Hocus Pocus

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

Each species of mint has its unique subtleties, but it’s their typical fresh and energising scent that brings them all together.

Mint is a genus of plants that includes many different herb species. Fast growing and quite resistant, anyone with a herb garden knows that mint will spread everywhere very quickly if left uncontained. This fast propagation has allowed the spontaneous and natural creation of many mint hybrids over the centuries. At Lush, we use a few of these varieties, such as peppermint (Mentha x piperita), wild mint (Mentha arvensis, also called Hakka in Japanese), and spearmint (Mentha spicata).

Most mints contain menthol, in different proportions. Menthol is an aromatic compound that gives the herbs their distinctive scent. The stronger the aroma, the higher the menthol content. Extracts such as essential oils contain a lot of it as they are very concentrated.

Not only it is super fragrant, but menthol also has great properties for the skin, scalp and mouth such as:

Antimicrobial

Analgesic (pain-relieving)

Cooling

Preventing or slowing hair loss

Stimulating but soothing

Freshening for the breath

To harness the power of menthol, Lush uses wild mint oil and lots of peppermint – fresh, dried, in oil or absolute form. With these species, our products get a strong minty scent and a stimulating effect on the body and mind. Spearmint, on the other hand, has a very different profile. Indeed, it does not contain menthol but has high levels of carvone and limonene, giving the oil a still minty, but also anise-like and sweet scent, with citrus notes.

Depending on the type of mint, sourcing information may vary. 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!

Aloe is thought to be one of the oldest folk remedies, well known for its healing qualities. 

Aloe is the genus of several succulent plant species that grow well in dry soils and tropical climates. At Lush, we use three different types: Aloe vera (which means ‘true aloe’, syn. Aloe barbadensis), Aloe secundiflora and Aloe ferox. All of them have similar properties and are cultivated for medicinal and ornamental purposes. Clear gel and latex can be extracted from them.

Soothing

Hydrating

Antibacterial

Softening

And if those brilliant things weren’t enough, the cooling sensation you get when applied to the skin is excellent for reducing swelling and calming burns.

Depending on the species and if it’s fresh or dried, the aloe in Lush products can come from many different places in the world - mainly in Africa and North America. 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!

A cleansing and invigorating herb for happy skin and scalp.

Native to the Mediterranean, rosemary is an evergreen shrub that can grow to six feet tall. A relative of basil and oregano, it belongs to the Labiatae family and has been cultivated since ancient times for use in medicine.

Rosemary’s aroma complements perfumes well with a very herbaceous yet floral scent, reminiscent of lavender to some.

It is believed to promote hair growth and prevent hair loss when applied to the scalp. It also makes the hair shine!

The plant's antibacterial and antifungal properties combat dandruff, cleanse the skin and help create effective deodorants. 

The oil improves focus when inhaled, relaxes sore muscles in baths, and calms inflammation.

Fresh, dried, powdered, distilled, extracted… we use a lot of different versions of rosemary at Lush, and for each of them we’ll have a different source supplying us. 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!

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.