What They Say: "Ashy or scaly skin? Nevermore with Figs and Leaves handmade soap. Tiny fig seeds brimming with nutrition and gentle exfoliation yield to a creamy, aloe vera conditioning lather and a bouquet of fresh garden aromas. The scent of oranges and earthy ylang ylang linger on your silky, smooth skin as a tempting reminder of sweet cleanliness."

Melissa Says: This is perhaps my favorite offering from LUSH so far. I absolutely am in love with the velvety, fresh scent. It's actually quite a bit more complex than the description sounds, and the orange isn't necessarily predominant at all (which I was happy about). It lingers on the skin beautifully, and even though personally I'd be more than happy to smell like this each day, I imagine for some of you this will be more well-suited as a hand soap (guests will probably love it, and so will you). In that capacity, it still gives you a kiss of scent but also lasts a bit longer. It's not overly-moisturizing, but not drying.

Retail Price: $7.60 (at LUSH online or go here to find a retail store near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Give your skin a rich, buttery treat. Decadent Nutts massage bar is full of highly moisturizing natural ingredients like organic coconut butter and tahini paste to keep your skin super soft. The sweetly intoxicating scent of chocolate comes from cocoa butter which we get straight from the producers, still with its natural scent. This is a really sexy bar so go ahead, indulge!"

Jamie's Thoughts:
Holy Cow. Despite being a huge fan (i.e. ridiculous overconsumer) of Lush product, this was my first experience with their massage bars. The intent is for the bar to be rubbed DRY onto skin, at which point it's massaged onto/into the skin. The product melts at body temperature, so it's important to realize this when storing, using, etc. Right off the bat, it felt very strange.

After the third application, I got the hang of it, and I have to say it did work wonders on my disgusting, wintery, old-lady elbows and heels. I also tried it in the shower (which is not the design of the product) and true to form, it resulted in the water just beading right off of me. Despite this, I still think it would work wet/dry in the bathtub if you need to massage sore muscles, or work on a dry area of your body. The absorbency was excellent, and it lasted about 6-8 hours - must be all those natural ingredients.

That being said, I have to address the smell. I would describe it as intensely nutty in an oily way - like being held captive in that bag of cashews my grandmother brings out every holiday season. My boyfriend's description was far less imaginative, and yet, somehow accurate when he said it smelled like, "motorcycle chain wax." Hmm. I guess beauty is in the eye (or nose) of the beholder.

Overall, it does the job, but don't go nuts (pun intended) if you end up hating the smell.

Retail Price: $9.35 USD for one bar - comes in a great steel tin (Available at Lush.com and LUSH retailers)

Delush Rating: (one star off for the scent)

What They Say: "Scrub-a-dub-dub, get this body butter in the tub (or shower) and buff away the day's worries. Stress disappears as our lavender-scented body butter melts into your skin, making it way beyond silky. Ground rice, almonds and aduki beans exfoliate to velvety perfection as the natural butters provide maximum miniaturization. So put down your loofah, grab your Buffy, and smooth your cares away."

Alissa's Opinion: I love how fun Lush products are to use, but I'm not always a fan of the strong fragrances. This butter is quite light compared to their other products because it contains a nice amount of citrus in addition to the lavender.

As an exfoliator it is quite abrasive, so don't use it on any sensitive parts. The ground almonds and rice are too rough. It is, however, a great in-shower moisturizer. My favorite areas to use it on are my legs after washing and shaving. They stay soft and moisturized long after getting out of the water. The Lush website suggests using it in the bath then air drying, which I definitely recommend, unless you want your towel coated in oil. A word of caution: be wary of using this on your feet unless you want to end up on your back. Tubs are slippery enough without the layer of grease!

Retail Price: $10.75/3.3 oz. (Lush)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Twinkle Ballistic is scented with our borderline addictive American Cream fragrance. Real vanilla absolute, a drop or two of calming lavender and soothing benzoin plus enlightening clary sage to clear your mind as you bask in the sweet warm water. Perfect for Boxing Day and Sunday mornings."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I was a little confused by the current reviews on the LUSH website by some users saying that this bomb's scent wasn't long-lasting. Perhaps this is a matter of inconsistency in production, but mine was perhaps one of my favorite products from LUSH to date. The smooth, subtly minty, slightly sweet scent was not only long-lasting and wonderful IN the tub, but it also lasted on my skin LONG afterward. I absolutely fell in love with the scent and was extremely happy with the way it lingered, lifting my mood throughout the day as I smelled it on my skin. Also, though the ball had a very small amount of tiny sparkles on the outside of it, there was none left visibly in the bathtub OR on my skin, which was another plus. True, it isn't their largest bath bomb, but in my opinion it's one of the higher-quality ones.

