For the Times that You Crave Chocolate

I am craving chocolate a lot these days, and it reminded me to talk about one of my favourite lip balms of all time - the Lush Whip Stick Lip Balm.

I loved the Lip Balm so much that I've purchased it numerous times - it leaves a sheer chocolaty stain on your lips (that looks quite flattering, actually) and is best when it's a little melted. The lip balm doesn't taste at all like chocolate (it doesn't taste like much, actually) but it sure does smell like it. I think it's the best lip balm that Lush has. Even if you don't like the Lush store - and I know many of you don't - duck inside and grab this lip balm. They keep it right by the checkout, no matter what store you go into. Yummy.

The Only Thing On My Wishlist

Whether it's a holiday or my birthday, Lush goodies are the only thing that end up on my wishlist. I think that's because Lush stores are so few and far apart that their gifts are harder to get, but ordering online is always an option. Just be aware: Lush products smell very strong so if that's not your taste, then don't get them for people you live with.

I picked some of the best gifts and kept the prices under $50. These are the best because they have a little bit of everything and not too many products specifically for the bath. The presents go from least expensive to most.

Rock Chick.

White Christmas.

Snow Fairy Gift.

Shiny Happy People.

Wild Child.

Very Berry.

Snow Showers.

Order now and you'll probably be able to get them before the holidays.

Minty Masks Part 3

I expected Lush's Mask of Magnaminty to be super minty what with the etymology of the name coming from the Latin magna meaning big and the American minty meaning... that which is of the mint.

In any case, this mask is minty but it's not too strong. The scent of the mask is actually more like a chocolate-mint combo, much like an After Eight chocolate. The mask is quite thick so it works best when you've wet your face already and it has scrubby bits in it but I found that they're so big that they're not very effective. As I was rubbing the mask on and trying to scrub my face, the bits fell off and were thus ineffective altogether.

Overall, if you want a minty mask, this one is great but don't count on it for scrubbing. I should say that Lush has a huge range of masks that are a part of their Fresh range. The line is products that are so fresh that they have to be refrigerated and used within a month (for the most part). There are options for every kind of skin and every age, so if you're in the mood for a mask, you should definitely check out the entire line!

More masks reviewed tomorrow and Thursday!

Dreamwash

I know that the warm weather is here by the way that my skin reacts - lets just say that I sport more of a "glow" in the summer than I do in the winter. I've tried almost everything out there to help me combat this problem and there's one product that I keep coming back to.

Lush's Dreamwash. Now they market this for use on the body, but it has almost the same ingredients as their Fresh Farmacy and Aquamarina so I figured that it would be okay to use it on my face too. It's much easier to use than the other two products because it's a creamy soap that comes in a tub letting you scoop out as much as you need instead of rubbing a messy bar over your face.

This stuff works wonders. When I use it in the summer, my skin is clearer and stays oil-free for longer. I still use an oil-free foundation the rest of the time, but I'm lost without this. I hope Lush keeps this one around forever.

Lush Tramp

The thing I love about Lush Cosmetics is that they really listen to their customers. No, that doesn't mean that you fill out a survey and get a message saying "Thank you for your time!" What that means is that if enough customers want something, they'll get it. Case in point: Tramp Shower Gel. It was gone but now it's back.

I tried the gel last week and adore it. Firstly, if there ever was a unisex shower gel this is it. The main scent is patchouli in a very earthy form coupled with a general woodiness. I used this shower gel for my hair and body, and I found that the scent lasted in my hair but not on my skin. More importantly, it's given my hair a lovely sheen and bounce that was not there before, but without any over drying. If you haven't yet tried this shower gel, now's your chance since it's available either online at Lush or at Lush stores everywhere.

Lush Shampoo Bars

I've mentioned that Lush's Soak and Float Bar is a great dandruff shampoo, but the fact is that I'm a fan of all their shampoo bars. I notice that these bars clean well but don't dry my hair out and they all smell so original!

Some of you may be concerned that a bar shampoo bar will leave residue. All I can say is: one person's residue is another person's leave-in conditioner! In all seriousness, I can't say that I've never noticed them leaving any residue on my hair, and I've tried them all. My hair has certainly never felt limp or looked lackluster after using a shampoo bar and those are two signs of a product leaving residue on your hair. I also haven't had to wash my hair more often than when I used to use a liquid shampoo. I do think that shampoo bars will work for almost all hair types.

