Do you know that to date, I’ve only stepped into a LUSH store twice? It’s not that I have anything against the beauty products; how can I when I barely even know what they have? Non-LUSH fans may agree with me here but that strong scent that wafts out of the store every time you walk past it … it’s almost unbearable. Like walking past a fragrance or candle shop, you almost have to hold your breath to walk in, get what you want and get the hell out.
Now don’t get me wrong. The smell isn’t bad. It’s not like rotting rubbish or the toilet after you’ve done a number 2. If you separate each product and scent out, they’re actually pretty good. But most LUSH stores I’ve walked past are usually quite small and when you have so many heavily scented products in one tiny, contained area, your senses are bound to be hit, and hit hard.
So why am I even reviewing LUSH products today? Well, a few weeks ago I was kindly sent some LUSH products to try out. I’ll be very honest with you; my first reaction was: “Aww man, do I have to?“. Terrible, I know. Sounds absolutely ungrateful, even. When I was unpacking my mountain of mail, I opened the LUSH box and suddenly, I was intrigued. So many people love LUSH products. There must be something about them that must be that good for them to get past that strong smell of a shop to walk in and peruse the products. Hell, I wanted to try them out too. So I took out two bodycare products from the box, gingerly unscrewed the tops and give them a whiff. And you know what? They actually smell pretty damn good! That evening I started to use them and now, oh boy, am I hooked or what?
The body care products I tried out are two of LUSH’s bestselling ones and they’re Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner and Dream Cream Hand and Body Lotion.
Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner
This is similar to NIVEA’s In-Shower Body Lotion. What you do is that while you’re in the shower, when your skin is still wet, you apply the Body Conditioner and then rinse off. The texture of the lotion is very smooth and light. It’s not as rich as NIVEA’s, not even when compared to their Light version. As it’s very light, it leaves only just the barest residue on the skin after rinse-off. NIVEA’s In-Shower Body Lotion does leave a somewhat waxy residue on the skin but the LUSH Body Conditioner does not.
The tub of Body Conditioner smells of roses. It can be a tad strong, particularly if you’re not a fan of the rose scent. Surprisingly, it doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, after you’ve rinsed the lotion off, all that’s left behind is a subtle scent of roses which is quite sexy. 😉
As it’s not as rich as NIVEA’s In-Shower Body Lotion, I’ll have to say it’s not as effective either. Even though it states that it replaces the need for an extra body lotion, I find that I still prefer to have it an exta layer on for more skin hydration. This is not required of NIVEA’s as I find that even the lighter version of the cream sufficed in providing sufficient hydration without an extra layer of body lotion. Having said that, it’s not bad at all. What I like to do is combine it with the Dream Cream after shower as the combination of scents works very well.
Dream Cream Hand and Body Lotion
This is a regular body lotion that can be applied anytime outside the shower. It’s just slightly thicker than the Body Conditioner. In terms of the fragrance alone, it’s not strong. I can’t pinpoint an exact scent; it’s somewhat a mixture of roses and lavender. On its own, it smells good but when I combine it with the Body Conditioner, the result is even better.
The Dream Cream is non-oily and doesn’t leave a greasy residue on the skin. It absorbs quickly and keeps my skin well hydrated for hours. I’ve used it on its own a few times but I find that when I use it after the Body Conditioner, my skin feels even better.
If vegan products are your cup of tea, then these will be right up your alley. I’ve been using these two products every time I take my twice-daily showers and I can’t be happier with them.
LUSH, what can I say? I take my hat off to you. Hell, I’ll even eat it along with some humble pie because you certainly have impressed me. I’m afraid I still find the smell of your store incredibly in-your-face but after trying out these two amazing products, you’ve changed my mind about never stepping into your stores again. If I wasn’t sent these products to try, I probably wouldn’t even know that you do come up with quite awesome things for the skin. I’m definitely keen on trying out more LUSH products now. I’ll do quick in-and-out dashes, how about that? If that fails, there’s always your online store. 🙂
Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner retails at AU$32.50 for 225g and the Dream Cream Hand and Body Lotion at AU$29.95 for 240g. These are available at LUSH stores nationwide. If you can’t deal with the strong smell that comes out of LUSH stores, try getting them online instead. The Dream Cream is a good start as the scent isn’t strong and is quite lovely.
Are you a fan of LUSH products? What’s your favourite product? Is there something that I must try out? Give me something good to brave the store with! 😛
Note: These products were sent for editorial consideration. Good thing too because to tell you the truth, I really wouldn’t have figured LUSH does pretty amazing stuff.
