| This product category of single serving Fresh face & body products was discontinued in 2001. |
(Discontinued in 2001, but was still available as a potted Bio Fresh product until 2005) – Lush has always claimed that their kaolin and
bentonite clay based After Tango Foot Mask is the perfect cure for pained, tired feet after a night of dancing (hence, name). Well, I
decided to put it to the test -- the toughest foot care challenge it could ever possibly face. You see, Paris is such a laid back, leisurely
walkable city, that every time I visit, I can't help but avoid all forms of public transport, strolling from one end of the city to the other each
day. In one day, I can easily walk up to five or ten miles (and for those familiar with the city, I've been known to walk from the Eiffel
Tower to Montmartre's hilltop and back again without blinking an eye). Problem is, those cobblestone sidewalks combined with my
stubborn refusal to pack sensible shoes (because it's better to look good than to feel good in the name of trying to blend in with forever
fashionable Parisians -- even though it can't be done, it's still worth a try) can leave me with the biggest, deepest, most debilitating
blisters. Without fail, by day three, I'm forced to go against every stylish sensibility (or lack thereof, depending on how you define
"sensible") and head to a sporting goods shop to buy a pair of trainers. But on one trip, having come straight from London, I decided to
bring After Tango Ultra Fresh Foot Mask with me to see if that could make a much needed difference. Sure enough, after day two of my
Parisian stay, my feet were red, hot, swollen, and early stage blisters were beginning to form. So, shortly before bed, I generously
slathered this deliciously spicy fruit and vegetable mask onto my keds, covered them with plastic wrap, pulled up a footstool, and
kicked back with a glass of wine. But that night, though wonderfully gritty pumice instantly softened skin when I rinsed it away, I
honestly didn't notice much of a difference where my more major issues were concerned -- partly because, unlike Lush's Volcano Foot
Mask, you don't necessarily feel this mask working by way of an intensely cooling tingle (and you're not supposed to). But the next
morning? Ooh là là! My feet were soft, refreshed, and not a single birthing blister remained! Calamine had calmed surface skin,
asparagus broke down irritable acids and toxins within the skin, and witch hazel had cast a submissive spell over every possible
eruption that had been rumbling just below. Lemon toned my tootsies, returning circulation to normal, while cocoa butter, almond oil
and avocado then moisturised and nourished my soles with antioxidant vitamin E, a natural healer in its own right. And so, with
veritable magic having been worked, my feet were still able to squeeze into my fitted designer boots, and I was fit to walk to my heart's
content for yet another day. Ever since, this foot mask has been my lifesaver to the point where, if you asked me "if you were stranded
on a desert island made of Parisian cobblestone, what's the one thing you'd bring with you," I'd tell you After Tango Foot Mask. But
though After Tango Ultra Fresh is adorably packaged as a pair of felty feet with a single-serving scoop of product for a body and a fresh
orchid flower for a head, because this mask can be used as often as desired, I would personally opt for the multiple treatment pot,
particularly when your feet are forced to endure long periods of crippling distress. And this mask is particularly thick, meaning a so
called "four treatment pot" can often be just enough for one or two heavily applied treatments at most. Besides, owed to the decorative
flower being quick to wilt, After Tango Ultra Fresh must be used within 48 hours, whereas the undecorated pots can be refrigerated for
up to three weeks. The standard pot then becomes handy for possible emergencies, whereas After Tango Ultra Fresh generally
winds up needing to be purchased when you're already in the throes of dire straits. And there's no point in waiting so long to care for
your kickers -- especially since there's always the risk that they'll be too wounded to carry you to the store! That's like asking a heart
patient to take himself to the hospital, isn't it? Well, okay. Maybe being After Tango-less is not quite as life threatening. But let's be
honest: it often feels like it is.
