Almond and Coconut Smoothie!

So, I don't often say this, but Amond and Coconut Smoothie was one product I never really got into previously, even though just about anyone who's ever tried it - Lushie or newbie alike - adored it. I had tried it once, a long time ago, and for some reason, hadn't been crazy about it. But recently, I decided almost on a whim to purchase a full-size one and try again. Talk about best decision ever! Everyone on staff always talked about how wonderful it was as a shaving cream, so I decided that would be my first test for it. Can I just say, it was one of my favorite Lush experiences thus far! I couldn't get over how soft and smooth it felt on my skin, needless to say how silky my legs were after. I am usually very picky about what I will use as a shaving cream, since my skin is super sensitive...but I absolutely loved the way this practically melted into my skin, giving the slightest hint of lather when encouraged.

After I shaved, I was so excited about how awesome it had been, I decided to try it as a body wash as well, and it was absolutely heavenly! Ridiculous amounts of lather where achievable, but it never felt even a little drying. After that, I finished with a little King of Skin. Talk about softest skin ever! Needless to say, Almond and Coconut Smoothie has become an exciting new addition to my Lush routine.

How to melt your Deodorant!

o we all know the Lush's deodorants are a little different than most on the market. Not only are they aluminum free, but they also are sold in chunks by the quarter pound. They are unique because they are not antiperspirants, but they are amazing at actually deodorizing your pits!
There are two powders: The Greeench and Coconut Powder.
After that is T'eo, which is made up of baking soda crystals and tons of lemon oil.
The two Solids are Aromoco and Aromorant, and they kind of melt onto your skin.

The downfall? They are sometimes kind of a hassle to apply. I know that's what made me hesitate- I like to get ready and get out the door as fast as possible. So after reading through the Lush North America Forum, I found an idea to help me out, and I will be showing you how you can do it too!

So basically, we are taking the solid deodorants, and melting them into a typical deodorant container. This way it is easier to apply, and easier to transport. Let's begin!

1. Pick out what you're using. The products that I used today are Aromorant and T'eo. I imagine you can use any combination of the deo's that you'd like, but a solid one is pretty mandatory.

2. Obtain an empty deodorant container. I used one from an old Secret I had pre-Lush. Twist it all the way up and use a butter knife to get big chunks out, hot water is great for getting it out of the tray at the bottom.

 

3. Prepare your choices. I cut the Aromorant into chunks, and I chopped up the T'eo to be super fine.

4. This part can get tricky: Because the tray that hold the deodorant has empty holes in it, you need to take little pieces of the solid deo and smoosh them into the holes. This way, when you pour the melted deo into the container, it doesn't fill up the bottom, instead of the tray. Twist the tray back into the container.

5. After this, find yourself a MICROWAVE SAFE bowl, glass is the best option. Put one or two chunks of the Aromaco or Aromarant in it. I also put my T'eo powder in there too, in hopes that once melted, they two could mix and be awesome.

6. I put the bowl in the microwave for 15 seconds at a time. If it wasn't completely melted I just put it in again. Be careful when you take it out though because not only will the liquid be super hot, but some pretty strong deo smells came out of the microwave too.

7. Twist the container all the way back down. Carefully pour the liquid into the container. Once you get to the top you can go a little over the top, the excess just drips over the sides.

8. Now, you wait for it to harden. If you're impatient like me, you can put it in the fridge, as long as it's still standing up right.

9. You're pretty much done! Just clean off any drips down the sides and put the cap back on!

*I will say that mixing the T'eo in with it made it a little bit gritty, but not as gritty at the actual T'eo bar. If you react badly to minor irritation, I wouldn't recommend mixing in T'eo.

I hope you all enjoyed my instructions, hopefully it makes your deo's a little easier to put on!!

If any of you try any other combination, I'd love to see how they turn out!!!

I'm really loving our Knots . . .

We recently donated all of our paper gift wrap and are now carrying what we call Knot Wraps... inspired by the Japanese tradition of Furoshiki.

