Ghoul

And pumpkin (louder!) Pumpkin (louder!) Pumpkin (louder!) Turnip the radio, squash the stereo right now.

Pumpkins are part of the squash genus that also includes cucumber, zucchini, and butternut squash, all native to the Americas. Europe had to wait until the 16th century to discover and savour them! Harvested in October, the pumpkin became emblematic of the American celebration of Halloween (also in October). The large vegetable is easy to carve and transform into a jack-o'-lantern - easier than its predecessor, the turnip. Of course, the leftovers of this sculpting activity can be used to cook a delicious meal and, why not, prepare a nice homemade face mask.

Pumpkin flesh is rich in vitamins A, E and C, leaving the skin feeling soft and supple. It contains enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) that gently exfoliate the skin.

Pumpkin seeds make great biodegradable decorations on the tops of soaps, and when ground up, they also give the skin a natural exfoliation.

Pumpkin oil and butter, obtained from the seeds, are moisturising, soothing and rejuvenating for the skin. The oil also contributes to fragrance with a unique nutty note.

When used fresh in our products, they are purchased from a distributor, who will provide us with the best quality. Thus, producers may change depending on seasonality and availability (and the same applies to pumpkin seeds). As for the other pumpkin products used by Lush, browse our list of ingredients and click on the ones you are interested in. This should take you to a page full of details!

Under the sea, forests of slimy algae grow, and they’re full of benefits for the skin and hair.

Soothing

Mineral-rich

Radiance boosting

Softening

Texturising

On this last point, it should be noted that certain seaweeds have gelling properties, especially agar-agar and Irish moss (from which a powder called carrageenan is extracted). When combined with the right ingredients, they can help create a wide range of textures and shapes for our products such as our shower jellies.

Lush was founded in Poole, a coastal town in southern England where it is still strongly rooted in today. Outside the headquarters, massive seagulls soar and cry, and salty waves crash onto the quay. No wonder the seaside has been such an inspiration for our products! It's also why we're not afraid to use strong-scented seaweed absolute in some of our fragrances.

Saying that we source them from the sea would probably sound a bit vague! At Lush, we purchase a lot of different algae from around the world - fresh, dried, powdered, and even distilled. To learn more about each of these, you can go through your product’s ingredient list and click on the one you’re interested in. You can also click on this list of curious names below for a sneak peek:

Toothed wrack

Bladderwrack

Sugar kelp

Wakame

Kombu

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!

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.

For the best cool and calm effects, store these eye pads in the fridge between uses. This product will stay fresh for 3 weeks.