, 

Fair Trade Colombian Cocoa Butter, 

Citric Acid

Laureth 4,  

Cream of Tartar, 

Sodium Laureth Sulfate, 

Perfume

Sweet Wild Orange Oil, 

Bergamot Oil, 

Olive Oil

Cornflour, 

Lauryl Betaine, 

Amyl Cinnamal, 

Citronellol, 

Geraniol, 

Lilial, 

*Linalool, 

*Limonene

Gardenia Extract, 

Colour 19140:1

Radiant Gold Lustre, 

Gold Glimmer Lustre