About a year ago I was on a night out and noticed my friend was looking really glittery and it looked fab. I commented on it and she said it was a bar she had bought from Lush that you simply rub all over yourself and it covers you in glitter and that she'd actually had it on from the night before and hadn't been able to get it all off. I instantly wanted some as I thought would be great if it's long lasting like she said, and it really did look good on her.

Off I trotted to Lush and saw they actually sold two of these glitter bars, one is this one; Shimmy Shimmy and the other is the Glitterbug. I, doing what I too often do when forced to make a difficult decision, bought both. This review however is obviously concentrating on the Shimmy Shimmy version (but you just know there's going to be a Glitterbug review somewhere along the line don't you!)

The first thing I noticed when taking a whiff, was how sweet it smelled. I really loved the scent, which I think comes from the mixture of the cocoa butter and the vanilla absolute. It really does smell very sweet but in a nice way, if you like vanilla you will love this, and similarly if you like cocoa butter you will too. I asked the boyfriend what he thinks it smells of and he insists mint, there's no mint in it so I think perhaps he's just thinking of a sweet smelling spearmint sort of smell.

Now the website, and various other reviews, state that it has pink glitter sparkles in it, although I have to say, that mine at the very least, as far as my eye can see has very find golden glittery sparkles in it. They aren't big particles; they are tiny which create the shimmering effect, rather than a glittery effect as such. The website does class it as "the pinky golden one" and say that it gives the skin a pinky-bronze glow, so perhaps I'm not going completely insane in thinking it's a gold shimmer!

Shimmy Shimmy is classed as a massage bar so that is wear you will find it either on the website or in the shops, however, I personally (don't have a boyfriend willing to dish out massages) just use this as a tool for creating a shimmery look on my body. For this use there are really two ways you can use it. You can rub it all over for an all over shimmery glittery look or you can use this as essentially a 'highlighter' for the body. Want to look slimmer (stupid question I know)? Then apply this to places such as your collar bones, or in a sort of thin stripe down the centre of your legs/arms etc which will make which ever area look slimmer. Want to boost your assets (again stupid question I know)? Apply some of this to your cleavage and it will enhance it. Apply it where you want to draw attention to, and the bits you want forgotten will fade into the background. Or like I say, use it all over for full on shimmer that will catch the light as you move.

To apply I simply rubbed the bar all over my body and it went on really smoothly, it didn't feel at all scratchy and it didn't drag my skin. I was left with gorgeously shimmery skin, that felt smooth and soft and also smelt delicious.

I found that it was long lasting throughout the night it remained on my skin, although a certain amount does transfer so be prepared to have your boyfriends whinging at you "making them all glittery" (they love it really!) but although my friend said she had struggled to wash it off, I found that it came off really easily every time in the shower the next morning.

Lush say; "The glitter in Shimmy Shimmy is oh so very subtle but ever so effective giving your skin a pinky-bronze glow that lights up pale, wintry skin". They are spot on about it being subtle but effective. The Glitterbug is much more 'glittery' whereas this is 'shimmery' - just as the names suggest! I haven't actually used this in the winter, but it would definitely help boost that pale, dull, skin that I know at least I get over here in the winter. I personally bought this just before holiday and used it whilst I was there so my experiences are based on that.

On tanned skin, it really did look amazing, just adding a glow to my tan and really enhancing it. Not only did it look great on tanned skin but it was beneficial to use this product on it as it contains shea butter which contains vitamin E which helps prevent the harmful effects the sun can have on the skin and is also great for using to stop your sun tan peeling, and is great to treat sunburn too - perfect for holiday skin! Also shea butter is great for insect bites, and Shimmy Shimmy also includes lavender oil (don't worry it doesn't make the product smell bad - I can't normally stand lavender but this really just smells sweet) which is a mosquito repellent - both again excellent properties for something being used on holiday.

Despite tanning deeply on holiday this year I didn't peel what so ever, even after coming home my tan simply faded instead of peeling off. Also noteable that despite staying in a hotel that was actually set in it's own jungle (hence lots of trees which usually equals lots of mosquito bites) I only got bitten once throughout the holiday and this bite subsided very quickly.

So as I mentioned before, this is classed as a massage bar, and if you do have a willing partner (don't take that for granted!!) and if neither of you mind getting a bit glittery then this can be used to massage someone with. The inclusion of cocoa butter means it melts on contact with the skin and is a lot less messy than oil and would provide enough lubrication. The cocoa butter promotes feelings of relaxation and well being and actually boosts the immune system, the shea butter eases muscle fatigue, aches and tension, whilst clary sage is uplifting and can be used to ease nervous tension and depression and can bring long lasting inner tranquillity and lavender as you are most probably aware is hailed for its relaxation properties and has a calming effect that promotes a sense of stillness. With all these things combined it does sound perfect for massage so it is a multifunctional product.

So, it makes you all lovely and shimmery, can boost your cleavage, thin down your body (Well at least it can trick the eye to think that), it smells gorgeous and it helps both summer and winter skin. Sounds pretty fantastic right? Well it doesn't end there, as with all Lush products, they are packed to the brim with natural products that have proven effects on the skin. This is no different, an amazing combination of cocoa butter, shea butter, vanilla absolute, clary sage oil and lavender oil, the positive effects it has on the skin are numerous.

Cocoa butter is perhaps the most famous moisturiser; it is widely used, widely loved and hailed the "ultimate moisturiser" due to it being an excellent skin softener that actually performs a protective layer to hold moisture in the skin. It's widely renowned for helping stretch marks, although personally the jury is still out on that one, I'm not so sure anything can help stretch marks. It more realistically helps with skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis and is perfect for creating a barrier between sensitive skin and the environment. There is even some evidence that it could help prevent cancer because it contains CMP which inhibits the growth of cancerous cells and tumours. There is also some evidence that it may prevent heart disease and ease the symptoms of arthritis. Obviously I'm not a doctor and I can't claim this is a cure all but it's certainly nice to think that it MAY help those things as well as its other benefits.

Shea butter contains vitamin A which makes it an excellent moisturiser which has accelerates the healing process in the skin. It helps in a whole variety of skin complaints such as; blemishes, wrinkles, eczema, dermatitis, sun burn, insect bites, allergies. All Lush products are natural but you can't get much more natural than shea butter which actually contains the same moisturisers as those produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin! It also contains vitamin E which is anti ageing, anti free radical (aids preventing the damaging effects of the sun and environment) and increases the blood supply to the skin.

As far as I know the vanilla absolute is there just to give the product it's gorgeous scent, it is the most concentrated form of vanilla so it's often used in aroma based products like this.

Clary Sage Oil relieves congested complexions, is regenerative, revitalizing and stimulating, yet balancing. Amongst the numerous benefits it offer is its remarkable cell regenerating properties which helps rejuvenate and strengthen the immune system.

The Lavender oil doesn't really have many skin benefits other than its relaxing properties and it's use as a mosquito repellent.

All in all this is a fantastic product. If you just want a massage bar I'd perhaps choose one without glitter, as you don't always want to look shimmery, but if you are buying this for the shimmery look then it really is fantastic. After using this several times you can't even tell it has been used. As it isn't a product you would use every day (I personally would use it on nights out etc) then I think this product will just last forever.

At £3.25, this is affordable for all budgets and to be honest I really think it's a one off payment (unless you like to shimmer every day) so there really is no reason to not shimmer and sparkle the night away.