If you’re looking for a solid exfoliating body bar that’s all about puppies, rainbows and heart-shaped bubbles coming out of a pink unicorn’s butt, you won’t find it in Lush’s Buffy Body Butter ($11.95).
Buffy will not listen to you talk about your feelings as you braid each other’s hair.
Nor will she quietly discuss the merits of gentle exfoliation with you over chamomile tea in a room filled with oversized pillows and dream catchers.
No.
Lush refers to this Buffy as “the original slayer” and says it’s “tough on rough bottoms” because it wants to kick metaphorical butt.
Your skin’s butt.
Dead skin cells? Destroys ’em. The solid 3.3-ounce Buffy Body Butter bar (what a tongue-twister!) vanquishes scaly skin with a semi-coarse concoction of ground rice, almonds and beans (?). And if 3.3 ounces doesn’t seem big enough, it also comes in a larger 7-ounce bar for $22.95.
Scaly shins? Toast. Lumps, bumps and scaly patches on pretty much any part of your bod — shins, thighs, elbows, heels, arms — succumb to Buffy’s skin-sloughing powers and the moisturizing might of cocoa and shea butters.
That other Buffy in the vampire-slaying business has to struggle to keep humanity safe from blood-suckers, but for the Buffy Body Butter bar, keeping skin exfoliated and moisturized is a piece of cake.
Just massage it over wet skin, and squeal with delight! — or mild discomfort, but more on that in a minute. It’s kinda like a rich, super scrubby soap.
Then, after rinsing, pat dry. No need for lotion or cream afterward, since Buffy leaves behind a thick layer of moisturizing butters and oils.
I used it in the shower yesterday and couldn’t figure out if I wanted to cry in ecstasy or distress. For me, it sort of walks that line between agony and intense satisfaction, like a bikini wax, or reaching that point in a half marathon when you see the 10-mile sign and realize YOU STILL HAVE THREE MILES TO GO!
Ingredients
Fair Trade Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao), Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii), Ground Rice (Oryza sativa), Ground Almonds (Prunus dulcis), Ground Aduki Beans (Phaseolus), Perfume, Lavender Oil (Lavandula hybrida), Lemon Oil (Citrus limonum), Citral, Limonene, Linalool
I sure do love what Buffy does for my skin. The buttery oils leave it happily hydrated, if not a touch oily, and lightly scented with cocoa butter.
Oh, and it has another convenient use that I file away in the category of “Weird but kinda cool.” It can also work as an impromptu shave cream!
For kicks, in the shower yesterday after using the bar, I ran my razor along my shins, and the thick film really helped the razor glide along, just like a good shave cream. I guess that makes Buffy, in a way, like getting three products in one — an exfoliating bar, a shave cream and a moisturizer.
Might come in handy if you’re planning a trip over the summer and want to pack light.
PRICE: $11.95 for a 3.3-ounce bar; $22.95 for a 7-ounce bar
AVAILABILITY: Available at Lush stores and lushusa.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+
NARS Beach Lover
Hmm… It looks like I’m going to have to visit Sephora this afternoon. NARS has a couple of new summer Sephora Exclusive gift sets, and the promo pic is speaking to my inner surf baby.
“Surf’s up, Karen!”
Okay! Be right there! 🙂
There’s the $49 Beach Lover Set, which includes a Medium Laguna Illuminator (a brown with golden shimmer), a Mini Orgasm Blush/Hungry Heart Highlighter Duo (a golden ivory and a peachy pink with golden shimmer), a Skorpios Mini Soft Touch Shadow Pencil (a copper) and a Medium Laguna Lip Gloss (a bronzed brown with golden shimmer).
Beach Lover
The three-piece Sun Kissed Set also looks pretty cute. For $50, you get a Medium Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer, a Medium Laguna Illuminator (a bronzed brown with golden shimmer) and a Mini Desire Blush/Hungry Heart Highlighter Duo (a golden ivory and a delicate bright pink).
Sun Kissed
Fingers crossed that Tabs lets me sneak away from my desk before Sephora closes! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Kellie says
May 31st, 2012 at 4:44 pmUhhhh…..LOVE BUFFY! 🙂 My fave show ever! But I have never tried this body bar…maybe I should! 🙂 Those Nars kits look fab, but not sure they would be great on my super pale skin. This post made me smile, thanks Karen!
Manu says
May 31st, 2012 at 4:52 pmBuffy!!!!
Yeah, that’s about all I have to say…and Willow and Xander and Giles and the whole Scooby gang!! 🙂
Two Chicks And Some Lipstick says
May 31st, 2012 at 4:54 pmI could not agree with you more Karen, LOVE LOVE LOVE Nars!!!
As a professional make-up artist I use Orgasm Blush on everyone!
Such a great blush for all skin colours!
Happy Shopping!!
x
Irene Christine says
May 31st, 2012 at 5:10 pmI need to try out buffy body butter!! My skin is scaly at times and it’s a pain to make it smooth!! I think it’s time for me to try it since I’ve been searching for something to get rid of my scaly skin!! 🙂
Xero says
May 31st, 2012 at 6:22 pmRice, almonds, and beans…with those ingredients and name, it feels like this bar will serve as a meal, exfoliate my skin AND kick my butt at the same time!
