Avoshower shower gel review: "I'm not so fond"

For an entire year tonnes of Lushies repeatedly called upon the Lush Kitchen to make the highly sought after Avowash shower gel.  The shower gel that is released in American stores for special store anniversaries.  It's a rare product and is one you'll often find fallen victim to the leaches of eBay.  Approaching the Kitchen's first anniversary many of us hoped and willed for the Kitchen to surprise us with Avowash.  It didn't happen.  It happened the week after their anniversary, the devils.

Avoshower is supposed to be the adaption of Avobath bath bomb which is... questionable.  For some reason Avoshower smells more like Lush's Stepping Stone foot scrub more than Avobath.  Nonetheless Avoshower has a really invigorating and stimulating fragrance and is the perfect shower gel for a morning shower.  It gives off the same kind of feeling peppermint or spearmint give, that really awakening feeling.

Also, I've read a couple of comments from American Lushies who got their hands on a bottle of Avoshower saying this is indeed different to Avowash.  Learning they do smell different is a little disappointing since Avobath is my favourite bath bomb and as I wrote above, Avoshower isn't exactly identical to the bath bomb when that's what we were expecting and wanting.  

The addition of avocado oil is supposed to give Avshower a really nourishing and hydrating quality since it has vitamins A,B,C and E and a bunch of other great parts.  And avocado oil is actually believed to help the healing of scars too.  The present Rosewood Oil gives antiseptic and balancing benefits too.  Combine these oils with Lemongrass Infusion and citrus oils Avoshower gets it's really interesting fragrance. 

The main thing I love about the bath bomb is how moisturising and conditioning it is with an excellent refreshing fragrance.  And I don't feel Avoshower is a true adaption of this.  When I use this shower gel it doesn't moisturises my skin - I actually feel it dries my skin out which is saddening.  It does soften the skin as most shower gels do, but there is a roughness to my skin because it's dry skin.  No other shower gel by Lush's full year line up or Kitchen production has left my skin like this.  The best way to explain this to you guys is imagine using your facial cleanser but never applying your moisturiser.  I've washed my face for days on end before and never applied moisturiser.  The outcome? Really dried up skin and flakiness.

Whilst it lathers well and has a nice creamy look it isn't as good as it appears to be.  I think that adds to the disappointment if I'm honest.  This really does look creamy and would actually pass as a shower cream.  But it isn't.

I'd recommend this shower gel to anyone who is really fond of the Stepping Stone fragrance.  But please don't solely base a purchase on Avoshower thinking it smells like Avobath because it doesn't really.  I don't know if it's because it's got a lack of Lemongrass or a little more, lack of other ingredients like extra virgin olive oil or maybe it's the avocado oil in the shower gel when it's fresh avocado in the bath bomb.  They just aren't identical to each other.  It's fragrance is lovely and very uplifting and invigorating nonetheless.

I wished on the Lush star for an entire year and my wish eventually came true.  The kitchen did cook Avowash but I do have to say it wasn't what I expected - and sadly in a bad way.  When you first smell products by Lush you can fall madly in love with them and then two weeks later you can hate them.  It can also be the opposite where you hate them and then love them.  For me I loved this and now I'm not so fond.  With a lack of moisturising qualities, the only positive quality this has is a pleasant fragrance and an alluring colour.  Admittedly the only reason I would buy this shower gel again is if I didn't have my collection of gels.  I would buy it for it's fragrance but I wouldn't rush to do this if there was a better offer.  It isn't a really bad shower gel but it isn't really great either.  Avoshower definitely doesn't agree with my skin - drying it out isn't really good for an eczema sufferer.  Instead I'd recommend Back for Breakfast or Calacas citrus and sweet Kitchen gels.  

Don't make a sequel if you can't out due the original, as Kevin Williamson told me.  The same motto goes for Don't make an adaption if it isn't truly an adaption.  That's how I feel about this shower gel.  It's like having an idol (Avobath) and then you meet said idol (Avoshower) and it's utterly disappointing.  But maybe one day I'll get my hands on the true Avowash.





Thanks for reading!
Instagram: @lushvoyage

Ingredients: Lemongrass Infusion, Water, Bergamot Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Rosewood Oil, Organic Avocado Oil, *Citral, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Gardenia Extract, Frosty Green Glitter, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
*Occurs naturally in essential oils
Suitable for Vegans.

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.

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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