Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Lush Haul Again
I had 2 orders, one from the NA Fragrance chat party and one from a Lush store in Texas placed by phone order.
The one from Texas contained these goodies:
Almond Buttercream, Skinny Buttercream, and samples of: Coco Lotion, Snow Fairy Shower Gel, Alkmaar Soap, and Silky Underwear Dusting Powder! I order the two buttercreams because they are discontinued and I wanted to try them before they become nonexistent.
Samples were filled to the brim!
Guess what else I got?
A freakin' note from the SA I talked to on the phone named Sherry!
Closeups!
Almond Buttercream looks so gross here, haha. It looks like a piece of dung. It doesn't really smell that good to me at dry sniff. It just smells like soap.
I like the scent of Skinny Dip. It's spicy, and I can smell like a hint of a gingery undertone. I'm not even sure if there's any ginger in Skinny Dip. I can't wait to use this in the showa!
Oooh, the goodies from the chat party!
Here I have: Honey Lumps, Flying Saucers, Green Green Bath of Foam, Rainbow Worrier, Gold, Frankencense, and Beer Shower Jelly, Frothy the Snowman, Christmas Morning, Bon Bomb, Mr. Butterball (this was a replacement of Twinkle because Lush called me and told me they were out of stock!), Christmas Massage Bar, Chocolate Santa, Star Melt (this was from the stocking stuffer promotion)
Samples I got were:
Honey I Washed the Kids, Red Rooster, and Pineapple Grunt
I also requested a gift message this time just to see what it looked like.
Maybe next time I'll put a poem or something. Merry Christmas everyone!!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Lush Haul and A Gift Dewrapping!
Ceridwen's Cauldron
Soft Couer
Each Peach
Sexy Boy
Sakura
Free Massage Bar Tin
The Mr. Butterball I got for free when I donated a can of Clam Chowder. My clam chowder was more expensive than the Mr. Butterball, but it's okay since it's for the hungry.
When I reached into the prize box, I was feeling around in there and I was deciding which one to get. I felt a black pot, some bombs in a bag, and a couple of small boxed giftsets. So I picked out a giftbox and got Blossom. Oh boy, I was disappointed again!! Because I just bought a Sakura!! Damn it! Yeah, I know..I should be grateful that I am even getting any freebies.
Then when I walked out of the store, I forgot to ask for samples!! Damn it again! I really wanted a sample of Coco Lotion :(
Okay, enough of the ranting. Two days ago, I finally decided to open my Hello Sailor gift that I got from the NA site when it was on sale because it was getting discontinued.
The gift came with a Too Drunk Emotibomb, a small Rub Rub Rub, a tattoo, and an EXPIRED 15% off coupon. Seriously, Lush it's not the end of 2009 and the coupons are already expired. Come on!! Anyway, I opened this gift because I wanted to use the Rub Rub Rub as a shampoo, and I am loving it so far. It's like using a blue colored Big :)
Thursday, December 3, 2009
My Daily Face Routine
Then one day, I was looking up on Youtube for acne solutions, when I came across a brand called Lush. People raved about their facial products and the wonders it did for their acne, so I immediately went to Lush's website to see if they had any stores around me. And yes, there it was, in San Francisco. I went to the store the same day and grabbed Fresh Farmacy, Tea Tree Water Toner, Vanishing Cream, Sweet Japanese Girl, and Mask of Magnaminty. I used these products for about two months, but I could not continue using Fresh Farmacy as it burned my face. Then I resorted to Coalface, but it seemed to dry out my skin too much and caused my pimples to get worse. Ahh, and then there was Herbalism. Which did not work either.
I then resorted to the dermatologist, who prescribed me with Tretinoin topical and an antibiotic called Doxycycline Hyclate. After the second week on the Doxycycline, I got so sick. The first time I got nauseous, I threw up in class! After that I would get nauseous every time I took the pill, so I just couldn't take it anymore and stopped taking it completely. I really haven't felt the same since.
