FUN at Lush's Fun Factory

A few weeks back I got to attend a party at Lush that was Fun with a capital "F"!
So what is Fun then? Basically it's mouldable soap! You can play with it like Play-Doh but it can also be used as a shampoo, a body soap and a bubble bar.
I must admit that all my creations resemble some sort of Barbara Hepworth sculpture and I tend to just squish it gleefully under the tap xD.
There are 5 different colours, each with its own scent;
Pink - Tonka Bean,
Yellow - Vanilla,
Green - Lemon & Lime,
Red - Mandarin, and
Blue - Lavender & Chamomile.
Each bar of Fun comes rolled up in biodegradable cellophane, to use, simply break off a piece and re-wrap the rest. Each 250g bar costs CAN$6.95 and is now available both online and in stores.

Fun is really popular with the kiddos as you can see.

Left: Fun being made. Right: Fun being played.

In case you were wondering about the Japanese on the packaging of the Fun products, this is because 2.5% of the sales from every bar of Fun goes into the Lush FunD. The Lush FunD goes on to sponsor charities and community initiatives in Japan which aim to bring fun back into the lives of children who were affected by the 2011 Fukushima Earthquake/Tsunami disaster.

 Omg yes this event happened before Halloween hence the Halloween collection on display *shame face*.

Left: Mr. Punch soap, a boozy concoction of gin, juniper and blackcurrant. Right: Snow Fairy is back! Below: Bubblebeard bubble bar.

I am digging those retro lunch tins xD

Lush Emotional Brilliance preview

Lush recently invited us to the preview of Emotional Brilliance, their highly anticipated debut cosmetics line, at their newly renovated Robson Street store.
The collection officially launches on July 21 and consists of 13 lip colours ($22.95), 11 liquid liners ($22.95), 6 cream eyeshadows ($22.95), a mascara ($18.95), a bronzer ($18.95), a highlighter ($18.95) and a finishing powder ($18.95). All of the products in the collection are vegan, not tested on animals, and come in packaging that is 100% recyclable.

Newly renovated Lush @ Robson Street.

I brought along my new 40mm pancake lens for its first field trip. I actually like it a lot more than my nifty fifty! It's significantly sharper, faster and quieter than the fifty.

Emotional Brilliance swatches:

Eyes Right Mascara, Charisma Skin Tint, Feeling Younger Skin Tint, and Emotional Brilliance Translucent Powder:

I haven't been in Lush for a while (I've had to resort to ordering their bath products online as the shop's smells sometimes sets off my allergies), so I had no idea that they had added a perfume range!! I absolutely adored how Lust smelt! I have a soft spot for anything Jasmine scented and Lust was pure Jasmine in a bottle. I totally need to pick up a bottle sometime.

Meet Anthony and Dan, these two gentleman were in charge of mixing up batches of Ayesha fresh face masks for everyone to take home. We had a good chuckle about the effects of asparagus in your body. Apparently I have not yet matured beyond toilet humour.

The concept behind the Emotional Brilliance line is rather simple, it's essentially "mood ring makeup". Instead of following the latest colour trends, it's makeup that resonates with your mood and emotions. You spin the colour wheel and once it stops, you pick the first three colours on the wheel that appeal to you.
I ended up with Drive (purple), Lifted (yellow), and Motivation (turquoise). At my colour reading, I was told that Drive is my strength and what people immediately notice from me, I subconsciously seek to be Lifted (yes, especially from the 32,000 documents that need to be reviewed on my desk), and Motivation is what allow me to attain what I subconsciously need (procrastinate much?).
As all the names are rather innocuous and banal, Emily and I wondered what happens on days when we wake up feeling like ass. We suggested they to add colours called "Crap", "Annoyed", and "Cynical" to the line in the future.

 Swatches:

So far I have tested the liquid liner, the lipstick and the mascara. The liquid liner suffered some slight smudging in the inner corners, but other than that it lasted through a whole work day plus 2hrs of cardio. I don't find the lipstick moisturising per se, but it's not too drying either, the formula has quite a bit of slip and lasted around 3-4hours on me but did leave a stain. I really hope they will redesign the mascara packaging, the applicator is just too short and I feel like I'm going to poke my eyes out every time I use it. The formula is mediocre at best, it won't clump but it also won't add any length, volume or hold a curl.
Overall I find Emotional Brilliance to be a very nice collection and I hope they'll eventually expand the collection to include things like foundation and blusher. There is a good range of colours to appeal to everyone, pigmentation is most excellent, and the colour wheel game adds a bit of frivolous fun. At first I felt like the price point was a bit too high but you really do get a lot of product for the price - the glass bottles contain a whopping 9g of product. My vegan friends will also appreciate the addition of a new makeup range they can use.
Make sure to check out this collection and your local Lush store!

