The Good Hour

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!

Herbal and invigorating, the scent of eucalyptus essential oil is one of a kind - a Down Under breath of fresh air!

A flaky trunk? Slender, fragrant pieces of bark on the ground? That must be a eucalyptus tree. The Eucalyptus genus is native to Australia and other nearby islands. The genus counts more than 660 species, from shrubs to very tall trees. Eucalyptus globulus is one of them. Also known as the Southern blue gum, this species is one of the most planted worldwide because of its great weather adaptability and essential oil-rich leaves.

Eucalypti have been used by the Indigenous people of Australia for thousands of years, whether to repel insects, craft objects and weapons or build roofs. Some species are known for their health benefits, providing strong antiseptic and expectorant properties through the active compounds of their bark and leaves.

Eucalyptus oil’s strong scent refreshes and clears the mind.

Inhaling eucalyptus oil is said to help relieve headaches and congested chests.

Some say that it can promote restful sleep.

The antimicrobial properties of the plant’s oil also cleanse the skin and hair.

As you can probably guess, the answer is yes. Eucalyptus essential oil is very potent and must be diluted when used on the skin. But that’s fine because we don’t sell pure eucalyptus oil at Lush – it’s always diluted and used at recommended levels. That said, if you ever had an allergic reaction to the plant, talk to your doctor before using any of our products containing this ingredient.

Interested in our eucalyptus essential oil sourcing? Head over to this dedicated page. And if all this has made you want to add some fresh, herbal vibes to your morning or evening routines, look at our collection of cooling products.

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.