Shampoo -LUSH - HARD
thirdstrokelucky 6/19/2007 9:06:00 PM
I'm reviewing Hard shampoo when it was still a truckle (i.e., a la Trichomania and The Blonde). Now this form has been discontinued, and it is now sold as a 2-in-1 bar in a puck form. I really liked this shampoo when I first bought it. Why? Because rinsing my hair felt effortless. My hair felt smooth, silky, and soft in the process of rinsing. No other shampoo had done that before! However! As Hard aged a few months older, it became more harder. I had a difficult time of crushing bits of it in my hands and creating a lather. Also, my hair no longer felt silky when I rinsed it. When I tried using it as a soap, it became really noticeable on my skin that Hard had developed these small, solid pieces reminiscent of sea salt. By that time I had stopped using Hard as a shampoo and was finishing it off as soap. It's sad that Hard no longer made me happy. As for the new version of this shampoo, I won't be buying that since I know that cocoa butter will eventually make my scalp itchy.
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Shampoo -LUSH - Hybrid
thirdstrokelucky 6/19/2007 8:43:00 PM
The first few months I used this shampoo bar, someone could easily tell that I didn't use conditioner. But now that I am close to finishing it, my scalp gets itchy the next day. I used Hybrid as a soap the other night and my skin felt moisturized, so it is obviously the cocoa butter that is bothering my scalp. The only thing I like is its licorice fragrance. I like the concept of a 2-in1 solid shampoo, but in reality Hybrid doesn't make my life any easier. Will not repurchase. On an off-topic note, Hybrid looks a lot like a white chocolate cookie the more you use it. Couldn't help but share this!
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Bath Treatments -LUSH - Big Blue Bath Bomb
thirdstrokelucky 6/16/2007 5:30:00 PM
Looked up this product on MUA sometime last year, and someone recommended nylon stocking to wrap around Big Blue so that the seaweed wouldn't invade the tub. I went to a dollar store to look for some stocking and discovered something else--cheesecloth! It's basically like stocking, but it's made of cotton. Getting back to the bath bomb, I was very disappointed again. (A lot of Lush products are not living up to their claims.) Thankfully the seaweed stayed inside the cheesecloth and the water in the tub became a bright blue, but I wasn't expecting it to smell of raw seaweed. The scent was disgusting, much like Seanick shampoo. The lemon and lavender oils in Big Blue become irrelevant. Also, I became bored in the tub. Bathing in water without bubbles is just not very fun. It's something I realized when I used Big Blue. It doesn't matter that Lush added seaweed, or that they add flowers and glitter in their other bath bombs. Those things pale in comparison to bubbles, and bubbles don't clog up the drain.
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Gels/Soaps -LUSH - Ice Blue Soap
thirdstrokelucky 6/16/2007 5:01:00 PM
I strongly agree with seasaildu in that Ice Blue did not live up to my expectations. Lush claims that "the peppermint will leave your skin tingling all over." YEAH RIGHT! My skin hardly tingled, and I was hoping, no expecting, that it would tingle like Mask of Magnaminty. The peppermint is very weak, much like the weak grapefruit scent in the Happy Hippy shower gel. I bet that Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castille Soap would leave me much happier judging from the MANY positive reviews on MUA. At least I know for sure that I won't be ordering Freeze shower gel from the Fresh from the Past Event. I don't want to spend $30 CAD for a peppermint shower gel that doesn't live up to its claims!
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Toners -Biotherm - Biosensitive Calming Thermal Spring Spray
thirdstrokelucky 6/16/2007 4:30:00 PM
This is a review for Biotherm's Biosensitive Soothing Refreshing Spring Mist. I bought this about four years ago. I last used it one year ago, and I'm now writing a review because I want to get rid of it, and I thought I might as well include it in my reviews. This product is supposed to be "used after cleansing or at any time of day in the event of sudden skin sensitivity." I found that it didn't really calm down my skin when it became irritated. I would have to use my hands to fan my face after spraying, and I'd wait several minutes before I looked a bit more normal. At least it didn't irritate my skin any further. The packaging is really good for travelling. However, I probably have about three quarters left and I want to now empty it so that I can recycle the bottle. But I simply cannot open the bottle! It's tamper-proof! In summary, this mist did not help my skin so I won't be buying this again. I'd rather use rose floral water since rose essential oil is known for soothing sensitive skin (even though there are only trace amounts of the oil in the floral water). AND it's more affordable. The Biosensitive spring mist is just not worth it. Ingredients:AQUA/WATER, GLYCERIN, VITREOSCILLA FERMENT, XANTHAN GUM, TETRASODIUM EDTA, PHENOXYETHANOL, METHYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, BUTYLPARABEN, ISOBUTYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN.
