Ayesha- The Fresh Face Mask for Wrinkles

Ayesha is great for all skin types though it is particularly aimed at tired skins needing firming and tightening. The Lush website claims it is “designed to tighten, firm, and rejuvenate skin “. Lush also say that Ayesha will smooth away wrinkles for an evening with “clays, deeply effective asparagus, vitamin rich kiwi fruit, bewitching elderflower and witch hazel leave the skin radiant, relaxed and refreshed”. Wow well with such claims I feel it is my duty to test this product.

On opening the tub I can smell a pleasant herby scent with a hint of floral and fruit. Lush use fullers earth and kaolin which combine perfectly with the softening honey, soothing rose, toning asparagus and fresh kiwi to cleanse deeply, detoxify and refresh the skin. The magic comes from the elderflower; witch hazel and limeflower gently smooth any fine lines and help relieve any spots or irritation.

How to Use

The mask is a pretty unattractive shade of green though the consistency is rather lumpy therefore making application a little trickier than other masks. The key to getting the best out of the mask is to apply it thick enough to cover most of your skin. Massaging the face mask into skin ensures that the nutrients can be absorbed effectively. Ayesha spreads easily across skin and is comfortable enough to leave on skin for ten to fifteen minutes.

I suppose I should have tried to disguise the fact I am wearing my pyjamas in this photograph… ho hum!

The mask is pretty easy to wash off, I like to splash warm water slowly and massage it into skin with my fingertips in a circular motion to absorb more nutrients. Be sure to dry skin gently with a washcloth.

Results

Looking at the mirror immediately after washing and drying skin revealed more even and soft skin. A closer look showed that my laughter lines around my mouth had disappeared. I am incredibly impressed with this. Though Lush claim that the anti-wrinkle effects last for an evening I could see that my skin still looked smoother the next morning.

Value

Ayesha costs £4.95 in stores and £6.45 online for a 75g tub. The face mask will last up to two weeks in the fridge as it does not contain preservatives, and is best used up as fresh as possible. For the unique smoothing effect on skin and particularly on fine lines I think Ayesha is totally worth the cost especially for when you want to look your best.

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The Shower Gel

Lush recommend this shower gel as a “wake me up” and particularly for hangovers. Now I don’t drink, but after a particularly bad nights sleep (well I was all excited about wrapping Christmas presents) I thought it was an ideal moment to try out this citrusy shower gel.
Slammer comes in a clear bottle with a flip top lid and distinctive white Retro Lush label. On opening the bottle I am greeted by a very strong smell of lemon and lime- in fact I was concerned it may be too strong and leave my skin dry as a result. The orange coloured gel is quite thick and easy to squeeze out of the bottle.

Product in action

In the shower I just used my hands to work up a decent lather and was pleased that I didn’t really need my exfoliating gloves to get some lather like other shower gels from Lush.

After the first shower my skin was left feeling really smooth, perhaps it is due to the honey and seawater? I have dry hair which works best washed with a shampoo bar, however my mother has washed her hair with Slammer and it worked really well for her. The smell of the gel lingers in the bathroom for a while and is very pleasant.

I would put this in my top 3 shower gels- and as the best shower gel for waking me up fast in the morning. Skin is left feeling fresh smooth and clean. My feet can sometimes get a little dry but slammer left them feeling nice and soft, and I had no need to moisturise so it is a timesaver in the morning. Double bonus!

Value for money

Slammer costs £10.75 for the 500g size, and £3.95 for 100g which sounds very expensive but it should last you a long time. It is nice that Lush listened to customers and brought out smaller bottles though I do feel they have been priced pretty high. With Retro products you also have postage to pay on top too.

A small amount goes a long way with this gel as it lathers up so well. If you are in a big rush you can wash your hair with it, but Lush don’t recommend that you use it as a regular shampoo. This is more of a treat for your body than your hair. The scent is definitely unisex so the bottle could be a real money saver if you share it with your partner/ family.

