Sailing on the sea...Ocean Salt by Lush Review

I am a massive lover of facial scrubs. Up until a few months ago I was scrubbing everyday, until I kinda twig'd that this wasn't the right thing to do. And for some reason I just stop buying any. I was just using my mum's Clinique 7 day scrub every week or so and that was that.

Well a few weeks ago, when my skin was particularly manky looking, I happened to be in Lush buying my weekly dose of bubble bars when I wandered over to the skin area. Bar the face masks I've never actually tried anything for the face from Lush, I guess I almost have it in my head that natural products don't do much for spotty and gross skin like mine (I no, I no, silly me). I had heard from lots of lovely blogging ladies that Lush facial products were good but I already had a good cleanser, toner and didn't really want to try there moisturiser. So facial scrub it was then.

I was pretty much sold on the Ocean Salt facial scrub when I saw it, just because it has the word 'salt' in it and I also have it in my head that salt is a good exfoliator and, salt heals, right?

It promises to be a 'stimulating scrub, for a complexion that glows' and contains lime, coconut, grapefruit and vodka, alongside the sea salt.

Costing £6.45 for 120g I reckons it comes in at a mid-range priced scrub, I probably wouldn't be inclined to spend much more than that on one but they do make the bigger size, £11.80 for 250g if your feeling frivolous!

First off, I'm all about the smell, and this smell totally smells like a cocktail, and I'm also all about the cocktails. So cocktail smelling scrubs are amazing - snaps for you Lush.

I guess from the moment you see 'salt' scrub on the label you kind of get an inkling that it will be pretty harsh. Dipping your finger in this scrub just confirms those fears, or joys, I guess it depends on how scrubby you like your scrub! The scrub contains lots of different sized rough salt particles and feels creamy, yet a little greasy to touch.

To get a good scrub I feel you only need a small amount, too much and it just sort of falls off your face! Wetting your hands helps a little bit I find. Once it's on you have to be really careful with how hard your scrub avoid your eye area at all costs and try not to get it in your mouth (you know that taste you get when you swallow sea water? Yeah, that times 100 with this!)

Once it's washed off I really do see a difference in my skin straight away. It gets rid of any dry areas and it pretty damn good at cleaning out any blocked pores, it makes my skin look squeaky clean! Which is no mean feat!  

So would I recommend it?

Yes. But here's my word of warning, sensitive skinned girls step away, even with a light buffing of this scrub on the face I still reckon it would cause problems, also scrub happy girls (like myself) should perhaps find another scrub to get happy with or you'll have half your face off!

However I've you feel that your skins needs a bit of a brighten every week or so, or if you suffer with spots. I would whole heartedly recommend this. I've been using it once a week on my skin, usually before a night out and I have really seen a difference. Plus salt does heal the skin and if I'm having a particularly bad break out I leave this scrub on my skin for 5 minutes or so before I buff off and it does seem to have some effect on the little buggers.

What I also find a little frustrating with Lush sometime is that everything has a really short use-by-date, however this scrub is good for over a year, which is something to bear in mind when your only using it weekly!

Thing's I've learnt this week 17th - 23rd Jan 2011

One

Turns out you can eat Lush's BubbleGum Lip Scrub! I was sneakily licking away at it thinking it might be slowing dissolving my insides. But I asked the girl behind the counter in Lush and she OK'd me for the sugarfest!

What's that? A tongue print? (sorry I'm gross)

Two

Nothing feels better that a clean and tidy make-up draw.....but nothing is more tedious than cleaning out your make-up draw.

Look - how pretty!

Three 

You can go out with the tags still in clothes without anyone noticing.

I did with twice this week, once accidentally and the other time on purpose. Remember me saying how I'd keep the tag in my new jacket for a little while longer here? Well I did, and I wore it out as a little tester! Suffice to say I will now be taking the tag out and keeping it, as I didn't see anyone else in it! The second time this week was in a top, luckily I noticed when I went in a changing room to try stuff on and I'm pretty sure the tag was hidden well away, so I got away with it!

Sorry Vanessa. I like your hat though

Four

I don't like Coke/diet Coke/diet Cherry Coke, I want to like Coke but I just can't. But I do like the nail varnishes that come with said fizzy drinks.

 

Anyone for some free Coke?

What are your revelations this week girls?

Soap and Some Fur

Here is said haul from last weeks sale/meant to be getting birthday presents/oops accidently shopped for me trip! Like I said not very exciting.

 

Krispy Kreme is probably the most exciting thing here, and let me tell you, it was gooood.

Top - H&M Fake fur collar. L-R Krispy Kreme doughnut (hole with sprinkles, in case you wondered), No. 7 eyebrow pencil, Lush Karma bubble bar, Lush Cinders bath ballistic, Lush Figs and Leaves soap, Lush Oatifix facemask. 

See? Not exciting.....

