Dark Angels

Clays leave the skin cleansed, soft and mattified like no other.

Clay minerals are tiny soil particles. No other mineral has been used as much in human history as clay. From growing plants to making ceramics, from engineering applications to cosmetics, clays seem to have limitless potential.

Absorbs excess oil (sebum) and water (sweat) into itself.

Makes a gently buffing paste when mixed with water.

Gives a pleasant, smooth texture to body and face masks.

There are many types of clay. Some are completely natural, like kaolin or rhassoul mud; some are mixed with colouring pigments, like rose clay. Some are made from a combination of several sedimentary clays, like fuller’s earth. Although they have common properties, each has its own specificities in terms of absorption power, mineral content, or granularity. Depending on these little differences, Lush inventors will choose one or the other to perfect their products’ formulae.

To learn more about the origin of each clay and their benefits, 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!

Not just for brunching! Oil-rich, creamy avocados bring a whole heap of nutrients to the party. They moisturise the skin and hair magnificently.

The avocado (Persea gratissima, syn. Persea americana) is the fruit of a subtropical tree native to Mexico and South America. The tree is a member of the laurel family (Lauraceae) and there are approximately 500 varieties, which produce fruits ranging from small and egg-like to heavy, pear-shaped fruits.

They’re full of soothing and antioxidant vitamins.

They're packed with oils that give moisturise, condition and lustre.

They contain proteins that help strengthen the hair.

They also contain lecithin, a substance that acts as an emollient.

Much like sesame oil, avocado oil is said to protect the skin from UV rays. It isn’t strong enough to be used as a sunscreen, but it’s recommended to help protect the skin from the signs of premature ageing that can be caused by exposure to sunlight. It is also thought to reduce age spots and the appearance of scars, thanks to a substance called sterolin.

At Lush, we use fresh avocados in some of our products, but also oil and butter made from the fruit. To find out more about each of them and their supplier, 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!

With charcoal, we’re a bit like an early Beatles fan grumbling ‘I saw them at The Cavern before they got famous’. Because at Lush, we definitely sang the benefits of charcoal before it became a cosmetic superstar!

Charcoal results from the combustion of carbon-full materials, such as wood. Traditionally, it is made by stacking dried wood in kilns to burn until completely charred, which can last up to sixteen hours. Used as fuel for thousands of years, it is also a natural black pigment much appreciated by cavemen and modern artists alike. Charcoal has, in fact, countless game-changing applications, such as a water purifier, gunpowder, medicine or even… cosmetic ingredient!

What really sets charcoal apart is its porous nature. Charcoal particles are full of holes and crevices called micropores, which give the material adsorption powers. Adsorption means that the holes help external molecules and atoms adhere to the charcoal's surface and be transported with it. After these properties were documented in the 1700s, they were tested for medical applications in the 1800s and found success as an antidote to some ingested poison.

Activated charcoal or activated carbon, as you may sometimes see it labelled, is charcoal pushed to its limits. Simple charcoal goes through a complex chemical process that not only removes every possible impurity but also increases the porosity and, therefore, the adsorption capacity of charcoal. This highly improved material is included in the WHO list of essential medicines.

It gives a deep cleanse by attracting excess oils and impurities.

Depending on its particle size, it can gently exfoliate the skin from dead skin cells and polish the teeth.

In deodorants, it helps control sweat and limit the growth of body odour-producing bacteria.

In haircare, its cleansing properties can leave the hair feeling lighter, which results in extra volume and bounce.

To find out more about our 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!

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.

It pays to recycle with us! Return the packaging for this product to any a Lush shop and receive money towards your next purchase. Alternatively, return 5 qualifying items packaging for a free fresh face mask.

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.