Lush Coalface review

What they say:

"If you love the feeling of squeaky clean skin, this is the bar for you. We put in powdered charcoal because it's such an amazing exfoliator and absorber of excess oils. We add in rosewood and sandalwood as a balance to soothe and calm, and softening licorice root decoction. We recommend this lathering, sparkly cleansing bar for oiler skin because it's so great at absorbing excess oils and leaving your skin feeling fresh and clean. Don't use regular body soap to wash your face please; use this instead.

Liquorice Root Decoction (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Propylene Glycol, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Sodium Stearate,
Rosewood Oil (Aniba rosaeordora), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Powdered Charcoal, Sandalwood Oil (Santalum album), Glycerine, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, *Linalool, Perfume, Silver Edible Lustre (Potassium aluminum silicate, Titanium dioxide, Iron oxides and hydroxides)."

What I say:

I am on a Lush kick lately. The smell of the store might make the paint peel off the wall, but I can't deny that they've got some good products. I like how I can read their ingredients label and actually know what the ingredients are, that way I know what I'm really putting on my face.
This cleanser is part Lush's line of bar cleansers, meaning that it looks and feels like a bar of soap and you use it like you would a bar of soap. I know some girls cut theirs into little pieces for individual use, I, however, prefer to keep it whole and just use the whole bar on my face each time.
It is described as an exfoliator and it does contain exfoliating granules. These granules are, in my opinion, a tad too coarse and I have in the past experienced light cuts and scratches on the surface of my skin as a result of rubbing my skin too vigorously with the granules. The weird thing about these granules is that they are only present in the top and bottom layer of the cleanser. I don't know if this is intentional or just a result of the manufacturing process, but if you use this cleanser either from the top down or from the bottom up, you will discover that after about a week of use, you will have a smooth lather with no exfolianting particles. I guess the solution would be to use the sides of the bar, that way you'll have less harshness as your skin won't be in contact with so much of the exfoliants. I like to use from the bottom up, using the top when I feel I need more exfoliating action xD.
I only use this cleanser at night, when my face is dripping with yummy oil, and my half melted MAC forcefield. As to it's cleaning power...it can remove CG's Lashblast, enough said!
If your skin is dry and sensitive in general, I would advise that you get yourself a sample and try it out first. Its oil absorbing properties are just a little TOO effective. My night cream is quite rich yet I find that my face isn't oily when I wake up in the morning. It must be this cleanser because usually my face has enough oil to fry chips when I wake up. This doesn't mean that it leaves that horrid tight feeling thankfully!
One thing I really don't understand is why they added sparkly bits. It's up there in the ingredients list as "silver edible lustre", thankfully it doesn't stay on your skin or you'll look like a disco ball.
Another word of warning, this cleanser smells of liquorice T.T

Damage: C$10.95 per 100g
Verdict: Good for oily skinned individuals who are looking for a cleanser with mild exfoliation.

Foundation, Blush, Eyeshadow, Pencil Liner, Liquid Liner, Waterproof Mascara

No chance against this cleanser!

For some reason this photo makes it look like the waterproof mascara wasn't removed. It was! just look at the second photo. I think I wiped my arm dry and in the process removed more of the others T.T

Lush Aqua Marina cleanser review

What they say:

"It may look like it was pulled from the ocean, but that's only because it's wrapped in seaweed! Nori seaweed to be specific, as it's packed with nutrients for soft, healthy skin. We wrap it around the most calming ingredients we could think of including soothing calamine and aloe, making this one our favourite cleansers for the most sensitive and dry skin. Take a pea sized amount, mix with warm water and gently massage the milky mixture into your skin. A quick rinse and you'll be clean, soft and soothed.

Glycerine, Calamine Powder, Kaolin, Irish Moss Infusion (Chondrus crispus), Aloe Vera Gel (Aloe barbadensis), Sea Salt (Sodium Chloride), Nori Seaweed (Fucus vesiculosus), Sweet Orange Oil (Citrus dulcis), Patchouli Oil (Pogostemon cablin), Carrageenan, Perfume."