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Lotions/ Creams -St. Ives - Intensive Healing Advanced Therapy Lotion
thirdstrokelucky 6/16/2007 3:47:00 PM
This is a review for St. Ives Intensive Relief Advanced Body Moisturizer. I'm guessing it's the newest version of the Intensive Healing Advanced Therapy Lotion. I wasn't expecting too much of anything when I first bought this. This lotion is formulated for severe dry skin, so I thought what the heck. The price was fairly cheap--around $5 CAD for 600 ml. The first night I used it, I was very impressed! My skin was instantly soft, silky, and moisturized! St. Ives really lived up to the claims printed on the back of the bottle! This lotion makes an excellent replacement for Olay Quench, which is twice the price of St. Ives. Ingredients: AQUA, GLYCERIN, MINERAL OIL (PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM, HUILE MINERALE), STEARIC ACID, GLYCOL STEARATE, CETYL ALCOHOL, PETROLATUM, DIMETHICONE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE, ACETYLATED LANOLIN ALCOHOL, CETYL ALCOHOL, TRIETHANOLAMINE, THEOBROMA CACAO, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS, PRIMULA VERIS, SAMBUCUS NIGRA, CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA, CARBOMER, ALOE BARBADENSIS, ALGAE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, SORBITOL, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, PANTHENOL, BIOTIN, THIAMINE HCL, ASCORBIC ACID, FRAGRANCE (PARFUM), POLYSORBATE 20, STEARAMIDE AMP, DMDM HYDANTOIN, DISODIUM EDTA, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Unlisted Brand - Ombra - Aromatic Body Wash In Eucalyptus
thirdstrokelucky 5/30/2007 9:42:00 PM
This body wash is sold in a 300 ml bottle and costs $5.99 CAD (regular price) at Shoppers Drug Mart. It's kind of pricey, but compared to LUSH showers gels ($16.95 for 250 ml) Ombra body washes seem like a bargain! The eucalyptus fragrance in this shower gel is strong and is what I'd expect from the essential oil (I don't know for sure since I've never smelled eucalyptus oil). That's why I recommend this shower gel for people who have colds, or want to clear up their sinuses. The bottle says this body wash can also be used as a shampoo, but it left a residue on my scalp. It also dried out my hair. All in all I don't think I'll repurchase it. I just don't find eucalyptus oil to be exciting enough. However, it IS soothing. To be honest I wish Ombra would make a peppermint body wash. That would be reeeeeeeeally nice. Ingredients: WATER, SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS LEAF OIL, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAIN, SODIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM BENZOATE, SODIUM SALICYLATE, POLYQUATERNIUM-10, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM FORMATE, BENZOIC ACID, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, FORMIC ACID, D & C YELLOW NO. 10, FD & C BLUE NO. 1.
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Shampoo -LUSH - Seanik
thirdstrokelucky 5/30/2007 1:41:00 AM
Horrible smelling shampoo. All I can smell is RAW SEAWEED. It's basically the same scent as the Big Blue bath bomb. It also tends to dry out my hair after washing, but will leave a film on my scalp. Actually I find that all of the LUSH shampoo bars will leave a film, especially New even though that's my fave shampoo bar (Hybrid may sneak up ahead of New if I used the former more consistently).
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Shampoo -LUSH - Godiva Solid 2 in 1
thirdstrokelucky 5/30/2007 1:28:00 AM
I should first say that I got this shampoo bar for free. I suspected that it was already bad to begin with so I used this first as a soap. All I can say is that the jasmine scent is a far cry from Flying Fox shower gel. My bar of Godiva actually smells like piss!! It's weird how some people think that Flying Fox smells like piss, but I don't. Godiva sure does!