bentonite clay based After Tango Foot Mask is the perfect cure for pained, tired feet after a night of dancing (hence, name). Well, I
decided to put it to the test -- the toughest foot care challenge it could ever possibly face. You see, Paris is such a laid back, leisurely
walkable city, that every time I visit, I can't help but avoid all forms of public transport, strolling from one end of the city to the other each
day. In one day, I can easily walk up to five or ten miles (and for those familiar with the city, I've been known to walk from the Eiffel
Tower to Montmartre's hilltop and back again without blinking an eye). Problem is, those cobblestone sidewalks combined with my
stubborn refusal to pack sensible shoes (because it's better to look good than to feel good in the name of trying to blend in with forever
fashionable Parisians -- even though it can't be done, it's still worth a try) can leave me with the biggest, deepest, most debilitating
blisters. Without fail, by day three, I'm forced to go against every stylish sensibility (or lack thereof, depending on how you define
"sensible") and head to a sporting goods shop to buy a pair of trainers. But on one trip, having come straight from London, I decided to
bring After Tango Ultra Fresh Foot Mask with me to see if that could make a much needed difference. Sure enough, after day two of my
Parisian stay, my feet were red, hot, swollen, and early stage blisters were beginning to form. So, shortly before bed, I generously
slathered this deliciously spicy fruit and vegetable mask onto my keds, covered them with plastic wrap, pulled up a footstool, and
kicked back with a glass of wine. But that night, though wonderfully gritty pumice instantly softened skin when I rinsed it away, I
honestly didn't notice much of a difference where my more major issues were concerned -- partly because, unlike Lush's Volcano Foot
Mask, you don't necessarily feel this mask working by way of an intensely cooling tingle (and you're not supposed to). But the next
morning? Ooh là là! My feet were soft, refreshed, and not a single birthing blister remained! Calamine had calmed surface skin,
asparagus broke down irritable acids and toxins within the skin, and witch hazel had cast a submissive spell over every possible
eruption that had been rumbling just below. Lemon toned my tootsies, returning circulation to normal, while cocoa butter, almond oil
and avocado then moisturised and nourished my soles with antioxidant vitamin E, a natural healer in its own right. And so, with
veritable magic having been worked, my feet were still able to squeeze into my fitted designer boots, and I was fit to walk to my heart's
content for yet another day. Ever since, this foot mask has been my lifesaver to the point where, if you asked me "if you were stranded
on a desert island made of Parisian cobblestone, what's the one thing you'd bring with you," I'd tell you After Tango Foot Mask. But
though After Tango Ultra Fresh is adorably packaged as a pair of felty feet with a single-serving scoop of product for a body and a fresh
orchid flower for a head, because this mask can be used as often as desired, I would personally opt for the multiple treatment pot,
particularly when your feet are forced to endure long periods of crippling distress. And this mask is particularly thick, meaning a so
called "four treatment pot" can often be just enough for one or two heavily applied treatments at most. Besides, owed to the decorative
flower being quick to wilt, After Tango Ultra Fresh must be used within 48 hours, whereas the undecorated pots can be refrigerated for
up to three weeks. The standard pot then becomes handy for possible emergencies, whereas After Tango Ultra Fresh generally
winds up needing to be purchased when you're already in the throes of dire straits. And there's no point in waiting so long to care for
your kickers -- especially since there's always the risk that they'll be too wounded to carry you to the store! That's like asking a heart
patient to take himself to the hospital, isn't it? Well, okay. Maybe being After Tango-less is not quite as life threatening. But let's be
honest: it often feels like it is.
