Herbal highs? (Lush Herbalism)

Member Name: LadyAudley

Product:	Lush Herbalism
Date:	03/11/09 (31 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great, gentle cleanser for oily skin

Disadvantages: Expensive and messy

The Look

Like most of Lush's range of skincare products, Herbalism comes in an ugly, squat black plastic pot, with horrible fake handwriting on it that makes it look like a market trader scrawled all over your bathroom cabinet. On the upside, the advantage of the simple packaging is that it can be returned to the shop for recycling - so full marks for eco-friendliness!

Inside the packaging is a solid yet slightly wet green putty with darker flakes in it. It somewhat resembles a tub of gone-off pesto. It smells fresh, however, of mint and rosemary with a slight saltiness to it.

Usage

To use, you simply wet your face, scoop a little bit of it out of the pot, and rub it over. However, this is not an entirely mess-free process: the product tends to flake, leaving small pieces of green on the sink and the floor. The first week I used it, my boyfriend was convinced our new bathroom was getting damp, until he discovered the source of the mysterious 'mould'!

Once you get it wet, you get a strong herbal scent coming through which is fresh and clean smelling. Texture-wise, it's soft, loose and ever so slightly gritty. This is definitely not a scrub, but it does have ground almonds in it which act as a kind of super-gentle exfoliant, suitable for even the most sensitive skin.

As a cleanser, it works a treat, removing even stubborn greasy makeup. It leaves my skin feeling truly fresh, though not dry or red. It's ever so slightly antibacterial in feel, meaning that it would also be useful if you needed to keep a breakout under control. Using it every day has improved my skin, reducing open pores and keeping it clear of spots.

Verdict

Overall, this is a good product. It cleanses gently and thoroughly, without being abrasive, and works fantastically on oily skin. But it does have significant downsides: it's messy to use, and at almost a fiver for a small 100g pot, it's also expensive.

Summary: Not without its disadvantages, but not bad.