Then another day, I was looking in the Lush forums in the "Other Companies You Love" section, when I found Tval's skincare. My first order from Tval were mostly bath products, but I decided to order some samples of their skincare products. I got samples of the Deep Cleansing Oil, the Oil free Lotion w/ Strawberries and Salicylic Acid, the Raspberry Exfoliating Toner, and the Sweet Cheeks Face Mask.
Boy, did I see some improvements on my face! So I ordered full sized products, including the Cleansing Milk with Geranium.
In the mornings I use:
Step 1. Deep Cleansing Oil with Mandarin and Cedar
I pump the oil in the palm of my hand and apply the oil to a dry face with my fingertips. I massage the oil all over my face, and then I rinse it off with warm to hot water in the shower. After showering, I splash my face with cold water. I think this step is very important because it helps close your pores and it tones your skin at the same time. Ever since I've been doing this last step, my acne has improved as well.
Step 2. Raspberry Exfoliating Toner
I pour some toner (only a squirt, a little goes a long way) onto a cotton pad and wipe it all over my face, concentrating on the areas that have more acne.
Step 3. Olay Total Effects Eye Transforming Cream
I take a dab of cream from the jar with my pinky finger and dab it on my upper lids and around my eyes.
Step 4. Oil free Lotion with Strawberries and Salicylic Acid
In the above picture, I show the full sized product, but the first time I only ordered the travel size with the pump. Since I find the pump more convenient, I transferred the lotion from the full size to the travel size container. I only use one pump and it's enough to moisturize my whole face.
Step 5. Makeup
I normally use the Bare Minerals foundation, but just a few days ago, I have decided to switch to the drug store brand that I used in high school. Since I didn't have any acne in high school, I am trying to see if this foundation will work again. It's the Neutrogena Microclear Foundation. It's supposed to prevent and treat existing acne, and so far so good.
At nighttime before bed:
Step 1. Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover
I use this to remove my eyeliner first before using a cleanser.
Step 2. Cleansing Milk with Geranium
The directions do not tell you to use it on a damp or dry face, but like the deep cleansing oil, I use it on a dry face. I use one full pump and massage it all over my face. I rinse with warm water, either in the sink if I am taking a bath or in the shower if I am showering.
Step 3. Sweet Cheeks Face Mask
I don't use this mask as a full face mask. Rather, I use it as a spot treatment. After showering/bathing I dab this clay mask on all my spots. Actually I just cover my whole chin and my nose. I keep the mask on while I am putting on body lotion and then rinse it off in the sink with warm water. After rinsing, I immediately splash my face with cold water. This mask either helps my pimples come to a head the next day or it completely stops the pimple from growing/forming. It takes a few days for the stubborn ones to go away, but with Sweet Cheeks, it definitely speeds up the process.
Step 4. Olay Eye Transforming Cream
Step 5. Oil free Lotion with Strawberries and Salicylic Acid
The last 2 steps in my nighttime routine are the same as the ones of my morning routine. Ever since using Tval's skincare products, my face has cleared tremendously and even keeps it glowing. My mom used to always complain about my acne, and she's been complimenting me on how much better my skin looks. When your face is clear and smooth, your makeup even goes on smoother. If you use concealer it's even better as it doesn't leave that dry, flaky residue on top of your pimple.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Another UK Lush Haul!
Avobath x3 for the mother
Star Bath Melt
Wee Harry Bubble Bar
Randy Buttercream
Orange Spice & All Things Nice Soap
Bob Soap
Hot Toddy Bubble Bar
Snowdrops Bath Bomb
Christmas Carol Bath Bomb
Schnuggle Massage Bar
After 8:30 Massage Bar
Free Massage Bar Tin
And 6 samples!:
I requested: Strawberry Santa Jelly, Vanilla in the Mist, Noubar, and Father Frost. They also gave me 2 more: Angel's Delight and Angels on Bare Skin!
This is why I love buying my Lush from the UK!
