Lush Goodies!

Two of my must haves from Lush are the Glitterbug and Black Stockings massage bars.

Glitterbug on left, black stockings on right

Glitterbug is a clear massage bar that has pink-purple iridescent glitters in it. Just like the other massage bars, you rub this little egg-shaped bar onto your skin until it gets warm. The product then gets melty and distributes the glitter for a fun, glam look. I've heard others say that this smells like vanilla, but to me it has that typical "Lush" smell- you know, that smell you smell as soon as you walk into a store? I know this is extremely helpful lol. The smell doesn't bother me at all and it isn't overbearing and awful like some of Lush's other products (I'm looking at you Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter!) Anyone who knows me also knows that I LOVE anything with glitter in it. Unfortunately, the Glitterbug is discontinued, but the good news is, you can recreate the same look at home! All you need is your favorite moisturizer (I would recommend using your favorite Lush massage bar for staying power) and body glitter or shimmer of your choice that you can pat (sparingly!) anywhere you choose. I love the iridescent glitter, so when my Glitterbug runs out (tear!) I will definitely be using this trick.
Anyway, here's what Glitterbug looks like up close:

I intentionally blurred the picture so you could get a better idea of what the shimmer looks like. I'm soooo sad that this product is discontinued (wth, Lush!). If this type of glitter is too full-on and/or you prefer something that has a more subtle sheen, then Shimmy Shimmy would be the product for you. It is a heart-shaped massage bar that has fine golden shimmer in it and also looks beautiful. It is not discontinued so run, don't walk to your nearest Lush ◕ ‿ ◕

The next product is Black Stockings. This product is meant to be a temporary bronze tint used on the legs or where ever to amp up the skin's healthy glow. It also works really well for those who are a bit pale and would like some temporary color just to warm up their skin tones. There are two versions of the tiny- Silk Stockings which is the same idea but a lighter tone, and Black Stockings, which is the darkest. To me, this product has a light cinnamon scent which disappears quickly.
Here's what it looks like:

I love to use this on my legs and decollete for a night out. On me, it translates to a rose gold, bronzey sheen which I really like as it makes my skin look bronzey, healthy, and moisturized. It sounds expensive at $9.95, but you do get a good amount of product and because a little bit does go a long way, you can get at least 10 or more uses from this.

Finally, here are swatches of Glitterbug and Black Stockings on NC25 skin:

Glitterbug on the left, Black Stockings on the right

Have you ever tried Lush massage bars? Which are your favorites? Any you hated? Let me know!

Cuticle Care

Hey everyone! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Did anyone watch the Super Bowl? Wasn't it crazy intense? Anyway, I thought I'd write a post about something that is key to a beautiful and long-lasting manicure. To me, one of the most important parts of a manicure is cuticle care. I constantly have dry-looking cuticles, especially during the cold winter months. I have a few life savers I wanted to tell you about. First up is CND Solar Oil. I keep a bottle by my nightstand because it seriously is a great product. It is the standard consistency of a cuticle oil and has a pleasant, light scent that dissipates when the product sinks into the skin. It kind of reminds me of cherry almond. I am pretty sensitive when it comes to scented products, but this one doesn't bother me as it is so light. Upon application of the oil, you can almost feel it moisturizing your cuticles, and I like that the product absorbs quickly. I massage it onto the cuticle, the nail bed, and the surrounding area as per the instructions. I use this at least once a day and have found that there is an overall improvement of the ragged roughness of my cuticles.

Next up is LUSH Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter. It comes in a pretty large pot and a little definitely goes a very long way. It is a very thick consistency, much thicker than a body butter. As you start massaging Lemony Flutter into your skin, it melts into a moisturizing formula that is a bit greasy and takes quite a while to absorb and sink in. It's also great as intense therapy for rough, dry hands. I absolutely love this product but to me, it has one downfall: the scent. It is a very STRONG lemony smell that reminds me of Ajax or Dawn- basically like a lemon fresh scented cleaning product. As amazing as it made my hands and cuticles feel, I had to give up using this product because I couldn't stomach the smell which lingers at least a whole hour after use. So if like me, you are sensitive to strongly scented products, this may not be the product for you. However, if you don't mind strong scents or enjoy lemony scents, I would absolutely recommend this product. Unfortunately, I don't have the container to show you, but this is the picture from LUSH's website:

Image credit: lushusa.com

The last product I wanted to talk to you about is Healthy Hoof Intensive Protein Treatment. It comes in a small pot which similar to Lemony Flutter, you dip in and need only a small amount for all ten fingers. What I like about this product is that it is very rich and hydrating, but not greasy.

While it doesn't absorb as quickly as the Solar Oil, it is definitely not greasy and does not have a powerful scent. I find that after using this product, my cuticles stay hydrated and neat looking, which I love. The best part, besides its benefits of course, is that it is extremely affordable. You can purchase it online from beautydeals.net for only $3.19! Plus, though the tub might look small, mine has lasted a whole year and I've just hit pan on it. Its also small enough to toss into a purse and use on the go.

In this picture you can see just how much I used up!

What are your favorite cuticle care products? Have you used any of the ones I've mentioned today?