What I say:

No, that's not a maki roll, it is however, wrapped in seaweed. I was sick of how gel cleansers robbed my skin of essential oils, made my skin itch, left dry patches, and made my skin feel like I had my hair pulled back in a high pony tail. Although I love Lush's Angels on Bare Skin, it's more of a scrub/exfoliant, and I felt that might be too harsh to be used everyday on my dry sensitive winter skin. So I went back to Lush and they recommended I try Aqua Marina.
Texture wise, it is smooth with no exfoliating particles and feels just like moist clay.
As to it's cleansing power, it's not really up to the job of makeup removal, it won't even remove liquid foundation T.T. As a result I only use this in the mornings where all it has to do is clean off sleep gunk.
I found that it was easier to break off a small piece and rub it onto my wet face instead of mixing it with water before application. That way it was less messy than having to transfer the mixture onto my face and losing much of it along the way xD
I've used about 300g of this cleanser so far and it hasn't broken me out. It leaves my skin feeling clean, but not tight. I'd say it's comparable to using a cream cleanser in terms of mildness. I wash my bf's face with this (he scrunges his face and screams that his dirt and germs are dying T.T) and afterwards I noticed that his face was significantly brighter and glowy!! @.@
Whilst I was going through the "Vitasoy breakout of 2010", this cleanser really helped to sooth my poor inflamed skin and helped it heal.
The only cons I can think of is that it does smell a bit funky at first, however you do get used to it. Also I think this expires in 3 months so if you're not gonna be using this every day, get only a small amount. Oh and the seaweed will inevitably get soggy n look gross T.T

Damage: $10.50 per 100g
Verdict: If you're looking for a mild cleanser for dry and sensitive skin, give this a try! Lush stores are very generous with their samples, so drop in and ask for some to try at home before you decide.

Foundation, Blush, Eyeshadow, Pencil Liner, Liquid Liner and Waterproof mascara.

Aqua Marina cleanser applied to lower half of swatches. See what I mean by it being totally useless against makeup?

These are a few of my favourite things...

1. My Beauty Diary Black Pearl Masks

"How do I love thee? let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach when feeling out of sight."
Liz Browning didn't have these in her days, but if they did, I wonder how they'd compare to her feelings for Bob Browning?
Seriously, I LOVE these. I'm on my upteenth box, they're dirt cheap, they're convenient and most importantly, they work.
Long time readers will recall the 10 day challenge that I did with these masks. For ease of reference, here are the photos from the challenge:

BEFORE: Dehydration, uneven skin tone, dullness, enlarged pores, redness, you name it I had it. My skin has pretty much been like this for as long as I remember, it's never been problem free, and the combination of indoor heat and freezing weather probably exacerbated it.  I also scar really easily, so pimples usually leave behind a nice dark mark, which would be around long after it has healed.

AFTER: This is the closest to PERFECT skin I've ever been. I can actually go out without makeup, and children will not run from me screaming.  The redness and swelling are gone, my skin tone has evened out, and  my skin is also brighter and noticeably more plumped up than before. Scars from old break outs have also lightened considerably.
I've been using these masks on a regular basis for about 4 months now, and I've gone from a MAC NC25 to a NC20, so there is definitely some whitening effect to them.
I now use these masks about 2-3 nights a week, I'll wash my face as usual, slap the mask on, read a book for an hour, take it off, rub the excess serum into my face and then moisturise as usual. In the morning I'll wake up with baby skin.
The Beauty Diary Mask range is huge, however, the majority of their ingredients are the same, and would thus probably give the same effect. My own personal preference is for the the black pearl or the pearl powder ones as I feel they are more saturated with serum than say, the Bulgarian rose one, which dries up around the 10-15 min mark on my face. The apple one did sting my skin a tiny bit, apparently that means the AHA is working, but I find that it didn't give me any extra results that the black pearl wasn't giving me. My olfactory nerves did not agree with the Red Wine or the Sake ones, it reminds me of how I'd smell once the exams were out back in university.
I'm currently taking the premium masks for a test drive, I'll update on those soon. Also at some point, I'll take a photo of the current condition of my skin, just so you can see if there's been further improvements after prolonged use of the masks. I can't do that right now because the Pooker's mum has run off to the Olympics with our camera xD.
Btw, I have since noticed that the Black Pearl masks seem to be disappearing off the shelf faster than any of the other varieties. If any of you is the culprit, please refer to my 1st paragraph, and stop buying my stuffs. It'll make you ugly. xD
 
Damage: CAN$10.99 - CAN$19.99 for a box of 10
What would Kanye say?: "One of the best masks of all time"