Still, as it's you guys, I'll do a little review of everything

H&M Fake Fur Collar

I don't have a good picture of this, it didn't photograph very well. But I do have an outfit post with it coming up soon. It's basically just a large piece of brown fur with a clasp at the front. I actually was attempting to buy a brown fur coat but couldn't find one, so this was next best. It's actually amazing, looks great over jackets and macs and sort of gives my old jackets a new lease of life. Very pleased, £10 well spent!

No.7 Beautiful Brows pencil in 10 black/brown

This will forever and always be my eyebrow pencil of choice. I am severely lacking in the eyebrow department and have used this pencil for years. I like the texture of it, it goes on some smooth making it easy to use. Plus it's only £2.50 with the Boots £5 off No.7 vouchers that they do all the time.

Lush


Karma Bubble Bar

My favourite Lush smell. So fresh, it's gorgeous. I actually got the Gorilla Perfume for Christmas in Karma too which is equally as amazing. Makes the bath bubbly and orange. You need this in your life!

Cinders Ballistic

I won't say much on this as it's Christmas stock, it was half price. Smells like Christmas candy, so yum. They bring it out every Christmas I believe. Put it on your wish list for next Xmas!

Figs and Leaves

I've never brought a Lush soap before. I'm not a hard soap kinda girl. But this was half price too and smelt lovely. I like figs a lot, plus it promised to soften skin. I used it in the bath the other day and was pretty happy with it. Looks pretty grim though! It's inspired me to used soap more often, haha, I sound like I'm really dirty or something! I mean soap rather that shower gel!


Oatifix Facemask

 

I have expressed my love for facemasks before. This is soothing, smells like flapjack mixture, I am tempted to eat some, probably not wise though. Just softens and makes skin feel nice.

I also recieved my order from HQHair last week. They had a 30% off sale after Christmas, which was fab because it included Nars. Unfortuantly the Nars products I wanted were out of stock so I just got few bits and pieces. I'm silly for not getting more but I think I was in a rush at the time and wanted to get my order in before the offer ran out.

May I just comment on how good HQHair is, they do some really hard to find products on there and shipping is usually free and super fast.

Murad Hydrating Toner

I've never used Murad products before, but have heard good things. 

I needed a new toner and wasn't sure where to go for one, but I saw this one on the website, it looked good and I'm trying to step away from drying, spot killing, all singing, all dancing toners as I don't think they are helping me. 

Whats weird about this toner is that it's a spray! I've never used a spray toner, I have to psych myself up on cold mornings to spray it on my face as it make me chilly! Actually though it's a pretty good idea, the pump does well at covering all my face in the toner, then you just wipe it with a cotton pad (or you can just let it dry, lets just say I don't have time to let things air dry in the morning!) and I guess you could say it is invigorating! It's hard for me to comment on the effectiveness of it because I've only been using for a week but it's very gentle on my skin, makes it feel very clean and smells really good. Plus the spray action means that you use less so it lasts longer. Seriously I've only used the tiniest amount in the bottle so far! I'm sticking with it for now. I'm quite intrigued to try more Murad products. Anyone have any experience in them?

Butter London nail polish in Henley Regatta

Butter London is another product I've heard lots about, mainly from this lovely lady, but never used. I'm not sure where you can buy it from shop wise, I've never seen it in any stores, but it's easy to come by on the web. It boosts being '3 free' i.e. no nasties and is a mid to high end polish costing £10 a bottle. 

I chose this colour, because, er, well it's gorgeous?! I cannot resist a bit of glitter! I haven't painted all my nails in it yet but in desperate to do my tootsies. So far on the one thumb nail I swatched, no chipping, 2-3 coats needed for coverage and a lovely sheen without a topcoat (but do remember it is a shiny glitter!)

Another brand that I'm interested in now, will defiantly purchase some more colours!

Give a house a home!

One of my absolute favourite things to do whilst shopping is pop into Lush and pick up a bubble bar or two. It's like a little treat for my hard day shopping! Haha.

But seriously I love a bath, and although I like the excitement (ooh ahh, they are so pretty when they fizz) of a bath ballistic, I am a bubble girl at heart.

The last few times I've been into Lush I've noticed the Christmas holiday collection, but never really looked twice, I guess I prefer fresh smells and Christmas fragrances don't really fit into that category. However, the Gingerbread House bubble bar caught my eye. The few times I've seen it a stack of them always seems to be left on the stand. A little bit dodgy looking with a wonky cinnamon chimney and some unevenly scattered candy pieces, I too am guilty of leaving it on the shelve.

Not this time I thought.

I am so happy with my new home. I split it in two (seriously, one whole bar produces a lot of bubbles, no one needs that many) and used it last night. It filled my house (brick, not gingerbread) with a lovely spicy scent. It softened my skin and the other half sitting in my draw is doing a good job of making my room smell lush too!

So I implore you, ladies and gentlemen, give a house a home!