My Honest LUSH Review Part Four

It's time again for a LUSH review. In this installment, I'm sharing my honest thoughts on a handful of balms, cleansers, conditioners and shampoos, so think about your current haircare/skincare concerns and what you want LUSH to address. Afterward, you can head to your nearest store to grab a sample--or maybe a full-size product if you're feeling lucky.

1. Herbalism Face and Body Cleanser

Herbalism Face and Body Cleanser is rich in clay, ground almonds, nettle, rice vinegar extract and other ingredients that aim to cleanse your skin and remove excess oils. To use, you'll add water to turn the cleanser into a paste, then spread the cleanser on your face and rinse it off.

The crumbly texture, bright green hue and intensely nutty, earthy fragrance accentuated the "organic" vibe, like LUSH employees had harvested this cleanser directly from the soil. I had learned my lesson from the last cleanser, so I broke off a section and mixed it into a cup with water instead of trying to apply it directly.

However, Herbalism didn't turn into a paste. Instead, the formula retained its crumbly texture as I spread it across my skin, leaving behind a green residue like I'd dunked my head in a bowl of pea soup. It's not a dealbreaker, but it definitely made application more challenging.

Fortunately, the extra difficulty was worth it. After I washed off the cleanser, my skin felt fresh, cool and dry, implying that the formula had mopped up the excess oils. The product also removed the oily sheen on my face, leaving me with a clean, smooth appearance. I wish my skin felt like this all the time--but, given my budget, it's only temporary.

2. Squeak Shampoo

Squeak Shampoo is packed with kiwi, pineapple, mango and papaya juices, plus sweet orange oil, Sicilian lemon oil, sea salt and other ingredients that may exfoliate your hair while adding softness and volume. I struggle with product build-up on my scalp, so I thought this was worth a shot.

LUSH always delivers on the sensory experiences, and Squeak delighted me with an icy white hue, a perfumey fragrance and a texture that was light and fluffy, yet also thick and crunchy. When I applied this shampoo, a dense white foam coated my hair while large granules scrubbed my scalp, making me feel like I'd brought a handful of snow into the shower.

The next day, my hair was densely tangled and matted. However, once I'd tamed the thicket, the strands looked soft and healthy instead of dark and damp, implying that Squeak had removed some of the product build-up. Thinking I hadn't used enough conditioner, I decided to apply more that night, but I ended up with the same texture in the morning.

I'm not sure if it's just me, but LUSH shampoo tends to make my hair healthier, but also frizzier and harder to manage. Overall, my hair responded well to Squeak, but don't skimp on the conditioner. LUSH has plenty of conditioner options if you want to stick with the same brand.

3. Repeat Foot Moisturizer Balm

Repeat Foot Moisturizer Balm uses natural waxes and oils, such as orange peel wax, sunflower wax and organic blood orange oil, to trap moisture and strengthen your skin barrier. My feet are pretty tough, so I had some doubts about this one, but the neon orange shade and bold citrus scent were irresistible in the store.

The thick, waxy texture spread easily when I rubbed it into my feet. I thought it would take a few days to see the effects, but when I applied the formula to my dry heels and rough patches, my skin immediately became softer and smoother. Turns out, Repeat was the miracle balm.

Out of curiosity, I applied this product to tough areas on my hands and noticed the same instant softness. It didn't eliminate the rough patches entirely, but Repeat is definitely more effective than your standard body lotion. The effects are long-lasting, too: my feet stayed soft long after I ran out of the formula.

4. Happy Skin Enzymic Facial Exfoliator

Happy Skin Enzymic Facial Exfoliator refreshes your skin with natural sources of exfoliants and enzymes, such as jackfruit juice, fresh pineapple juice, tagua nut powder and bamboo stem extract. For best results, you'll massage the formula across your face, then rinse it off afterward.

The website emphasizes healthy ingredients, but considering the thick texture and sweet, nutty aroma, I couldn't help but wonder if LUSH took inspiration from marzipan. While the product looked smooth in the tub, the formula was mildly abrasive when I applied it to my face, producing a mild stinging sensation.

Fortunately, the ingredients went to work immediately. Once I'd washed off the formula, my face felt softer, cushier and more pliable, while my pores were less visible. The effects lasted for a full day, so I'd say it definitely made my skin happy. Plus, it's a great option for people who love sweet fragrances and dessert-like products.

5. Rehab Shampoo

When I asked a LUSH employee about clarifying shampoos, she recommended Rehab Shampoo. This product aims to cleanse and strengthen your hair with fresh papaya juice, cold-pressed jojoba oil, fresh kiwi juice, fine sea salt and more, removing damage and restoring the natural shine.

Unlike your typical LUSH shampoo, Rehab had a thin, runny texture with a couple of bubbles hovering on top like an oil slick. The peppermint oil gave this formula a sharp, minty fragrance. When I poured the shampoo on my head, I felt an immediate cooling sensation, followed by a thick, foamy lather as I scrubbed the product into my hair.

Once I rinsed it out, my hair felt tough and stringy. I remembered that the employee had recommended using Rehab along with my regular shampoo, so I washed my hair again with a dose of Pantene. This time, my hair felt soft and feathery. Later, I noticed that most of the product build-up on my scalp was gone--a huge benefit for me.

For the next few days, my hair retained a softer, cleaner texture and healthier appearance. Apparently, Rehab is fairly intensive: the employee had warned me not to use this shampoo more than once a week. As instructed, I waited a while before using it again and ended up with the same clean, nourished hair that had delighted me after the first use.

Overall, if you're dealing with damaged hair, I highly recommend giving it a shot of Rehab. Just make sure you have your regular shampoo on hand. Otherwise, the heavy-duty formula might damage the strands.

6. Super Milk Protein Conditioner

Super Milk Protein Conditioner is loaded with rich, nourishing ingredients, such as fresh banana, extra virgin olive oil, silken tofu and cupuaçu butter. The website claims that this product may strengthen your hair, increase shine and reduce "fluffiness," which is an important benefit for me.

With a fresh, perfumey fragrance, a milky white hue and luscious, buttery texture, Super Milk seemed like a delectable treat for my hair. Plus, I needed a rival to combat the Squeak Shampoo that made my hair explode with frizz. Sure enough, when I applied Super Milk in the shower, my hair immediately felt softer and easier to brush.

In the morning, my hair was more manageable, although it was still a little frizzy and matted. I kept using Super Milk for about a week until I ran out, and while it wasn't a perfect conditioner, it encouraged my hair to lie flat instead of puffing up everywhere. Ultimately, it's pretty comparable to conditioners from other brands.

Have you tried any of these products? Which LUSH offerings are your favorites? Sound off in the comments.