(Discontinued in 2001, but still available as a potted Bio Fresh product) – A single serving of Lush's Ayesha Bio Fresh Face Mask,
Ayesha Ultra Fresh is prepared and packed on the day of purchase to ensure maximum freshness, and is intended for use within 48
hours due to the "ultra fresh" nature of its natural packaging. Wrapped in fresh rose petals, and topped with gold leaf, Lush intends this
mask as a temporary skin tightener and brightener for special occasions, and considering a pot of Bio Fresh contains four treatments
to be used within three weeks, how many people attend that many special occasions in such a short period of time? Besides, even
though Ayesha Ultra Fresh's rose petals tend to fade before their forty eight hour deadline, and the flimsy gold leaf can be a pain to
peel away from the lump of mask contained within, if you had a choice between treating yourself to a royal face treatment from a plain
Jane pot or a bejeweled rose blossom, which would you choose? Need I ask? Excellent for all skin types, Ayesha doesn't just perk
your skin for a night out, but also wakes it up after a night of partying too much and sleeping too little. Two types of natural clays (fullers
earth and kaolin) work alongside astringent asparagus, antiseptic honey, and fresh kiwi to deeply cleanse, detoxify, tone, and freshen
skin, reducing inflammation, and replacing essential moisture. Rose (which is excellent for dry or sensitive skin) constricts broken
capillaries and then hits your circulatory system's "on" button so that it may impart a healthy, rosy (pun intended) glow. Elderflower and
limeflower fill in fine lines, deflate and relax swollen eyes while patchouli (whose controversial scent is undetectable here)
simultaneously acts as a gentle coolant. And as if your complexion (and mind) weren't yet awakened enough, witch hazel and
rosemary unite as a pore-tightening toner to leaves skin looking and feeling vibrantly alert through and through. Whew! That's a big
job for one little green mask, don't you think? Yet though Ayesha is packed with a hard working brigade of skin care recruits, the real
beauty of this miracle worker is that it's gentle enough to be used as often as needed or wanted. And good thing, because it's rather
easy to become addicted to this mask's effects, as you'll likely find yourself pining for it every morning of every week and every night of
every weekend, unable to resist the temptation of flawlessly well rested skin, appearing to be dressed to the nines in foundations and
cover ups even when its not. In which case, falling short of making daily trips to Lush to buy yourself the fairest rose of them all
(because you deserve it, dahling), perhaps you'll want to opt for a boring looking multi-treatment pot (or ten) after all!
Ayesha Ultra Fresh is prepared and packed on the day of purchase to ensure maximum freshness, and is intended for use within 48
hours due to the "ultra fresh" nature of its natural packaging. Wrapped in fresh rose petals, and topped with gold leaf, Lush intends this
mask as a temporary skin tightener and brightener for special occasions, and considering a pot of Bio Fresh contains four treatments
to be used within three weeks, how many people attend that many special occasions in such a short period of time? Besides, even
though Ayesha Ultra Fresh's rose petals tend to fade before their forty eight hour deadline, and the flimsy gold leaf can be a pain to
peel away from the lump of mask contained within, if you had a choice between treating yourself to a royal face treatment from a plain
Jane pot or a bejeweled rose blossom, which would you choose? Need I ask? Excellent for all skin types, Ayesha doesn't just perk
your skin for a night out, but also wakes it up after a night of partying too much and sleeping too little. Two types of natural clays (fullers
earth and kaolin) work alongside astringent asparagus, antiseptic honey, and fresh kiwi to deeply cleanse, detoxify, tone, and freshen
skin, reducing inflammation, and replacing essential moisture. Rose (which is excellent for dry or sensitive skin) constricts broken
capillaries and then hits your circulatory system's "on" button so that it may impart a healthy, rosy (pun intended) glow. Elderflower and
limeflower fill in fine lines, deflate and relax swollen eyes while patchouli (whose controversial scent is undetectable here)
simultaneously acts as a gentle coolant. And as if your complexion (and mind) weren't yet awakened enough, witch hazel and
rosemary unite as a pore-tightening toner to leaves skin looking and feeling vibrantly alert through and through. Whew! That's a big
job for one little green mask, don't you think? Yet though Ayesha is packed with a hard working brigade of skin care recruits, the real
beauty of this miracle worker is that it's gentle enough to be used as often as needed or wanted. And good thing, because it's rather
easy to become addicted to this mask's effects, as you'll likely find yourself pining for it every morning of every week and every night of
every weekend, unable to resist the temptation of flawlessly well rested skin, appearing to be dressed to the nines in foundations and
cover ups even when its not. In which case, falling short of making daily trips to Lush to buy yourself the fairest rose of them all
(because you deserve it, dahling), perhaps you'll want to opt for a boring looking multi-treatment pot (or ten) after all!