 

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The bar

Those of you who have been to Lush will know that all the store’s soap are huge round slabs which you can have cut down to the size and weight you desire or you can chose one of the pre cut slices on top of the slab which are covered in paper with a label stating the weight and price.

This soap is possibly one of the least attractive looking soaps that Lush sell. It is a pale brownish shade of colour, and some of them have dark brown leaves on the top. My bar didn’t have any leaves. The soap contains hundreds of tiny dark brown fig seeds, which act as a light exfoliator.

Scent

I didn’t even notice the scent in the store as it was overpowered by other more powerful smells. The bar is fragrant in a subtle yet sensual way. I was never really attracted to the scent of figs, well I never really noticed it before but this soap surprised me with its elegant smell.

The soap contains orange blossom and ylang ylang, which work well combined with the fig. The scent has a lovely floral aroma and the fig hovers in the background. The smell is quite long lasting, and I find myself catching whiffs of the scrummy scent hours after using the soap.

The Results

The interesting thing about Fig and Leaves soap is that it hardly lathers up at all. This doesn’t bother me but it may be an issue with others. After my shower I found my skin was left moisturised and smoother than usual.

The little seeds are excellent at exfoliating, and my skin was left soft and smooth with no redness. If you have sensitive skin you may need to use lighter pressure, but I scrubbed pretty hard and the seeds were never scratchy or painful. Fig and Leaves would be excellent to maintain an even tan in the summer, and to remove dead skin cells before waxing. I particularly recommend it for pampering your feet; the seeds feel lovely on the soles of my feet.

Value

Fig and Leaves soap is available for £2.86 per 100g. I think it is worth every penny. I even skipped the moisturising afterwards as my skin really didn’t need it.
I find the scent of Fig and Leaves really special, I feel like a really elegant lady when I use this. It is so subtle and leaves my skin feeling creamy soft. The only disadvantage is that the seeds can make a bit of a mess in the shower.

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The Shower scrub

Now I love exfoliating soaps and scrubs; particularly to get rid of rough knees and elbows so I am already swayed by what the product claims to do. On opening the bottle I am greeted by the lovely familiar smell of Sakura. Lush veterans will remember 17 Cherry Tree Lane soap which smelt the same. This jasmine, orange and mimosa scent was just perfect when I took it to India as I never bother wearing perfume when in hot countries. Rub Rub Rub gets a big thumbs up for scent. The scrub is quite thick and you may have to take the lid off if you require a dollop rather than a squirt of the stuff. Make sure you shake the bottle well to distribute the salt evenly.

Product in action

In the shower I found the ideal way to use it is directly from the bottle with my hands. Using a loofah dissolves the salt and you lose the nice scrubby feeling you get when using your hands.

After the first shower my skin was left feeling smooth and I noticed it helps eliminate ingrowing hairs which is a bonus. I have dry hair which has been ravaged by the sun while in India so I haven’t tried Rub Rub Rub as a shampoo. I suspect it would be better suited to those with greasy hair or anyone who requires volume.

I would go far enough to say this is the best scrub I have used as it doesn’t leave skin feeling overly oily. Sometimes too much oil in scrubs can leave skin feeling greasy but Rub Rub Rub doesn’t do that. Skin is left feeling fresh smooth and clean. I am pleased to say the scrub does wash away easily in the water (which I was relieved about as I hate leaving hotel bathrooms looking messy).

My feet took a bit of a beating doing the temple trails and a five minute wash with this divine vegan scrub got rid of all dry skin and put much needed moisture into my skin.

Value for money

Rub Rub Rub comes in three sizes: 100g – £2.89/ 250g – £ 5.82/500g – £9.74

I know the 100g bottle works out as more expensive but I will only buy that to take on holiday as it is really heavy due to the high salt content. Also I prefer to use liquid Lush products while they are fresh.

I have noticed that my skin is extremely smooth and the daily exfoliation means I have an even tan. I am pleased to have got rid of my “t-shirt lines” from my arms!

