I'm new to the community, and I just have to say, I've never been more excited about treating my skin.
Long story short, I got an early Christmas gift (a trip to the Lush store) and I came home with a pretty decent haul for a first-timer. The store smelled so amazing, and there were so many things to try, that I never wanted to leave. But, when presented with this heavy bag of goodies, I was "coerced" to go home. XD
Here's what I bought and my thoughts on the products so far. It's seriously word vomit, but I'm super-excited to share my experiences. :) [Hope I can get this cut right.]
Angels on Bare Skin
Never in my life has my skin felt soft after using a cleanser, even a gentle one. I have oily skin that is somewhat acne-prone, despite being on birth control, and I'm willing to try anything that could possibly help with my issues. I was somewhat iffy about Herbalism, so I asked the SA if all the rave reviews about AOBS were worth anything, and she was very excited to try a bit on my hand. I'm glad I got this, because it's gentle enough for me to use in the morning and the evening, yet it does make my face feel clean and, as the package says, "angel soft". I haven't seen significant improvement in my breakouts, but they've not gotten worse either, so that's a good sign. :) Plus, it smells fresh and lovely.
Dark Angels
I'm not too crazy about the smell of this one, but I'm not a huge fan of licorice anyway, and it's tolerable as a cleanser. The charcoal bits weren't too abrasive and my skin feels nice after I use it. It's not an everyday thing for me, as too much exfoliation makes my oil worse, but 2/3 times a week seems to be doing alright for me.
Tea Tree Water Toner
It's hard for me to find a toner that doesn't dry me out, and I'll just say I'm very pleased with this. It smells nice, feels great on my skin, and it sinks in very quickly.
Gorgeous
Now, the price tag on this was intimidating, but every SA in the store swore by this moisturizer, and since it was a present, I figured a little splurge was alright. I got it home and opened it, and the floral scent is just beautiful. It sinks into my skin quickly and doesn't leave me feeling greasy, and I can still smell it after I put it on! Many people have also said that it helps fade scarring and marks, so I'm hoping it will do the same for me after I've used it for a while. :) It's so nice that I feel it was worth the price tag, and I'll be buying again when I run out.
Lemony Flutter
I suffer from dry cuticles that I tend to pick at (gross, I know), and the backs of my hands get very dry during the winter, so this seemed like a perfect product for me. I don't have any complaints, and I absolutely adore the smell. It lingers on me, and is almost like a perfume, except it moisturizes. :D
Mask of Magnaminty
First off, wearing a chunky green mask looks really silly (and I enjoyed looking like a lake monster or something), but it feels so amazing that I can't wait to do is again. It's cold and tightening on my skin, and personally, I enjoyed the smell, though I know some people hate it. Washing it off was a bit messy, but my skin felt great afterward, and I didn't even mind the bits that got into my hair.
Dream Cream
I love this lotion for all over. The scent is very subtle, which is really nice considering the fact that I like my perfume and don't want it to be overpowered, and it leaves me feeling soft and not greasy, like a lot of lotions I've used. It sinks in quickly so I don't have to worry about sitting on my bed after a shower. Plus, a little goes a long way, and the pot is pretty large, so it will last me a while.
Lovely Jubblies
I got this just because I thought the name was adorable. XD However, two of the SAs swore by this for stretchmarks, and one even said he put it under his eyes to help bags, so I felt good about taking it home. I've been using it for what it's intended and my thighs, where years of dancing and weight fluctuation gave me some less than desirable lines. I'm going to give this one time to judge whether it really works, but I like the smell and it feels nice going on, so that's good for now.
Porridge
In love with this smell. Seriously, I want to eat the soap every time I smell it. I keep it near my sink and every time I go over there, I get a whiff of delicious sweetness and it really puts a smile on my face. In the shower, I do still like the way it smells, and the oats are exfoliating without scratching (though I'm gentle with washing with scrubby products). My complaints about this are that the smell doesn't linger very long, and I do gets oats in the bottom of my tub, but a quick rinse and they're gone.
Ring of Roses
I do like the way this smells dry, very clean and floral, but I don't really think it smells much like roses. It's a very pretty soap, and my skin feels softer after using it, but it doesn't lather very well so it takes a bit of work. I think I will use it as a hand soap rather than in the shower; the color matches my room.
Buffy
The SA warned me to be careful when using this in the shower, as some people have reported slipping. I was a little confused at first, but when I used it, I figured out why. Of course, if you wash your feet with butter and don't rinse them before you step down, you will slip. XD That said, I love Buffy, and it's wonderful for exfoliating the areas that get a little bumpy without overdrying. It smells lovely, and I actually think it's pretty cute, just a little beige-ish square.
BIG
Recommended by the SA and rave reviews online, I knew I had to try this shampoo. I was a bit wary at first because of the chunks in it, but I took a little extra time to rinse and they all seemed to come out alright. I naturally have a lot of volume in my hair, so I can't speak for that aspect, but the smell is awesome and my hair feels very clean after using it.
Daddy-O
My hair, which I prefer to keep as close to white as possible, tends to get a bit yellow rather quickly, and many violet shampoos I've used have left my hair feeling a bit...crunchy, for lack of a better word. I spoke with a fellow blond at Lush, and he had the same problem but Daddy-O seemed to remedy the brassiness, so away I went. Pleased to say, I've got no crunchy hair, and after just two uses (spaced out at that, I don't wash my hair every day because it gets very dry), the yellow seems to be going away. Love the scent, too. It's just lovely. I'll have to get the big bottle next time. :P
Shimmy Shimmy & Glitterbug
Figured I'd do both of these in one, since this list is getting long. These are great when I feel like sparkling. :) They look lovely on my skin, though I prefer glitterbug because purpley-pink sparkles just make me smile. They smell lovely, and they make me very soft. Also, I don't have to work to get them off like I do with some glitter (and even then, I'm left with little bits days later). Just fun products all around.
Bubblegum lip scrub
I had never used a lip scrub before, so I tried it in the store, and I was so happy when the SA told me I could just eat the extra sugar! It tastes delicious, and it really does make my lips feel soft and smooth. I have a problem with them becoming chapped very easily, and I was sick of using Chapstick over and over during the day, so this really seems to help out.
Honey Trap lip balm
The last one! It smells a bit minty, and a bit sweet. At first I was perplexed by the texture, and tried digging a bit out with a clean foundation spatula, but then I realized I can just rub my finger over the surface and it picks up plenty to use on my lips. Yay for learning! It has a cooling sensation, and it makes my lips feel soft and nice. I use a little at night, and I wake up with lovely, moist lips, and I carry it in my purse when I go out for a little extra softness. I haven't tried it under a lipstick, but I think it might make a good base, so I'll report back on that.
In all, my first trip and I'm addicted. I can't wait to go back, and it's totally worth the half hour/hour drive to the store just to walk around and smell things.
Also, I would appreciate any recommendations on conditioners that won't weigh my hair down or make it feel greasy, but are good for dry/damaged hair. It's always been dry, but bleaching from almost-black to blonde certainly hasn't done it any favors, and I'd like tips on getting it back into shape. :)
Edited to bold the product names.