(Discontinued in 2001, but was still available as a potted Bio Fresh product until 2004) – Coolie-O Ultra Fresh Face Mask is adorably
(and cleverly) packaged inside a scooped-out cucumber shell, sealed at both ends with cucumber slices to not only ensure freshness
(and prevent leakage), but to also be used on your eyes. (I told ya' it was clever!) Unlike Coolie-O Bio Fresh pots, which contain four
treatments to be used within three weeks, Coolie-O Ultra Fresh must be used within 48 hours of purchase, strictly due to the "ultra"
freshness of this environmentally friendly, biodegradable fresh vegetable multi-purpose packaging. Coolie-O Face Mask is essentially
Mask Of Magnaminty's fresher, unpreserved sister. While both primarily get their fragrances from peppermint and spearmint, Coolie-
O's fresh cucumber adds a more vegetal top note, whereas Mask Of Magnaminty's mint fragrance is rounded out by vanilla, giving it
more of a candied air. Yet though both cool the skin with refreshing, rejuvenating mint, I am sad to say that Coolie-O doesn't quite offer
the eye-opening, eye-watering chill that her sister provides. Meanwhile, both products also use aduki beans to exfoliate the skin,
though Coolie-O does so in lesser quantities for a milder scrub within a thinner, less substantial base. Yet no matter how you
compare them and how they weigh up against one another, both remain excellent deep cleansing, exfoliating, softening, pick-me-up
masks that work wonders for almost any skin type, complete with scents that are equally appealing to both genders. Coolie-O's kaolin
and fuller's earth draws oil and dirt from deep within pores, honey detoxifies, lavender rebalances oil production, and then cucumber
and fresh grapes tone and rejuvenate while glycerine softens, working in tandem with a few of the aforementioned ingredients to
replace essential moisture (as if they didn't already have enough work to do). A Coolie-O facial is no doubt a wonderful experience,
and if you have to compare Coolie-O to any other face mask on the non-Lush market, Coolie-O would win hands down. If, however,
you choose to compare it to Lush's Mask Of Magnaminty, I'd have to be honest and say that the sole advantage of Coolie-O Ultra Fresh
will be felt by those who never manage to get through an entire pot of Mask Of Magnaminty before its short life of three months has
already been lived to the full. (Oh, and it will also be felt by those who prefer packaging that makes them feel like they've just bought
themselves a precious wee gift for no other reason than just because -- that always being the best reason of all.)
