Hubble Bubble, Double Trouble (Cussons Imperial Leather)

Member Name: BestMum

Product:	Cussons Imperial Leather
Date:	01/11/02 (254 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Long-lasting aroma

Disadvantages: Nothing more than a gimmick really

Having previously written about the sorry excuse for a skin-scourer that is Imperial Leather Foamburst Handwash, I couldn't resist the temptation to purchase their brand new bathing product - Bathtime Double Bubble. I couldn't wait to see if they could prove my theory wrong that all their recently released products are just a 'sloppy copy' of the delightful Foamburst Shower Gel. So, will Foamburst Gel be left crying in the playground as Double Bubble steals the Head Prefect badge from its blazer? Let's see shall we.

SO, WHAT IS IT EXACTLY?
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Double Bubble - it's a bubble bath, with a twist. The twist being that the product is housed in two separate bottles (joined by a very large label and a single lid). One side contains a white liquid enriched with a moisturising milk extract, whilst the other coloured liquid contains the fragrance and gentle cleansers. If you release a splattering of liquid from each compartment simultaneously (which you have to do anyway because there's only one cap for both bottles), the resulting mixture will magically transform into a rich, bubbly lather - even before you add any water.

I can't help but ask myself why they didn't just combine them and just have the one liquid - but then I realised this would then be Foamburst Shower Gel. Hmm...

WHAT'S THE PACKAGING LIKE?
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It's a bottle that looks like it's been left too close to a warm radiator and has taken on a warped appearance - kind of like the letter S but with very subtle curves. And as said previously, the liquids are two different colours making the whole appearance pretty distinctive. Having a strange overpowering affinity with anything purple (what, you too? It really is a conspiracy you know) I chose the Passion Fruit and Apricot Milk variety, or Dream as it prefers to be known. Other varieties include:

Repl
enish - Mango & Peach Milk (Red)
Tranquility - Green Tea & Avocado Milk (Green)
Unwind - Orange & Honey Milk (Orange)

DOES IT WORK?
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EASE OF USE:
Out of sheer habit I add the product to the running water, which begins the foaming process anyway so I don't really see the point in adding the product to the bath before you've turned on the taps, just to watch it foam. Okay, maybe the first couple of times but after that, it's the same as any other bubble bath. But it did foam up quite nicely with just a splash of product.

SMELL:
The aroma was good considering I had a blocked nose, but bordering on being a little too sickly for me. I'd have to try the others to compare, if I can bring myself to it! The fragrance wasn't just confined to the suds either; the water smelled good too, which made a change from some of its rivals.

QUALITY:
There was plenty of foam to be had, which was quite silky to the touch and had good staying power. I wouldn't say it was really thick, creamy, foaming madness, but for the price it's about what you'd expect.

SEX APPEAL:
Once I'd removed myself from the tub I had a good sniff of my body parts and found I was smelling goooooood! But was my skin softer? Well, after a good feel I came to the conclusion that yes, it was. It wasn't quite on parr with a baby's bottom but good enough to keep the husband happy, and I didn't really need to use extra moisturiser afterwards.

PRICE:
£2.39 for 500ml, which isn't too bad I suppose, and I'm sure you'll find it on offer in various supermarkets and high street shops across the country.

INGREDIENTS:
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Many, and with names far too complex for my spell checker, so if you really want them I will supply on request because I'm a thoughtful kinda gal.

CONCLUSION:
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It's a
n okay product but nothing special. Quality of foam was good, with good staying power and fragrance, and would maybe make a good Christmas stocking filler. My advice would be to wait until they realise it's not selling and then stick it on a '3 for 2' offer, or a BOGOF.

Oh call me a cynic, but I just think it's the shower gel, in different packaging. Is that so bad? Maybe, maybe not. Although I do have the uneasy feeling of being conned!

For those of you who want to give Cussons a call offering their product development department some fresh ideas, the telephone number (freephone) is 0800-581001. And if you would like any further information, they have quite a nifty little website, which can be found at www.releasethelather.com.

This big bottle of bubbling promise now resides in my 'lifes disappointments' cupboard, alongside my Foamburst Handwash....and the hubby of course.

Oh, and it leaked all over the french loaf in my shopping bag - one of the reasons my hubby's in the cupboard! As payback I made him a sandwich with it anyway - he was foaming at the mouth all afternoon!

Thanks for reading :o)

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