Lush (Shop)

To be honest LUSH was never on my list of 'got to go to ' shops, until I started reading all the reviews on Ciao~ so its all down to you!
I have finally succumbed!
'Oh no !' I hear you blokes groan.

LUSH stores are strategically placed at Cities and big towns throughout the country as well as being available worldwide. This is the shop that you can smell about 200 metres before you reach it . My nearest would be Leeds ...
...presented with a LUSH publication called LUSH TIMES to take away with me.
Good move, girl!!

The publication was in the form of a very colourfully illustrated tabloid newspaper. It proved to be very interesting reading.
Apparently this year sees the 10th anniversary of LUSH and the paper/brochure listed all or at least the majority of products currently on sale.
It was very informative by way of detailing the products ... more

To be honest LUSH was never on my list of 'got to go to ' shops, until I started reading all the reviews on Ciao~ so its all down to you!
I have finally succumbed!
'Oh no !' I hear you blokes groan.

LUSH stores are strategically placed at Cities and big towns throughout the country as well as being available worldwide. This is the shop that you can smell about 200 metres before you reach it . My nearest would be Leeds though I have not visited this particular store ~YET.

It all started at the beginning of this month when I was sent to do a couple of days promotion work in the spa town of Harrogate. At lunch time I was walking along the street when this familiar strong aroma attacked my sense of smell. Sure enough the usual emerald green and yellow sign with the block capital lettering ,shortly came into view.

The Harrogate store appeared to be very small but I soon realised there was an upper floor in addition. I wasn't intending to make a purchase but my curiosity got the better of me. In I ventured. Previously I had been under the impression that products which were so vividly coloured and so highly scented must surely be full of additives and chemicals. I could not have been further from the truth.

As soon as I entered the store I was quickly approached by a very well meaning and helpful member of staff. Unfortunately- and I am sorry to all the shop assistants out there- I am a lone browser. I prefer to wander around, having a good look around and then if I need any help ask for it. However, on this occasion I remained polite and added that I was just having a browse. I was presented with a LUSH publication called LUSH TIMES to take away with me.
Good move, girl!!

The publication was in the form of a very colourfully illustrated tabloid newspaper. It proved to be very interesting reading.
Apparently this year sees the 10th anniversary of LUSH and the paper/brochure listed all or at least the majority of products currently on sale.
It was very informative by way of detailing the products by name, contents, sizes, illustrations , usage, price as well as a history of how some of the products came about. To add to the readability it also included little quips by various Lush employees and customers.

I was amazed to find that all products are made from natural sources, for example fruits, vegetable, flowers and essential oils. Some are vegan and all are vegetarian, which means at last I have found something to buy my sister, which as well as suiting her vegan tendency, is also pretty and perfumed.

On arriving home from my visit to the Harrogate Lush ,my two daughters pounced on the Lush publication and spent the evening listing all the things they would like to try. (Perhaps it wasnt such a good move after all ...).

The following week we were taking a family break in the Peak
district of Derbyshire.

*( AAAAAGGGHHH scream , tantrum from teenage daughter. How could we possibly expect her to go away from all her friends and social life in the middle of the school holidays. She SO does not want to go).

Remedy- Check in the telephone directory of the nearest big city to where we are staying and try to tempt her with all her favourite shops with promises of a bit of girlie retail therapy.
As well as all her favourite stores, I found a LUSH store! (Sorted!! )

*Teenage son and husband are definitley NOT up for this trip....thank goodness we can get rid of them!!

The first available shopping day of our break, saw myself , my teen daughter and my 10 year old daughter on the morning train to Derby. The youngest daughter being very excited also.

True to form we needed to ask for no directions, we just followed our noses.

The Derby LUSH was split level and beautifully presented. The store , like all the others, gives the appearance that you are in a market area with various products displayed to look like food. Many of them not only look and smell like real food but their names suggest likewise.Therefore you need to store and label these products after purchase with care. For example a mouthful of Bada bing bada boom jelly cubes, and the chocolate smelling face make called 'Cupcake' which like some other products, can be kept in the fridge, is sure to have you foaming at the mouth!!!

The store was not too busy when we arrived, so we all got the undivided attention of two staff members, which on this occasion I , or should I say we, lapped up.

Various samples of products on sale were displayed for you to try either by touch smell or by way of the staff member giving a demonstration. This was particularly helpful with such products as bath jelly cubes and bubble bath slices.
Stainless steel bowls were filled with water enabling you to have hands on experience trying out the products.
This helped you by way of seeing if the products were suited to your personal use.

You soon realise that the staff are very passionate about their role and the products they sell. This enthusiasm is easily passed to the consumer- or perhaps in this case I should say customer!

And men before you start dismissing this ( I can hear you..) as a girl thing, at the Harrogate store a very handsome model of a young, fit man was readily having a facial cleanse, tone and moisturise ( and a massage or two) .
I can almost feel Scarlet Ribbons melting in the corner as she reaches for the 'Spank me with Saplings' jelly product !

The products sold are too numerous to mention but I will give you a selection from the Lush Times news brochure.