This was one of those scents from LUSH that I would love to add to my Christmas list!

Retail Price: $3.75 (at lushusa.com, or go here for a retai location near you - international readers go here)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Sit down in a comfy chair and we'll tell you a story. A long time ago when Lush had only four shops, we had a calming, patchouli scented bath foam called Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds. Fairy Godmother Helen turned it into a beautiful white and blue swirly cloud cake which made mounds of bubbles. Nevertherless, some of us longed to be able to use it as a shampoo and shower gel again. So we closed our eyes and wished very hard, and here it is."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Well first of all, if even the hint of the idea of patchouli or other scents you might find in an incense shop turns you off, you definitely won't like this. It's pretty true to its description (except the cinnamon is definitely not as strong as the other two). Now I'm one who typically is a fan of these scents, so I wasn't afraid. I actually like it. However, it IS pretty strong (during use). After the showers, the scent would waft into the hallway and the entire upstairs, and I felt compelled to apologize to my husband (NOT a huge lover of those smells).

The bubbles are nice, but the formula isn't all that moisturizing for skin or hair. I really think the pull of course is for those who like that earthy fragrance. I find it uplifting and relaxing (and personally think I love it), but some of you who are already wary don't need to push yourselves.

Retail Price: $7.95 - 19.95, with three sizes (at lushusa.com or go here for retail locations near you - international readers go here)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "The comforter bubble bar is a swirl of pink and white like Blue Skies and looks like a rolled up scarf or 'comforter' as it's known in some countries. This is exactly what it does; wrap you up in a cozy pink blanket of bubbles. It has the beautiful You Snap the Whip fragrance."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Yet another product out of LUSH's arsenal of bath goodies, this bubble bar smells a bit bubblegum-like, but once you crumble some into the bath the over-sweetness subsides and there's a very subtle pleasant scent. I think this one is actually a little moisturizing which is a plus, and although it will tint your bath water a deep dark pink, I didn't find that it stained the tub. The amount of bubbles is decent but not huge, yet they do seem to slowly disappear. However, having used only one-third of the bar at a time, I was satisfied with the result. This isn't my most-loved bath addition, but it is a nice occasional treat.

Retail Price: $7.95 (at lushusa.com or go here for retail locations - international readers go here for locations)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "The Temple of Truth bubble bar is designed to help you review your situation, discard problems in your life and move on happily. Simon Constantine made this fragrance before he left to travel the world."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I only used half of this (it was very soft and easy to crumble) and got a vast sea of bubbles that lasted throughout the bath. The scent, when I unpackaged it, was subtle and nice, kind of a hard-to-describe mix of powder, light floral, and...mint? Like I said, hard-to-describe. Unfortunately, the fragrance dissipated in the bath into basically nothing and that was a bit disappointing.

While the scent doesn't make for atmosphere, the bubbles from this bar are impressive. Of course, if you don't have a lot to spend on bath luxuries this isn't really going to be a must-have for you.

Retail Price: $5.45 (at lushusa.com, or go here to find retail locations near you - international readers go here to find out where to purchase)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Freeze Them, Chill Them, Jiggle Them. In The Shower No One Can Hear You Scream."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I used these mostly at room temperature. Chilling them did make them more solid, but I didn't prefer them that way. I liked the squishiness. These things are a little weird, to say the least. I wasn't quite sure what to do with them in order to get full use out of them, so I mostly used chunks to squish around and use as body wash. I kind of wondered while using them what the point was, but they do smell absolutely delicious during your bath or shower (don't use in the shower at room temperature or I can't imagine you'll be able to hold onto it long enough to use it). I can see kids really liking these, and you can give them a chunk at a time to play with.

Like I said, I didn't really get the whole point, though they were kind of fun. The yummy scents didn't seem to last much out of the bath, which was disappointing. But they do lather well and the aromatherapy effects in the water are really pleasant.

