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Let’s spill the beans!

Although botanists haven't entirely agreed on the origins of the soya bean (Glycine soja), it is believed that the plant derives from a Chinese legume, Glycine ussuriensis. Soya has been eaten and cultivated in China since 2800 BC. Centuries of consumption and creativity have led to a wide variety of uses around the world. It’s been ground to make flour, boiled to make milk, pressed to make oil, coagulated to make tofu, fermented to make miso or tempeh. In fact, there are so many different soy-based foods that a Wikipedia list had to be created for them.

Today, the United States and Brazil supply two-thirds of the world's soya production. It is a common misconception that the rise in vegan diets is responsible for the increase in global demand for soya and the deforestation associated with this industry. In reality, livestock feed accounts for just under 80% of the soya market.

At Lush, we tend to try almost every food (vegetarian and vegan) we come across to see if it would be good for the skin and hair... and soya offers so many possibilities! We use (or have used) soya milk, milk powder, yoghurt, oil, lecithin, bran, flour and wax, as well as mung beans, tofu and silken tofu.

A few key components:

Most soya-based products contain lecithin, a fatty substance with emollient, conditioning, humectant and emulsifying properties. 

Soya is renowned for its richness in proteins, particularly in milk, tofu and yoghurt, which help strengthen skin and hair.

The oil is rich in vitamin E, an antioxidant that is said to help keep the skin firm and radiant.

Our suppliers vary a lot depending on the ingredient, but we can assure you that whatever the source, we never purchase genetically modified soybeans or products derived from them. To know more about each of our soya-based ingredients, their sources and effects, please browse your Lush product’s list of ingredients and click on the ones that tickle your curiosity.

An ancient remedy for dry skin and hair, olives contain a rich, moisturising oil bursting with antioxidants.

The European olive tree (Olea europaea) has thrived for millennia under the hot sun of the Mediterranean basin. It grows the famous small, green fruit known as olive, prized for its taste and richness in oil. Olive trees are slow-growing and can have a very long lifespan. Indeed, the oldest known in the world are in Lebanon and are believed to be 6,000 years old. SIX. THOUSAND. (gobsmacked emoji)

Readily absorbed, it offers lightweight moisture.

It protects and conditions the skin and hair, improving their strength.

It gives the skin a healthy glow.

It makes the hair shine.

The oil’s lightweight feel is due to its squalene content, a compound that can also be found in human sebum. ‘Accepted’ well by the skin, it allows the oil to help restore a healthy level of moisture.

Olive oil contains some of the most potent antioxidants in the world, namely vitamin E, hydroxytyrosol (a plant polyphenol) and oleic acid. These compounds are thought to help the skin cells fight against the oxidising action of free radicals. This means that they could help the skin stay firm and healthy for longer. Besides, olives, olive leaves, and olive oil have shown very promising anti-tumour action and protection against cancer when used at a certain level and in specific conditions.

Sources: Boss, A., Bishop, K. S.,  Marlow, G., Barnett, M. P. G., Ferguson, L. R., (2016)  Evidence to Support the Anti-Cancer Effect of Olive Leaf Extract and Future Directions, Nutrients 8(8):513

Melguizo-Rodríguez, L., González-Acedo, A., Illescas-Montes, R., García-Recio, J. Ramos-Torrecillas, E., Costela-Ruiz, V. J., García-Martínez, O. (2022) Biological effects of the olive tree and its derivatives on the skin,  Food Funct., 13, 11410-11424

At Lush, we use a lot of moisturising olive oil, but we also purchase the lesser-known olive leaf absolute to complement some of our perfumes. Extracted by solvent from the green-grey leaves of the tree, it has a refreshing herbal scent with a hint of fruity aroma and bitterness.

Lush purchases olive leaf absolute from Egypt, where the leaves are trimmed off the trees after the fruit’s harvest. All the other olive-derived ingredients that you can find in our products have different stories and origins. To find out more, browse your product’s list of ingredients and click on the ones you are interested in. This should take you to a page full of details!

Orange flower has an intensely floral aroma with fresh green notes and is one of the most popular essential oils used in perfumery.

Lush uses a few different types of orange flower (or orange blossom) in products, with varied purposes and perks to them. They’re all derived from the bitter orange tree (Citrus aurantium amara), which is an evergreen member of the Rutaceae plant family. The fruits flavour food and drinks, the flowers provide neroli oil and orange flower absolute, and even the leaves and twigs can be distilled to obtain petitgrain oil.

Orange flower absolute refreshes, rejuvenates and mattifies the skin.

The flower’s fragrance calms and uplifts the mood.

Orange flower water is made by diluting the absolute in water; it has a fainter, delicate floral scent.

Orange blossom honey can also be found in Lush products. This is produced when bees collect nectar from the flowers of the bitter orange tree. The honey retains some of the beautiful floral-citrus flavour and fragrance. It is considered luxurious and exotic.

Lush purchases orange flower absolute from a producer based in the north of Tunisia. The business is run by three siblings, whose father started many years ago. They have been supplying Lush since 2005. To find out more about the other orange flower-derived ingredients and the 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!

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!

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.