Bath & Shower products
***************************

In this line there is a selection of Jellies & Buttercreams which give the appearances of slabs of jellies or creamy cheesecakes. They can be kept in the fridge or freezer. To use simply break off a chunk and slap it all over yourself whilst showering. 100g from £1.75 200g from £3.50.
There are also various plastic bottles of shower gels ranging from £1.75 to £12.75as well as shower soaps.

For the bath, of course, you will find the infamous range of Bath Ballistics. The basic descrition would be to say these products are spherical in shape with the consistency similar to the bath cube. However each and every one of the 22 or so variations, have their own original design , colour , fragrance . Some ballistics have an added quirkiness. Examples of this, being, Fairy Jasmine which contains fairy glitter dust, ( they are gonna take me away with the fairies if I carry on like this.. ) and Summer Blues .from which an array of dried flowers filter into your bath water.
For those of you who cannot have bubbly products in your bath the ballistics range will make your bath time more fun.Prices start at £1.70.

For moisturising bathtime indulgence try the Luxury Bath Melts in various sizes with prices from £2.10-£2.95 .If you want a more luxuriant bath where you are virtually immersed in a million bubbles , Hollywood style, you could try the Bubble slices bar.These are 100g priced at £1.50 - £2.95.

There is a range of chunky fragrant soaps full of essential oils. They have unusual names like :- 17 Cherry Tree Lane (Mary Poppins address ) Honey I washed the kids, and Rock Star.
100g from £1.80 and 200g from £3.60.

Hair Products
***************
Lush have a selection of solid disc shaped shampoo bars which aid space saving by eliminating bottles. These can be purchased with a small tin for storage.

You can purchase liquid shampoos and conditioners in three sizes of plastic bottles ~ 100g / 250g / 500g as well as solid chunks of both shampoo and conditioner. Prices £1.75-£10.45.

The Lush times also show and explain how to use their natural henna products.

Body Products
****************
You can choose from a range of Massage Bars to rub along the aching muscles and a couple of Sparkle Bars to help the torso glisten.
Body Butters are used as a conditioner for the skin and are titled with such names as 'Buffy the Backside slayer' and 'You Snap the Whip ' hey I didnt make these titles up....average price £4.50.

Facial Skin Care
******************

There are cleansers in cream, solid and liquid form, bottles of toners as well as pots and pots of moisturisers to choose from.
For the 'lippy' ones amongst us there is a small variety of lip balms along with balms for use on the temple.

A popular choice is the Bio Fresh range of face masks. These are very fresh products and full of active ingredients . You will find this range displayed on ice packed counters. 100g at £3.60- £ £6.95

Now Men, if you have got this far-and I will know by your comments- you also have a choice of three Shaving creams. If you have had problems shaving in the past here is the pot for you. Prices £2.20-£6.95.

Body Care
***********
There is a range of Hand & Body Toothpastes- I havent quite worked this one out but includes items such as black toothpaste and Enchanted Eye Cream.
It also includes lotions for the Hands and Feet, Body Creams, Lotions and Scrubs.

All Lush products are beautifully scented and they like you to follow the trend. To aid this they sell Deodorant Bars. These are made up from anti-microbial essential oils. Care needs to be taken that this product is stored ina dry environment. The moist atmosphere of a bathroom would turn the bar akin to a pumice stone. Priced £2.65-£7.30.

Finishing Touches
*********************
Once the body has been buffed and moisturised , if desired the effect can be enhanced with one of the Dusting Powders priced at £4.75 in various sizes. One is called 'silky Underwear, so guys, when the lady is adamant you purchase her some new sexy undies, surprise ( or might it be peeve her ) with this as an alternative.
For the extra bit of flamboyance you can find a selection of fragranced products in two of the rangs. These are Ginger and Karma. Both Fragrances have been with Lush for the whole 10 years. If you more of an individual fragrance to the ones bought on the High street , Lush has a sister company called 'B Never Too Busy to Beautiful' where you will find many more to choose from.
If you have a 'Lush Lady' in your home and you cant decide what to treat her with they have a vast selection of gift boxes beautifully packaged.Priced from just £3.30 to a whopping £99.50. Go on...we're worth it!

The Lush Times lists all product ingredients. They test products for safety on humans. They do not test anything on animals, nor do they purchase ingredients from companies which do test any of their ingredients on animals. All products are handmade.

One interesting point I gleaned from the Harrogate store was that they hold Lush Party nights within the store. They are also prepared to do a Lush Party within your own home. The fragrance would probably remain within your age for an age. I think this service varies from store to store and at their own discretion. Very few of us have a Lush store on our doorstep unfortunately. However, I was also informed that Lush were about to open in my very own town of Huddersfield but at the last moment the deal on the shop unit fell through. It may however still be on the cards. Must pursue that one. I will definitely get a party or two booked...fancy coming any of you local Ciaoers???

If you dont have the convenience of a local Lush I do advise you to try get hold of a copy of the Lush Times for all product listings. All details are enclosed for their mail order service.

You can telephone the Mail order service on 01202 668 545
Fax 01202 493785
Or order on line at www.lush.com  

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