LUSH Products - waste of money or great?

[coffeeforone]

So I've never really used any of their products, except on particular cream for baby's eczema. I was stocking up yesterday and had a little browse at their other products and got chatting to the salesperson.

Ended up buying Shampoo/conditioning Bar, facial primer/oil bar and a soap bar.
I'm pretty excited about them as they seem to have a few massive advantages re reducing plastic use and travel liquid problems. Used them this morning and am pretty impressed!
DH however is not impressed and thinks I've just been 'sold' a few overpriced soap bars that I would never buy normally. I do have a tendency to be a bit gullible like this and have made my fair share of wasted purchases! But this time I'm hopeful I've proved him wrong and I'll convert to no plastic/solid alternatives. Any views from those who have more experience of Lush products? AIBU in thinking they will be an excellent replacement?

Absolutely echo the sentiments about their owner and the terrible, even damaging campaigns.

I used to shop there a lot around 2001-2005 when their moisturiser could be had for under £10 (Imperialis was £8, is now EIGHTEEN) but their prices are astronomical these days.

Re solid bars, great for travel but they go all slimy in the bathroom, even in their tins.

Their Ro's Argan soap is out of this world. Leaves skin so soft and beautifully scented. I buy a block for $20NZD (£10) which lasts 3 months. It's basically packed with essential oils and rose petals hence the price but it's so worth it. Compare the ingredients to a Dove bar (which is a load of chemicals and soap) which leaves my skin tight and dry.
No packaging is a winner too.

It's definitely overpriced but some of the stuff is worth shelling out for. I use the Ocean Salt face scrub and it leaves my skin feeling really fresh with a bit of a glow. Some of the creams bring my chest out in spots so I generally avoid body moisturisers from there, although when I had quite bad eczema a few years ago the Dream Cream was the only moisturiser that soothed and calmed my skin. My friend uses the honey/toffee scented soap and whenever I'm near her she always smells amazing.

I like them and use a few products. I'm not a huge fan of them as a company, but the products work and they're no worse than L'Oreal etc, they're just in it to make money like any other business.

I mainly use the shampoo bars because I like the way my hair looks with them (not the conditioners), Angels on Bare Skin face wash, Dream Cream on itchy, dry skin (not eczema, that requires medication), and Buffy as a body scrub and moisturiser.

I'll buy the odd bath or shower product if I feel like it, but they are pricey. Olive Branch smells lovely and I like the bubble bars. I don't use the bath bombs as they make my skin dry, and I don't use the soaps because they don't lather.

Lush is a fantastic company. I’d never get more than 2 treats for myself when I’m there but I’m 100% disappointed in any bubble bars or bath bombs from any other company. Their shower gels are phenomenal too

Dream Cream has completely transformed my 10 month olds eczema! Been using it for months and is way way better than anything GP can prescribe as a moisturiser (excl hydrocortisone). That's why I was in there yesterday to begin with!

It is expensive - my 15 year old daughter with very greasy hair has been transformed by their hair products though.

£80 every 2 months on shampoo and conditioner is quite hard to swallow

Friendly soap company does nice shampoo bars and facial cleansing bars. Trying to reduce plastic is a great thing, don't give up.

I had no idea people still shopped here

After their anti police campaign I wouldn't give them the money

I only discovered Lush last year, thanks to a friend's obsession with their bath bombs. Fell in love with the products (I love a sparkly bath!) but not their prices - so, I learned how to make my own and it's become a really enjoyable hobby. I can honestly say that I can now make bath bombs that rival the Lush ones - but I only make them for myself, and give some away to friends (I test them in my own bath first). It's a lot of fun and saves money. I've branched out into bubble bars too - and have got as far as buying a book about how to make soap at home but it does seem rather complicated/dangerous!

I still love Lush - but now as a source of inspiration, rather than a drain on my finances. Bath bombs aren't difficult - and there are loads of tutorials on YouTube and in Facebook groups - if you enjoy them, have a go at making them!

