Elphaba's Lair

When it comes to treating your hair and skin, salt is great in a pinch!

Salt is a natural mineral that forms crystals of different sizes and colours depending on how it’s processed and where it comes from. It is much present in the sea (or saltwater lakes) and can be obtained by evaporating the water. It can also be found as a rock in the ground and mined.

As an exfoliator, salt crystals scrub away dead skin cells and leave the skin refreshed and bright.

It cleanses the skin, not only with exfoliation but its antimicrobial properties, too.

Its astringent effect helps to mattify the skin and slightly tighten pores.

It gives volume to the hair- a bit like when you have a swim in the sea or even just a walk along the beach!

It can serve as a natural preservative and help keep our product blends fresher for longer when used in appropriate quantities.

Sea salt is less processed than conventional table salt and therefore remains full of moisture and the many different minerals and elements from the area where it is harvested. For this reason, it must be tested regularly to ensure that it hasn't been contaminated with pollutants.  

The moisture content of sea salt can be a blessing in a cosmetic product, but also a curse. For instance, it is far too wet for dry, solid products. That's why the types of salt we purchase can vary, as each will have its own specificity and benefits for the formula.

Finally, salt marshes, whether near the coast or on the side of a lake, are generally used by birds as a resting and even nesting place on their migration path. Most of the sea salt suppliers that Lush purchases from have conservation and biodiversity programs in place and are doing a lot to protect their environment.

We have as many suppliers for different types of salt.  Fine, coarse, extra-large, hand-harvested, pearl-like, coloured… We love to put a bit of salt here, there and everywhere. To find out more about each of them, 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!

Cut loose, fruit juice, kick off the vitamin boost!

Of all the wild ideas Lush inventors have had since 1995, adding fresh fruit juices to their creations is probably one of the most iconic. They were inspired by the research of Alan Hopking, a medical herbalist, particularly his piece on the benefits of enzymes. Using fresh fruit on the skin seems so logical after all, but it took a while to make it work because they rot so quickly and can spoil the whole formula. Don’t we love a challenge!

It takes a lot of elbow grease but as far as possible we press the fruit ourselves at the factory. Sometimes, however, we have to buy them from other companies, as some fruits require specific machinery and skills that we don't always have.

Vitamins - A, B, C, E, you name it. Fruits are bursting with them, each with its own talent, such as antioxidant, soothing, toning, exfoliating or protective properties.

Antioxidants - Vitamins are not the only ones that can be classified as antioxidants. Other components help fight cell ageing, such as flavonoids (colour pigments) or some enzymes.

Enzymes - Pineapples, papayas, mangos or kiwis all contain their unique enzymes that give a powerful exfoliation to the skin and scalp.

Acids - Ever heard of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs)? They're popular in skincare for their ability to revive and cleanse the skin. Citrus fruits, apples and grapes are full of them!

Proteins - It's a little rarer in fruits, but still. Jackfruit and noni, for example, contain proteins that help strengthen the skin and hair.

Each Lush manufacturer has its own fruit and veg supplier, very much like a supermarket! Depending on the time of year, they source products from different countries to try and have availability all year round. They work hard to supply as much organic products as possible and provide the highest quality available the rest of the time. Each producer must comply with our strict policies, just like any of our suppliers.

Want to know more about fruit juices and their mysteries? Browse your Lush product page to find the list of ingredients. Then click on the ones you’re curious about and get more detailed information!

Delicately floral and somewhat citrusy, the scent of neroli is distinctively cheering.

Neroli oil comes from the bitter orange tree (Citrus aurantium amara), which is an evergreen member of the Rutaceae plant family. Many parts of the tree are used for perfuming and culinary purposes. The fruits flavour food and drinks, and the flowers are distilled to produce neroli oil and orange flower absolute. Petitgrain oil is also obtained from the leaves and twigs of this same tree.

Neroli is naturally uplifting and widely used in aromatherapy for its stress-relieving effects. This oil is a true luxury, as the distillation process requires a lot of flowers to produce just a little. 

Marie-Anne de La Trémoille (1642 - 1722) named the bitter orange flower oil ‘neroli’ after the city Nerola in Italy of which she was the princess. She loved to wear the oil as a perfume and created a trend in European royal courts - she would probably be called an influencer nowadays.

Lush sources a few different neroli oils from several different suppliers. To find out more, 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!

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.