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Original poster

Is LUSH a rip off?

70 replies

expatinscotland · 01/12/2005 22:06

A friend of mine just loves their stuff. She gave me a couple of bath melts as a gift. They were nice. They were okay. But I didn't find them anything extraordinary.

Went into the shop this evening to get her Xmas pressie. They gave me their newsletter.

Had a rifle through it when I got home.

TBH, I wasn't impressed.

Am I the only one who finds this stuff a rip?

OP posts:
sobernoel · 02/12/2005 04:31

They used to be Cosmetics To Go, didn't they? I hate the smell when you walk past but I do buy bath bomb tins as presents for teachers etc. After I spent an hour trying to get the rose petal stains out of my bath, though, I have said I don't want dh to give me anything else from there!

hub2dee · 02/12/2005 07:02

Will send LUSH a link to this thread because this chain smells so unbelievably strong I refuse to walk in, surprised to see so many agree with me... I thought I was just a bit fussy, LOL...

What is with that stink ? I can't believe it is just the presence of the products in the shop, they must spray stuff into the air or sommit, LOL...

Clary - the products are nice, people will appreciate your gift. It's just the shop PONGS.

Blandmum · 02/12/2005 07:21

I like the stuff very much. Not all of the brands suit me, but Ido like some of them. Their solid shampoo for blonde hair is wonderful, keeps my hair in excellent condition and lasts ages, much better value than some 'ordinary' runny shampoos.

It is too expensive to use some of the stuff too often, but nice for a treat.

FlameRobin · 02/12/2005 07:50

I love lush bits . I don't tend to buy em for myself though... I agree with Floss, it just takes the right product to get you hooked. DH hates em becuase no matter how well you scrub the bath, it always takes a second bath to get the glitter gone so he comes out all sparkly (tis very pretty)

motherpeculiar · 02/12/2005 08:08

I like Lush and LOVE the smell as you walk past.
Also love the fact that if someone with a Lush bag gets on the tube you know about it from the smell - much better than the smell of stale sweat!
However, I don't go for the bath bombs at all, agree they are fairly nasty (although the idea of one as an air freshener appeals).

The body scrub bars with built in moisturisers are very good and surprisingly enough so are the deodorants - the first I've found which don't contain aluminium but actually work.

However, my absolute fav is Karma - soap, body cream, shampoo, perfume - I LOVE it but wonder now whether people silently retch as I wander past

Atomicstockinghanger · 02/12/2005 08:14

I love Lush stuff. However I have to order it online as all the scents mixed up in the shops is very overpowering. Can't stay in there for more than a couple of minutes.

But I love the bath bombs and the bath melt things are great too.

hub2dee · 02/12/2005 08:27

motherpeculiar, indeed you are strange, LOL... the smell as one walks by the shop, and the nasal violence once inside verges on offensive.

motherpeculiar · 02/12/2005 08:37

I know - I blame my truly awful sense of smell - things obviously need to be mega powerful before they even register on the peculiar nasal radar

foundintransleightion · 02/12/2005 09:13

I like Lush. Some of their stuff is better than others and it drives me nuts that you can't browse round the shop without being pounced on by a salesperson, but overall I'm a fan. Just can't afford it very often.
On a different tack, what about their best before dates? I've got half a tub of their deep conditioner for brunettes left which 'expired' in January - it was too much of a faff in pg and I've only just happened upon it again. I'd hate to chuck it as it is really good for my hair. Do you think I could still use it?

FlameRobin · 02/12/2005 09:14

I've never been pounced on by a salesperson in there... Do I smell???

hub2dee · 02/12/2005 09:24

Even If you stunk it woud be impossible to notice anyway.

zippimistletoes · 02/12/2005 09:24

I think the answer to how much of a rip off things are is where you can buy them..we don't have one of these shops that i know of!

Is there any real difference between these and the lokk a like products because they all seem full of artificial colours and perfumes?

MARINAtivityPlay · 02/12/2005 09:34

I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds the smell coming from the shops too overpowering to even venture in. The one in Bluewater smells, appropriately I suppose, like industrial strength loo cleaner.
I find it hard to equate the stink with the fact that their stuff is supposedly all natural. The smell can't be, surely?
My idea of natural is saving the pennies for a spot of Aveda or Origins, tbh.

gscrym · 02/12/2005 09:38

I love their stuff but yes it is pricey. I was looking at the Secret Stash box and the Lush Life ones (got money for my birthday and wanted a treat). When I counted up the actual cost of the products in the boxes versus what they charge, there was quite a difference. You seem to be paying a lot for packaging. There's one box called 'Blissful Bathing' which has 12 bath ballistics in it and costs £39.95. Even if they were the 12 most expensive bath ballistics, that would come to just short of £28 so they're charging £11 for a nice box and some ribbon. I'd rather pack them myself to be honest. I do love it when I get Lush gifts though, it's my favourite bath treat.

gscrym · 02/12/2005 09:40

The shops are very overpowering but when the stuff doesn't smell anywhere near as strong when you get it home. My bathroom smells lovely whith the aid of a Lush box and so does the airing cupboard.

noddyholder · 02/12/2005 09:42

I think they smell overpowering and fake and they made me really itchy Good for teenagers I suppose but not as nice as my liz earle

MARINAtivityPlay · 02/12/2005 09:42

So why do they make the shops smell so strong? I just can't understand this. It's as bad to me as trying to buy lacy pants in a shop with Norwegian death thrash metal blaring out at 200Db. I find myself losing the will to live as I approach the Lush shop at Bluewater.

MARINAtivityPlay · 02/12/2005 09:42

Right noddy - and stuff like Jurlique.

MARINAtivityPlay · 02/12/2005 09:43

Or Jo Malone. Probably not a teeny thing though - I did use to douse myself in Cachet by Prince Matchabelli before heading off to the school disco, I expect I'd have adored Lush at 15

zippimistletoes · 02/12/2005 09:47

I've seen the stuff at trade shows and it doesn't look anything particularly exciting in that context..probably it's a whole product experience

noddyholder · 02/12/2005 09:58

I think Jurlique must be the only one I haven't tried!I am a cosmetic junky

hub2dee · 02/12/2005 10:03

Jurlique has got to be the worst brand name in the history of personkind though.

ENIDeepMidwinter · 02/12/2005 10:08

its for teenagers and hippies isn't it?

seriously I used to love their blue skies shower gel and its the place to go if you want a patchouli hit

I really like their marketing but wouldnt buy anything for myself there anymore.

motherpeculiar · 02/12/2005 10:08

must say though - lush ultralight face cream is fantastic and not too expensive - it is very gentle on my sensitive skin and for someone who was prone to regular breakouts (even in my thirties fgs) I haven't had even a hint of one since I started using this. It also has an spf 15 in it which I've been looking for in a mosituriser for a while. Have been using it over a year now (and I've tried liz earle, origins, etc etc) and am completely happy with it still. Their face stuff isn't over scented (although with my sense of smell I suppose I could be wrong on that )

I do dislike the bath bombs and understand where you are coming from with that

MARINAtivityPlay · 02/12/2005 10:29

MP, take the peg off and then report back on the cream That does sound promising, especially as I too find all sorts of highly rated products give me spots too (worst ever was Clinique which took all my skin off )
I'm getting on OK with that Origins white tea stuff at the mo though - and the M & S Eve Lom -rip-off cleanser as recommended by MI