Just The LUSH, Ma'am

[GirlyGhoul]

Bumping an old thread for some advice. I want to update my skincare routine and I'm thinking of going all LUSH. Right now I've only been using LUSH for shampoo (Godiva rocks) and bath, but in the last mail order I made they gave me a sample of Ocean Salt and I was hooked. To the point that I started really investigating their skincare line. My problem is I don't live near a LUSH store, so testing stuff out and seeing it first hand is an issue.

I'm 40 and so I have wrinkles on the brain... don't have them on my face yet, but I know they're just under the surface plotting their attack- so I'd like to head them off at the pass. At the same time, I'm not sure about the products for "mature" skin, because, I don't think my skin's quite there yet. I still have somewhat oily skin and still get the occasional zit (There's one getting ready to make an appearance on my right cheek as I type this- sigh!) So I don't think I want to go for the super duper moisturizing things- but I still want to make sure I'm adding some hydration in there.

Right now, I'm leaning towards using Aquamarina as a cleanser. I like that it apparently softens the skin while also tightening it up (or so I've heard) And then Ocean Salt for every other day exfoiliation.

But I'm completely stumped about which moisturizers to try.
I think I'm leaning towards Imperialis or maybe Celestial. I think Ultralight has sunscreen in it, but I'm not sure how much. The toners have me stumped and fluxomed as well. The Fresh Face masks are out because I don't live close enough to a LUSH store to get them and they won't send them through the mail. But I was thinking that Mask of Magnaminty might be a good way to pull out some of the toxins that keep causing zits to pop up.

Also, I'm really intrigued by the solid serum Full of Grace. It sounds like it would be a good night treatment to head the wrinkles off at the pass. But it something that could melt during shipment so I hesitate to order it right now.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Deleted]

We seem to have different skin types, Girly, but why should I let that stop me from opining??

I am 34 and have oily/acne-prone skin (due to hormonal problems). I use Coalface soap, Eau Roma Water toner, and pure/filtered jojoba oil for my moisturizer. I arrived at this routine after MUCH trial and error, of course. I have tried all of LUSH's cleansers. I LOVE Coalface, however it is very stripping, which would not work for people who don't want to strip the natural oil from their faces. For me, I prefer to clean EVERYthing off my face and then apply new, clean jojoba oil.

Anyway, to reply to your specific questions, I will say that I also LOVE Ocean Salt. The scent is freaking amazing and it is a great exfoliator. It is too harsh for my face, though, and makes me break out. I still buy it and use it to exfoliate my back and upper arms -- I just can quit that scent!

I tried Aquamarina and it is very gentle and soothing (I get redness/irritation), which is nice, but it doesn't rinse off completely. It leaves a film, which might be fine for you, but I don't like it. I like to be squeaky clean! I also get a film/residue from their other "roll" cleanser, Herbalism. Fresh Farmacy is sold as a cleanser but can also be used as a spot treatment for drying out zits -- I find this to be a MUCH more successful use of the product.

Mask of Magnaminty made me break out and it also smells disgusting, in my opinion.

As for moisturizers, if you are prone to zits, you might want to stay away from anything with cocoa butter. Their best moisturizer, IMO, is Gorgeous -- of course, it's also the most expensive. HGTV loves Celestial. It's very soothing and light and smells amazing. I can't use it because of the cocoa butter, though.

For toners, Eau Roma Water is very soothing; I love it. Tea Tree Water makes me RED and itchy. Breath of Fresh air is nice but I just prefer ERW. Like checkmate said, all of them will allow you to use less moisturizer, which is good for lots of reasons.

[GirlyGhoul]

Thanks y'all! I'm still pondering which way to go with it all. My friend and I have been talking about maybe making a pilgrimage to the nearest LUSH... which for us is about 3- 4 hrs away. But... hey... ROAD TRIP!

[chonies]

Jun 9, 2011 10:35:29 GMT -4 GirlyGhoul said:

Thanks y'all! I'm still pondering which way to go with it all. My friend and I have been talking about maybe making a pilgrimage to the nearest LUSH... which for us is about 3- 4 hrs away. But... hey... ROAD TRIP!

May I suggest that you bring a cooler and some ice packs? I did a LUSH road trip once, and came back with $75 of melty, whiffy goo in plastic sacks.

[GirlyGhoul]

Good idea, chronies. It'll be a while before we can go and while I'm trying to show some restraint and use up the skincare I already have, I may still breakdown and wind up ordering a thing or two from LUSH.

This weekend while cat sitting/ plant watering at another friend's house I rummaged through her drawers looking for some Sunscreen she said I could use while watering said plants (it's been hot y'all!) Never found the Sunscreen but I did find some Ocean Salt she had stashed away. I'm not rude enough to use someone else's stuff without permission... but I did take it into the living room and just sat there sniffing it while playing with the cats and watching ANTM marathons... Don't Judge Me!!!!

[Deleted]

Today, I love LUSH more than ever.

[GirlyGhoul]

I saw that too Mulva. And I was trying to be so good and not buy anything else until I had used up the skincare products I have now and also paid down the creditcard more... but dang it! LUSH got me y'all! I'm their bitch for life! le SIGHS!

[GirlyGhoul]

Pardon the double post, but I had a day off work and actually called up LUSH. Originally, I just wanted to ask how long the Freedom Foamer Bubble Bar would be available (See Mulva's link above)

But I got to talking to a really awesome sales person who gave me all sorts of suggestions and took the time to describe the benefits of various ingredients. I was already a big fan of lavender but the way she described that it balances everything out- makes the oily parts more matte and adds moisture to the dry parts- helped me choose the products that have lots of lavender in them.

I'm forcing myself to hold off on making anymore purchases until I a) use up the skincare products I already have and b) pay my creditcard down more. I don't have a big balance, but I usually don't carry one over anyway- so even having a little bit of a balance makes me edgy.

But maybe after another pay check I'm gonna try:
Imperialis moisturizer and Angels on bare skin for the cleanser.

I was already set on getting Ocean Salt and Mask of Magniminty as part of the routine.

And as for toners... the crazy thing there is, I think I could more cheaply make my own. I have a lavender plant in my garden and roses and I know there are ways to use the petals with some witch hazel or maybe vodka. I've been reading up on different homemade toner recipes to try but just haven't had the time to fool with it. I'll let you know after some experimenting.

But as for the LUSH phone experience it was really awesome. I kept feeling bad for taking up the woman's time, but she assured me that this is what they do... I guess I'm so used to "customer service' where the folks can't hardly wait to get you off the phone and act like it's killing them to talk to you even for five minutes.

(Oh and P.S. on the Freedom Foamer tip, it'll be available pretty much as long as they have it in stock. She said some stores have sold out already but they're still availble online for now. I was going to get some, but changed my mind. I support the cause- but I don't like that there's green glitter in the bar. For some folks that would be a plus though)

[mariposalabrown]

I am addicted to the bath bombs, go to Boulder every two months to stock up, and think the world of them.

The toners are an absolute waste of money to me, on the other hand. I made my own tea tree oil toner and just keep it in the bottle. Angels on Bare Skin is nice, in Texas I loved Coalface bc my skin was so oily, dang it, now I want a new facial regime!

[NappingAthena]

I'm so tempted to try to talk my family into going to the Gallaria in St Louis when we're there soon so I can get Pied De Pepper & Coalface, but I Don't know if I can afford it.