Retail Price: $4.95 for 3.5oz, $9.90 for 7oz (available at lushusa.com in The Joy of Jelly, Deep Sleep Jelly, and my favorite, Big Calm Jelly or go here for retail locations in the U.S. and worldwide)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "The best bar to use for people who run many miles a day as it relieves any aches and pains in the muscles. A great substitute for those people who used to use Fizzy O'Therapy bath bomb."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Okay, I'm going to be honest. I thought about trying to work out hard enough to be really sore when I tried this. I did. I thought about it. Then I decided against it. *ahem* But this is what I CAN tell you about this bubble bar - it is relaxing and produces great bubbles. There is a slight hint of orange spice but it's also got a very subtle cool mint fragrance as well (it's got peppermint oil in it). I think that's what helps to make it so very relaxing.

I can't tell you for sure that this will relieve your sore muscles after a long day of hiking, but it sure did its job making my body feel relaxed. And when you get out of the bath that lovely warming feeling becomes a cool, refreshed sensation as the mint cools.

I only used half of this bar and got a very nice bath full of bubbles, so I think I could have broken it into an even smaller piece to get good results. The bubbles are abundant and very soft. It does turn your water a pale orange, but that didn't bother me. I rather liked it.

Retail Price: $4.95 (lushusa.com or go here for retail locations and here for international orders)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Pop in the Bath bubble bar slices turn up in a variety of colors and are all scented with a refreshingly, revitalizing bergamot, lemon and mandarin scent to dust you down, pick you up and make you as glad to be alive. (Well, perhaps that would be asking a bit too much of a mere bath, but that's the general idea.) **This bubble bar comes in 4 different colors, selection during shipping is Random**"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: This bubble bar came double-wrapped, and I can see why. The bar itself is highly-scented. But once you put it under the running water of your bath, the pleasant sweet florals mixed with a just a bit of citrus don't overwhelm. I think this fragrance is perfect for warm weather or any sunny day, more suited to revitalize, not put you to sleep. This bar gives you a great positive vibe and leaves a subtle lasting bit of that fragrance on your skin for hours. You'll find yourself smelling your arm - you WILL!

The only negative is that it may have been nice for the bubbles to be a bit thicker and more moisturizing. But overall a very happy bath experience.

Retail Price: $5.50 (lushusa.com or go here for retail locations - international shoppers look here)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Happy Soap is a translucent orange soap decorated with smileys. Happy soap is toning for your skin and cheering for your mind. When your happy friends are around let them use it too. The world can do with a good dose of happiness."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I was a little hesitant when I removed it from the packaging because it seems a little slick. But when I used it it just felt clean and fresh. The scent could have been a little more prominent, it's pleasant but not quite as "there" as it could be. But it does give a nice clean feeling and would be a nice everyday soap or something cheery to set out for guests.

Retail Price: $4.95 (lushusa.com or find retail stores here)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Still Life bath bomb is so uplifting you'll feel as if you're being carried along on a flying carpet. The citrus oils are marvelous things; they do wake you up but they don't set you buzzing; they help to clarify your thoughts so you feel as though life is no longer rushing by out of control. Bathe in a Still Life bath bomb and observe the pattern which the sunflower petals make in your bath."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: In my experience, bath bombs are usually hit or miss. While the scent is kind of nice and lemony as the bomb effervesces in the tub, once that's done there isn't much lingering scent to enjoy. And while I usually like LUSH's incorporation of flowers in their bombs (small rosebud's, etc.) the dried marigold head in this one falls apart in so many tiny pieces in the water that it leaves for kind of a mess to clean up afterward. Typically I can use the bath strainer I bought a long while ago for about a dollar to take care of remnants from bath products like this, but these pieces tend to cling on the sides of the tub. While this is a sunny, uplifting blend it didn't provide the lasting benefits that would have made it a really great bath accessory.

