Turmeric

Clays leave the skin cleansed, soft and mattified like no other.

Clay minerals are tiny soil particles. No other mineral has been used as much in human history as clay. From growing plants to making ceramics, from engineering applications to cosmetics, clays seem to have limitless potential.

Absorbs excess oil (sebum) and water (sweat) into itself.

Makes a gently buffing paste when mixed with water.

Gives a pleasant, smooth texture to body and face masks.

There are many types of clay. Some are completely natural, like kaolin or rhassoul mud; some are mixed with colouring pigments, like rose clay. Some are made from a combination of several sedimentary clays, like fuller’s earth. Although they have common properties, each has its own specificities in terms of absorption power, mineral content, or granularity. Depending on these little differences, Lush inventors will choose one or the other to perfect their products’ formulae.

To learn more about the origin of each clay and their benefits, 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!

Quite popular in kitchens and medicine cabinets for thousands of years, the root is soothing and invigorating and its oil diffuses an incomparable fragrance.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a plant, and although its flowers and leaves are pleasantly fragrant, it is what lies underground that so excites people, from its native lands in East Asia to the rest of the world. Indeed, the juicy ginger root is highly concentrated in fragrance and flavour, and for millennia has been consumed fresh, dried, grated, powdered, honeyed, syruped, candied and whatever else can be done with it.

Has a unique, sweet but pungent and peppery scent.

Its warming fragrance is said to alleviate the mood.

Stimulates the blood flow, reviving the skin and scalp.

Soothes sore muscles and body aches.

Has an astringent effect on the skin.

Ginger is well-placed in herbalists’ Hall of Fame. It’s been used as a medicine by all civilisations that have been able to grow or purchase it. It was considered by many as the miracle solution to any health issue and was part of many healing concoction recipes. It is still widely used today against nausea and digestive disorders. A notable selling point - somewhat a bit forgotten these days - is that ginger could be an aphrodisiac thanks to its stimulating properties, whether used externally or internally. Modern science hasn't settled on this subject yet, but, at Lush, we never forget the root when creating our Valentine's Day range!

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!

Whether you’re looking for a restorative post-workout pamper or something to encourage a radiant complexion, turmeric might just tick the box.

Turmeric is native to South and Southeast Asia, where remedial use of the plant’s root was recorded in ayuredic literature as early as 4000 years ago. 

Fresh turmeric roots, or rhizomes if we’re getting technical, have a knobbly appearance similar to ginger. When cut into, these rhizomes reveal vibrant orange flesh. Curcumin, the compound responsible for this eye-catching colour, is a soothing ally to both skin and body, packed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Turmeric rhizomes can be used fresh, soaked to create a nutrient-rich infusion, or dried and ground into a powder. 

An earthy, warming aroma that aids relaxation

Anti-inflammatory compounds can offer respite to aching bodies

High antioxidant presence boosts elasticity, smoothness and glow 

May calm breakout-prone skin and is thought to be helpful for scarring

In herbology, fresh turmeric is favoured for its wide-ranging health benefits. Research into this mighty ingredient has shown that the botanical compound curcumin may well explain why, throughout history, records have included turmeric in traditional remedies to help ease sore, aching muscles and other complaints. Its protective and calming properties are thought to soothe physical discomfort when used in massage, making turmeric a great recharging addition to any post-workout routine. Curcumin also helps bring a natural radiance to dull skin, which is why turmeric is often used in skincare to achieve a subtle glow. 

Want to try it out for yourself? Our Turmeric Latte massage bar and Turmeric and Argan cleanser are a great place to start.