(and cleverly) packaged inside a scooped-out cucumber shell, sealed at both ends with cucumber slices to not only ensure freshness
(and prevent leakage), but to also be used on your eyes. (I told ya' it was clever!) Unlike Coolie-O Bio Fresh pots, which contain four
treatments to be used within three weeks, Coolie-O Ultra Fresh must be used within 48 hours of purchase, strictly due to the "ultra"
freshness of this environmentally friendly, biodegradable fresh vegetable multi-purpose packaging. Coolie-O Face Mask is essentially
Mask Of Magnaminty's fresher, unpreserved sister. While both primarily get their fragrances from peppermint and spearmint, Coolie-
O's fresh cucumber adds a more vegetal top note, whereas Mask Of Magnaminty's mint fragrance is rounded out by vanilla, giving it
more of a candied air. Yet though both cool the skin with refreshing, rejuvenating mint, I am sad to say that Coolie-O doesn't quite offer
the eye-opening, eye-watering chill that her sister provides. Meanwhile, both products also use aduki beans to exfoliate the skin,
though Coolie-O does so in lesser quantities for a milder scrub within a thinner, less substantial base. Yet no matter how you
compare them and how they weigh up against one another, both remain excellent deep cleansing, exfoliating, softening, pick-me-up
masks that work wonders for almost any skin type, complete with scents that are equally appealing to both genders. Coolie-O's kaolin
and fuller's earth draws oil and dirt from deep within pores, honey detoxifies, lavender rebalances oil production, and then cucumber
and fresh grapes tone and rejuvenate while glycerine softens, working in tandem with a few of the aforementioned ingredients to
replace essential moisture (as if they didn't already have enough work to do). A Coolie-O facial is no doubt a wonderful experience,
and if you have to compare Coolie-O to any other face mask on the non-Lush market, Coolie-O would win hands down. If, however,
you choose to compare it to Lush's Mask Of Magnaminty, I'd have to be honest and say that the sole advantage of Coolie-O Ultra Fresh
will be felt by those who never manage to get through an entire pot of Mask Of Magnaminty before its short life of three months has
already been lived to the full. (Oh, and it will also be felt by those who prefer packaging that makes them feel like they've just bought
themselves a precious wee gift for no other reason than just because -- that always being the best reason of all.)
(Discontinued in 2001, but still available as a potted Bio Fresh product) – If you suffer from acne, then Cosmetic Warrior might be your
lance-bearing knight in shining armour. This mask leaves your complexion bright, firm and squeaky clean, thanks to cleansing grapes,
antibacterial garlic, astringent tea tree, and pore-closing eggs. Potent combo, this, but you can probably guess that it wasn’t concocted
with a friendly fragrance and consistency in mind. Depending on the handmade batch your mask happens to come from, Cosmetic
Warrior can be substantially thick and reek of full-on garlic or it can be grossly watery and reek of a cover-up job that takes you on an
imaginary journey through a damp cellar. Fortunately, as the mask dries, the scent fades to tolerable, enabling you to focus on the
wonderful tightening effect it’s having on your skin. (You are warned, however, to expect that nasty odour to make a full return come
rinsing time.) Luckily, Cosmetic Warrior looks a lot better than it smells: preciously wrapped in rice paper (like a little East meets West
burrito) and belted with a strip of Nori seaweed (the kind used in sushi rolls), a single serving of this face mask -- to be used within 48
hours -- rests on a small mat of black vegetable wax. But should your mask come from a more watery batch, do expect the rice paper
to turn squidgy and to become difficult to unwrap, at worst peeling away in small chunks (much like the scene in Poltergeist when that
guy peels his face off in the bathroom mirror) and at best leaving you to awkwardly scrape it out with a spoon. Lush's intention was to
dress this warrior up as a black belt in karate, and truth be told, when it comes to zapping acne, though his disagreeably ungracious
nature most certainly does not make for good company, he has indeed earned his rank in defensive battle.
lance-bearing knight in shining armour. This mask leaves your complexion bright, firm and squeaky clean, thanks to cleansing grapes,
antibacterial garlic, astringent tea tree, and pore-closing eggs. Potent combo, this, but you can probably guess that it wasn’t concocted
with a friendly fragrance and consistency in mind. Depending on the handmade batch your mask happens to come from, Cosmetic
Warrior can be substantially thick and reek of full-on garlic or it can be grossly watery and reek of a cover-up job that takes you on an
imaginary journey through a damp cellar. Fortunately, as the mask dries, the scent fades to tolerable, enabling you to focus on the
wonderful tightening effect it’s having on your skin. (You are warned, however, to expect that nasty odour to make a full return come
rinsing time.) Luckily, Cosmetic Warrior looks a lot better than it smells: preciously wrapped in rice paper (like a little East meets West
burrito) and belted with a strip of Nori seaweed (the kind used in sushi rolls), a single serving of this face mask -- to be used within 48
hours -- rests on a small mat of black vegetable wax. But should your mask come from a more watery batch, do expect the rice paper
to turn squidgy and to become difficult to unwrap, at worst peeling away in small chunks (much like the scene in Poltergeist when that
guy peels his face off in the bathroom mirror) and at best leaving you to awkwardly scrape it out with a spoon. Lush's intention was to
dress this warrior up as a black belt in karate, and truth be told, when it comes to zapping acne, though his disagreeably ungracious
nature most certainly does not make for good company, he has indeed earned his rank in defensive battle.