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Treatments -LUSH - Flying Fox Temple Balm
thirdstrokelucky 5/30/2007 1:18:00 AM
This temple balm is a true scent of what the old Flying Fox shower gel used to smell like (see my long review to understand what I mean). It's the only product left from LUSH that lets me cherish the jasmine that I once knew. Even though the scent is lovely, I hardly use it. I simply can't be bothered to rub some of the balm on to my wrists or neck (I'm lazy). Also the scent doesn't last long, and it's not that strong to begin with. I honestly don't know when I'm going to finish this temple balm, so I'll answer "No" to buying this product again. Ingredients: ALMOND OIL (PRUNUS DULCIS), CHINESE ANGELICA, BURDOCK ROOT AND JASMINE FLOWER INFUSION, BEESWAX (CERA ALBA), CETEARYL ALCOHOL, PERFUME, LANETH - 40, COLD PRESSED EVENING PRIMROSE OIL (OENOTHERA BIENNIS), HYDROGENATED PALM KERNEL OIL, SODIUM BORATE, JASMINE ABSOLUTE (JASMINUM OFFICINALE), YLANG YLANG OIL (CANANGA ODORATA), CYPRESS OIL (CUPRESSUS SEMPERVIRENS), PALMAROSSA OIL (CYMBOPOGAN MARTINI), GLYCERIN, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN
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Gels/Soaps -LUSH - Flying Fox Shower Gel
thirdstrokelucky 5/30/2007 12:58:00 AM
I loved this shower gel, and I still do but now with mixed feelings too. I first bought the 100 ml bottle, then upgraded to 500 ml, and am now using the 250 ml bottle, but only because the biggest bottle was sold out (yes, Flying Fox is one of LUSH's best sellers. I can imagine some people gagging at this). When I used the 100 ml bottle, I was very impressed with the jasmine fragrance. It overpowered my senses in the shower. The scent was that strong. However, when I bought the 500 ml bottle I found that the scent had somehow changed and was weaker. No longer did jasmine envelop me. I checked the ingredients and saw that LUSH had modified the ingredients somewhat. You'll see what I mean when I list them at the end of this review. Anyway, the "new" FF was not the same scent as the FF temple balm, which is what the "old" FF used to smell like. So.... I agree with playkitty911 on the issue of the shower gel being different from the temple balm. Currently I'm getting a bit sick of FF. I can understand why many people find this shower gel to be cloying and nauseating. But my reason for feeling "sick" is that I've been using it a lot for the past nine months or so. I find that FF is really effective at combatting menstrual pains. After showering I just feel a whole lot better! And for that reason alone, I'll probably keep repurchasing it. What I really hate about LUSH is how the ingredients of FF are inconsistent. They should take the time to explain why they're tinkered with it, and why the listings are different on the bottle and on their web site!! But I believe that the correct ingredients are the ones listed on the bottles being presently sold. Ingredients for the OLD formula on my 100 ml bottle (circa Nov. 2005) and on the current (?!) LUSH TIMES: HONEY (MEL), SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, CHINESE ANGELICA, BURDOCK ROOT AND JASMINE FLOWER INFUSION (ANGELICA SINENSIS, ARCTIUM LAPPA AND JASMINUM OFFICINALE), SODIUM COCOAMPHOACETATE, HUNGARIAN HONEY (MEL), GREEK HONEY (MEL), ENGLISH HONEY (MEL), PERFUME, JASMINE ABSOLUTE (JASMINUM OFFICINALE), YLANG YLANG OIL (CANANGA ODORATA), CYPRESS OIL (CUPRESSUS SEMPERVIRENS), PALMAROSSA [SIC] OIL(CYMBOPOGAN MARTINI), METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN. Ingredients on the LUSH web site: HONEY (MEL), SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, SODIUM COCOAMPHOACETATE, PERFUME, JASMINE ABSOLUTE (JASMINUM OFFICINALE), YLANG YLANG OIL (CANANGA ODORATA), CYPRESS OIL (CUPRESSUS SEMPERVIRENS), PALMAROSSA OIL (CYMBOPOGAN MARTINI), METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN What is different from the old formula is that everything from Chinese Angelica to English Honey is wiped out. Maybe LUSH is getting lazy with the completion of ingredient listings on their site? Ingredients for the CURRENT formula on my 250 ml bottle (circa Jan. 2006): HONEY (MEL), SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, WATER, SODIUM COCOAMPHOACETATE, PARFUM, JASMINUM OFFICINALE (JASMINE) FLOWER EXTRACT, CANANGA ODORATA FLOWER OIL, CUPRESSUS SEMPERVIRENS OIL, CYMBOPOGAN MARTINI OIL, METHYLPARABEN, JASMINUM OFFICINALE (JASMINE) FLOWERS, PROPYLPARABEN, ANGELICA POLYMORPHA SINENSIS ROOT, ARCTIUM LAPPA ROOT. These ingredients are similar to the old formula, but they lack the Chinese Angelica, Burdock Root and Jasmine Flower Infusion as one of the first ingredients. This may be why the jasmine scent isn't as strong anymore. But I doubt all the anti-FF users will agree with me on this point. Also, the three kinds of honey are gone. Shouldn't LUSH cheapen the price of FF if these specialty honeys are now missing?
