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Tell me about Lush

77 replies

BrimfulofDipper · 25/09/2021 22:38

Is it overpriced? Is it gimmicky? It seems expensive for what it is, although I am tempted by some of the face creams/body creams.

OP posts:
Goshitstricky · 27/09/2021 15:19

Oh joy, I have a job interview with them later today 😬

Three0fivepointfour · 27/09/2021 15:23

I’m an old Lushie but am not a fan of the anymore. However there are certain products that I really can’t seem to do without.
Celestial face moisturizer and Dream Cream are the main ones but their mascara is the only one that I can wear. Considering I was a loyal shopper that isn’t much.

User5490453456 · 27/09/2021 15:38

Lush products are very overpriced because the bubble bars are simply made from baking soda, cornstarch liquid soap, food colouring and essential oils. You can easily make your own by mixing baking soda, cornstarch and shower gel into a modelling clay texture. They probably add glycerin or a few other things to make it smoother but it's effectively nothing more than that.

I used to love Lush but find it a bit meh now because it really is pricey for things that can only be used once or twice. Rituals costs almost the same and you get far more usage out of their stuff. The whole "organic environmentally friendly" schtick is also a bit old in 2021 because anyone can go online to find how to make their own natural cosmetics if they wanted. Or even better they can buy from indie sellers or small businesses on Etsy.

riotlady · 27/09/2021 17:27

Some stuff is worth it, some not so much- I have really sensitive skin and swear by their ultra bland cleanser

doadeer · 27/09/2021 19:53

What appeals about the face creams? I don't rate them at all. What are you looking for?

Talipesmum · 27/09/2021 20:00

I’ve been buying things from there for years, and really like a lot of the stuff. But I pretty much only get shower gels, solid shampoo bars and massage bars. Love the different scents of the shower gels but I’ve learned not to get too attached as they sometimes discontinue absolute favourites (I stockpile). I used to love their face creams but my skin changed after kids and I couldn’t find one that worked so well for me after that. I also adore their fresh face masks but I only buy them occasionally as I never remember to use them more than once after I’ve stashed it in the fridge 2 floors down.

I don’t mind the staff hard sell - I can meet them right back with product chat and usually have a few questions about discontinued stuff or what happened to the solid shower gels. And I tell them my favourite shower gel was one that was discontinued 15 years ago, which usually hushes them up a bit as they were probably only 5 at that point.

GoldFrankensteinAndGrrr · 27/09/2021 20:20

Agree with PP re Lush/Body Shop and their politics, and how badly Lush treat their staff. I won't shop at either.

Back in the mists of time when it was Cosmetics to Go I liked their Ginger perfume (the reformulated Lush Ginger smells nothing like it) and their Myddvai face pack. CtG was fab. Lush can do one, however.

SuperStarRose · 27/09/2021 20:45

It's so expensive

If it was priced better my teen DD would be buying bath bombs and soaps on a weekly basis I'm sure with all her friends. Instead they buy cheaper perfume sprays from Victoria Secrets which are more affordable and last longer. They're really missing out on a huge market with their prices

Instead she's happy to settle for a flashy glittery colour changing one in her Christmas stocking.

Three0fivepointfour · 27/09/2021 20:58

Lush face creams-I just want something that’s made of natural oils rather than mineral oils. I want it to settle ok to my skin without it feeling greasy. I’ve quite sensitive skin so Celestial works for me. Although they almost lost me to Weleda Calendula baby face moisturizer over the first lockdown when Celestial wasn’t produced. It’s still lovely but just a bit thick. I wear a spf on top.

Dream Cream has emotional ties for me as well as being a hand and body savior. I don’t buy it as often as I did though.

I think their shampoos ruined my hair but that may not be the case.

Marchingredsoldiers · 27/09/2021 21:00

I used to shop there about 10-15 years ago and loved the products. I can't go in there now because of the salesman tactics. Like others have said it causes me social anxiety. Basically i end up feeling really shit about myself because I can't and don't want talk about how gorgeous some concoction (sp?) is. Also way out of my budget now.

I knew a woman who worked for them in a management position. She had a tough time. Ended up in psychiatric a&e (eu country) due to work stress once. She still works for them though. So maybe not that bad.

Gingerkittykat · 27/09/2021 23:36

@Laufeythejust

I’ve boycotted them too. Annoyingly though I’ve been bought a gift set for my birthday and there’s a lavender cream in that is meant to help with sleep and it actually works. I’m using it sparing to avoid having to go and buy some more as I really don’t want them having my custom.
The Johnston sleep time baby range is almost identical to Dream Cream and a fraction of the price.

I've gone off Lush lately, it seems to have gone up in price a lot.

I love the shower jellies as they last for ages, the dream cream set and snow fairy at Christmas.

I loved Karma Kream and they have discontinued it recently. I don't know why as it was one of their best sellers.

tofuschnitzel · 28/09/2021 00:06

@Gingerkittykat "I loved Karma Kream and they have discontinued it recently. I don't know why as it was one of their best sellers."