Retail Price: $4.95 (at lushusa.comi= or go here to find retail locations near you or here for international online and retail locations)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "We like making Valentines gifts because we always come up with things we'd like to be given ourselves. We all want a big stack of Love Stacks. First you have an extra large heart shaped Rock Star soap, then a heart shaped Tisty Tosty and to top it off a Soft Coeur honey and chocolate massage bar. Say I love you three times and keep your fingers crossed for a massage."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: The top layer, the Soft Coeur honey and chocolate massage bar was something I already knew I liked, and you can read my previous review of it here. It's chocolate-scented and indulgent. The Tisty Tosty in the middle layer is a heart-shaped long-lasting bath fizz with little tiny dried rosebuds on top. It produces a very light rose scent in your bath, with not much moisturizing properties but it does make bathtime fun. The little rosebuds float to the surface and unlike some of LUSH's more decorated bath fizzes, these are really easy to skim off the top of the water at the end so you don't have any mess afterward in the tub. The bottom and largest heart layer, the Rock Star Soap, is soft and creamy. But the scent at first to me was a little Pepto-ish - not so much so on the skin, but it IS highly fragrant and sweet, so be aware of that. It could be a bit much for some of you, and isn't too moisturizing.

Retail Price: $23.50 (usa.lush.com or go HERE to visit LUSH's international sites.)

Overall Review for the Love Stack:

Ahh, 'tis the season of giving! AND the season of especially pretty, yummy-smelling bath and body luxuries that everyone loves to get in their stockings! One of my personal favorite places to stock up on these treats is at LUSH. If you are still looking for some fun "filler gifts" for your friends and family, here are some of my recommendations. Keep in mind, some of LUSH's products are highly scented, so read the comments (if there are any) and the descriptions really carefully to make sure you're going to get something suited to yourself or the recipient.
-Melissa

Randy Buttercream - 3.5 oz $6.35/7 oz $12.70
"For a traditionally British Christmas dinner, we melt brandy butter sauce on our hot Christmas puddings. Our brandy, cocoa and rum scented Butter Cream is much more exciting than that so we named it Randy Butter. You can melt it all over a hot body in the shower to give yourself soft, lickable skin, or put a Lush Pud in the bath and wash with Randy Butter too. More fun than most Christmas desserts."
Melissa Says: This smells simply delectable. I actually didn't know what the components were before I used it and I swore it had honey in it. But it's soooo sweet and good. And the scent LASTS. I went shopping afterward and kept catching a whiff of myself and thinking "Wow, I smell fabulous!".


Christmas Kisses - $6.95
"This is a spicy bubble bar. It's a wickedly warming mixture of clove leaf and cinnamon leaf essential oils, with a splash of reviving sweet orange and lime. Comforting benzoin and exotic patchouli help you to relax as you sink beneath its mounds of bubbles."
Melissa Says: Okay, if you enjoy the smell of cinnamon pine cones on a winter's night or hot spiced cider, you'll get a kick out of this spicy, bubbly bath addition! A Christmas-y bath treat!


Christmas Cany Cane - $6.35
"The Candy Cane has the scent of Creamy Candy Bath but comes dressed up for party time in a new stripy pink and white, stick of rock ensemble. It's a lovely treat to find in your Christmas stocking, all sweet and soft and creamy. Crumble it under the running bathwater for frothy bubbles a-plenty. There's almond oil and cocoa butter in each one to protect your skin during cold weather when your woolly tights tend to absorb too much moisture. Use it whole for mountains of foam."
Melissa Says: This is a minty-sweet bubble bar with plenty of OOMPH! I prefer to use half and save the other half for another day, because I hate for it to be gone after one use...but think of the fun of that mountain of bubbles!


Twas the Night Before Christmas - $6.35
"This brand new Christmas soap was named after the poem (if thats not too grand a name for it) describing Father Christmas Christmas eve romp around the world with his reindeer. The soap is a deep dark purple of a perfect starlit sky and scented with lavender and blackcurrant."
Melissa Says: What can be better than an amazingly relaxing bath at the end of a long winter's day to make you feel cozy and content?


Angel's Delight - $6.35
"The gloriously fruity Angel's Delight soap is back! It changes its appearance every year depending on what the Angels have inspired us to create. Each piece cut from our massive roundels will be slightly different from all the others. Rest assured that it will always retain its refreshingly fruity scent and its ability to get grubby skin feeling heavenly once again."
Melissa Says: Oh wow. If a smell ever made you feel like a kid, this will do it! Fruit punch-scented, this soap keeps you peppy and smiling for hours. PERFECT for a young girl or the young at heart.


*All of these products and more are available from LUSH.