Here you can check out our lovely limited edition MUM wrap.


I don't know about you but I hate wasting paper on gift wrap and I usually do it only because its what socially expected. Our Knot Wraps are perfect for preventing that... its a part of the gift! You use it to transport items and to give items.

In the Japanese culture some wraps are Family tradition and have been in the fmaily for years and years. When using a wrap that is a part of the family, you keep the wrap but present the gift from the wrap. When it is a part of the gift they keep it and can either use it for future gifts or many many other things!





Here is how I sport mine =)

My favorites are being discontinued... What now!?

I've just received the e-mail from Lush about the products that will be discontinued in the next few months. A few of which are my personal favorites, but I'm sure each will be missed dearly! So what are some replacements that we can use?? Most of these are for the scents, feel free to share any replacements you might have in mind!

1. Yummy Yummy Yummy Shower Gel

This strawberry scented shower gel can't really be replaced by any other soap in the store, but the Strawberry Feels Forever massage bars is basically the exact same scent.

2. Happy Pill Bath Bomb

This citrus-y bath bomb is one of the slow fizzers, and this experience can't be replaced by any other. But in an attempt to recreate the scent, an Avo Bath bath bomb and a chunk of Pop in the Bath bubble bar might suffice. The Avo bath will take care of the lemon-y side of Happy Pill, while the bergamot oil in Pop in the Bath provides the warm happy feeling.


3. Tramp Shower Gel

To satisfy your inner hippie with patchouli, crumble some Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds into your bath. Sugar Scrub's scent will provide the earth-y undertones from Tramp. Also be sure to check out Lush's Goth Juice hair styling gel!

4. Mirror Mirror Neck Cream

The brand new product Lovely Jubblies is virtually the exact same thing as Mirror Mirror if you look at the ingredients. I think Lush just decided to make a bigger pot of it since so many people were using Mirror Mirror on their cleavage and entire chest area. Plus, who can refuse that name!?

5. I Should Coco Soap

Lucky for coconut lovers out there, Lush LOVES coconut! Here are just a few of the coconut scented products: Coco Lotion, Coolaulin Conditioner, Trichomania Shampoo, Coconut deodorant powder, Almond and Coconut Smoothie shower smoothie, and Curly Wurly Shampoo!

6. Karma Dusting Powder

Unforunately, no other dusting powder has a similar scent to Karma, but so many other products come in the Karma scent! Where do I even start? Shampoo bar, lotion, bubble bar, solid soap, solid and liquid perfume, (holiday) emotibomb!

What are you going to replace your favorite discontinued items with?

My 3 New Favorites (this month)

I recently decided to give three products that I previously thought weren't for me a try. And let me tell you...I'm SO glad that I did. They've quickly become some of my newest favorites.

Product number 1: Herbalism


I always thought it wasn't for me because I have never seen my skin as "problem skin." And I thought my combination skin was the poster child for Coal Face. The problem was Coal Face didn't do it for me when my skin started to get the occasional pimple. (Which has been happening more than usual lately.) :(

Brice and I decided to try out Herbalism at the same time - because her skin had been acting up too. I cannot rave about how much my skin has improved in the last couple of weeks. The pimples are under control (thanks to the nettle powder), my skin is softer (courtesy of the ground almonds and glycerine), and more even looking (thank you rosemary, chlorophyllin water and rose absolute). If your skin sounds like mine, don't be afraid to give Herbie a try. You might be just as amazed as I was. :)

Product number 2: Curly Wurly


I don't know why I didn't try this shampoo sooner. I've always loved the coconut and vanilla scent of it, but I thought it just wasn't the right product for me because: a) my hair isn't curly (except for that one hair stylist that I had that told me that I had naturally wavy hair, but I didn't believe her.), and b) my hair isn't dry.

