Squeak

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!

A juicy lemon will always brighten your day - and your skin! 

Oh, we all know what lemon is, surely!? Okay, for those of you who don’t, it’s a fruit that grows on a small, slightly thorny, evergreen tree that belongs to the Rutaceae family. The lemon tree typically grows in Italy, Asia and East India, and produces highly fragrant blossoms and shiny leaves as well as this bright yellow, oval-shaped citrus treat. 

Lemon oil and juice are known for their deeply cleansing and brightening effects on the skin.

A lemon’s natural fruit acids encourage the cuticle of the hair to lie flat, reflecting more light and in turn enhancing shine in the hair.

Lemon oil is often used as a top note in perfumery, adding a refreshing quality to fragrances to directly delight your synapses.

The juice is full of vitamin C which makes your skin glow and helps the complexion.

Since 2005, Lush has sourced bergamot, lemon and mandarin essential oils directly from a family business that have been producing citrus oils for three generations. While the lemons and mandarins thrive under the sun of Sicily, the bergamot fruits are grown in Reggio Calabria, Southern Italy. Grown without pesticides, the lemons are collected by hand and pressed entirely with their peel. The resulting liquid then goes through a centrifugal process that separates the oil from the juice. 

When it comes to fresh lemons and their zest, peel or juice, browse your Lush product’s list of ingredients to find out more. Click on the ingredient you are interested in and it 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

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!

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.