Anyway, the Randy Buttercream smells so darn boozy, I'm not sure if I can stand it. People say that the booze smell fades in the shower, and I really hope so because I don't want to smell like a drunk! I'm excited to use the Schnuggle because I heard that it's so relaxing and it'll put you right to sleep. The Christmas Carol is so cute! It has wings! I wonder how that'll turn out in the bath...
Close ups:
So the other day I went to Walmart and bought these two tiny travel containers for lotion for a buck! So guess what I did?
plus
equals
Yep, you know the two lotion samples I received from Tval that I posted in my "Let's use it up" post? I put them in the pots so I can carry them in different bags and use them up!
Here's a comparison with the black sample pots Lush gives.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Temple of Truth Bubble Bar
Monday, November 16, 2009
Lush to use up!
Tval:
Pink Cotton Candy Shower Sundae sample
Strawberry Rhubarb Shower Sundae sample
Pumpkin Marshmallow Skin Smoothie sample
Banana Puddin' soap sample
Pumpkin Lavender soap sample
Coffee soap sample
Lavender Vanilla soap sample
Lavender Fig soap sample
Pink Cotton Candy Skin Smoothie sample
Gingerbread soap sample
Morning Dew soap sample
Neroli Cedarwood soap sample
Blueberry Verbena soap sample
Cranberry Biscotti Bath Treat
Lush:
1/6 Blue Skies and Fluffy Clouds Bubble Bar
1/2 Temple of Truth Bubble Bar
Slice of Quinquereme soap
Bathos Bubble Bar
1/2 First Swim Bubble Bar
Harvey Bath Bomb
Butterball Bath Bomb
1/6 Comforter Bubble Bar
Tiny sliver of Miranda soap
Slice of Snowcake soap
H'suan Wen Hua Hair Mask sample
American Cream Conditioner sample
And the ones I currently have in my shower that I want to use up are:
Pumpkin Soap, Tval Shine Solid Shampoo Bar, Whoosh Shower Jelly, Joy of Jelly Shower Jelly, Emperor of Ice Cream Buttercream, 1/3 Tub of Dreamwash, and a small piece of Therapy Massage Bar.
The Lush bath bombs and bubble bars should be fairly easy to finish up by December, but the soaps and jellies and stuff are a lot harder to use up since I use only a little bit at a time. I've been using my pumpkin soap under the water so that I can use it up quicker, but since I don't use it everyday it's hard to finish. I've been switching it up with the jellies and Butterball Shower Gel.
Wish me luck guys! And remember to post your lists!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Mermaid Water
Here is the first item: Sunny Side Bubble Bar. Lush says: These glamorous bars turn your bath water into liquid gold. Sink into the glowing white bubbles and revel in the sparkling gold water while inhaling blissful sweet orange, lemon and tangerine essential oils. This glorious bar will help you see the sunny side of things even when you're feeling gloomy. Emerge refreshed and revitalized.
This picture does not show what it looks like in real life. Hopefully, you can see the gold swirls in the picture, but in person it looks like molten gold lava. I usually break my bubble bars in half, but I just used the whole thing for this bath because I didn't really feel like saving it, and for once I wanted to go all out!
I picked up some of the bar that didn't melt all the way and smushed it in my hands. Looks like gold paste.
And here's the second item to make mermaid water: Big Blue Bath Bomb. Lush says: "If only the whole ocean smelled as good as the Big Blue bath bomb, how fragrant and pleasant the world would be. We sprinkle each bomb with Atlantic sea salt crystals and infuse them with seaweed to soften and nourish the skin, giving you a beautiful beachy glow. The combination of its intoxicating lavender and lime smell, bright blue color, and soothing sea salt and seaweed make you feel as cool and collected as if you're on a beach vacation listening to the waves and watching the sunset."
Well, I don't know if it gave me a beachy glow, but because I only had half instead of a whole, it turned the already gold water greenish instead of blue. Here's what happened when I dropped the thing into the water:
When I showed my boyfriend these pictures, he said, "Eww, sewage water!"
