Lushing Out: Handmade Heaven in Lush

May 19, 2010 by Nelly

Every time I walk down William Street in the market, I hear the same conversation:
- “Wow! Something smells strong here.”
- “Lush. Can we go in for a second?”
- “Too strong for me. I don’t think I can go in. I’ll wait for you here.”

Every time. Without fail, this conversation takes place 3 steps away from the store’s entrance.
Luckily, I’m not all that overwhelmed by the scents, so I just walk on right through.

I love Lush for many many reasons. Some environmental, some ethical, some related to customer services, and some purely for the products themselves. I’ve been a customer since high school, and we’re not going to do the math on that. Enough to say, I’ve tested quite a large number of products on myself; some made it to my always-stocked shelves, others snuck into my travel habits, and a few were passed on to my sibling (different skin types and hair make her a perfect counterpart for me).

Skin Essentials
I can’t live without “Aqua Marina” facial cleaner. Calamine + Seaweed = fixed any flareups in 2 days. A pea-sized quantity applied every night prevents any major breakouts and gets rid of any red blemishes and acne. I usually apply it in the shower and extend it to my neck. A *must have* for my sister and I.

“Tea Tree Water Toner” is a must. In the summertime, I use it several times a day to clear out any oily residue and sweat built up during the hot and incredibly humid days Ottawa gets. At winter, I use it once before going to bed to open up my skin and wake up with tight pores.

“Dreamwash Shower Smoothie” is a Calamine and Aloe Vera based body wash best suited for sensitive skin types, especially at wintertime when the dryness results in breakouts and red spots. It’s very cooling and works very well.

For everyday use, I use the “I Should Coco” soap. It’s moist enough to keep the skin hydrated but doesn’t leave an oily after-feel, like the “Extra Virgin Olive Oil” soap bar Lush has. Infused with coconut goodies, rapeseed and sunflower oils, it’s a great little soap to use for all skin types at any time.

My constant reliable facial moisturizer has been “Vanishing Cream”, a hydrating and quickly absorbed cream that doesn’t leave my skin feeling heavy or oily. It does exactly what the name suggests, vanishes quickly and keep at work for a good 10 to 12 hours. The best part is, there is no detectable scent. The only drawback is the lack of SPF in the cream, so I usually put on a separate cream on top during the summer for protection.

Hair Goodies
I like to alternate shampoos regularly to keep my hair fresh and unaccustomed to any particular shampoo formula. It’s a trick I learned during my brief stint working at a hair salon. One of the great shampoos I use from Lush is “Seanik”, a solid shampoo that lasts for quite a while and is perfect for travel. It cleanses the hair and strips away any goo built up from hair-product use. It doesn’t have an overwhelming smell and doesn’t particular curl or straighten hair, a bonus for unpredictable hair types like mine.

To balance it off, I use “American Cream”conditioner, in liquid form. It’s hydrating enough to leave my hair healthy and bouncy, but not heavy to strip volume away or cause excessive oiling. I usually buy the small bottle, as I find it lasts a long time – especially when I alternate the products I use.

Bombs of Relaxation
Lush is probably best known for the “bath bombs” they produce and package neatly as individual balls or baskets with clever names like “Drop the Blackberry” and “Relax, Take a Bath”.

My personal favourite is the “Honey Bee” bath bomb. It smells like soft honey, leaves a very faint scent on the skin after the bath and is rich in moisturizers. If I could take a bath every day, I would likely have box orders of “Honey Bee”.
My second preferred is “Fairy Jasmine”. It smells like jasmine and leaves a stronger scent than the honey alternative, but also has a few sparkles on it that remain on your skin long after you leave the bath. Excellent for summer nights out.

Delicious Extras
I really like the “Shimmy Shimmy” body/massage cream. It’s not really intended for a massage, and doesn’t hydrate for extended periods of time. The reason I like it though, is the little shimmers it has. Before going out, I rub some onto my legs, shoulders, clavicles and away I go moderately glowing in the light :) Twilight make-up artists should have used it on Edward, instead of the hockey silver shimmer they CGI’ed onto the screen. Blech.

“Lemony Flutter” is an excellent product for people that like stronger nails and softer cuticles. I’m a pianist, so it’s natural that I tend to my hands and make sure they’re soft with healthy nails and cuticles – as the fingers are usually the only filmed part.

I use the “Mask of Magnaminty” on average twice a month. It keeps skin firm and clean, but I don’t find it warrants weekly use. As it expires within 3 months and needs to be stored in the fridge, I only use the mask during summertime and split it with my sister to make use of as much as we can – especially that it sells at one size only.

The “Karma” bubble bar is fun to watch. Drop it in a warm bath and watch it fizz away leaving a delicious spicy scent for you to bath in. I use these scarcely, as they’re not really as moisturizing as bath bombs.

Lush-y Goodness
Lush is known for their socially responsible ethos, especially when it comes to environmental practices and animal testing. A year or so again, they stopped using palm oil to stop suppliers from moving towards protected rain forests in search of oil.

They also hand-make and hand-pack all of their products, with the names and drawings of the people that made the product available on each packed product. Further, they carry vegetarian and vegan alternatives, with the list of ingredients clearly displayed in their booklets and on-line.

And finally, when it comes to the Ottawa store, I have never had anything but superb service from their sales staff. In all my years of purchasing products from different associates, I’ve never had a consultant that wasn’t courteous, helpful, and extremely knowledgeable of every inch of soap they carry. To this end, I don’t mind paying slightly above average prices for products that use less preservatives and have a smaller shelf life than drugstore counterparts.

Before you purchase any of the items above-mentioned, please check with the staff to make sure it’s compatibly for your skin/hair type. I have combination skin and my sister has oily skin, so we both try products that fufill our particular needs, but never without consulting a sales person in the store.