Brighton Lush Lock In

Last week I went along to Lush with a group of other Brighton bloggers to view the Christmas collection for this year and have a go at making a product from the permanent range ourselves. Lush was bright, warm and full of scents against the cold winter evening and we were greeted with bucks fizz and Cakepops.

To begin we were given a demonstration of the Golden Wonder Bath Bomb and The Comforter Bubble Bar (which we later made). Golden Wonder is a large cream present shape, that rattles when shaken and is topped off with a heavy covering of gold shimmer. The present has a gorgeous orange and congac scent,  and as it fizzes in the water the foam changes through yellow and blue, and there are bursts of orange, blue and pink from the little coloured balls inside that create the rattling. When the bomb has dissolved, the water is left an amazing sparkling green; it looks like liquid metal and feels silky to the touch. Lush have recently switched from plastic glitter to biodegradable glitter made from cracked sheets of seaweed, which becomes soft when wet and isn’t harmful to animals or the environment. 

The Comforter Bubble Bar is broken into pieces and one piece is added to the bathwater, where it gives a strong berry scent and turns the water a blankety pink with lots of pale bubbles. We each put on biodegradable gloves and then mixed up the separate parts of the bar. Starting with powders such as Sodium Bicarbonate and Cream of Tartar, the combination was mixed into a paste by adding the foaming agents such as Cocoamide DEA (a derivative of coconut oil) and finally, with the addition of colouring and blackberry scents, we formed two doughs- one pink and one white. The doughs were spread on top of eachother and rolled up like a Swiss Roll before being cut. As the bubble bar is solid, it doesn’t require any preservatives like liquid bath products, and I’m looking forward to diving into baby pink bathwater when I give mine a go! The Comforter is similar in scent to the infamous Snow Fairy Shower Gel (loved by women, and men!), but I find it much fruitier and I must say I prefer it to the shower gel.

We sampled and swatched the Christmas Lip Scrubs and Tints- as well as the well-known Popcorn, and Mint Julips, Santa’s Lip Scrub is a must-have for the holiday period. This bright red cola scented sugar scrub is made with cherries and dates, which gives it a lovely warm scent, and it also includes edible red hearts for a bit of Christmas cheer. The lip tints are much more pigmented than expected, and Santa Baby is just the right shade of red to get hearts racing. It dries matte but moisturises the lips with a whole host of oils such as Rosehip and Safflower.

We also sampled the massage bars which have lovely Cocoa and Shea Butter scents. They take a bit of work to warm up in the hands, and it was an unusual experience massaging the hand and arm of a stranger, but the bars produce a lot of oil when melted and I enjoyed getting to grips with them. Therapy, which has solid nodules , was a favourite of mine, and I think they would make a great gift for a loved one or someone who suffers from aches and pains.

Additionally we all had a good smell of the newest range of Lush Gorilla Perfumes. These look very much like something from an apothecary and are inspired by British countryside folklore. The fragrances have been designed to blend with the chemistry of the body so, unlike mainstream perfumes which are created to smell almost the same on everyone; these take on a different scent from person to person. The scents are mysterious, presented in dropper bottles with names like Hellstone, Lord of Goathorn and Devil’s Nightcap. Many of the scents are deep and woody, with Coffee and French Cigarettes being a feature of The Voice of Reason, and unearthed roots featuring in Hellstone. For those of us that enjoy lighter floral scents there is Flower’s Barrow and bestselling Sikkim Girls with Jasmine, Frangipani and Blackcurrant. I will definitely be back to sample the latter two on my skin and see how they change!

As well as Golden Wonder, the Christmas bath range is an absolute treat to see and smell- cute little Penguins smell of Sicilian Lemon, Melting Snowmen emit the scent of Hot Toddy, Cinders with red popping candy emanates warn cinnamon,  Bombardino smells of warm gingerbread, and a smiling pink Father Christmas creates green bathwater with a festive orange fragrance. My favourites of all the products I sniffed (which was a lot!) were bright and fresh looking- the Star Light, Star Bright Bath Melt is a star drenched in silver shimmer, that contains Lavender, Lime and Ginger Oils so smells zesty but warm at the same time, and the pure white So White Bath Bomb has a crisp apple scent and a secret rose coloured centre to leave the bathwater pink.

