Guess what? I have another LUSH review for you! My husband and I love using LUSH massage bars, so I try to have at least two stashed away at any given time. Some people use these as body moisturizers, but hubs and I actually use them for massages. Every day he comes home sore, because his chair at work is terrible, so I try massaging his shoulders for at least 5-10 minutes, and he swears that it helps a lot, even though I really don’t know what I’m doing.
 |
| Tender is the Night & Close to You Limited Edition Massage Bars |
 |
| Close to You – closeup |
 |
| Close to You – size comparison |
 |
| Tender is the Night – closeup |
 |
| Tender is the Night – size comparison |
Tender is the Night is described by LUSH as a “sensual shea and murumuru butter bar made with an aeration technique that allows the butters to melt easily onto skin for a smooth, tender massage”. The fragrance reminds me of one of my favorite massage bars – Heavanilli, now discontinued. This delightful scent comes from the blend of essential oils, including vanilla absolute, jasmine absolute, and ylang ylang oil. Compared to last year’s version, I think I like this new formula better, because the oils melt into the skin much easier, allowing me to start massaging immediately instead of waiting for the solid bar to finally soften. Sometimes I use it as a body moisturizer when I want some extra pampering; I apply a generous amount all over my body before bed and wake up with soft and silky skin in the morning
Close to You is another vanilla-scented massage bar, released by LUSH for Valentine’s Day. The shape is inspired by a famous British cookie called the Jammy Dodger, which is made of shortbread with raspberry jam in the middle. “Made with luxurious butters and a delicious vanilla scent, this sweet massage bar is guaranteed to bring someone special close to you!”, says LUSH. I don’t doubt that for a second, because both my husband and I loved this scrumptious mix of delightful butters scented with fair trade vanilla absolute. This type of massage bars is called “smooshable”, because they can be rubbed between your palms to release the oils instead of having to rub the entire bar against your [or someone else’s!] body. One negative thing I have to mention about this bar is the pink stains it can leave on white clothes, so make sure to keep it away from anything light. This bar becomes mushy faster than most others, due to naturally low melting point of butters included in it, so make sure to store it in a cool place, preferably in one of those LUSH aluminum tins.
Close to You and Tender is the Night both came out as part of Valentine’s Day 2014 Limited Edition collection, but after many pleas and requests from fans, LUSH decided to to welcome Tender is the Night into their year-round massage bar lineup. Close to You is still a LE item, so get it while you can, or you’ll have to wait another year!
THE VERDICT
Although I loved the shape, fragrance and moisturizing effect of Close to You, the staining and low melting point will be two reasons why I won’t purchase it again, considering there are other wonderful massage bar options available at LUSH store. I’m happy that Tender is the Night joined the permanent collection, and I’m going to purchase more of those at some point, because I love everything about it from the convenient shape to its delightful fragrance.
PRICE & AVAILABILITY
Close to You – $7.95 USD for 1.5 oz. Available at LUSH during the month of February.
Tender is the Night – $11.95 for 2.1 oz. Available at LUSH.
Shop the entire LUSH Valentine’s Day collection here.
Ingredients:
Close to You – Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii) , Murumuru Butter (Astrocaryum murumuru) , Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis) , Olive Oil (Olea europaea) , Organic Agave Syrup (Agave tequilana) , Fragrance , Cupuacu Butter (Theobroma Grandiflorum) , Cornflour (Zea mays) , Glycerine , Methyl Ionone , Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla Planifolia) , Titanium Dioxide , D&C Red No. 27 , D&C Red No. 33 , FD&C Red No. 4
Tender is the Night – Murumuru Butter (Astrocaryum murumuru) , Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii) , Fragrance , Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla Planifolia) , Jasmine Absolute (Jasminum grandiflorum) , Ylang Ylang Oil (Cananga odorata) , Titanium Dioxide , Cornflour (Zea mays) , *Benzyl Alcohol , *Benzyl Benzoate , Benzyl Salicylate , *Citral , Eugenol , *Farnesol , *Geraniol , Lilial , *Linalool , *Limonene , D&C Red No. 33 , FD&C Red No. 4 , D&C Red No. 27
I havent tried the massage bar yet but now I cant wait!
Hope you get a chance to try them, LUSH has a really nice variety to choose from 🙂
I’m curious about a bar of massage cream! I’ve never seen anything like it. My husband is so picky about what he’ll use to give me massages. He doesn’t like using oil at all, but prefers the triple-moisture body creams from Bath and Body Works! I wonder if he’d try these, though, because they sound wonderful. Though, truth be told, he can use whatever he likes, as long as I’m getting a massage!!
Those BBW body creams are nice, but I never thought about using them for massages since we always just bought LUSH stuff. I’d say, give them a try, LUSH offers a variety of scents and textures, so there’s something for everyone.
I love the LUSH massage bars! I have a feeling I would like Tender is the Night.
It’s probably my favorite bar right now 🙂
I was at the LUSH store this weekend an looked at these but they melted in my hand. Picked up some other things instead.
This new technique makes them melt faster, so maybe that’s what you experienced.
I love Lush Massage bars, this makes me wanna do a Lush haul!
Yes! Haul it! I couldn’t wait and ordered a couple Easter and Mother’s Day items 🙂
LUSH Massage Bars are amazing. I need to try out Tender is the Night!
You really should, if you like their vanilla fragrances. It’s divine!
So very curious about these! I had never heard of massage bars before!
These are basically solidified oils that melt at body temperature.
Tender is the Night sounds great, I have to go check these out!!!
If you’re into sweet vanilla fragrances, you’re going to love it 🙂
Hope they bring these back! I am loving lush this year!
Tender is the Night is now part of permanent collection!
Those bars are so cute
They are :3
Lush has the cutest products. Thank you for being honest with the review!
You’re very welcome, I hope it was informative 🙂
Lush bars are amazing! Great review!
Thank you! Yes, they are awesome 🙂
Close to you is my favorite! 😀 My husband and I love them too! I usually have a bunch tucked away but right now I only have the Close To You!
Good to know your husband and you both enjoy these, too. Close to You is such a romantic bar!
I have and LOVE these!!
Aren’t they awesome?!! 😀
Lucky husband , he has a beautiful masseuse wife 🙂 I was gonna say, he has to replace his work chair. Anyways, this massage bar sounds interesting to me!
Yeah, I keep telling him he has to get a new one asap, but I guess their boss is going to renovate the office soon or something, so he’s waiting on that. Aw, and thank you 😀
I have and love this!
LUSH can do no wrong, haha 🙂
Just looking at these is relaxing me
I’m glad you think so, I really tried to capture that in my pictures 🙂
I would love to try this out! I love lush but havent got anything in so long. Might need to order again.
If you plan on ordering and don’t mind the wait, I’d recommend using LUSH UK site instead, since the prices are normally much lower.
There is a Lush opening across from the salon I go to! I am so excited to sniff things before I buy.
Their stores are so fragrant you can probably smell it mall the way from that salon 😀
I think their products look so pretty 🙂
I agree, they really do a great job with presentation.