Hi Tine
I am with you, the over powering smell of all the fragrances makes me feel quite nauseous and it really deters me from entering the stores. There are some great reviews on Lush products…. Might have to wait until I have a cold before I enter the store…but then I wouldn’t be able to smell the products I want to try 🙂
Hahaha with the cold, you’ll smell 1% of the product. But when you bring it home and you get better, the scent will smack you in the nose tenfold! 😛
With you on this Tine! Can barely walk into a Lush store without getting a headache of some sort. The assault on the nose is crazy! I must say however that the lack of preservatives (whilst a good thing) means nothing can be kept for too long so in the end, I’ve decided that Lush isn’t for me. The soaps go all yucky very quickly, the face stuff go bad if I don’t keep them in the fridge (and then I forget all about them) and they don’t wow me enough to warrant a repurchase…except Happy Hippy shower gel. That one is awesome. The rest, I can live without ever trying another Lush item 😛
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That’s the thing with LUSH products and a selling point too, that there are no preservatives. Even so, their products can last a year (from what I tell from their Expiry Date labels) which is impressive given that there are no preservatives. That’s why I had to use the products as soon as I can lest they expire at the back of my beauty cupboard and I didn’t know.
I tried one of their facial cleansers that come in lumps of what looks like mud? Apparently you’re supposed to scoop it out, spread it with your fingers and water and then apply. Don’t like it at all. But the body stuff are pretty darn awesome. I’ll brave the store and try out a body wash because I’ve heard a lot of good things about their shower gels.
I definitely agree with you on the smell from the stores being overpowering. I mail order from Lush once in a while, and I can smell the stuff inside the box before I even open it, haha. My favorite Lush product was “Cosmetic Lad” (a facial moisturizer) for a long time, but sadly my skin type has changed and it’s not quite right for me anymore. I still think it smells amazing though – like orange creamsicles. 🙂
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Orange creamsicles??? OMG. I have to check it out now even if it’s just to smell it. 😀
I have Cosmetic Lad – haven’t tried it yet – in the hopes it would be okay for my sensitive skin. What didn’t suit you about it? Did you have a reaction?
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I didn’t have a bad reaction, no. My skin type has just changed and now it’s bit too heavy for my tastes – it didn’t break me out, but I feel like it wasn’t absorbing as nicely as it used to. I ended up giving what I had left over to my boyfriend (who has drier skin) and it’s been working really well for him. When in doubt, do a test patch for a few days before applying it to your face!
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Cool 🙂 Thanks for letting me know.
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Dream Cream looks amazing. Putting it on my Xmas list!
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Go for it! 😀
Have to say I love their honey I washed the kids soap as honey? Yum. But my hubby totally agrees with you Tine and won’t ever go in….I work with small children luckily and therefore have a very limited sense of smell nowadays lol!
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Hahahaha my husband wouldn’t even stand outside the store. He’ll walk to the far end and tell me to go find him when I’m done! 😛
Think I’m the only weirdo who actually likes the smell of the store! Haha… I should check out my nose again..
I used to like their fresh mask – BB seaweed is probably the only one I love but since my skin has gotten a tad more sensitive, I’ve stopped using that. Also love their Gorgeous face moisturiser though it’s super expensive! It makes my skin feel so good and it has a ginseng-alike smell. Though I’m not a huge fan if ginseng, I actually like it! And also the honey I wash the kids soap. The honey smells so good I can eat it..
Haha that’s good! Not weird at all. In fact, I take my hat off to you for being able to brave the store. 😛
I have the Honey I Wash The Kids soap. It’s that good huh? Right, will try it out pronto!
This is a well-timed review for me! I’ve always wanted to try Lush products but I find myself intimidated by the way the salespeople always try to aggressively upsell things to me. This post has given me a mission to go and try some of their stuff!
Oh dear, that’s not good. I really dislike pushy sales staff. Hope your mission is a success 🙂
I’m the opposite. I fell in love with Lush earlier this year and now when I can smell the shop in the distance I get so excited and start walking faster towards it. Haha.
My favourite product is their No Drought Dry Shampoo. It’s a powder so not as convenient as the sprays but it is more gentle and good for those with sensitive skin. It also lasts forever – I’m talking months – and only costs $13. So perfect for fine or oily-haired lassies who go through a lot of dry shampoo.
I too am a fan of Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner. My son likes their product “fun” for the bath. My friend swears by the Angels on Bare Skin cleanser.
I just bought their Snow Fairy shower gel which I can’t wait to try out … Mmmm Lush goodness …
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That No Drought Dry Shampoo sounds good! I’ll be sure to check it out (will just hold my breath and go in :P). Thanks for the recommendation!
I used to hold my breath walking by the Swanston Street store! The smell can definitely be overpowering. It took a few years for my curiosity to win and for me to walk in – but I’ve been happy with every Lush product I’ve tried: the henna blocks (although admittedly the process is very messy and long-winded), the Vanillary perfume (I LOVE THIS ONE!!) and Angels on Bare Skin, their almond-based cleanser. AOBS works best for me as a once to twice weekly exfoliant, and I’m thinking of trying the charcoal version which is even better for combination skin. I’ll let you know how that one goes 🙂
Hahaha I still hold my breath when walking by the store! The problem is that that store is far too small to hold too many powerfully scented products. I used to wonder how it was that the employees could work there and not faint from the strong scents (not bad scent, just strong). I guess their noses have become highly desensitised.
I just started using the lip scrub. I didn’t like the candy floss fragrance but man, when I used it and licked it off, oh boy it’s so good!