Xero recently posted … My Favorite Drugstore Lipstick Brands
Elle says
May 31st, 2012 at 7:07 pmDefinitely mild discomfort – the first time I used it on my neck/chest area I said a small expletive out loud. Still a good product though!
Becca @ The Beauty Sample says
May 31st, 2012 at 7:11 pmDefinitely have to add this to the list of things I HAVE to try from Lush (along with the Godiva solid shampoo bar you just reviewed!)
Becca @ The Beauty Sample recently posted … The Sample: Burberry Light Glow Natural Blush in No.02 Cameo Review
Becca @ The Beauty Sample says
May 31st, 2012 at 7:30 pmoooh, thanks for the heads up, Karen! I think I may have to order the Beach Lover Kit online tonight so I can also get the full-size UD Primer Potion from the 15days promo!!!
Becca @ The Beauty Sample recently posted … The Sample: Burberry Light Glow Natural Blush in No.02 Cameo Review
Katie says
May 31st, 2012 at 7:55 pmEh, I thought it was an OK product. I thought usage took way more effort than needed. Even its moisturizing properties bordered on filmy-feeling. I’ll stick to my Burt’s Bees Cranberry & Pomegranate Sugar Scrub!
musical says
May 31st, 2012 at 8:51 pmBuffy bars (and other body butter bars) are another favorite from Lush! I don’t care much about the scrub action, i prefer using the smoother side, he he. But boy, these are prefect for lazy evening showers when all i wanna’ do is have a hot shower and relax :).
Adrienne says
May 31st, 2012 at 9:08 pmI bought this just a while ago for my girlfriend, who is terrified by and uninterested in allt hings makeup (come towards her with an eyeliner, she looks like …a vampire faced wih a stake. Or, for the more versed Buffy fans…Jonathan in pretty much any episode of season 2). But she does love exfoliaters and is an a avid Buffy fan who got me re-hooked on the show. I can’t wait to send her the link to her new fave product on my “fancy makeup blog” that she wishes I’ll stop talking about, haha. 🙂
After the first time she tried it she told me something like, I think I just lost a couple layers of skin… but in a good way
Advah says
June 1st, 2012 at 1:38 amI like Buffy a lot, but then I have very dry skin with serious ingrown hair prob on my legs (TMI?). Most reviews I’d read only talk about that one from all of Lush’s body butter, but I recently discovered that the Aqua Mirabilis scrub is WAY nicer! The exfoliating bits are smaller, which means you get a better and more consistant result. The smell is also lighter than Buffy’s.
Alyssa Grace says
June 1st, 2012 at 4:14 ami use Buffy to shave with too ! i love LUSH. so many fantastic products.
Marina says
June 1st, 2012 at 6:10 amHa, I used to be a huge Buffy/Angel fan. I’ve tried to watch Ringer with SMG but did not like it that much unfortunately.
Marina recently posted … Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm. New Shades
Karen says
June 1st, 2012 at 7:54 amI tried watching Ringer and couldn’t get into it because it was so slow! I think the show got cancelled.
Nina says
June 1st, 2012 at 6:14 amOhhh I want the SunKissed set pls! 🙂
I have a thing against body butters because I dont like the slick feel it leaves, but for the name alone – this one is worth a try!
Karen says
June 1st, 2012 at 7:47 amHmm, you may not like this one then. It’s both slick AND very thick. Might be too much moisture for your Texas summer!
Nina says
June 1st, 2012 at 10:01 amYep! Maybe in the winter, it will work since our winters are pretty dry (what passes for winter here, at least) … 🙂
Kim says
June 1st, 2012 at 7:39 amI love the highlighter duo in the Beach Lover’s set! Actually, I’m having a crazy moment where I feel an irresistible urge to wear that flower wreath around all day. I’m sure my coworkers wouldn’t find that to be odd in the least bit. 😉
Karen says
June 1st, 2012 at 7:44 amGO FOR IT! It’s Friday! (That urge strikes me often, btw, haha!)
Linda Halpern says
June 1st, 2012 at 11:40 amI love LUSH products, especially the massage bars. They are just like a solid lotion and applied after a bath or shower, you’re in heaven!!
corallista says
June 1st, 2012 at 12:38 pmI’ve not given this a try but might try it out in the winter when I tend to have drier skin!
Maygan says
June 1st, 2012 at 7:24 pmIm a total Lush junkie! I was actually in the store today picking up more of my fav hair mask “Hair Doctor” I wish i had checked this before. I use thei ” You snap the whip” and it sounds similar. You have to try the Rose Aragon Body Conditioner! Its life changing!
Stephanie C says
June 4th, 2012 at 9:07 amI like Buffy but it’s a little too rough for me. Next time I am out and about I plan on picking up something a little less. But I log Ro’s Aragon. Heavenly.