LUSH review #1 Lip Scrub

LUSH Lip Scrub in Bubblegum £4.95 for 25g

I've been meaning to buy The Body Shop's 'Lipscuff' for months now but never seem to get round to it. I like the idea that it is in a lipstick form, but it was more expensive so I decided to try the Lush 'Lip Scrub'.

Using a lipscrub isn't vital but if we exfoliate our bodies and face to make them smoother, why shouldn't we do the same for our lips? Imagine what our lips go through everyday; talking, eating, drinking, kissing, biting (if we're nervous!), all sorts of weather conditions-they need looking after! 

Secndly, by exfoliating the lips we provide a smooth base for anything to be added on top, such as lipstick. Also if you have flaky lips, this product would be great for you as it would gently remove the dead skin so you can then apply a layer of balm to soothe them.

The problem with using a normal, facial exfoliant on the lips is that there's a risk the product will get in your mouth, ick! Lush have definately avoided this problem by making the scrub a sugar scrub and therefore edible. The main ingredient is castor sugar, but it also contains jojoba oil. Jojoba oil is great as it is a naturally moisturizing ingredient, it also balances oil production (which is why it can be used in treatments for acne). However there is that slight thought that pops into my head every now and then ;"I just paid a fiver for a few grams of sugar!", if you're a student or on a budget, then make this yourself! If you live in a house of girls you could make a big vat of it and split it all between you!

Lush's Lip Scrubs come in a range of colours and flavours; Bubblegum (pink), Mint Julips (peppermint/vanilla, gold in colour), Sweet Lips (chocolate, gold in colour), are a few of the options.

The size of the sugar grain is perfect as it isn't too rough, but the formula is dense enough to cover the lips without too much effort. Infact, this fine but effective scrub reminds me of 'Scrub Your Nose In It' facial exfoliant by Soap & Glory that I reviewed here.

The Bubblegum flavour is bright pink! I find the colour quite appealing, and the taste is really sweet; it reminds me of Haribo/parma violets i.e. not a very natural flavour, and almost perfumed. It is very synthetic tasting which is fine in small doses, I wonder if the vanilla flavour, or any of the others for that matter are like this?

The final result is brilliant and pleasing. It takes seconds to apply, rub and remove (with yo' tongue!) and afterwards my lips are left tingly. After a while I apply a chapstick/balm, as I would before applying any lipstick. I like this product because it is simple to use, with instant results. It's also quite fun to apply, so different to anything else I do! My lips are definately softer after using this, (I can't stop touching them!) whether it is worth the £4.95 price tag is your decision, would be a good gift!

Do you use lip scrubs? Are you a fan of LUSH products?

Soap and Glory Review #1

Soap & Glory 'Scrub Your Nose In It' facial scrub £7.40 for 125ml and Soap & Glory 'Glow Job' daily moisture lotion £9 for 75ml

Soap & Glory offer a large collection of products ranging from hand cream, to shower gel, to lip gloss! I believe they have a good reputation, a nice product for excellent and affordable prices. I'm going to review their facial scrub and their daily lotion, both are products I have been using for a few months.

Firstly, their packaging is really appealing. It's slightly Benefit- esque, it's nice. Retro imagery on the packaging, tongue- in- cheek product names along with the uniform colours of candy pink and warm creams mean that Soap & Glory can be spotted a mile off in Boots. They're also pushing a really credible cause, something they're calling the 'The Two Minute Rinse' where they state we only need about 120 seconds to get washed, shampooed and conditioned. They want each of us to see if we can do the Two Minute Rinse, because water, and more importantly, water shortages, is becoming a problem. I cannot BEAR water waste, (people who brush their teeth and keep the tap on, shame on you!) so I like their campaign.

Scrub Your Nose In It is a facial scrub designed to target the T-Zone to prevent clogging and large pores. I use it about once a week, because I feel like that is often enough to exfoliate my face. The texture is like soft clay, the scrub is fine but rough enough to make it feel like it is doing something and covering the entire surface I apply it to (something I find a problem with other scrubs). I apply it in a circular motion onto a damp face and leave for half a minute or so, mainly because I love the smell. You may think it looks like toothpaste, but it also smells like it, but it's also a sugary scent. It's gorgeous, after I've washed it off it genuinely feels like my skin has been revitalised and is breathing. It definately softens my skin too. 10/10!

Glow Job (LOL, amazin') is a moisturizer light enough for daily use. As you can tell from the size of the packaging, it is meant solely for facial use, so that's where I've been using it. I apply a pea sized amount in the morning after my shower, and allow it to soak in before applying my makeup. It's a light, fresh cream and it makes my skin feel nice (doesn't clog my skin up and hasn't caused any skin problems). It's different to basic facial creams because it contains Bronzeburst Beads which is why it is marketed as a Daily Radiance cream and where I suppose the 'Glow' in the name came from. The beads burst onto your face as you rub it in, causing an explosion of bronze! Although at first this is quite uneven, you have to blend it, after a couple of minutes my face does look tanned. Although a nice idea, I'm not too bothered about it, I just like the cream, plus the tan is soon covered by my makeup. It is nice, though, especially for a pale girl such as me to have in the summer.

In the centre, a couple of Bronzeburst Beads have, well, burst!

I'm really impressed with Soap & Glory and I will continue to buy their products, I've heard really good things about Hand Food so I might be trying that soon. Plus, Soap & Glory are currently 3 for 2 in Boots, so go treat yoursen!

Are you a fan of Soap & Glory products? Do you use either of these?