Buzz

Spill the beans, or should we say seeds

Did you know that coffee beans aren’t beans at all? They’re actually the seeds of small spherical fruits grown on the Coffea plant, which ripen to a bright red or pink colour. Ex-seed-ingly interesting! 

The coffee tree is an evergreen member of the Rubiaceae plant family. The tree’s cycle of producing coffee beans starts with little fragrant, star-shaped white flowers, which turn into round berries. Nestled within each fruit are two seeds, which are harvested and then roasted, resulting in the punchy coffee beans most cafe frequenters know and love. The taste and caffeine content of coffee beans change dramatically after roasting and can also vary between different types of coffee plants. Lush uses coffee from the two most popular varieties of coffee plant - Coffea arabica and Coffea robusta. 

Coffea arabica is the most widely produced type of coffee, often favoured by coffee shops. The main reason for this is that the oval-shaped beans generally possess a more aromatic, sweet and almost fruity flavour. They have a lower caffeine content than Coffea robusta, and are usually oilier too.  

Coffea robusta (also known as Coffea canephora) has smaller, more rounded coffee beans. When consumed, the flavour profile tends to be earthier and much stronger, with a more bitter taste. They have a higher caffeine content and are easier to grow in different environments thanks to their hardy nature.

Revives the skin.

May stimulate blood circulation. 

May promote healthy hair growth.

Softly exfoliates when rubbed on the skin.

Helps achieve chocolate undertones in natural hair colouring.

Lush* sources coffee from a few suppliers. One supplier in the Netherlands uses coffee waste to produce sustainably upcycled coffee byproducts. We also purchase coffee beans from a producer in Brazil, who grow coffee using an agroforestry system. We then work with a local roastery based close to our manufacturing sites in Poole, Dorset who roast and grind these Brazillian Coffee beans for us. Find more information in the description of the main coffee ingredients we use:

Coffee Oil
Ground Coffee
Caffeine Powder

*With several manufacturing sites across the globe, sourcing information may vary depending on where your Lush products were made.

The compound coffee is most famous for! In recent years, caffeine has made a bit of a buzz (pun intended) in the cosmetics world. But what are the advantages of caffeine for the skin? Topical application may be beneficial, as it is believed that caffeine can be absorbed through the skin. Caffeine may have some positive short-term effects on encouraging hair growth and minimising hair loss, though further research is needed in this area. It is also thought to be useful in temporarily tightening, smoothing, and firming the skin. Caffeine also has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants protect our cells from oxidative stress caused by pollution and UV rays, which can lead to signs of premature ageing.  

How much caffeine is actually in coffee? Coffee is renowned for its naturally high caffeine content; however, the exact amount of caffeine can vary depending on the type of coffee plant and how it is processed. 

The popularity of coffee dates back centuries. Some of the earliest records suggest that it originated in Ethiopia and spread throughout the Middle East first via Somali merchants and then, later, under the influence of the Ottomans, who continued to trade coffee westwards into Europe. It was favoured across cultures for its rich flavour and the stimulating effects it was thought to have on the mind, nervous system and digestive system. 

Such a sweet biodegradable, natural exfoliator!

The name 'sugar' can be applied to any carbohydrate that has a sweet taste. In Lush's ingredient lists, it describes the sucrose obtained from sugar cane or sugar beets - the classic crystalline sugar you can find in most kitchens. It can be coarse, fine, white or coloured. We use this diversity to create innovative products that vary visually and have different effects or sensations on the skin.

It is a gentle scrub that removes dead cells to brighten, smooth and prepare the skin for other treats. (It’s particularly effective and yummy on the lips!)

It is a natural humectant, so it helps maintain moisture in the skin and hair. 

The human skin renews itself regularly, in cycles of 5 to 6 weeks on average (although this changes with age). New cells are created in the deepest layers of the epidermis and work their way to the skin's surface. Even though they usually flake away on their own, they sometimes stick around for too long, clogging the pores and giving a dull and tired appearance. This is when an exfoliant comes in handy. Coarse materials like sugar buff and cleanse the skin perfectly.

To find out more about each of our sugar 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!

If you were about to exfoliate your lips (to make them extra smooth), wouldn't you be tempted to use sugar? Well, great minds think alike - our Lip Scrubs got your back. Or lips.

Jojoba (pronounced ho-ho-ba) is a good friend to your skin and scalp!

Jojoba oil is obtained by pressing the seeds of the jojoba shrub (Simmondsia chinensis). The plant is native to the Sonoran Desert in Northwest Mexico and Southwest USA, and its deep root system and leathery leaves make it well suited to droughts and intense heat. It can also be cultivated in areas suffering from soil erosion to help improve soil quality.

It is an excellent moisturiser and emollient for the skin and scalp.

It conditions the hair by lightly coating it, adding shine and manageability.

It also has an affinity with our own sebum, so it is readily absorbed by the top layer of the skin and helps balance sebum production.

To find out more about our jojoba oil 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!

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.