13 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -LUSH - The Olive Branch
thirdstrokelucky 5/29/2007 11:38:00 PM
I agree with the other reviewers that this shower gel smells masculine, but I don't find it to be disgusting or annoying. It doesn't moisturize my skin, but neither is it drying. I want to upgrade to the 250 ml bottle since I'm getting a bit sick of Flying Fox. If you don't like TOB you could always give it to your boyfriend, guy friend, or dad :P
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Lotions/ Creams -Vaseline - Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning lotion
thirdstrokelucky 5/29/2007 11:23:00 PM
Pros: (1) The lotion smells delicious and sweet. Much better than Palmers, which smelled strongly of soda. (2) The price is okay, almost cheap. I bought the 600 ml bottle for $3.99 CAD back in fall 2006, but now I see it for $5.99 to $6.99 Cons: (1) It's too light and runny, which means it's not moisturizing enough. Only good for summer. (2) You would think the packaging is great because it comes in a pump. But when there's a little amount left and you can't pump out the lotion anymore, obviously you'd want to open the bottle and shake out the last bits. Unscrewing the pump is not much of a problem. The problem lies in how the pump is attached to the top surface of the bottle. I don't think people who've never used this lotion will know what I'm talking about. It's hard to explain. But just know that the packaging gets really awkward as you finish the lotion. Overall this is a good lotion. Good as in good for summer, but not in the middle of winter. I would buy it again, but it's not worth $5.99. Ingredients: AQUA, PETROLATUM, GLYCERIN, STEARIC ACID, ISOPROPYL PALMITATE, GLYCOL STEARATE, DIMETHICONE, THEOBROMA CACAO (COCOA) SEED BUTTER, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA BUTTER), HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL OR GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) OIL, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) STEROL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, RETINYL PALMITATE, SODIUM STEAROYL-2-LACTYLATE, COLLAGEN AMINO ACIDS, UREA, GLYCERYL STEARATE, CETYL ALCOHOL, MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE, CARBOMER, LECITHIN, MINERAL WATER, SODIUM PCA, POTASSIUM LACTATE, LACTIC ACID, PARFUM, STEARAMIDE AMP, TRIETHANOLAMINE, METHYLPARABEN, DMDM HYDANTOIN, DISODIUM EDTA, CARAMEL, CI 77891.
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Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Life Brand - Sweet Treats Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake
thirdstrokelucky 4/6/2007 11:25:00 AM
This product debuted around fall 2006 and is marketed as a "3 in 1 shower gel, foam bath and shampoo." It's sold only in one size (250 mL). I got it on sale for $3.99, but the regular price is $6.99. I only used this product as a shower gel because (1) I don't trust any Life Brand products when it comes to my hair and (2) I can't bother with baths. The scent is truly yummy. It does smell like a chocolate cappuccino cheesecake. However, there is an undertone of a fake synthetic scent. It's most noticeable in my mesh sponge when I use it again the next day. Overall this is a nice product for people to try, though I myself will probably not buy it again. It's not worth $6.99, but $3.99 is okay as the maximum price. I forgot to mention that the bottle has a flip top (like a sports drink). So good on them. One last note: Life Brand has come out with another new line of 3 in 1 products. One smells like watermelon. I took a whiff of it and it smells really good! Ingredients: AQUA, SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, PEG-80 SORBITAN LAURATE, PEG-120 METHYL GLUCOSE TRIOLEATE, LINOLEAMIDOPROPYL PG-DIMONIUM CHLORIDE PHOSPHATE, SODIUM LAUROAMPHOACETATE, GLYCOL DISTEARATE, COCAMIDE MEA, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, DISODIUM EDTA, PARFUM, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, DMDM HYDANTOIN, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, LAURETH-9, RED 4, CARAMEL.
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Lip Treatments -Avon - Santa's Shoppe Lip Balm in White Chocolate
thirdstrokelucky 4/6/2007 10:40:00 AM
As with any Avon lip balm, when I apply the white chocolate lip balm to my lips it melts and leaves white goo behind. That's why I only use this at home. But I love the chocolate scent and would repurchase it again because of this. I agree with previous reviewers that this balm does not moisturize much.
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