In the past I have mainly been into Lush for presents for others, and have only tried a few products of their extensive collection myself. After being overwhelmed by the scents and bright colours of the store, I purchased a Jumping Juniper Shampoo Bar as a little gift for myself, which has a lovely fresh floral scent and is perfect for greasy hair. I’m so excited to give this a try as an alternative to my boring Baby Shampoo!

One of the things that’s clear after visiting Lush is how animated, helpful and knowledgeable all the staff are- it’s obvious that they really love their job and  know their products inside out to be able to helpfully answer any questions.   

Everyone loves a bit of a pamper, and whether you’re buying Christmas gifts or a little present for yourself, Lush will definitely have a scent you love, and once you’ve smelt the Christmas collection you’ll want to keep going back!

Kirsty's Unusual Gift Guide

Family and friends will agree that I love to give unusual gifts, the weirder the better in some cases, but I look for coolness and functionality; less Soap on a Rope and more NASA Space Ants. Being slightly bored of seeing beauty gift guides, and preferring a touch of something different myself, I’ve compiled a unisex guide for those that want to give something memorable to the people that really do have everything. Some I’ve bought for others before so can personally recommend them, some I’m planning to buy this year, while others just caught my eye for their funkiness, but there’s something here for all tastes and budgets.

Tried & Tested

The Beer Soap Co. Beer Soap (£5.99 each) - Something different for the beer lovers among us, these soaps use a formula of real ales and stouts. Available with the hop goodness of Guinness, Stella Artois, Newcastle Brown Ale and Kronenbourg 1664, they contain no artificial ingredients and have a manly scent so no one ends up smelling like they’ve been on the Special Brew.

66.6% Devil Vodka (£25.99) - Presented in one of the coolest bottles I’ve seen, this vodka isn’t for the faint hearted! It’s definitely one to get people talking, but remind your loved one to take it slowly or they really will have the hangover from hell.

Joe & Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn Pouches (£4 each) - Popcorn isn’t just for the cinema, and Joe & Sephs ranges feature specially selected flavours from sweet to savoury such as Fruit Cocktail & Cream, Smooth Caramel Lemon & Poppyseeds, Cheese on Toast and Thai Style Peanut Satay. Their Christmas range includes Mince Pie and Mint Chocolate, with all flavours being gluten free and the majority vegetarian. I’ve given Goat’s Cheese & Black Pepper and Mince Pie flavours as Christmas presents, and they’ve both gone down a treat!

Edible Insects (from £4.99) - ever fancied crunchy cricket snacks, mealworm larvettes or chocolate covered ant wafers as an interesting supper? Ok don’t answer that, but trust me curiosity will get the better of you.

True Utility Cashstash (£6.50) - A practical gift for the person who’s always losing their wallet, this little waterproof capsule made from aircraft grade aluminium features a steel cashclip to hold to more than enough notes for a cab journey home. Available in silver, black and pink.

Tatratea (£21.80-£44.60 depending on flavour) - This liqueur is based on black tea with fruit and herb extracts, is named after the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia, and has an amazing tea scent. Available in Original (52%), White (42%), Citrus (32%), Coconut (22%), Forest Fruit (62%) or Outlaw (72%) flavours, it can be drunk neat, in a cocktail, or mixed with hot tea to create an unusual and interesting drink.

Antworks Space Ants (£11.50) - This mini ant farm uses NASA developed patented technology from their 2003 space shuttle experiment. The blue gel is rich enough in nutrients to keep the ants alive in their self-contained home, and if you can’t find any ants yourself you can send off for a starter pack and they’ll be shipped live in the post!

Vampire Chutney Gift Pack and Curry Lover’s Selection (£12.95 each) - Created by the Isle of Wight Garlic Farm, these themed gift selections are perfect for lovers of strong flavours. The Vampire themed chutney gift box includes Plum Chutney, Tomato Salsa and Apple Chutney, each with a fiery kick. The Curry Lover’s Selection includes Cheeky Monkey Banana Chutney, Hot Garlic Pickle and Peach & Mango Chutney which are perfect curry accompaniments.

Marmite Chocolate (£2.45) - Marmite isn’t to everyone’s taste but for the connoisseurs out there this is perfect. If your gift receiver is a fan of the salty bitter taste of Marmite crisps then they’ll love this! I’ve tried it and wasn’t wholly convinced on the flavour, but it makes a great gift nonetheless.
For the Photography LoverLumi Light Printing Kit (£29.99) - One of the coolest gifts in this guide, this kit uses light sensitive paint to enable you to print designs on anything from fabric to untreated wood and unglazed ceramics. Use the Lumi app to transform your image into a negative, print it onto acetate (unfortunately not included) apply the Inkodye underneath your image and watch as it develops using the power of the sun! Then wash fabrics with the Inkowash and the design is permanent. Available in either Blue or Red, and with extra Inkodye to buy once the kit runs out, this kit is perfect for any digital lover that wants to try something new, or film lovers that want a step up from sun prints. 

