NEW: Deals at Lush.com -- Stronger, Thicker Hair and Luscious New Scents

No, really, that's what they called this new item from Lush's hair treatment section: Snake Oil. Unlike the faux-cures of yesteryear, however, this really is a miracle cure! If you have dandruff or eczema, you need Snake Oil.

Pros: It really works! It works on other areas of the body, too, not just the scalp. It leaves your hair feeling really conditioned, shiny and flake-free.

Cons: The smell! It's really difficult to describe... kind of a smoky... sulfur smell? You wash your hair after using it, so the smell doesn't last, but when you're waiting twenty minutes to wash it out, it can be a bit much. Oh, yeah, did I mention? You've to wait twenty minutes before washing it out / off!

Recommendations: Some people have recommended melting the bar slightly in the microwave before applying, otherwise you've to let it melt a bit into your fingertips and it can be tricky to apply.  I also recommend drawing a bath using the next item before you put the Snake Oil into your hair.  That way, you've a deliciously scented bath to soak in while you wait.

Candied apples, warming cinnamon spiciness... this bath bomb, aptly named the Fizzbanger will help you melt all your winter cares away with it's candy crackle and ever-changing array of colors. Long-lasting, the smell is delectable and the popping bits inside a Fizzbanger make you feel like you're wrapped up in front of a cozy log fire.

Pros: The smell is divine. The candy crackles are an awesome touch, making bath time more fun, sort of like being a kid again.

Cons: I'd love to say they aren't any, but occasionally people get a Fizzbanger that just won't fizz. That's a bummer. Also the color of yellow that this bath bomb turns into, originally, before turning other lovely shades is kind of reminiscent of urine. Not exactly attractive bathing.

Suggestions: Lay back and close your eyes... the scent, warming cinnamon oils and fizzy cracklings far outweigh any of the Fizzbanger's cons!

New, it's NEW, one of the newest lines of Lush's solid shampoo bars, NEW is a breakthrough in thinning, limp hair. Cinnamon, clove and peppermint oils revitalize the scalp while rosemary and nettle make hair shiny, manageable and soft, without weighing it down. The results: Thicker hair that is manageable, soft, shiny and has great bounce!

Pros: The smell, while quite delicious is not overtly girly. An excellent unisex bar, men can use NEW without fear that they'll be ousted as a metro-sexual. While thinning hair affects both men and women, men who have a genetic disposition towards balding should start using this shampoo bar, pronto! Why wait? It really works. Unlike some of the other solid shampoo bars that Lush creates, the nettle in this bar is pretty finely ground and doesn't leave a residue, or worse yet, tiny pieces of "branch" in your hair. Very awesome. The lather is insane, your hair comes out feeling squeaky clean without the "stripping" effect that some Lush shampoo's can produce.

Cons: It saddens me that hundreds of people across the world will pick up NEW at their local Lush store, sniff it, wrinkle their nose and put it back on the shelf. This bar does not smell good until you get it wet. That's all. It's not that it smells bad in your hair, (the effect of NEW on my hair is quite yummy, as it is on my SO's hair, too,) it just doesn't smell good before you use it. There are, in my opinion, no other drawbacks to this bar.

Recommendations: Do not get NEW in your eyes. It will burn, burn and burn... like a ring of fire! I like to run NEW under the water before rubbing it in between my hands / onto my hair, it seems to lather much better when it and your hair are thoroughly wet.  NEW is an excellent product to use after using Snake Oil, it makes the peppermint in Snake Oil really "pop" and covers the less admirable scents in the product.

We're in the home-stretch, moving into Spring... if any of you are like me, February - April is the hardest time of the year.  Sick of bad weather, tired of being cooped up indoors, and desperate for a little sunshine, Back to Breakfast, a retro product of Lush will turn your SAD into happy!

Pros:  Ever wonder why they used to give little kids oranges as a sweet treat during winter?  Some say it was to fight off the scurvy, but I insist that it was to fight off mid-winter depression!  The smell of Back to Breakfast is simply divine.  Not only does it wake you up, it instantly transforms your bath / shower into the best time of the day... unless... you end up meeting that "special someone," citrus was recently rated as one of the top scents a man likes to smell on a woman.  Utterly aphrodisiac scent, between the skin softening honey and the citrus notes this is THE SMELL men want on their women.

Cons: Oh, have I explained what a retro Lush product is?  Normally, it's a product that has been discontinued for one reason or another, but brought back briefly.  I do not understand why they ever stopped making Back to Breakfast, it's fantastic.  Unfortunately, while there is tons of lather the smell doesn't quite last all day.

Recommendations: Use this product.  First thing in the morning you'll be awakened and capable of facing anything!  For an extra lift, I enjoy using this sparingly as a hand soap, too... just to get that extra kick that helps get me through the day.

By this time of the year, the weather has wreaked serious havoc on our skin. The solution to fighting the winter blahs, reviving tired sore muscles and smelling like a kitten-soft sex goddess are all one in the same: Hottie! Made with cocoa butters, jojoba oils ginger, pepper and vanilla Hottie is an incredible massage bar that does so much more. Textured to please, Hottie delivers warmth and soothing right into the muscle for a relaxing sensual massage.

Pros: The smell is great for both women and men, so guys will love to get a massage with Hottie just as much as women will.  Unlike some of Lush's other $10 massage bars, Hottie really lasts, especially if you don't use the bumpy side when just using it for after-shower / after-bath moisturizing.  It packs quite the moisturizing punch, really helping to repair winter-terrorized skin.  The bumps add a lot of texture to a good sensual massage, meaning you can massage it into your guy or girl's skin without getting worn out!

Cons: I wish the smell and moisturizing power would last a little longer.  Otherwise, I think it's a fantastic massage bar.

Recommendations: You definitely want to layer another moisturizing agent on top of Hottie, if you're using it straight from the shower / bath.

For those of you who are familiar with the massage bar called Fever, this is the scent they put into Silk Stockings, an awesome all-over body tint! Specifically it's designed for your legs, but I see no reason to stop there, your decolletage and arms could use a little of this shimmery love, too!

Pros: Jasmine extracts make this shimmer body bar an extremely alluring aphrodisiac. The color is a light pinkish tint that evens out any minor skin imperfections and gives a healthy glow and dash of color to light-skinned ladies. For darker skinned ladies there's a product called Black Stockings, which adds more of a copper glow.

Cons: Don't sit down! Seriously, though, this product can rub off onto clothing, furniture, sheets, so you really need to blend it in.

Recommendations: I like to apply this a bit at a time then apply a self-tanning lotion like Neutrogena Build-a-Tan. It helps even out the application and adds extra color over time!  You definitely want to wash this off before hopping into a bed with light colored sheets.  Give plenty of time for it to soak into your body, make it the first part of your routine after moisturizing!