I LOVE Lush's haircare products, but haven't found my ultimate favorite combination yet. So, I've been experimenting a lot. This morning I tried Curly Wurly for this first time and I LOVE how my hair looks and feels. That natural waviness is coming out and it's not frizzy! (And a bonus: I didn't have to use a conditioner.) I shouldn't have ignored the fact that one of the benefits of this shampoo are it helps tame frizz. Absolutely amazing. Here's a picture to prove it. (I let my hair air dry, which usually means a frizzy mess.)



Product number 3: King of Skin



Ok. So maybe it's not that I didn't think this product was right for me. I was just stubborn and didn't think that I needed it. After all, I have a million lotions and massage bars. But, my legs have been really dry lately - so much that I'm scratching them - and I needed a solution.

The ingredients in King of Skin: cocoa butter, shea butter and coconut butter, bananas, toning essential oils, jojoba and almond oils, fresh avocado and oatmeal - are amazingly luxurious and soothing. I LOVE the convenience of using the product in the shower and not having to put lotion on after. And the moisture lasts all day and then some!

So, those are my new favorites. What are yours?

KOS

I just fell in love with the King Of Skin all over again.







Buffy has always been my girl and she has been exfoliating and moisturizing my body everyday for a year now.



For some reason my skin has grown to become itchy in the middle of the day!....That's because I was not rotating with the King of Skin. I ran out of this guy maybe 3 months ago and kept telling myself Buffy will get me through this and I don't need another body butter. Boy was I wrong.

The oat, banana and avocado make this puppy not only the most nourishing bar we carry but it also gives it a unique 3 month self life. You should always use on your skin what you would put in your body.

Speaking of what we eat, has everyone seen the documentary FOOD INC.?

YOU should Coco

I'll start out by saying, I am one of those hardcore coconut lovers. Not only do I like coconut flavored anything, but I am in love with the scent as well. This fruit is a key component in almost every natural beauty product out there because it is so moisturising. Luckily, Lush products can satisfy my scent cravings and whisk me away to a tropical island...or at least make me smell like one. Summer isn't that far away, so I thought it would be great to get Lushies in the warm weather spirit with some of my favorite coconut scented products. I will also include some good cocktail suggestions to turn the coco-haters into coco-lovers! Haha... Here are some ideas on how to coco yourself from head to toe!

1) Curly Wurly Shampoo, Trichomania Shampoo & Coolaulin Conditioner- Not just for curly hair! Try to mix a little of each with another type of shampoo or conditioner and make a tropical hair cocktail. One of Carissa's favorites is Big with Curly Wurly. Volume and moisture in one, plus the scent of lime. Or try Coolaulin with American Cream for sweet coconut milkshake scented hair.

2) I Should Coco Soap & Almond & Coconut Smoothie- The other day, some girls came into our shop and picked up the I Should Coco soap and exclaimed, "This smells like vacation!!" I thought that was a perfect description. Not only does this soap have a certain toasted coconut smell, but it has loads of little coconut shreds throughout it to give you a nice soft scrub. In regard to the Almond & Coconut Smoothie, pretty amazing on its own, but try mixing one of our fruity shower gels (like Olive Branch!) to make it smell even more tropical.

3) Coco Lotion Hand & Body Lotion- Our newest lotion! This one doesn't have any added fragrance except for its subtle natural coconut oil smell, along with a hint of mandarin, rosemary, and pineapple juice. This product is so light and creamy, without any cocoa butter, so it is especially great for warmer weather.

4) Coconut Deodorant Powder- After you are all showered and moisturised, grab some Coconut Deodorant Powder and scatter it anywhere that you want to stay dry and smell nice. Sprinkle some in your shoes, too! This might be fun to mix with the Vanilla Puff Powder or on top of Heavenilli Massage Bar, which has extra virgin coconut oil in it, too.

Enjoy your tropical cocktails!