Why do they do that? Discontinuing popular products just pisses customers off, it doesn't make sense to me. Each time I ran low on items, I never knew if they'd still be available to buy. What's the point in creating that uncertainty? I've stopped buying from them now. I know in the past they have said they discontinue items to make way for new ones and to aid creativity, etc, but for goodness sake don't get rid of popular ones for that!

Lovemusic33 · 28/09/2021 09:59

I like their face cream, I have eczema and it’s one of the few creams I can use so I’m afraid my skin comes before there ethics 😬.

I use their bubble bars too for the same reason but only certain ones, their bath bombs and shower gels irritate my skin and are too perfumed. I order online because going in the shop brings me out in a rash and I hate being pestered by the staff.

Warmduscher · 28/09/2021 10:05

@GoldFrankensteinAndGrrr

Agree with PP re Lush/Body Shop and their politics, and how badly Lush treat their staff. I won't shop at either.

Back in the mists of time when it was Cosmetics to Go I liked their Ginger perfume (the reformulated Lush Ginger smells nothing like it) and their Myddvai face pack. CtG was fab. Lush can do one, however.

I bought some of their new formulation Ginger perfume as I used to wear CTG’s version all the time. I can’t tell the difference and I always get comments about it because its such a unique smell.

However, it will be my last bottle after I found out how they treat their staff and how they pounce on you when you go in the shop to browse. It’s grim.

Hoppinggreen · 28/09/2021 10:08

I find the smell too much and I find the sales people a bit in your face
Plus I don’t like their politics
One of their bath bombs turned my daughter purple and when I emailed them they said it had never happened before but according to reviews it wasn’t unusual
So basically I won’t shop there

Sparticle · 28/09/2021 10:16

Lots of posters saying about Lush's and Body Shop's politics - can you please explain as I've missed this?

Innocenta · 28/09/2021 10:17

Can anyone explain the politics thing a bit? I stopped buying from Lush because of allergy issues, but still do buy gifts - I haven't been keeping up with the company, though, and I feel like I'm missing some context.

Councilworker · 28/09/2021 10:20

I used to spend a small fortune in Lush but no longer after they discontinued a lot of my favourite products. I still miss Potion solid perfume. And then there was the time I ended up with tiny plastic gold stars in unmentionable places which was very uncomfortable. The sales tactics expected from their staff were totally off putting and made me really uncomfortable.
There was a blog a few years back that wrote up some of the less savoury aspects of Lush which really made me think about the company again.
mitheringsfrommorningside.wordpress.com/tag/lush/

CorvusPurpureus · 28/09/2021 10:22

I boycott them. Shame, I love lots of their products - used to drown myself in Karma.

ZealAndArdour · 28/09/2021 10:26

I love their solid deodorant Aromaco, and the Silky Underwear dusting powder (lifesaver in summer for avoiding sweaty creases and those days where it’s too hot and humid to even get properly dry after a shower), as well as their Sakura body spray, it’s lemon, mimosa, jasmine and orange oil. People literally stop me in the street to ask what I’m wearing. It’s so fresh and summery.

EssentiallyDisorganised · 28/09/2021 10:54

I am a long term fan but have reduced my spend there due to the mistreatment of staff / politics stuff too. However I'm fine with the way the staff treat me, I like talking to them and don't find them pushy and there are a few things I can't find as good elsewhere - Angels on Bare Skin, Ultrabland, Blue Skies bubble bars, American Cream conditioner.

HardStaringBearFromDarkestPeru · 28/09/2021 11:08

I used to love Cosmetics to Go stuff many years ago but only used to visit Lush to get the Blackberry Bath Bombs which they've now stopped.

CharityBallsUp · 28/09/2021 12:06

I usually walk right past Lush, as it brings on uncontrollable sneezing fits. When I did venture in one day, I was really disturbed by the in-your-face sales spiel, with the assistant invading my personal space big time. The products are overly expensive, too. They seem to play up their 'against animal testing' stance, but there is no 'leaping bunny' mark on anything, nor the PETA mark (which Simple products have). Also, quite a number of their products contain parabens.

Also, I prefer not to be served up a healthy dose of politics with my skincare items. So I boycott Lush and the Body Shop, and buy by cruelty-free skincare in M&S, Superdrug, and I use Simple as well.

Warmduscher · 28/09/2021 12:26

@CharityBallsUp

I usually walk right past Lush, as it brings on uncontrollable sneezing fits. When I did venture in one day, I was really disturbed by the in-your-face sales spiel, with the assistant invading my personal space big time. The products are overly expensive, too. They seem to play up their 'against animal testing' stance, but there is no 'leaping bunny' mark on anything, nor the PETA mark (which Simple products have). Also, quite a number of their products contain parabens.

Also, I prefer not to be served up a healthy dose of politics with my skincare items. So I boycott Lush and the Body Shop, and buy by cruelty-free skincare in M&S, Superdrug, and I use Simple as well.

Most supermarket brands are cruelty free as is the entire Aldi Lacura range, which I find perfect for my skin type and cheap as chips to boot Smile