The moment life stood still (Lush Still Life Bath Ballistic)

Member Name: sweetpea01

Product:	Lush Still Life Bath Ballistic
Date:	27/06/09 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fresh, zingy scent

Disadvantages: The flowers!

When you sign up to become a member of Lush you do get the odd perk, previews of new items, the Lush Times, money off vouchers etc. However a few years ago as Lush was trying to re-invent itself for some of the long standing members we would get new items which hadn't been released and Lush basically did this to receive opinions as to whether the product would actually sell. Years ago I had put my name down for a competition and ever since I have received bits and pieces from Lush but nothing ever as exciting as trying a new product!!

One of the items I was sent was a bath ballistic due to go public in May 2006 called "Still Life / Van Gogh's Insanity Cure". Granted, I was deeply touched to have my opinions sought out by anyone, let alone someone I respect and consider a creative genius (Mo). And yet I tell you this story strictly because it makes a major impact on this product and my review of it. You see, I have since learned that there is a major difference between prototypes and what we buy in the stores.

For a prototype, the product designer carefully makes one single batch of their creation and, sans the need to quickly mass produce it, the special attention it receives always results in a perfect model to be presented at a meeting for Lush's "yay" or "nay" consideration. Hence, needless to say, my first Still Life experience was quite different from any other I've since enjoyed, namely because I discovered that though freshness is essential when it comes to getting the most out of any Lush product, this fact becomes all that much truer in light of this specific bath.

A pale yellow 200g ball of skin conditioning bath salts, Still Life shares its creamy but zesty lemon meringue fragrance with Lush's Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter, even as it contains an additional fizzing, sparkling note that recalls a hint of champagne. My prototype -- Still Life as it was perfectly intended, contained quite a bit of long lasting scent in a beautiful sea of golden sunshine offset by spring green undertones. And as it dissolved in the tub, a whole sunflower came forth, it had been carefully curled up just so, gently placed by hand within the Ballistic's core, literally blossoming and coming to "still life" in a glorious display upon release. I was mesmerised by its beauty, even as I felt it was unnecessarily upstaged by a circling handful of massive individual petals , each about 4-6 inches in length. Without fail this ballistic fizzes vigorously and dissolves immediately without fail, so need to worry about a salt trail that some ballistics leave behind!

My advice to Lush was to stick with the one flower and remove these additional petals (if you have read my other reviews on items containing dead flowers you will see why I wanted these removed) allowing the eyes to be drawn to this blooming show stopper sans distraction. Especially since this flower's behaviour perfectly summarized the spirit of this bath, you go in a shrinking, sleepy flower and inevitably come out feeling alive and alert, much as you would should the sun suddenly appear on a grey, rainy day.

I've since used several Still Life's from the store, and I cannot stress enough how imperative it is that you make certain to purchase and experience Still Life at its brightest and freshest. If you don't, my review will no doubt strike you as thoroughly inaccurate, the scent will be quick to fade and not only will those large, lanky petals fade to a translucent, deadened brown, but the sunflower itself will fail to blossom in the bath the way Mo had brilliantly intended. Having gone too gently into that good night, it will remain curled up, it's smaller, more delicate petals having crumbled and broken away, turning the water a mildly muddied hue.

Unfortunately this wonderful little ballistic was soon discontinued despite its initial rave reviews. Me personally I loved this ballistic and I haven't been able to get my hands on it since its discontinuation, despite my rather large stash which due to them having to be used rather quickly, my stash soon disappeared. If only Lush would bring it back! Lush have advised that their big plan is to bring back all discontinued items as retro so hopefully this one will be brought back to life again!!

Summary: A perfect wake me up!