LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub Review

I picked this up the other day after reading lots of good things about it and i wanted my lips to be nice and smooth for winter time, I'm a big fan of Lush products and i really don't own enough! The packaging is lovely as always and comes in a glass pot which would be very useful after the scrub is empty.

The scrub itself comes in three different flavours all claiming to do different things. I chose Bubblegum because people said it was the one that tasted the nicest.  The other flavours available are Mint Julip which is meant to sooth and lock in moisture and Sweet Lips which taste like chocolate and is meant to make lips softer. I tried the mint one at the store and it seemed to taste very nice as well.

The scrub is made of caster sugar and jojoba oil and rub it into your lips and then lick it off! Which is great if you've got a bit of a sweet tooth and are wanting a sugar rush!The product itself is bright pink which doesn't seem to show up as much in the pictures. All in all i really like this product and i have noticed that m lips have been a lot smoother and looked healthier. I use this in the morning when my lips can feel a little worse for wear and i apply a lip balm after since in can be a little drying. I would recomend this product to people because it is fun to use and works! After i've used it all i think i might try make my own since it seems pretty simple to make.

I would give it 4/5

All 3 types of sugar lip scrub are available in LUSH stores or on their website for £4.95 each.

http://www.lush.co.uk/index.php

Mini Mansions

Recently i've been in love with Queens of The Stone Age which means i've been checking out all the side projects from each member!
Mini Mansions were founded in 2009 and  is the side project created by QOTSA bassist Michael Shuman (aka Mikey Shoes) and old friends Tyler Parkford (Vocals, Keyboard, Guitar) and Zach Dawes (Vocals, Bass, Keyboards) Although Mikey is best know for playing bass, in Mini Mansions he plays drums, guitar and vocals. They are currently signed under Josh Homme's record label Rekords Rekords.

(Tyler, Mikey, Zach)

  

 Their sound has been described as similar to The Beatles, Beach Boys and Elliot Smith. Personally i wouldn't think of these when listening to the music. Their debut album has sort of a dreamy/psychedelic feel too it which i like. Throughout the album there is Vignette #1, 2 & 3 which were recorded as one but split into 3 parts and gives a nice flow to the album. For me it is definitely an album that should be lsitened from start to finish because thats how it sounds best. From watching videos of their live performances on youtube you can see they work well together and can put on a good show even in a small bar. One thing that makes them different is that Mikey plays the drums standing up, in an interview he said this was because he isn't the greatest drummer but i think it works for them!
 

 
“There are a lot of thematic elements from film and television that come into play on the record, especially on the instrumental passages.” Michael Shuman

They have opened up for Them Crooked Vultures back in 2009 which i don't think suited them although i do love Them Crooked Vultures and Warpaint in 2010 which i think was a better match since they both make mellow/dreamy styled music. 
I wouldn't go into thinking that Mini Mansions are going to sound like QOTSA because they don't. Mikey said that he wanted on outlet to make good pop songs with his friends which i think he has. Some of the songs are very catchy and musically very strong.
Favourite tracks:

• Monk 
• Crime of the Season
• Seven Sons
• Majik Marker
• Girls

Also They're cover of Blondie's Heart of Glass is definitely worth checking out, very different from the original but very good!



"Genuinely psychedelic with huge hooks... After listening to Mini Mansions just once, you won't be able to get it out of your head.'" Josh Homme

Links!

Mini Mansions - Monk (Music Video) 

Mini Mansions - Monk (Live @ Carson 2011)  

Mini Mansions - Heart Of Glass (Blondie Cover)

http://www.myspace.com/minimansionsmusic 

 They're debut self titled album is available on Itunes, Amazon and Play.com.