I'm a huge fan of the store Lush, and am trying to sample all of their products; this includes the limited edition Christmas releases. As well as the usual soaps and shower gels, this year there is also a special festive massage bar - Midnight Massage.

Massage bars are solid bars of moisturising butters and oils, scented with essential oils. Their solid nature means that they can be made without preservatives and do not require packaging, and are easier to transport. They are designed to be used for relaxing massages with the other half, but I tend to use them as luxurious solid moisturisers.

Most massage bars are oval shaped to fit in the specially-designed tins, but this is a bit different - it is a Dali-style melting clock, with the time showing as five minutes to twelve. It is cream in colour with a little gold lustre to make it look pretty. I really like the design: it is pretty and unusual.

The bar smells amazing: the scent of jasmine mingles with the fruity scent of figs, carob pods and quince, with a hint of vanilla and olive. The smell is really luxurious, sensual and relaxing. The bar is suitable for vegans and the bulk of it is made up of moisturising cocoa butter, shea butter and olive oil.

I normally use the bar at night, after my bath or post-gym shower, to richly moisturise my skin before bed. I'd rather not use it during the day as it is a bit too greasy. To use it, I warm it between my hands until the oils start to melt and massage the product into my skin. Sometimes I rub the bar straight onto my skin. I find that it melts easily enough, but not too quickly. In between uses I've been keeping it in the paper bag, but as it gets smaller I will be able to put it in one of my Lush tins. I've used mine three times now and it is still almost full size, so I reckon it will last me a while.

The bar feels richly moisturising and is very luxurious to use. It leaves my skin slightly greasy and oily, so I prefer to wait a while before putting my pyjamas on. The product doesn't irritate my skin at all, but makes it feel smooth and soft. The effects last until the next morning, and would last even longer I suspect if I didn't have to get a shower.

The scent is clearly discernible on my skin, too, right up until the next day. It is a lovely scent for the evening to make me feel more relaxed. I can still smell it on my pyjamas a few days later!

At £6.50 I feel the bar is very well priced for such a long-lasting and luxurious product. I highly recommend this massage bar, it is intensively moisturising and smells amazing. Ideal for helping you to recover from the Christmas rush!