Is your regular body wash just not cutting it these days? I can relate. I’ve even tried shaking it up with a luxurious body scrub once a week and I’m still not satisfied with my self- care routine. If like me, you’re looking for that something extra to switch up your routine then you’ve come to the right place. What if I told you there was something you could use that was in between your environmentally friendly soap bar, and your dribbling, liquid body wash?

Let me introduce you to a phenomenon that will bring you back to your childhood self. A shower jelly. It lets you do what your mother never let you do – bring food into the bathroom. (They’re not edible but I wish they were).

UK based brand Lush is renowned for contemporizing your bath essentials. Whether it’s a supercool galactic bath bomb or a delicious smelling face mask, Lush has you covered. Their shower jellies are just another example of Lush giving you that luxurious shower experience. Why use liquid when you can use jelly? It’s a no-brainer if you ask me! Whether you’re looking for an extra restful night’s sleep or an invigorating pick-me-up shower, Lush’s Shower Jellies have got you covered.

What Is Shower Jelly?

A product that can clean your body and wash your hair… Where can I sign up?

What is shower Jelly? You’re probably thinking to yourself “I mean that sounds fun but I need something that can actually clean my body”. You’ve once again knocked on the right (bathroom) door. When these shower jellies get wet they lather up just like a soap. They’re basically the same as your other body-washing alternatives – but way more fun. Somebody should be making the use of these mandatory.

They come in a play-doh type tub (which already has me giddy like a four-year-old), and they just kind of flop out when you’re ready to use it. You can squish them in your hands to get a lather going, chop them up into small pieces, or just plop them in the bath. Either way, you’re getting a good clean in the best way possible.

Baths aren’t just a functional routine to get yourself squeaky clean. They’re supposed to be part of your self-care ritual even if you’re in a crazy rush. Shower jellies give you the best of both worlds. You can use this product without feeling sad or mad because the jelly is just so much fun.

Lush Shower Jellies are made with a seaweed gel base to gently but thoroughly nourish and cleanse the skin. Additional essential oils and fruit extracts ensure this is the aromatherapy you’ve been missing. As if it couldn’t get any better this can also be used as a hair wash. I wouldn’t call it a shampoo per se but it is essentially an all-in-1 Shower Jelly. It nourishes both the hair and skin. What’s not to love?

Lush Deep Sleep Shower Jelly Review

Great hair starts in the shower.

My bed-time conversation sounds something like this: “If I fall asleep now I’ll get seven hours and twenty-three minutes of sleep”, followed by “okay if I fall asleep now I can still get six hours and four minutes”. You get the picture. If you can relate then let me introduce you to Lush’s Deep Sleep Shower Jelly.

It contains three main ingredients to get you to that ‘deep sleep’ state you’ve been missing. The first is lavender oil which not only removes harmful pollutants from the skin but also lowers elevated blood pressure levels. This means your body releases any hypertension it’s been holding. Moving on to the chamomile oil which is an anti-inflammatory. This essential oil should be added to any part of your self-care routine – it purifies and increases skin repair.  

Now for the final and most poignant ingredient: Neroli. This substance is actually derived from oranges! It promotes the regeneration of new cells. Neroli is known for its sedative effects – slowing down the organs and metabolism, relieving anxiety and distress.

The first thing I noticed when I came to use this shower jelly was the scent. It instantly relaxed my senses. It was a beautiful orange color infused with gold flecks. I was honestly surprised at how well it lathered, I wasn’t expecting it to be so soapy.

Although I would pre-warn that it is particularly slippy, especially when your hands are already wet from the water. Despite the fact that it’s hard to hold on to, Lush Deep Sleep Shower Jelly is definitely something you’re going to want to get your hands on! I don’t know if it was psychological, but even if it was I don’t care, I slept like a baby that night.

Lush Whoosh Shower Jelly Review

Lush’s Whoosh’s shower gel contains lemon, lime, and grapefruit.

Similar to the Deep Sleep flavor, Lush Whoosh Shower Jelly contains 3 main ingredients (plus 2 extra just for that added pick-me-up). It’s got triple-citrus properties: Lemon, Lime, and Grapefruit. Let me talk you through their unbelievable benefits. Lemon has skin lightening qualities, brightening your overall complexion and clearing up any discolorations.

Swiftly moving onto the Lime extract. Lime is a great smelling cleanser. It tones and strengthens your muscles helping your whole body feel more refreshed. It also contains natural chemical properties that act as a tonic if your battling chronic stress – basically, it chills you out before you’ve even started your day.

Surely that’s as fresh as it gets? Well, I haven’t even started on the Grapefruit yet. Grapefruit contains antiseptic properties and is rich in vitamin C. This increases collagen production to tighten and strengthen the skin. It also has a high water content to keep your skins outer-layer hydrated and lock in moisture. As if that wasn’t enough, they’ve thrown in rosemary and geranium extracts to pick up your senses.

I noticed a lot of things about this jelly. The first was that the scent really refreshed my senses in the morning. You should massage a piece of the Lush Whoosh Shower Jelly into your loofah until lather forms and the jelly dissolved.  That’s what worked for me. I find this was the easiest way to get a full lathering but it does mean the jelly runs out quicker.

Either way, the results were unreal. The smell really woke me up and I felt refreshed for the coming day. My skin was brighter and followed by my daily moisturizer I was ready to go. 

DIY Natural Shower Jelly Recipe And Guide

A DIY shower jelly recipe is the way to go!

If you’ve ever made edible jelly, get ready to take it to a whole new level. While Lush’s Shower Jellies are great there’s something satisfying about making your own beauty products. Especially a DIY natural shower Jelly.

Dissolve 5 tsp of Agar Agar powder into ¾ cups of boiling water. You can use Agar Agar powder as the gel emulsion in the jelly. It also has moisturizing qualities. Once the powder has dissolved, stir in the salt and add the castile soap. Gently mix. The castile soap is essentially the cleanser in the shower jelly. It contains antibacterial properties that are gentle on your skin.

Next add 5 drops of essential oils of your choice (I recommend White Fir to help you feel grounded and stimulate the mind, so you feel refreshed). Carefully pour the mixture into silicone molds of your choice and let it set in the fridge for 5 hours. It should turn into a gel-like any other jelly you’ve made.

When the time is up just pop one of the molds out and take it with you to your next shower for a fun and relaxing experience! These at-home jellies tend to be a little more breakable so try just crushing one into your loofah and lather. (I use smaller molds so that they come out just the right size and I don’t need to chop a big one up).

Conclusion

At the end of the day, shower jellies are a 2-in-1 shower solution. They can be used as shampoo or body wash (and if you get an especially moisturizing one you could even use it for conditioner!) There’s nothing better than the satisfaction of making a shop-bought product at home. I love the creativity and freedom that comes with it. And I know exactly what’s going into it which means my body is getting the nourishment it deserves on the inside as well as the outside.

However, with that being said, if you haven’t got the time or patience to make your own shower jelly then you should seriously think about investing in a Lush one. They don’t contain all the harmful chemicals that are found in the liquid body washes – and they can be used as a shampoo too!

I have recently gotten more into my self-care routine.. Five-minute in-and-out showers just don’t cut it these days.  But when I don’t have the time for those long showers, a jelly is just the thing to enhance my rushed shower experience. The company is committed to 100% sustainability. That is a huge bonus. I love that their products have incredible results as well as being a guilt-free purchase.