Lush Bath Bomb: Haagenbath

Until recently, I was pretty anti-bath. I'm not morally opposed to baths in any way; it's just that the work needed to have a bath -- cleaning the tub, trying to find the perfect water temperature, getting the right amount of bubble bath or bath salts -- never seemed worth it.

My cousin introduced me to Lush a couple of years ago, but I didn't really get into their products until just recently. A lot of their stuff seemed a bit ... useless, really, like body butters. I'm still not sure what their purpose is. Are they super-moisturising soaps? Lotions? See my point? They don't explain the vast majority of their product well enough to entice me to try them. Plus, they're exorbitantly expensive.

I once worked in a soap shop similar to Lush. We didn't have that whole "organic, good for you, good for the Earth" slogan going for us, but the idea was similar: handmade soaps and bath products that needed to be cut and weighed. I figured that since the stuff sold at my old store was useless crap, that Lush's would be as well.
I'm the first to admit that I was wrong.

Mostly.

Lush is like any other cosmetic brand: some products are overpriced, but work; others are overpriced and don't work; and still others are amazing, and thus worth the money.
I've tried a number of their products, and always checked the reviews on their website before purchasing. After trying my purchases, I would post my own reactions there, as well. Now, I figure since I have this blog lying around, I may as well use it for Lush reviews.

Bath Bombs are easily Lush's most frivolous product. Hunks of moisturiser, dye, and scent that you drop into water and watch float and fizz around the bath feels exactly like putting $5 into a shredder.
Many of the bath bombs claim to have special aromatheraputic qualities, and I've made my feelings about aromatherapy known in the past. A lot have other little "goodies" that are just plain ridiculous, and make me think that they're being catered to little children. Case in point: their Butterfly bomb, which has gauze butterflies hidden inside.

However, I've been taking baths more often, since we now have a seperate bath and shower stall, and I've realised that baths help me relax and soothe my chronic back and leg pain. Sure, I still have to work to run a bath, but right now, the ends justify the means.
Given that I've been taking baths with some regularity, I started purchasing Lush's Bath Bombs, just to see if they're worth having around.

In my earlier judgement of the bombs, I forgot one huge variable: the fact that I'm easily amused. No really, watching the bomb bump around the tub, fizzing madly is actually kind of mesmerising.

One of my favourite bombs was "Ne Worry Pas". The idea behind it was kind of shlocky: a little hole was drilled into the top, and you were supposed to whisper your troubles into the little hole -- called a "grotto" -- and watch the worries melt away with the little white ball. Are you rolling your eyes, too? Regardless, the scent was heavenly: soft, a little sweet and powdery with hints of citrus. The bath water turned a beautiful milky blue-grey from the dye in the ball.
I would buy multiples, and when stressed and unable to sleep, I'd drop a "Nes Worry Pas" into the bath and slip away, just like advertised.

I use the past tense because, for some unimaginable reason, Lush has decided to discontinue my favourite bath bomb. They've replaced it, along with other beloved bombs, with some truly inane ideas. One was the aforementioned "Butterfly", another is "Champagne Supernova" ()(which, in a genius move, releases confetti into the bath -- that's right, little soggy bits of paper into the water), and "Sugar Rush", which reeks of Fruity Pebbles cereal.

Another replacement is "Haagenbath", which is meant to evoke mint chocolate chip ice cream. I read the reviews with a jaundiced eye, but, for the most part, they were startlingly good.
Still bitter about the discontinuation of my beloved "Ne Worry Pas", I stopped by Lush to stock up before they ran out. While there, I was informed of their new "Naked" sale, and picked up a "Haagenbath" for free.

After marathon studying for my Physical Anthropology mid-term last night, I had a raging headache and my back was in screaming pain. Exhausted, but unable to rest, I decided to give the usurper "Haagenbath" a try.
I have to admit, I'm impressed. I was geared to hate it, but it was actually a pleasant bathing experience. I was unsure about a spearmint scented bath; I was worried that it'd be like dipping into a tub of Vicks.

Thankfully, I was wrong. This bomb has been shortlisted for one of my all-time favourites. The spearmint is not at all overpowering; on the contrary, it's light enough to be slightly sweet and very refreshing, but still strong enough to be noticed.
The bomb turns the bath water an unabashedly girly, frothy Barbie-pink. It also deposits about a ton and a half of cocoa butter, which is ... well, it really freaked me out when I first saw it. In keeping with the "mint chocolate-chip ice cream" idea, the bits of cocoa butter are actually chocolate brown -- it made me think that they actually had put bits of real chocolate into their bomb. Well, they hadn't, but there was so much moisturiser in the bomb that it made getting out of the bath a health hazard.

I highly recommend halving the bomb if you purchase one. The scent is nice and strong, and you'll still have more than enough moisturiser to keep your skin baby-soft.

Frivolity aside, Lush's bath bombs are delightful. Think of them as indulgences to heap upon your indulgences.