You shouldn't judge a soap by its cover... (Lush Mud Flats Soap)

Member Name: Foxy-Lady

Product:	Lush Mud Flats Soap
Date:	11/04/08 (728 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Revitalising and full of lovely herbal ingredients

Disadvantages: Looks ugly!

I have an announcement to make...I am no longer a Lush virgin!

I regularly visit a nearby shopping centre (Meadowhall) which has a Lush store but I've never ventured inside - partly due to a fear of spending a fortune and partly because the other half wouldn't be too impressed waiting for me. Well, last weekend whilst traipsing round I spied a Lush stall. I was instantly attracted by the words 'FREE SAMPLE' so headed over to take a look...and quite literally walked away with a little bar of soap to try.

After reading countless dooyoo reviews about the glorious products that Lush have to offer, I was really excited about testing my goody. Stood at the bathroom sink I read the label on the sample. Oh...'Mud Flats'...not exactly a pretty, fancy name. The smell...a whiff of something almost masculine. And the presentation? Quite ugly really. Distinctly brown and as my hubby delicately stated 'It looks like a turd in our soap dish'. Well, at least it looks natural!

So I must admit I was initially disappointed. Of all the Lush products with beautiful fragrances, girly titles and colourful, attractive appearance, this is what I end up with. But hey, it didn't cost me a penny (for quite a generous portion I might add) so who am I to complain! I decided that despite my first thoughts I would still give it a whirl.

A combination of natural/organic ingredients and 'safe' synthetics (where necessary) form the composition of all Lush products. I don't usually do ingredients in my reviews but as the content is the key to their products, I'll make an exception. So, reading the ingredients in more detail...

Rhassoul Mud, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Water, Rose Petal and Lavendar infusion, Sea Salt, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Rosemary Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Sage Oil, Glycerine, EDTA, Tetrasodium Editronate, Citral, Limonene, Linalool.

The main ingredient of Mud Flats soap is Rhassoul Mud which is a mineral rich, deep cleansing clay that comes from mines located in the Moroccan Moulouya Valley. This offers an explanation as to the colour of the soap - and quite obviously, the name. The word Rhassoul derives from the Arabic verb 'Rassala' which means 'to be washed'.

You'll also notice that there is a distinct herbal element to the soap and Lush actually describe it as 'the purifying, cleansing, herbal one'. The ingredients have properties that are really good for your skin. Aswell as the deep cleansing qualities of the mud, there's a detoxifying blend of Rosemary and Sage. An infusion of Lavendar is included to balance and help heal along with Tea Tree, while sea salt gently stimulates the skin. Lush claim that this soap is great to use in preparation for showing off your skin, so ideal to get your body ready for the summer!

My initial impression of a manly fragrance was quite wrong really. After more sniffing it becomes apparent that although it's not a girly, flowery scent, it's just very herbal and natural. There's a strong citrus element which contrasts nicely with the rich, earthy aroma of the mud content. I can detect the Tea Tree and Rosemary and Sage are also quite prominent. I can't really pick up even the slightest hint of the Lavendar (but maybe my sense of smell isn't refined enough to distinguish it) which does surprise me. Usually such a strong fragrance that can sometimes be too overpowering, on this occasion it seems to totally disappear into the background. Overall, the smell of Mud Flats soap is actually quite nice and I would describe it as being unisex. Hubby has decided that he likes it too, even though it looks like poo!

Using the soap I can instantly see that it doesn't lather up very easily - in fact even after a little more effort it still doesn't seem to produce many suds. I suppose it doesn't necessarily need to though and the lack of lather shouldn't suggest that it's not cleaning your skin. In fact it leaves skin feeling thoroughly cleansed. I've found that the suds that are produced are slightly disconcerting. Due to the nature of the soap and its content, it creates a pale brown coloured lather which feels almost too messy to wash with! Try to see past the colour though and consider the cleansing benefits of those ingredients.

Meanwhile, the fragrance of the soap during use is quite revitalising and refreshing - probably due to the citrus more than anything. I've found that it actually makes a pleasant change to the flowery fragrances that I would usually opt for. The smell is very subtle on the skin and doesn't linger for very long after use. Likewise in the bathroom. Whilst laid by the sink the soap emits a minimal aroma - noticeable but not strong. This is a good factor in my opinion as I think the scent would get up my nose a bit if it was too powerful.

Mud Flats soap is not particularly designed for any skin type. It's not a dry skin soap as it hasn't got any special moisturising properties but it's certainly not drying either. The texture of Mud Flats soap is very slightly grainy - this is the sea salt. It's not at all uncomfortable to use though and is nowhere near as harsh as an exfoliating scrub. I've used the soap on face, hands and body and it has a lovely 'polishing' effect like a very light exfoliation. I have to admit that it's not something I notice immediately after use but it certainly becomes apparent a while later. For example, if I thoroughly wash my hands with the bar before bed, it's not until the following morning that I can feel how much smoother they are. It's as if those nutrient rich ingredients absorb into the skin and set to work during the night!

As a facial soap bar I find it fantastic as I have an oily t-zone. The soap seems to cleanse the pores and reduce oiliness but doesn't dry or tighten my skin. If I happen to suffer from the odd spot, the Tea Tree Oil in the soap helps soothe and minimise redness due to its antiseptic qualities. So the soap even has healing benefits too!

Available at £1.95 for a 100g chunk, Mud Flats is quite reasonably priced compared to some Lush offerings. It seems to last a long time too, even with regular use. As I mentioned previously, my soap was actually a free sample but I would certainly consider visiting Lush to purchase a full sized version.

It may look a tad unpleasant but Mud Flats is a perfect example of why you shouldn't judge a book (or a bar of soap) by its cover.

Summary: A refreshingly herbal soap bar