I'm feeling very herbal today! (Lush Herbalism)

Member Name: sweetpea01

Product:	Lush Herbalism
Date:	15/05/09 (40 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A great soothing cleanser

Disadvantages: Doesn't look so pretty!

After using Angels on Bare Skin (of which I really enjoyed) I decided to buy another similar Lush product called herbalism (the reason why it's called herbalism is that it's green and full of herbs!!). I liked the description it had even though it was for oily skin, but I sometimes find with these "typed" products that they actually suit other skin types.

I have to say when I bought my pot in Lush I wasn't best pleased with what I saw! Yes it's green but looks like it's just landed on the floor in a forest! However I was not going to be put off! It has a strong herbal scent as soon as you open the pot and the texture is quite crumbly and rather dry. The best way to use Herbalism is similar to Angels on Bare Skin. You wet the face and then wet the herbalism after you put it in your hand and then you can make it soft enough to spread it on the face without getting it everywhere. Make sure you gently rub this into your face (but not too hard) to get a lovely soft exfoliation. Once you've finished just rinse off with warm water and pat your face dry.

Herbalism is basically a deep-cleansing, kaolin clay based solid cleanser for oily and blemish prone skin (now my skin can be very prone to blemishes, pretty much if I'd had a spot), packed with rose, marigold, and chamomile petals which tend to give this product a very short shelf life, which is not a plus for this product. (So don't be surprised if with sparing use, you increasingly have to pull brown, deadened petals out of your pot, now again what made me buy this product?! I hate dead foliage in bath/body/skin products!) Primarily fragranced with rose and chamomile, Herbalism exfoliates the skin with ground almonds and rice bran.

Rose absolute and nettle then purge the skin of toxins and antiseptic sage, marigold, and rosemary go to work as a team of anti-bacterial astringents, which is the ideal base for a good toner and all natural products are so much better than synthetic ones used in other toners. Once they've done their business, chamomile then further addresses blemishes with her special skill of calming inflammation. Ideal for acne sufferers as acne is basically down due to skin irritation and inflammation.

Hence, even with all of Herbalist's wonderful oil-controlling, anti-blemish ingredients working wonders to deep cleanse pores and prevent acne, you may often find that larger, pre-existing blemishes appear to be out of Herbalism's league, I have a blemish on my cheek due to eczema and even though it's really not that noticeable, as it's been there for a good two years it's hard to shift, so maybe for the odd spot blemish you get Herbalism would be ideal.

Additionally, for those with full-on oily skin, it's best to follow this cleanser with a very mild, entirely oil-free moisturiser, because though all of the aforementioned ingredients have antiseptic traits, almost all of them are equally effective for use in products for dry skin and are traditionally used as such. For example, rose is also a softener, chamomile nourishes to heal sensitivity and cracked skin, nettle and marigold are often used to treat eczema and skin flaking caused by dryness, and sage is known to be particularly affective in the treatment of psoriasis. However if you are like me and have dry skin this cleanser should definitely be a must in your bathroom cabinet, it isn't just suited for people who suffer with oily skin!

Hence, though effectively acting as a purifying cleanser, Herbalism also has a tendency to leave the skin quite moisturised after washing, to the point of feeling as though lotion has already been applied to the face. For some, following Herbalism with an actual moisturiser can then seem like overkill, while problems associated with excess oil production fail to be corrected and you end up with quite a greasy feeling to the face. Therefore, instead of following this cleanser with Lush's Enzymion Moisturiser for oily skin, try a spritz with their enzymatic Tea Tree Water Toner, and opt for a strictly oil-free moisturiser if necessary.

What Lush say:-

Detoxifying, purifying and exfoliating herbal cleansing roll wash for oilier and problem skin.
Herbalism is a sludgy green, squidgy, putty-like paste made from powdered herbs which are wonderful for the skin. Use it daily and your skin will improve. Herbalism deep cleanses with China clay, exfoliates with ground almonds, revives the skin with rosemary, and uses nettle powder to detoxify and chamomile to soothe the surface. Please also drink two litres of water a day, go for a three mile walk, don't smoke and eat your five helpings of fruit to keep your skin looking fantastic. Herbalism can do magic but it can't work miracles.

Herbalism costs £5.14 per pot and I think this is good value. Again as with Lush products you only need to use a lot to get a good covering, just don't over do it and your money (and herbalism) will last quite a while!

I've noticed after using Herbalism that the little blemishes that my spots have left behind have nearly almost gone (is that nature rather than a product?!) and my dryer skin especially on my forehead is under complete control. Apart from its short shelf life, I think this is a great toner for everyone.

Summary: Definately worth trying again and again and again!