What They Say: "Mouth-watering honey soap for washing you, the kids, the dog and the granny. Real honey hand and body soap to soothe and sweetly scent your skin."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I purchased this during my recent trip to NYC. The salesgirl told me she had just recently washed her dog with it, though I'm not sure if she really had or if she was just trying to give me another reason to purchase this. Either way, I got some, because the smell is just mouth-watering. And in the bath or shower, it's a real treat for the senses. It actually leaves your skin feeling very squeaky-clean, so it's not necessarily super-moisturizing. However, if you're looking for a great scent that leaves you feeling fresh and awake, this is certainly a fun and indulgent option.

Retail Price: $5.95 for 3.5 oz (usa.lush.com), but if you're near a Lush store, it's cut into various sizes, like cheese, and priced accordingly

DeLush Rating:

They Say: "The Ma Bar is our solution to the chocolate cravings which seem to possess us when the weather gets warmer. It has been scientifically proven that smelling sweets can satisfy your appetite for them. Crumble the chocolate and toffee coloured (and scented) Ma Bar under your running bathwater for a cocoa, orange, sugar and honey scented bath (let's not forget the scrumptious smell of Honey I Washed the Kids) which tones your skin and cures your need for sweetness (until next time). The Ma Bar has been extended because you love it so much, you've made it a best seller."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: I thought this was really too hard to crumble, (something I saw on their message board as well), so I let it run under the water and it bubbled up just fine. I probably could have used half of it and had a really nice bath with that. The bubbles were very soft and the scent was nice though not as strong as I'm used to Lush's products being in the bath. Also, when I was done I felt like my skin was a little dry (maybe that was just my water?) and the scent didn't linger at all. All in all, a decent bubble-maker with a nice scent but not much to fuss over for lasting effect. At least this particular bar.

Retail Price: $5.95 (Lush's USA website)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "This massage bar is not for people who have to wash their hands as soon as they get sticky; it's for people who love a bit of messiness in their lives. The heart shaped, shea and cocoa butter bar is filled with a gooey blend of honey and cocoa powder which melts all over your body. If at this point you are wondering why bother, please ignore this, you'll hate it. If you are thinking, Mmmm, chocolate and honey all over! then this is for you. Don't use it on the best Egyptian cotton sheets without slinging a beach towel or similar over them first. It's good for your skin, it's excellent fun, but by golly it's wickedly sticky.

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Okay, I know you're possibly thinking NO WAY. Especially after that description. Here's my unique take on this product experience, though. When I got this product, I wasn't so sure how to use it. I looked in their newsletter, which says "Rub the bar between your palms to melt the oils and scented butters until they are coated liberally, then apply them gently but firmly all over the body." Hmmm...and upon reading reviews of LUSH's massage bars on their website, I began to question if I'd be really happy with it. But, it smelled SOOOO good before I even used it, I knew I had to try. So here's what I did: I used it in the bath. I got it a little wet, massaged between my hands, and applied it like a soap. It felt really smooth and slick, and smelled absolutely amazing. I just found it easier to use it this way. It really soaked into my skin well. And after the bath, I got my husband to give me a back rub and he was amazed by how the oils from the bar made it so easy to massage. And it really did feel great. I would even recommend this if you decided to have a *dual bath* on a romantic evening and give massages in the bathtub! Unlike some of the reviews from their site, I didn't find the scent to be overpowering at all, and it left my skin soft and smooth forEVER. It also wasn't sticky and when the chocolate started melting, I almost died. I most likely had good results with these things because of using it in the water. If you're careful and don't get it too wet, you won't waste it all so quickly and it should last several times.

My recommendation? Look at it as more of a super-sweet and lasting moisturizer than a massage bar except for *special* occasions.

Retail Price: $6.55

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Last year, Mark, our top bod at Lush (he has no official title but we all know who's boss) asked the Lush forum for a list of beautiful words. Smitten was one of them. The forum members asked Mark for a lighter, daytime hand cream scented with the same deliciously mouth-watering fragrance as Snowcake soap. Fair's fair. Now we have a beautiful new hand cream with a beautiful name made with natural oils and butters for a longer term benefit for your mits. (Note to non-mother tongue English speakers: mittens are like gloves but with one big ‘finger' instead of the usual four so “Smitten” is a hand protector pun as well as a lovely name. Just so you know…)"

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Handcream, schmandcream... It's really hard to impress me with handcream, mostly because I haven't seen too many that stand out from the rest. That could just be me, I guess. And although I am a new devotee of Lush, I was still skeptic. Shame on me - because this deliciously-almond-scented cream feels...like a silk slip on my hands. That sounds pretty grandiose, I know. But it's hard to verbalize the way the oils in this product moisturize your hands and make them feel noticeably different. When you first apply it, you'll think it's going to be a little too slick for you to continue about your activities with it on, but give it about 15 seconds to penetrate the skin, and aaaahhhhh...that's the only way to describe the feeling. It goes from slick-feeling to baby soft. I think you'll love it!