Trying to get through my stash

In the fashion of spring cleaning, one of my goals is to put a dent on my bath bomb and bubble bar stash. One could say I've been a hoarder of these bath delicacies, especially when it comes to the ones that have been discontinued and the holiday goodies. Enough is enough. I need to start using these guys. I haven't stored them well, so they are beginning to lose their smells and some of them have been duds in the bath (not as dramatic of a fizzing show as I'd like).

Last night, I used a Butterfly bath bomb. Quite simply: It was lovely. Such a springtime scent, and since spring was in the air yesterday, it seemed like the right choice.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Butterfly: it has the sensual scents of jasmine, larkspur, ylang ylang and everlasting flower. Plus, it has some flower petals and a cute little sparkly butterfly in it that ends up floating around in the tub with you. :)


Butterfly bath bomb is no longer available at the shop, but I did find it on LUSH's website recently on their Weddings page. Kind of cool.

Next in the queue...Youki-Hi. This was once my favorite and so I've hoarded about 6 of them since they were discontinued at the shop. With a description like this, how can I not?



Youki-Hi bath bomb is a total bath experience. Jasmine and ylang ylang combine beautifully to form a hypnotic, calming and sensual scent. The golden glitter adds a subtly sexy touch while the intoxicating aroma lingers in the water. If you're looking for a bath bomb to relax your mind and your body and add a touch of romance to your day or night, then Youki-Hi is the one for you.

The color is gorgeous and the smell is amazing. I can't wait. More reading in the tub? Yes, please! :)

Mixers

I love mixing my product to make my own concoction. Not only with bath cocktails but also all over the board.

I have been using something we call BIG WURLY. With this mixer I get the moisture from Curly Wurly shampoo and the volume from BIG shampoo. I love that they're both preservative free too!




I usually mix a Jellie with shower gel, and it makes the most soft, frothy wash you will ever feel. omg.





OH and American Cream conditioner on the ends of my hair for a ticker conditioner with Veganese conditioner at the roots for a light weight feel.

LOVE MIXERS. It makes the shower so much better.

Day off.

A Big Tease

Have you ever known about something for like, ever, and just thought to yourself "yeah, but i don't need that/it won't work/i just plain don't wanna try it"?
Welll that's how I was with the Lush styling gels. Knew they were there for years and years, recommended them to others, but kept a good arms length away from them myself.
Why you ask? ;)
Honestly I thought they were for shorter, spikey styles and I'm a bit more conservative. I have long curly blonde hair and I've never done a mohawk or anything crazy with my hair.
So there they sat on the Lush shelves, probably saying to themselves "she's crazy, we could totally help her! we love curls and long blonde hair! c'mon! try us!"
Fast forward to this year about a week or two ago when we had a visitor in the store and she was asking me what products I use. I tell her of my life-changing experience with Soak and Float(another post! :), my adoration of Retread and also of Big and Curly Wurly mixed together(or with soak and float too! again, another post).
But no styling gels they ask?
Umm, yeah, no, no, I don't use those I say.
They she proceeds to tell me that The Big Tease is an amazing product and not only helps keep hair in place, control frizzies, but also makes my curls last ALL day even in winter and will make them springier and boingier and just all around everything i wantier. I think she even said I would have movie star curls/hair. (which duh, who doesn't want that?!) I'm hesistant, but trust her knowledge and into my basket it goes and then home with me. Next day, shower up and then apply the Big Tease to my hair. And all I have to say is this: O.M.G!!!!!!!!!!!!! RIGHT! SO RIGHT! My hair is fantastic! I've never been able to get my curls to hold all day especially in the winter! Love love love love love this product. :)
Here's the best way I've found to use it: Lightly towel dry hair, i use about a quarter or 50 cent piece size amount(but you'll need less or more depending on your hair length), rub hands together to emulsify, then lightly finger it through your hair-top to bottom, then flip hair over and rub the rest over your hair. Then scrunch hair in hands.
I air dry, but you could also use a diffuser as well. :)
It works pretty fast, so style your hair right away.
It also smells fantastic, but not overwhelming. Lovely curly hair that smells good? Who could ask for more!

