Sparkled Beauty

If you are a fan of Lush bath bombs, there are a few to choose from this holiday season.

You probably all heard about Cinders bath bomb (90g, $4.95) by now, so I'll be brief with it.

The brand said Cinders was inspired by fireside gatherings with family and friends, so you know it is going to be a little "spicy". With cinnamon leaf oil and crackling (vegan) popping candy, you will feel warm and cozy with a kick after you get used to the popping sound :)

Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Coarse Sea Salt (Sodium Chloride), Popping Candy (Isomalt, Lycasin, Carbon Dioxide), Fragrance, Gardenia Extract (Gardenia Jasminoides), Almond Essential Oil (Prunus Amygdalus Amara), Almond Essential Oil (Prunus Dulcis), etc.

Stardust bath bomb (90g, $5.25) is more subtle and calm, with fair trade Ugandan vanilla and rosewood from Peruvian rain forest. It sparkles like crazy in the sun, like a star literally, and some end up on your skin afterward. Nothing over the top though.

The scent is said to be bergamot and the water is milky after Stardust dissolves. If you like bergamot and need some comfort, this bath bomb is a great option.

Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Fine Sea Salt, Corn Starch (Zea Mays), Snowflake Lustre (Potassium Aluminium Silicate, Titanium Dioxide), Titanium Dioxide, Fragrance, Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla Planifolia), Rosewood Oil (Aniba Rosaeodora), Bergamot Oil (Citrus Aurantium Bergamia), etc.

Father Christmas bath bomb is huge (200g, $6.40), great for 2 baths or a super long soak. Besides the cute Santa face on the front, it hides a little green surprise inside and that's what gives the bath this colour. The scent is mild and comforting as well.

Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Cream of Tartar (Potassium Bitartrate), Gardenia Extract (Gardenia Jasminoides), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Lauryl Betaine, Fragrance, Synthetic Musk, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 1, Red 4.

I do find all 3 bath bombs do nice things to the skin. If you have a tub in the house, give yourself a treat with a Lush bath bomb, or two.

Salt and Peppermint Bark (130g, $9.95) is a take on American Treat, a scrub in solid form, great for travelling.

Instructions: Use dry or under water in the bath or shower. Rub the bar in a circular motion along all those rough, dry body parts.

Sea salt offers its exfoliating effects while fair trade organic cocoa and cupuacu butter soften the skin. Note that when I use the product all over the body (winter skin, don't mind me), I do feel a tingling sensation shortly after application which only subsides when I start to rinse off. It might be the Peppermint oil, I'm not sure.

Ingredients: Fine Sea Salt, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao), Sodium Bicarbonate, Cupuacu Butter (Theobroma Grandiflorum), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cream of Tartar (Potassium Bitartrate), Fragrance, Lauryl Betaine, Peppermint Oil (Mentha Piperita), etc.

Hope you (and your bath) are relaxing and comforting this holiday!