Retail Price: $11.95

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "You will recognize the scent of the Honey Bee Bath Bomb from the ultra mouth watering Honey I Washed The Kids soap and Ma Bar Bubble Bar Slice. So if you like to smell of honey mixed with caramelized sugar mixed with a drop or two of sweet orange and bergamot essential oils, then you will want these for your bath. The scent is only one of its attractions. Honey is beautifully calming for your skin, so we took this as a sign and added soothing Aloe Vera and Moroccan Rhassoul mud to help troubled skin feel better. This is one Honey Bee you must actively encourage to get closer to your body."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: If you're a bath girl, like me, anything fun you can put in there to make it feel more luxurious is a hot item. This bath bomb does just that. If you've tried LUSH products before, you'll know what I mean when I say the scent is absolutely amazing. Not perfume-y, just fresh and yummy. The conditioning oils made my skin super soft, in spite of my nasty hard water, and I even was able to shave my legs without any lotion! (I know, perish the thought. But it felt good!) The only downside? A bit of oil residue in the bathtub, but not enough of a hassle for me to not use it again or give it our best rating.

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: (about Happy Talk) "How excited were we when Helen got out a little tray of new lip balms to show us earlier this year? Happy Talk has been safely cloistered away until now, secretly saving its coffee scented shine and softness ready for when we were allowed to tell you all about it. It tastes like Italian espresso with two sugars and reminds us of Milan in springtime. This can only be a good thing." (about Lip Squeak) "We can see our new apple pie flavoured lip balm outselling everything else we've ever made. It is a supremely moisturising, buttery balm with fresh apples, antiseptic lemon balm herb, poppy seed, passion flower and green tea oils. Softening cocoa butter, carnauba and beeswax make your lips feel as smooth as a gigolo dancing Argentinean tango in patent leather shoes on a polished mahogany floor."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Happy Talk is slightly coffee-scented and creates a soft shine, and also lasts a fairly long time. It's not a deep-down moisturization for lip treatment, but it's nice for every day. I really love the cinnamon-clove scent of Lip Squeak, which wasn't too strong with the tin I tested (some readers commented about this on LUSH's website). I actually like the smell a lot, but find that while the balm feels very soft on the lips, it seems to dry them out a bit more after it wears off (due to the spice?) than they are normally. It also wears off a bit more quickly than I'd like.

Retail Prices: $6.95 each (at lushusa.com or go here for retail locations - international readers go here)

DeLush Ratings:
Happy Talk
Lip Squeak

Ahh, 'tis the season of giving! AND the season of especially pretty, yummy-smelling bath and body luxuries that everyone loves to get in their stockings! One of my personal favorite places to stock up on these treats is at LUSH. If you are still looking for some fun "filler gifts" for your friends and family, here are some of my recommendations. Keep in mind, some of LUSH's products are highly scented, so read the comments (if there are any) and the descriptions really carefully to make sure you're going to get something suited to yourself or the recipient.
-Melissa

Randy Buttercream - 3.5 oz $6.35/7 oz $12.70
"For a traditionally British Christmas dinner, we melt brandy butter sauce on our hot Christmas puddings. Our brandy, cocoa and rum scented Butter Cream is much more exciting than that so we named it Randy Butter. You can melt it all over a hot body in the shower to give yourself soft, lickable skin, or put a Lush Pud in the bath and wash with Randy Butter too. More fun than most Christmas desserts."
Melissa Says: This smells simply delectable. I actually didn't know what the components were before I used it and I swore it had honey in it. But it's soooo sweet and good. And the scent LASTS. I went shopping afterward and kept catching a whiff of myself and thinking "Wow, I smell fabulous!".