(Discontinued in 2001, but still available as a potted Bio Fresh product) – Love Lettuce Ultra Fresh is a single serving face mask
housed between two cabbage leaves, both cut out in the shape of hearts. (Get it? Love shaped lettuce! Well, sort of...) Yet while it's
certainly lovely to look at, it's not exactly the most practical of Lush's Ultra Fresh designs. Pull the cabbage leaves apart, and you've got
green globs stuck to both sides, requiring that you scrape it off (or just spread the leaves over your face.) And should you inadvertently
apply pressure to this leaf green sandwich, your mask will squish out of the sides, leaving you with a right mess. Lush touts their
lavender laced Love Lettuce as being excellent for “normal to oily” skin. Personally, I believe the best recommendation would be strictly
"normal" or “normal to combination” skin at best. Love Lettuce is a rich, intense exfoliator containing finely ground almond shells and
almonds, and a deep cleanser of china clay and fuller’s earth, topped off with a few drops of oil-controlling, blemish-blasting lavender
oil and chlorophyll. But with a combined base of intensely moisturizing agar agar seaweed decoction and almond oil, it can be a little
too moisture-rich for full-on oily skin, especially if you intend to follow it up with a moisturizer as opposed to viewing this mask as an
entire skin care regimen packed into one pot. Those with normal and combination skin seem to do best with Love Lettuce, as it leaves
the complexion incredibly smooth while rebalancing oil production, especially where a mix of slightly oily/slightly dry areas can
otherwise be difficult to manage with a single product. Oily skin, on the other hand, would do best to turn to another Bio Fresh mask,
such as the delicious, Aztec chocolate scented Cupcake, where you can get an equally intense exfoliation plus even more powerful
deep-cleansing action, sans surplus hydration.
housed between two cabbage leaves, both cut out in the shape of hearts. (Get it? Love shaped lettuce! Well, sort of...) Yet while it's
certainly lovely to look at, it's not exactly the most practical of Lush's Ultra Fresh designs. Pull the cabbage leaves apart, and you've got
green globs stuck to both sides, requiring that you scrape it off (or just spread the leaves over your face.) And should you inadvertently
apply pressure to this leaf green sandwich, your mask will squish out of the sides, leaving you with a right mess. Lush touts their
lavender laced Love Lettuce as being excellent for “normal to oily” skin. Personally, I believe the best recommendation would be strictly
"normal" or “normal to combination” skin at best. Love Lettuce is a rich, intense exfoliator containing finely ground almond shells and
almonds, and a deep cleanser of china clay and fuller’s earth, topped off with a few drops of oil-controlling, blemish-blasting lavender
oil and chlorophyll. But with a combined base of intensely moisturizing agar agar seaweed decoction and almond oil, it can be a little
too moisture-rich for full-on oily skin, especially if you intend to follow it up with a moisturizer as opposed to viewing this mask as an
entire skin care regimen packed into one pot. Those with normal and combination skin seem to do best with Love Lettuce, as it leaves
the complexion incredibly smooth while rebalancing oil production, especially where a mix of slightly oily/slightly dry areas can
otherwise be difficult to manage with a single product. Oily skin, on the other hand, would do best to turn to another Bio Fresh mask,
such as the delicious, Aztec chocolate scented Cupcake, where you can get an equally intense exfoliation plus even more powerful
deep-cleansing action, sans surplus hydration.
 |