I have been using generous helpings of Rub Rub Rub for almost a month now and my family have been helping themselves too. I still have half a bottle left and suspect a little can go a long way with this scrub. I suspect it would last for three months (I don’t think I’ll be showering three times a day in the UK!). A pound a month isn’t bad for something that works this well- I will use this as a summer treat.

 

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Pink Kiss- for an elegant yet girly bath
Half a Think Pink bath ballistic
Third of French Kiss bubble bar

This makes a lovely vanilla and lavender bath, and I especially like the combination of my favourite scents. Wash hair with any shampoo, condition with American Cream and moisturise with Therapy massage bar to layer similar scents (making it last longer).

Very Berry- for a cold winter evening
Half Blackberry bath ballistic
Half Comforter bubble bar

This is a real winter scent; if you are a fan of fruity smells then this Lush cocktail is for you.

Candy Dream- when you are craving sweets
Half a Creamy Candy bar
Third of Ma bar
Quarter Dreamtime bath melt

Within moments of crumbling Creamy Candy bar and Ma bar the bathroom was immersed in the most amazingly sweet scent. Adding the chunk of Dreamtime made it into a real skin softening treat. This is definitely one for those with a sweet tooth, and those who like lots of bubbles.

Citrus Shock- to wake up after a late night
Half Happy Pill bath ballistic
Half Avobath

This makes a shocking coloured bath, however the smell is lovely. You can add half a Sunnyside bubble bar to mask the colour with lots of bubbles and gold glitter.

Pinkilla- for a girly pampering session
Half Vanilla Fountain
Half Mmm Melting Marshmallow Moment bath melt
Half Think Pink

I liked combining these three together as I find Vanilla Fountain a tad sickly on its own. I love the smell of this and feel free to substitute Frosty Gritter for Think Pink if you want bubbles!

Jasmine Cream- to smell like a vamp and banish PMT
Half Sex Bomb Bath ballistic
Third Creamy Candy bubble bar
Dollop of Flying Fox shower gel

Apparently Jasmine is great when your hormones are all over the place. Add the shower gel to the bath first before running water. Then add water and crumble bubble bar, finally adding the ballistic. A nice bubble bath with a hint of jasmine, the bath goes a nice colour and it leaves skin feeling really soft.

Milky Skies- for grown ups to share
Third Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds
Half a Butterball bath ballistic
Third Hot Milk? bubble bar

This cocktail creates a nice and lively scented bath which can be used by both men and women.

Froooty- to banish hangovers
Half Avobath
Half Pop in the Bath bubble bar
You’ve been Mangoed bath melt

If you wake up feeling drowsy and don’t even have the energy to stand in the shower try this cocktail. The combination of fruity scents give your nostrils a real treat and leave you wide awake for the rest of the day.

Honey bliss- for the softest skin in the world
Third Ma bar
Half Honey Bee bath ballistic
Half Butterball bath ballistic

Add the bubbles first by crumbling Ma bar and then add the ballistics. If you want lovely soft smooth skin try this one, the softening properties of Butterball and Honey Bee work really well together.

Zing! – The best pre-clubbing bath
Sexbomb bath ballistic
Half Pop in the Bath bubble bar

This smells unbelievably wonderful; you will leave the bath feeling bouncy and sophisticated at the same time. The floral scents in Sexbomb complement Pop in the Bath’s citrus goodness really well.

Purple heaven- Purpley bubbly goodness
Bathos bubble bar
Half Sexbomb bath ballistic

This is for the diva who loves purple. It smells great and reminds me of parma violets.

On the Beach- For when you need a holiday
Big Blue bath ballistic
Half Sunnyside bubble bar
Small chunk Blue Skies and Fluffy white Clouds bubble bar

Zzzzzzzzzzz- For when you need to get to sleep
Half French Kiss bubble bar
Half Hot Milk bubble bar
Waving not drowning bath ballistic

Therapy for muscles- post-workout pampering
Geophyzz
Half Dreamtime bath melt
Chunk of Therapy massage bar

Yes I do stick massage bars into baths too! I love how a small chunk adds so much moisture.