Christmas Kisses - $6.95
"This is a spicy bubble bar. It's a wickedly warming mixture of clove leaf and cinnamon leaf essential oils, with a splash of reviving sweet orange and lime. Comforting benzoin and exotic patchouli help you to relax as you sink beneath its mounds of bubbles."
Melissa Says: Okay, if you enjoy the smell of cinnamon pine cones on a winter's night or hot spiced cider, you'll get a kick out of this spicy, bubbly bath addition! A Christmas-y bath treat!


Christmas Cany Cane - $6.35
"The Candy Cane has the scent of Creamy Candy Bath but comes dressed up for party time in a new stripy pink and white, stick of rock ensemble. It's a lovely treat to find in your Christmas stocking, all sweet and soft and creamy. Crumble it under the running bathwater for frothy bubbles a-plenty. There's almond oil and cocoa butter in each one to protect your skin during cold weather when your woolly tights tend to absorb too much moisture. Use it whole for mountains of foam."
Melissa Says: This is a minty-sweet bubble bar with plenty of OOMPH! I prefer to use half and save the other half for another day, because I hate for it to be gone after one use...but think of the fun of that mountain of bubbles!


Twas the Night Before Christmas - $6.35
"This brand new Christmas soap was named after the poem (if thats not too grand a name for it) describing Father Christmas Christmas eve romp around the world with his reindeer. The soap is a deep dark purple of a perfect starlit sky and scented with lavender and blackcurrant."
Melissa Says: What can be better than an amazingly relaxing bath at the end of a long winter's day to make you feel cozy and content?


Angel's Delight - $6.35
"The gloriously fruity Angel's Delight soap is back! It changes its appearance every year depending on what the Angels have inspired us to create. Each piece cut from our massive roundels will be slightly different from all the others. Rest assured that it will always retain its refreshingly fruity scent and its ability to get grubby skin feeling heavenly once again."
Melissa Says: Oh wow. If a smell ever made you feel like a kid, this will do it! Fruit punch-scented, this soap keeps you peppy and smiling for hours. PERFECT for a young girl or the young at heart.


*All of these products and more are available from LUSH.

I thought we should end our week about lip balm with another true winner in the category. This new balm by LUSH has been a pleasant surprise!

And, dear gorgeous readers, DeLush is going to be undergoing some changes in the next week or two. We're going to be easier to search, include a ton of new categories, and tackle even more of your beauty questions - all the while continuing to bring you the most straightforward, FUN, and relevant beauty product reviews you can find online!

What They Say: "In the world of international espionage, a honey trap was a beautiful woman sent to seduce a spy and tease his state secrets from him using every means at her disposal. James Bond seems to encounter at least one in almost every film. In the Lush world, Honey Trap is a gorgeously tasty, white chocolate balm, sent to tease your lips into a soft, sensual state, capable of seducing anyone they touch. Our Honey Trap hides secrets like nutritious wheatgerm oil and soothing oatmilk infusion behind its honey and wild orange flavour."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: Okay, first off - don't let the phrase "white chocolate" throw you. While there's a touch of that, the honey and orange work with it to balance each other out into a slightly sweet flavor. And the soothing honey is the predominant scent out of the ingredients. Also, don't let the idea of the honey fool you into thinking this balm is at all sticky.

When I first opened the tin, I saw a sort of hard-looking circle of balm sitting inside, and I got a little nervous. I wasn't too sure how that could possibly feel good on my lips. But the initial impression was deceiving, because once your body heat comes in contact with the balm through swirling your finger on the product and applying it to your lips, it truly becomes one of the softest balms I've ever tried. It's incredibly comfortable, and lasts quite a while.

This is absolutely going on my list of favorites.

Retail Price: $6.95 (lushusa.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Three words: chocolate lip balm. You don't really need to know more do you? However, we could expand the description to mention that we tested everything in it to make sure it tasted superb; including the cocoa and cocoa butter. It's smooth, creamy, chocolaty, tasty, moisturizing and delectably kissable. Wear this instead of eating chocolate and it'll even help you lose weight - possibly."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: This. Feels. Heavenly. And yes, it does smell completely like chocolate. It's got texture like whipped frosting. And while it doesn't taste like a Hershey bar, it is pretty darn good. I was suprised by the incredibly lasting moisturizing effect. Verrrry soothing. And smoochable.

Retail Price: $7.45 (Lush)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "This shampoo bar is for hard water areas. Wash with hard to get rid of the calcium residue, now a bright pink bar stu