Did I JUST realize how awesome American Cream smells!?

So this morning I decided to switch up my normal scents and put on some American Cream solid perfume, as opposed to my usual Comforter solid perfume. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Comforter, but OH MY GOSH. I have been smelling American Cream all day and it is amazing. I had my friends smell me, I was so amazed. So now I'm on a quest to find everything American Cream secented!

1. Of course, the solid perfume itself.

2. The American Cream conditioner.
    
3.Flosty Gritter Bubble Bar. Also, it's pink and glittery, TRIPLE SCORE!

 

4. Shimmy Shimmy Massage Bar. Yet again, sparkly and awesome.

These are, to my knowledge, the only products with the exact American Cream scent. Here are some others that have similar scents:
1. Strawberry Feels Forever Massage Bar
2. Yummy Yummy Yummy Shower Cream.
3. Heavenilli Massage Bar.
4. Vanilla Puff Dusting Powder
5. Vanilla Fountain Bath Bomb.
6. Vanilla Dee-Lite Lotion.


Hopefully this satisfies other American Cream addicts!

For when you're feeling under the weather...

It certainly is that time of year when lots of colds are going around. I thought I had been lucky and was staying healthy until this week. (Apparently I had been knocking on wood for too long.) I have a gross cold. Just in time for my birthday. (Boo.)
So, I decided to write this post not to complain (although I know I am a little bit) or to get warm wishes of feel better from all of you, but instead to tell everyone about some of the amazing products LUSH has that will make you feel better when you're under the weather.
Last night, I took a Geo Phyzz bath with one of my last large-sized versions. I was super bummed that I couldn't smell the wonderful, therapeutic scent of cypress, pine and sandalwood, but those Hawaiian sea salts worked their magical wonders on me. I came out of the bath breathing a bit more clearly and feeling very relaxed and ready for bed.
After my bath, I convinced the husband to give me a back, shoulder and neck massage with Wiccy Magic Muscles. (He usually moans and groans whenever I ask him for a massage, but I think he was feeling bad for how awful I was looking.) The cinnamon and peppermint warmed me up and made my soreness disappear. (Again, even though I couldn't smell them!) I even rubbed a little of it on my neck and chest before bed to help me breathe better.
Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds bubble bar is also a good choice. The frankincense is another great ingredient that soothes and makes you feel better. What are some other products that you've used when you're feeling under the weather? I'd love to know what else I can try...

Ultrabland = A Tub of Miracles

I have fallen in love! For about two weeks I have been using a sample of Ultrabland to wash my face, and I was super happy with it - I couldn't believe how well it worked when taking off my makeup. It also seemed to work wonders for clearing up my icky skin. Yesterday, though, I realized just how amazing it is. I got a nasty cut on my knuckle while at work, and showed Jill, a fellow lushie - without hesitation, she took me over to the skincare and had me rub some Ultrabland on it, saying it was a liquid bandage. I was more than a little skeptical, but kept quiet. Two hours later, I looked, and the cut had almost completely healed!!!

Needless to say, I bought the big tub and have already discovered about a bajillion uses for it. I am curious to see how others use it...just as a facial cleanser/makeup remover, or are you more adventurous with it?

Bought the GET FIZZICLE tin and two Street Party bath bombs, boy did they smell my house up good! ! !

Brice asked if I used my Street Party bomb yet, I told her no and she responded, "OH, It's a PARTY!"

Dear fellow LUSHies

Do you ever see a picture of yourself and think, "Damn what products did I use that day?" because you want your hair to look like that again?

haha =)

I revisited Smitten hand cream today...

I have been putting off this purchase for a while since I ran out a few months ago. I have so many lotions but Smitten is different.

Not only does the almond oil make my hands soft, supple and moisturized... it feels amazing on dry cracked winter hands. Also, I love being able to smell Snow Cake soap all year round...

It's amazing and has me smitten with Smitten... anyone around you will be smitten with the smell too!