Lush Seanik Solid Shampoo

Has a shampoo ever changed your life?

I'll start from the beginning. For years, I suppose I've been in a shampoo/conditioner rut. For as long as I can really remember, I've used the Aussie moist line of hair products. I use them, my sister uses them, we even keep extra bottles of the shampoo and conditioner at our mother's house for when we're home.

I've never had an issue with the Aussie moist line, but for at least the last year or so I've noticed that my hair didn't really shine quite like it used to when I was a kid. And I figured that I was just getting older, more stressed, and I was getting less sleep than I used to. I shrugged my shoulders and continued using a average shampoo and conditioner.

Fairly recently, when I fell in love with Lush Cosmetics, I wanted to start getting into some of their various products. Not really their makeup, I still by far prefer Sephora and Ulta. But some of their bath and body products. Eventually, I worked up the nerve to try one of their solid shampoos, and boy, am I thrilled that I did.

Lush's solid shampoos are mostly marketed towards folks who travel frequently. One of the great things about their solid shampoo and conditioner is that they are (obviously) solid, which means you can pack them in a carry on and they don't count towards your liquids limit. That's not really why I was interested, I was more intrigued by how a solid shampoo and conditioner would work. How does is get spread throughout your hair? Does is create suds? I spent days trying to decide which one, eventually settling on Seanik.

Seanik smells like "mimosa and jasmine oils," according to Lush's website. I don't know that I would quite pinpoint those exact scents, but it definitely smells delicious. It's supposed to give your hair body and shine, and I've definitely noticed a boost in both of those, but we'll get back to the shine part later.

Seanik, living its life in my shower.

The first time I used Seanik, I followed the directions included on the website. You basically wet your hair, dampen the bar of shampoo, then run it along the length of your hair a couple of times. Put the bar down and lather. And OHMYGOD it was amazing. I know some people have issues with sulfates in their shampoos, but the sulfates in Seanik are definitely worth it. My hair lathered so beautifully. I rinsed the shampoo out of my hair, used that Lush Big Solid Conditioner next to Seanik (I don't love the conditioner, I'll definitely go back to liquid conditioner once I've run out of the solid stuff), and got out of the shower. 

At first I didn't notice a huge difference in my hair, but as it dried, my world changed. My hair was so damn shiny! It was beautiful! Then, I went to sleep. Usually I shower at night, because even though I wake up usually two hours before I have to go anywhere, I don't like giving up my coffee/TV time to shower. Additionally, I'm not one of those people who styles their hair. I just let it dry, and it'll do what it wants to do. I don't have the time for blow drying/straightening. 

So I woke up the next morning. Usually when I've showered and then slept, any shine that my hair had sort of dulls by morning, with me rubbing my head against my pillow and all. But after trying Seanik for the first time, I woke up the following morning and my hair was still shining like crazy. My hair was still beautiful! 

I've been raving about how great Seanik is ever since. I made my mom and sister try it when they visited; anyone who has asked about what shampoo they should try next has gotten a serious earful about my obsession with Seanik.

I also bought this handy tin for when I choose to travel with Seanik. I anticipate this shampoo will come very much in handy on mock trial trips throughout the coming year. 

I'm already trying to decide which solid shampoo I'll try once I've run out of Seanik. I think I'll try the Godiva and Ultimate Shine next! But seriously, if you're in need of a new shampoo, try one of Lush's solid shampoos. Now that I've fallen in love, I may never go back to regularly using a liquid formula.

Lush BB Seaweed Fresh Face Mask

A couple of weeks ago I visited a friend in St Louis, and I picked up this Fresh Face Mask at a mall lucky enough to have a a Lush!!

I've used it a couple of times, this time being the third, and I think there's enough product in there for one more mask in a couple of days! I don't mind paying $6.95 for four uses.

Lush describes this mask: BB Seaweed is a best-seller for its ability to turn every rough patch into smooth, supple skin. No surprises here, BB Seaweed is packed full of none other than the ocean greenery itself! Seven pounds of it in each batch, in fact. Finely ground almonds gently slough away dry skin, rose absolute balances skin tone and organic extra virgin olive oil moisturizes.

I think this mask was the perfect introduction to the Lush Fresh Face Mask line! It smells delicious, and just like the description, it moisturizes my face and doesn't bother my skin at all. Additionally, I love that you have to refrigerate these masks: putting something chilly on my face just feels great! Lush suggests washing it off after 10 minutes, I usually leave mine on for between 15 and 20 minutes.

It's thick, sort of oatmeal colored, with chunks of seaweed and ground almond. Because it's aim is to soften skin, I don't apply it as a spot treatment mask, instead I go with a all-over the face method.

I've heard people complain that it flakes off and is generally messy, but I disagree entirely. This mask is chunky, without a doubt. But as long as you're careful applying it (as in, not rushing it), the seaweed chunks get attached enough to your face that they don't fall off during the drying process.

I recommend avoiding getting this stuff in your hair. That's particularly difficult for me because I sort of have baby hairs everywhere, as you can see in the photo of my whole face. Usually I use a hair band to hold back those baby hairs, but I forgot this time. I've also tried to avoid my eyebrows.

Here's a photo of the same area right before I rinsed the mask off. I think the color of the mask changes a bit as it dries; it becomes a little bit more yellow. I don't wait for it to fully dry before I remove it, I think it would be too difficult to wash off if it dried completely. As is, I sort of use it as a semi-exfoliator. The ground almond works to slough off any dead skin.

Overall, I've loved using this mask. It's really gentle and has definitely softened my skin. Next time I'm lucky enough to happen upon a lush store (and have a cooler to transport a Fresh Face Mask back to Memphis), I'm definitely going to try either the Cupcake mask or the Cosmetic Warrior mask.

I Dream of Lush

Have you ever lived in a city (or state) that lacks a store that you absolutely NEED in your life? Well, that's my relationship with Lush.

I actually dream of getting to walk into a Lush, of buying their bath bombs, of smelling their products before I have to buy them online. I'm borderline haunted by this store, darnit.

Thus, I've resorted to every method possible to fuel my Lush desire, without actually driving the 4+ hours to get to the closest one. I went to St Louis last weekend, bought a Fresh Face Mask (BB Seaweed, I'm going to write of review of it later this week), and put it in a cooler filled with ice in order to drive it back to Memphis. The fact that I can't have Fresh Face Masks shipped from their online website (because they need to stay refrigerated) upsets me to a level I just can't explain.

This is a stock photo, but I'll write a real review later this week when I use up the last of my BB Seaweed!

I've also taken to ordering a lot of Lush products online/forcing family members to go to Lush stores when they're in cities lucky enough to have a Lush. I'll review my latest lush stash when it comes in the mail!

I just wish I had more Bath Bombs in my life.