Geisha- to feel like a goddess
Sakura bath ballistic
Tisty Tosty bath ballistic
Half Butterball bath ballistic
Half Dreamtime bath melt

This is a real floral treat and butter ball makes it into a huge treat for your skin.

Making Lush bath cocktails is a lot of fun so use these recipes as a guide, but try your own combinations. Certain products mix well with pretty much everything like Butterball and Honey Bee, and others need a bit more thought like Geo Phyzz.

Coalface is the one Lush product that I can’t live without and it deserves a review for the difference it has made to my skin. Having tested several products in the past, from Oxy to Angels on Bare Skin I was actually recommended this by Lush staff. I trust the staff at Lush and a week later my skin was clear and glowing like never before.

Lush describe the bar as ‘soothing’ and claim that: “Ground up charcoal is very good for your skin, though; it helps to absorb excess sebum from the skin’s surface and acts as an exfoliator. Hence we put it into a complexion bar with skin softening liquorice root plus rosewood and sandalwood essential oils, both rumoured to help cells regenerate and to slow the arrival of wrinkles”. Well with such confident claims who wouldn’t want to give it a go?

The bar

This assuming bar of soap probably gets overlooked at Lush as there are other more fun and brighter looking cleansers. Coalface looks a bit waxy like most soaps, is black and on close inspection it contains tiny little flecks of glitter (which are actually edible).

Coalface contains liquorice root to detoxify and calm the skin, as well the soothing oils of rosewood and sandalwood. My nose can detect the sandalwood and I quite like this, it tempers the liquorice well and creates a pretty inoffensive scent.

How to use

For first time users I would advise washing with Coalface in the shower. Break off a small chunk so you don’t waste it and use it last before getting out of the shower, gently rub the bar in circles around your face and then neck. Turn away from the force of water and massage the lather into your skin. The lather is very creamy and not bubbly. This is a good way of testing the gritty side without it being too harsh. I haven’t found the charcoal to feel scratchy, in fact I think it is the perfect exfoliant. Rinsing is simple and make sure you clean the sink after using it as it can leave a bit of a mess.

The scent of the bar is soft and inoffensive. I can hardly smell the licorice, and I am not surprised that many men use this bar because it not floral or overpowering like some of the other cleansers. I have never noticed any glitter left on my skin after using Coalface, though the soap can get under your fingernails so wash carefully.

Coalface is brilliant used at the sides of your nose to prevent black heads and dry skin. Don’t scrub too hard though otherwise you will end up with red skin. After using this cleanser my skin is very clean, smooth and shine free.

Results

Coalface is suitable for oily skin and may be harsh on skins that are already dry. I have been using Coalface for over a year and it is the best cleanser I have ever used (and believe me I have tried a fair few). Currently I alternate Olive Oil cleanser with Coalface every few months if my skin gets dry, but I’d happily use only Coalface if need be.

I have combination skin, with an oily T zone and cheeks that can dry out. From my teens I suffered from odd stubborn spots -probably due to my hormones. Now spots are a rarity and they heal up so fast I barely notice them. My skin used to be very temperamental and Coalface appears to have calmed it down. I found when I switched to Angels on Bare Skin for a change my inexplicable rashes returned (they appear in a flash and disappear just as quickly). Using Coalface again eliminated all skin problems so I know it works for me.

Coalface is by far the best cleanser I have ever used.

Value

I think Coalface is provides excellent value for money. A 100g bar will last me a year, which at £4.16 is a good deal. The bar travels well- you can just cut it and take it in a plastic bag. It also doubles as a treatment for ingrown hairs; I have scrubbed it on my knees to get rid of annoying bumps. A good storage device for the bar is important for optimum use; do not leave it in the shower as it will melt in the steam. I keep mine in an old plastic Lush pot and keep it well drained, otherwise use a soap dish.

If you have oily skin, enlarged pores and/or blackheads you should try Coalface.

 

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