And here is mermaid water without flash:
With flash:
Isn't that gorgeous? With a whole Big Blue bath bomb, the water should have been a more turquoise color, but even with half, it's still beautiful. It really is like bathing in an ocean with the sun shining down on you. The scent is pretty strong and it definitely stays on your skin after the bath. It smells kind of floral-ish with hints of citrus. The water was so, so silky. With all the glitter in the Sunny Side Bubble Bar and the seaweed from the Big Blue, I was afraid that I would have to clean up a mess at home, which is why I took it to a hotel.
This is what the tub looked like after the water was drained. Surprisingly, the glitter just rinsed right out with the shower. I definitely want to buy the Big Blue again just to try it by itself. The half that I used was a sample I received from a goodie bag at a Lush store party.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Another Tval Haul and Update on The Blonde
Here I have Sweet Cheeks, Shine Solid Shampoo Bar, Pink Sugar Bath Treat, Strawberry Rhubarb Bath Treat, Apriot & Banana Tub o'licious, Licorice Marshmallow Tub o'licious, and samples of Raspberry Exfoliating Toner, Gingerbread Soap, and Strawberry Rhubarb Shower Sundae.
The shampoo bar is a lot smaller than what I expected, but it also smells better than I expected. This is my first time ordering a Tub o'licious and I can't wait to try it. The cool thing about them is that you can use the bag as a washcloth.
The Blonde update: I just finished using the sample of The Blonde I received from the UK, and I know I said it in the previous post in my review of this shampoo, but I'll say it again. It's great. It leaves my hair soft and conditioned, gives my hair some life, and it has not lightened my hair. I know you probably have to use it for a long time before it can lighten your hair, but this tiny sample lasted me about a week and a half. So for those of you who have dark hair, don't be afraid to use your sample of The Blonde! I might be purchasing it after I see how the Tval shampoo goes.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Lush Solid Shampoo Bars [4 reviews]
Lush says: The excessive chamomile packed into The Blonde keeps natural blondes blonde naturally. It also makes bottle blondes feel like they grew it themselves. If you want everyone to say, "Wow, you've just gone blonde!" this is not for you. But if you want "I know I haven't seen you for a few months but wasn't your hair darker?" then buy a bar and wash daily. Chamomile flowers have many lovely properties and one is that it will slowly but surely lighten your hair.
Let me make one thing clear first: I am not blond. And guess what? I like The Blonde. I naturally have black hair, but it's dyed light brown. My hair has grown out a lot, so from my ear up, my hair is black and from my ear down, it's brown. I was a bit unsure whether I should use this shampoo bar or not. When I received it as a sample from my UK order, I protested by saying, "But I'm not blond!" Now that I'm out of shampoo and I finally took this sample out to use, I found that it makes my hair look and smell good. It actually smells like Big shampoo, but better. I've only used this for two days so far, and I'm not seeing my hair getting any lighter, but we'll see after I finish using this small piece, but I bet this small slice will last a long time. If I end up liking the results from this bar, I actually may buy it even though I'm not blond!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Tval Skincare Chocolate Mint Bath Treat
Tval says that "this is the perfect blend of mouthwatering rich chocolate and peppermint. A more decadent bath is hard to find!" This bath treat even looks like a chocolate brownie. The one that I got did not have a butterfly on top, but it came dressed with green glitter on top.
The smell is a rich chocolate scent with the mint being very apparent. It smells like the After eight chocolate. I only used half of this bar and it turns the water very silky and smooth. The water turns a little murky color, but that's to be expected. As long as it's not brown! But then again, if it was a nice brown color, it might be like bathing in hot chocolate! I didn't see any glitter in the bath water, but as I was slathering on lotion after the bath, I could see that the glitter actually stuck to my skin, which I thought was super nice since it's not a lot of glitter, but just a hint. A spot here and there. The scent does not linger on your skin though. The thing I really like about Tval's bath treats is that they're not as expensive as Lush and they have a lot more scents than Lush. I am actually disappointed that Lush has so little bath melts to choose from and they cost seven to eight bucks for one. Tval's bath treats are only like three bucks! But yeah, if you like chocolate mint scents, this one is for you.