2. The Body Shop Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream and Nourishing Night Cream

One day, during an "omg I've run out of moisturiser and I forgot to buy any!!" moment, I found a sample tub of The Body Shop's Vitamin E Intense Moisture cream that I'd received as a GWP and subsequently forgot about. In my desperation, I put it on, not expecting much, after all, I've tried their tea tree oil range before...
My skin practically sang hallelujah when I put it on.
It felt like I was rubbing...pure silky moisture onto my skin (omg so cliched!). My skin gets itchy, dry and flaky in the winter months, this cream left me with soft, completely moisturised skin. That moisturised feeling lasts all day even when I'm huddled next to the heater whimpering from the cold. It doesn't leave a greasy film, nor has it broken me out or clogged my pores.
Their website says that it contains organic olive oil, shea butter and vitamin E wheat germ oil, what do I know, I did law. I'll leave it up to people like Russianfortunecookie to figure out the chemical side of these things. I do know that it contains Dimethicone and Cyclomethicone, which gives it that silky feeling and gel-like consistency, therefore people who are allergic to, or dislike silicone in their skincare products should probably skip this one. However, if you're friends with silicone, it means that this cream can double as a primer for foundation.
I use this in the morning after the Vitamin E serum, which I like but is not really a life changer.
I was so impressed with the day cream I went out n got me a tub of the night cream. The night cream is a lot richer and denser than the day cream. It's quick thick in the tub, probably as a result of the cocoa butter, but really melts once it's on your face. I am an absolute grease ball, but with this cream, I wake up with no visible oil on my face, it just feels soft and moisturised.

Damage: $20 for the intense moisture cream and $16 for the night cream
What would Chuck Norris say?: "Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table because he only recognises the element of surprise"

3. Vichy Normaderm Anti-Blemish Intensive Treatment Cream

This is honestly the only spot treatment I've tried that delivers noticeable results overnight. It contains 2% Salicylic Acid, and on top of controlling the breakout it also speeds up the healing process. I feel that the majority of acne treatments on the market are too strong, they actually burn your skin and that's why often times you're left with a dark mark where the spot used to be. The Vichy cream, on the other hand, is quite mild, but really does its job MINUS the dryness and dark marks that you'll get from other acne treatments. In my own use, I've found that if I catch the spot early enough in it's development, and put this on immediately, by the next day the skin will be flat again with little or no redness. If it's already a full blown mofo with it's own shadow n everything, applying this cream twice a day (it can be used under makeup with NO pilling!!!!), gives you less inflammation and redness in approx 2-3hours and total control within a day. By the 2nd day it should start healing, and you can use it less often and start using things like face masks to fade and heal the leftovers.
I know that it seems to be rather pricey for such a small amount but honestly it'll last you for frikken ever. It has a narrow, almost pin point opening, which allows you squeeze out a tiny amount just enough to pat onto the pimple.

Damage: CAN$14-$20 wait for the 3 for 2 specials!
What would Vichy say?: "Mario Badesco can bite my blue ass."

4. Lush Angels on Bare Skin
 
A cult item that needs no introduction. I braved the smell of the Lush store that threatened to assimilate me into part of the Borg Lush collective. Resistance was indeed futile. Omg, ok I promise! no more Star Trek references!!!
I'd bought this on Temptalia's and the Muse's rave reviews, I proceeded to use it every day, and to my disgust it broke me out in a mass of white heads. I then banished it to the naughty corner of the bottomest drawer. However, as is the nature of things like this, I subsequently took it back out for round two, this time I used it only once a week. Success!!! no break out!!! just gorgeous, soft, smooth skin!!!
It contains ground almonds and kaolin clay, together they buff away all dead skin, lumps n bumps on your face, suck out all the muck from ur pores, and leaves your skin heavenly smoooooooth xD It's not a foaming cleanser, it's more of an exfoliator or scrub, however, unlike other scrubs, it doesn't leave your face taunt and dry. Actually, it almost feels like it leaves an oily film on your face, but once you dry your face off, all you'll feel is soft, smooth, skin that almost feels like you've applied moisturiser to it!
I now use this twice a week, it has not broken me out again, I've had less break outs, and on the days that I use it, I definitely notice my foundation going on MUCH smoother.
It IS a bit messy to use because, you have to break off a piece from the roll, and mix it with a bit of water to form a paste before you can apply it to your face. Also I'll recommend using this in the shower as bits of crushed almond and lavender seeds DO tend to get into your hair when you rinse, however, the results are just SO worth the extra schlep.
I believe Lush gives out quite generous samples at their free standing stores, so if you're curious, do try it out!

Damage: $10.50 per 100g
What would Robbie say: "So when I'm lying in my bed, thoughts running through my head, and I feel that love is dead, I'm loving angels instead."

So those are a few of my favourite things, what are yours? Do tell me, as I'm always on the look out for new things to love xD.