Konstructor DIY SLR Camera by Lomography (£29.95) - Build your own functional SLR camera with top down viewfinder in 1-2 hours from a sheet of flatpack plastic parts. This kit is suitable for ages 14 and over and includes stick on leather patches and vinyl decals to personalise the look of the camera once finishes. Featuring a 50mm f/10 lens, this fully working camera will take beautiful 35mm Lomo shots. Who else do you know who’s built their own camera?
Twitfish Camera Lens Cup (£6.95) - available in black or retro-looking white, with a flared lens cap to keep your drink warm which also doubles as a coaster or biscuit holder.
Camera Lens Travel Mug (£16.99) - featuring an insulated interior and screw on spill proof lid with drinking tab, this is a cool accessory for drinks both hot and cold, and is detailed enough to look like you’re drinking from a real lens!

For the Kitchen

Bogey Man Egg Separator Jug  (£5.95) - disgusting and delightful at the same time!

Rose Bunting Cake Decoration Kit  (£3.95) - I’ve never before seen bunting on a cake, but this little kit would make a seriously cute gift for an avid baker.

Citrus Zinger Water Bottle (£14.99) - This is a water bottle with built in juicer for a healthy metabolism boosting drink on the go- add a citrus half to the bottom compartment of the bottle, add water to the top, and shake!

Gluggle Jug (£29.99) - these jugs mae a great gurgling ‘glug glug’ sound as liquid is poured- functional, attractive and cool. These look like a piece of art whether on the shelf or in use, and are available in Cobalt blue, Green, White and Surf Blue.

OCD Chef Wooden Chopping Board (£19.99) - Featuring grids and rulers for those that like to keep things precise in the kitchen.

Toucan Magnetic Kitchen Scissors (£9.99) - How cute is this little guy! This sturdy pair of shears is magnetic so sticks to the fridge or knife rack, and also has a built in bottle opener.

Mason Jar Shot Glasses (£9.99 for 4) - Jam jar drinks are a popular tipple at engagement parties and wedding receptions, but these shot glasses are perfect for those of us that like to take things a little less seriously.

For the Home

Mystical Fire Magic Dust (£12.50 for 10) - transform a log or camp fire into vivid colours by throwing 1-3 unopened sachets into the flames for 30 minutes of 'wow!'.
Sky Planter Recycled (£14.99 - £34.99) - these space saving ceiling planters use a reservoir system to save water and come with all that’s needed to hang and enjoy (except the plant).
Build Your Own Life Sized Human Skeleton (£11.95) - one for the biology buffs, this book features anatomically correct pop out cardboard bones and requires no glue or scissors for assembly. All joints work as they should, and Mr Skeleton measures 1.8m tall when completed.
I Could Pee on This/I Could Chew on This (£5.18 each) - for the cat or dog lover in our lives, ICPOT features amusing poems by cats and photos too, while ICCOT includes photos and poems about mischevious dogs.
Rufus Fox Draft Excluder (£24.99) - a cute hand embroidered fox doing the splits to hold a door open and block winter drafts.
Sex Tips for Husbands and Wives from 1894 (£3.50)- Published by Ruth Smythers as a serious book of bedroom tips over 100 years ago, this is now a book of giggles and shows just how much things have changed over the last century!
‘She should let him grope in the dark. There is always the hope that he will stumble and incur some slight injury which she can use as an excuse to deny him sexual access.’
'While sex is at best revolting and at worse rather painful, it has to be endured...One cardinal rule of marriage should never be forgotten: give little, give seldom and, above all, give grudgingly!'
Lifestraw (£21.99) - Not so much for inside the home as outside it, the Lifestraw filters 99.99% of bacteria and parasites so a muddy puddle or dirty stream suddenly becomes a thirst quenching drink. This straw can filter at least 1000 litres of contaminated water so doesn't just have to be saved for emergencies, and is the perfect unusual Christmas gift for walkers and countryside explorers. 

Are you planning to gift anything out of the ordinary this Christmas?