Brazilian Boom

A key ingredient in chocolate making, cocoa is also a staple on Lush shelves for its amazing effect on the skin, body and mind.

The cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) grows in warm, humid forests near the Equator. It yields large dark red or yellow pods containing up to 50 seeds each, coated in soft, edible flesh. The seeds, also called cocoa beans, are covered to ferment and then dried. During this process, they lose their acidic taste and develop their familiar chocolate scent. 

To obtain cocoa butter, the prepared beans are cleaned, dried and roasted and then ground into a thick, oily paste called chocolate liquor. The liquor can be used as such for chocolate-making or subjected to high pressure to separate the cocoa powder from the butter. An additional step can be carried out to deodorise the butter. This often happens for its use in cosmetics as it could interfere with the other scents of a product. The powder, which contains almost all of the scent and flavour of cocoa, can be used pure or put through solvent extraction to obtain a fragrant absolute.

The butter is an excellent emollient that moisturises the skin and hair. It also plays an essential role in product formulation, helping to achieve stable blends with longer shelf life or to create solid products that do not require packaging.

The powder gives products a natural tint and a delicious scent and taste.

The absolute delights the senses and uplifts the mood. Cocoa’s scent is also said to be a great aphrodisiac!

In 2017, a new type of chocolate was patented, called ruby cocoa. It has a dark pinkish colour, due to a special variety of cocoa trees that produce ruby-coloured beans.

The sources will vary depending on the ingredient, but we make sure that they never involve child labour. The Lush buying team always tries to make purchases that contribute to the well-being of people and the planet’s regeneration. To find out more about each of the cocoa suppliers, browse your Lush product’s list of ingredients and click on the ones you are interested in. This should take you to a page full of details!

Let castor oil put a nice soothing spell on your skin and scalp!

The evergreen castor bean shrub (Ricinus communis) is considered native to eastern Africa. Castor oil is produced by cold-pressing the seeds and goes through a clarification process by heating before use. The oil is a colourless, odourless and tasteless pale yellow liquid. 

Castor oil is both antibacterial and soothing.

It takes care of the scalp so well that it allows hair follicles to develop strong and healthy hair.

It has been used medicinally around the world for thousands of years, mostly to treat skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, as well as burns or acne.

It can be mixed with sodium hydroxide along with other vegetable oils to create a thick and stable soap base.

‘Castor’ means beaver in French!

To find out more about our suppliers, browse your Lush product’s list of ingredients and click on castor oil. This should take you to a page full of details!

Herbal and invigorating, the scent of eucalyptus essential oil is one of a kind - a Down Under breath of fresh air!

A flaky trunk? Slender, fragrant pieces of bark on the ground? That must be a eucalyptus tree. The Eucalyptus genus is native to Australia and other nearby islands. The genus counts more than 660 species, from shrubs to very tall trees. Eucalyptus globulus is one of them. Also known as the Southern blue gum, this species is one of the most planted worldwide because of its great weather adaptability and essential oil-rich leaves.

Eucalypti have been used by the Indigenous people of Australia for thousands of years, whether to repel insects, craft objects and weapons or build roofs. Some species are known for their health benefits, providing strong antiseptic and expectorant properties through the active compounds of their bark and leaves.

Eucalyptus oil’s strong scent refreshes and clears the mind.

Inhaling eucalyptus oil is said to help relieve headaches and congested chests.

Some say that it can promote restful sleep.

The antimicrobial properties of the plant’s oil also cleanse the skin and hair.

As you can probably guess, the answer is yes. Eucalyptus essential oil is very potent and must be diluted when used on the skin. But that’s fine because we don’t sell pure eucalyptus oil at Lush – it’s always diluted and used at recommended levels. That said, if you ever had an allergic reaction to the plant, talk to your doctor before using any of our products containing this ingredient.

Interested in our eucalyptus essential oil sourcing? Head over to this dedicated page. And if all this has made you want to add some fresh, herbal vibes to your morning or evening routines, look at our collection of cooling products.

Tea is good for the skin, mouth, and soul.

Camellia sinensis can be a tall shrub with fragrant white flowers, but it is often kept very small and leafy for cultivation purposes. With each new shoot, the fresh leaves are plucked and used to make the most widely consumed beverage in the world after water: tea!

There are many types of tea, the main ones being white, green, black, oolong and pu'er (or pu-erh) and within which you can find even more varieties. They are all obtained from the generous Camellia sinensis. Besides the location and conditions in which they grew, what differentiates each of these types is the time of harvest and the process they undergo afterwards.

Rolled, cut, pan-fried, roasted, steamed, fermented... almost everything has been tried on tea. These methods, which often go back several centuries, create a noticeable difference in the colour and taste of tea. The leaves can also be blended with other fragrant plants for an infinite variety of tastes. The most popular blend in Great Britain is the Earl Grey, made from black tea and citrus fruits.

At Lush, we don’t stick to just one type of tea. This is to have different scents and colours and also sometimes, let’s face it, to fit our inspiration. For example, it sounded just right to use gunpowder tea in a product called Boom! 

Interestingly, teas’ composition can differ depending on the way they are processed. So, each type will have slightly different benefits for the skin and hair. This is why we mainly use green-type teas, as they are usually richer in antioxidants and have more potent soothing and antibacterial properties.

TL;DR / Tea ingredients:

Give off a herbaceous scent 

Enhance skin radiance

Calm irritation and redness

Keep teeth and mouth clean and fresh

It may be less known globally, but the tea plant also grows small flowers which, once fertilised, produce seeds. These seeds can be pressed to obtain oil. It is a precious cosmetic ingredient as it moisturises the skin, but is also soothing and rich in antioxidants thanks to its vitamins K, A and E content.

Well, it depends on the tea! To find out more about each type we use, browse your Lush product’s list of ingredients and click on the ones you are interested in. This should take you to a page full of details.

Your order will be expertly protected against impact during transit by biodegradable Eco-Pops, compostable packaging nuggets made from potato starch! They're easily dissolvable in water or soil.

Fresh cosmetic ingredients are more effective on skin, hair, and mind than heavily preserved beauty products. 65% of our raw material spend is on natural ingredients.

All of our products are made by hand, fresh, every day, across 6 manufacturing sites all over the world. We believe in happy people making happy soap, putting our faces on our products and making our mums proud.

This product is made with ingredients that allow it to soften at body temperature. During hot spells keep it cool and out of direct sunlight.

It's better naked. 66% of products sold each year are packaging-free.