The unadventurous among you might be afraid of using a shampoo bar. Do they work? Do they clean your hair? Is your hair going to get super-tangled?

Yes, the shampoos work and yes they do clean your hair. You can avoid tangles as well.

You can use a shampoo bar in two ways. The first way is to rub the bar in your hands so that you get some lather and then work rub this lather into your scalp and through your hair. If you have longer hair, it might be a better idea to rub the shampoo bar directly into your hair. First rub the bar on to your head and then rub it into the rest of your hair. The key is not to go back and forth. Instead, rub the bar in a downwards direction a few times and then put the shampoo bar down and work a lather into your hair using your hands. The bars are concentrated so it really shouldn't be too much of a problem. Using the shampoo bar helps avoid tangled hair.

My favorite shampoo bar is called Hybrid- a shampoo + conditioner that is super moisturizing. If you haven't ever tried Lush shampoo bars, go ahead and take the plunge. The bars last anywhere from 3 to 4 months and are especially great for traveling because they are so portable.

Um, That's Not Snow...

Yes, I am talking about dandruff today. I realize that it's a taboo subject in beauty circles, but we all suffer from it at some point in our lives. It's either from the cold weather, or from stress, or using a shampoo that's not great for our scalp.

I, myself, once decided to remedy the problem by reaching for the nearest chemical anti-dandruff shampoo. I don't even remember whether it worked or not. What I do remember is that after a week of using it, my hair felt like straw. It was then that I turned to Lush.

Lucky for me, they had a solution to my problem: The Soak and Float Shampoo bar. This bar is so gentle on your hair and really does do the job. Moreover, you notice the results from the very first use, and because Lush uses a blend of oils to do away with your dandruff, the result is that your hair does not get dried out.

This shampoo is definitely a standby that everyone should have just in case dry hair or dandruff hits. Good luck!

Oh, and this shampoo worked so well that I just had to try the rest of the Lush shampoos and they're all I use now! So try it!

For the Love of Lush

Lush is one of those stores that people either love or hate. I love it. I suspect that the people who hate it just havn't tried the right product, and yes I'm talking to those of you who don't like strong smells too. I really do believe that there's something for everyone in that store - it's just about being brave and trying something new.

But why do I love Lush so much?

Well I've loved Lush for almost 10 years now and I still remember going into a Lush store for the first time. I read about Lush products in fashion magazines - I still remember when Dream Cream was advertised as being used by Halle Berry back when she was really famous. I also remember being aware that they were British because celebs used to show at their British stores a lot, it seemed.

Then, while walking around downtown Toronto with a friend when I was in highschool, I encountered my very first store and it was like a magical experience. The thing about Lush shoppes is that you can smell them all the way down the street. The fragrance lingers in the air inviting you in to touch and see the products up close.

To me, the smell inside the shop was a mixture of old and new. In some ways it smelled a lot like the Indian incense my parents lit on weekends. In other ways, it smelled fruity and new and very... fresh.

Yes, that's the main difference between Lush and other brands like The Body Shop and Crabtree and Evelyn. Lush makes products so fresh that they come with their own expiry date. Thing is, the date doesn't matter because the products are so good that you'll have used them all up in no time. The only products that you have to be especially careful about is the face masks that are made fresh in the store. So committed are the Canadian stores that you can't purchase these masks over the Internet for fear that they will go bad before they even reach you.

The question isn't whether Lush's products work or not - most of these products make no special claims. The fact is that Lush's products are fresh, contain many natural ingredients, most are vegan, and all smell different. You won't find any popular or run-of-the-mill scents at this store, so don't go in looking for a regular coconut body wash. Instead, you'll find one that mixes coconut with other ingredients to give you something truly unique. And most of the products aren't merely scented, they actually contain some of the ingredients from which they are inspired. For example, an orange-smelling soap will have orange essence in it.

It's a combination of the things I mentioned above that makes Lush special - freshness, real ingredients, and special scents. If you want to try something new, go to Lush. Be brave and you won't be sorry. Lush has stores in Canada and also has its own Canadian website where you can place orders. Check out Lush.com to find a store in your area or country.

Over the next few days I'll talk about some of my favorite products and what ones would make good christmas presents.