Fashion Done Your Own Way

by Molly Dutton

This month is finally starting to feel like the sunny springtime we love so much, despite a few rainy moments which we can overlook. As we all start to enter a new season, I have found through my conversations with people that feelings of burnout are very common in working and school environments; this can be so hard, and honestly, very exhausting. As part of their new springtime schedule, Lush Spa invited me to their wonderful Book A Bath experience (they clearly know me too well) and what a day it was!

Upon arrival, one of the lovely members of staff welcomed me into the spa area in which I could rummage through some of the products featured in their treatments and try new additions which I hadn’t come across before. I managed to fit in time to try their fragrances, which I never even knew existed prior to this visit. In the little waiting area, I found two delicious ones that are strong contenders with my long-standing vanilla body spray (and it would take a lot to pry that away from me). My two favourites were American Cream and Vanillary; reminding me of the sweet, nostalgic scents I used to love when I was just starting to experiment with perfumes. The little hidden corner in the Lush store had such a peacefulness to it that made me feel relaxed as soon as I sat down, which is uncommon for me even in spa locations. I have since put this down to the homeliness of the cosy corner and the kindness of the lovely staff checking on my wellbeing at every given opportunity.

For those of you who have been reading my articles for some time, you will know that I am a huge fan of a bubble bath, and since my big move up North almost two years ago, I haven’t had a bath within my own house. I was very kindly given the chance to experience the lovely “Book a Bath experience” which is centred around the Lakes bath bomb, one of their most popular bath products. I will be perfectly honest, being at one with nature is not something I am usually very good at, but it is such a mood lifter and has a great effect on the soul! As someone who takes a more independent approach to self-care, the self-led experience felt a lot more natural for me and it allowed me to take things at my own pace, rather than adhere to a pre-prepared schedule. The lovely Lush spa worker Lauren took me into the very homely kitchen in which I was provided with a comforting herbal tea and a selection of products of which I could choose from for my bath. Having been a Lush fan since I was very young, I chose products which I’d not previously used so I could fully immerse myself in the treatment; a particularly exciting duo was the daffodil eye pads (very on theme) and rosy cheek mask. This element of selection is something I found so unique when looking back over previous spa treatments as it truly places the customer at the forefront of what the spa is doing, rather than fitting the client into a routine that they think is best.

Part of what is so lovely about the treatment is the serenity of the afternoon. I am in a very privileged position in which I always have time for a small dose of self-care in my routine and am often used to peace and quiet in my evenings, however this is not the case for many people. The reasonable price tag on this treatment and the time that is given to each client makes it the perfect treat for busy individuals, full time workers, mums and dads, carers and all of us that fall in between. The ethos of the spa revolves entirely around the idea of taking time for ourselves and looking after our wellbeing which is so clearly communicated through the ‘Book a Bath’ concept. I am no stranger to the world of skincare and have become a skincare consultant within the last year. I will be honest, I was ever so slightly sceptical of Lush skincare, purely down to the fact that I associated the company with big, beautiful fragrances, colours and glitter! I am very happy to say that I was completely wrong in my preconceptions and the skincare provided for me during my relaxation session was very much worth investing in. Highlighting again the importance of the natural world, the products were centred around freshness and peace; a lovely duo in the world of selfcare. I am always reluctant to try toners that I haven’t used before as they can be a little bit hit or miss for me personally but the ‘breath of fresh air toner water’ had a very gentle and cleansing effect on the skin which left me looking glowy for the rest of the afternoon. For those of you that are new to Lush as a company or just haven’t tried some of their less mainstream products, the sleep collection will fit so well into your daily routines. I was treated to a little bar of the ‘sleepy’ soap as part of the day and it has a wonderful soothing quality that somehow managed to put my whirring mind at ease for the half an hour session (a difficult task during exam season). If I could recommend any products to invest in that will always stand the test of time, it would have to be their sleep collection.

Overall, the experience was honestly my favourite spa day yet and I left feeling fully relaxed and at ease with my surroundings; if there ever was a way to feel grounded, this would be it. Their ability to create a hidden world within the walls of Lush Cardiff on Queen Street is unmatched, with the setting, music, lighting and staff working together beautifully to create a peaceful environment. The price is so appealing and is thoroughly worth it for the way that it makes you feel!