Friendly soap prices are good too, under £3 for the shampoo bars and facial cleanser bars. I use simple soap bars for body wash, on offer they are 4 for £1.50 at Tesco and last ages. It's good looking around the house seeing less plastic packaging.

The shampoo bars are lovely (but really expensive, my local drugstore does an own-brand for a third of the price, packaged in recycled cardboard, so I've switched to that)

Some of the lotions are good but too expensive.
I always complain about their glitter stuff when I'm in there, it's been a while now, though - have they stopped doing it or making it eco-friendly.

As for pp comment about the bars going slimy: you should use the square tin (for the shampoo bar at least) and prop the bar up against the side to dry out when not in use. The tin is really only for travel - a normal soap dish (as long as you keep it relatively dry) works just as well at home.

as for the "anti-police campaign" - actually i agree with the sentiment but the execution was appalling.

I boycott them. They're anti-police and pro-hunt saboteurs.

I really like the skin care - moisturiser, cleanser etc - I have never got on with the hair stuff and I think the soap/bath bombs are nice but overpriced

The “Sleepy” lotion is amazing. Really relaxing and lasts ages.

@FurryDogMother - I learned to make them to as my daughter has a lush addiction from a young age which we couldn’t afford to maintain! Really easy and fun and she can help as nothing hot or dangerous involved.

I make soap as well - that’s great fun. The chemicals sound scary but nothing you probably don’t use in some cleaning products - just be careful and it’s fine.

Overpriced and too much fragrance for me. I used to like the novelty of the bath bombs as a teen, but I'm not prepared to pay £6 for the novelty of pink bathwater.

I've tried loads of bath bombs and absolutely none of them are as good as lush - despite what people might claim! I'd like to try their other stuff but it's so expensive...

I used to shop there occasionally (due to the expense) for treats and gifts. Years and years ago, before they were a high street presence, I used to order from Cosmetics To Go, which was their forerunner - the solid shampoo came with me all over the world when I was 'roughing' it.

However …. I've not shopped there since their anti police campaign. Whilst they argued that it was to draw attention to a particular undercover operation which had indeed had serious repercussions for innocent members of the public, the material they chose and the way they presented it, more than implied that all 'police' were corrupt and untrustworthy. I felt that was unforgivable at a time when ordinary officers are under more pressure and facing more danger than ever before. Especially so when a very large part of its customer base are (arguably) impressionable youngsters who could have swallowed that message down without any further thought or research.

All, presumably, for the sake of drawing attention to the brand and selling more stuff. Dressed up as a 'worthy campaign'.

Its products are fun and funky and I do understand the appeal. But there really isn't anything there you can't source elsewhere these days - and often much cheaper. Certainly none of their products are so unique and fantastic that I'd compromise my moral stance for them.

Not shopped there since the appalling execution of the anti undercover police "campaign".

I used to shop there a lot as the Dream Cream is amazing. But, alas, no more.

Their deodorant (now discontinued, it was a solid creamy one with lychee) gave me a horrific chemical burn.
Probably due to the bicarbonate of soda in it.
Full on blistering, skin peeling, leakage of plasma etc on my underarms.

After I had a similar reaction to one of their lip balms I never never touched them again.

They bang on about plastic and natural ingredients but most of their products are far from it.
They contain colourants, glitter, SLS etc.
Or at least they certainly did, maybe it's different now I don't know.

Another one who won’t shop there after the anti police campaign last year.

Even thinking about ‘Snow Fairy’ gives me a headache.

I like lush products, their shampoo bars work well for my curly hair in a way normal shampoo doesn't. Their sleepy cream got me through pregnancy and I now use it on DS before bed. Their bath melts are better than the bombs, I also find ceridwen's cauldron oat melt really good for when my skin gets dry. I do really like Neil's yard bath oils too. I use some lush products mixed in with others, it isn't the cheapest but my skin reacts to a lot of products but so far I've been fine with theirs.