Lush

Live a Lush Life at Queensgate.

Self-appointed cosmetics grocer Lush is the ultimate beauty delicatessen. Think handmade, natural and fresh merchandise; large rounds of soap. shower jellies and buttercreams; a myriad of orbs (fizzing bath ballistics) that are presented in-store like perfectly round apples; facemasks so fresh they are kept on ice and prices by weight, greaseproof paper wrapping (if any wrapping at all) and best-before dates.

As well as pioneering the freshest ever cosmetics, Lush has an ecological message. The majority of products have little or no packaging; products are suitable for vegetarians and those suitable for vegans are clearly marked and the brand is recognised by both the Vegetarian and Vegan Societies. 2009 saw Lush be one of the first cosmetics companies to be awarded the Fairtrade Foundation Certification for an ingredient, for the cocoa butter used in Fairtrade Foot Lotion. It’s the first time the Foundation has had a cosmetic category. Nothing is tested on animals, and Lush also guarantees none of its suppliers tests any of their raw materials (including those not bought directly by Lush) on animals either.

January Rejuventation

January is the time of the year for New Year’s resolutions, detoxing and for making yourself feel good again. What better way to treat both the body and mind after the holiday season than with some beautiful products full of fresh ingredients from Lush... to help you feel rejuvenated and ready to take on the year.

The freshest de-toxing ingredients...

BB Seaweed (£5.50) is a relaxing and reviving, mineral-rich facemask to cleanse, soften and beautify all skin types. This blend, inspired by the sea, contains fresh and nutritious seaweed and seaweed absolute. Also with cleansing kaolin, antiseptic honey, calming aloe vera and rose absolute, this gorgeous facemask will clean the skin and leave your face feeling new. Directions: avoiding the eye area, apply to clean skin, leave for five to ten minutes and then rinse. Lush facemasks are so fresh and preservative free they must be kept in the fridge and used within 3 weeks.

The perfect home spa...

Lush’s NEW Steamer Tabs (£2.50 each) are a brand new invention from Lush designed to be as beneficial to the skin as they are to the mind. Drop into a bowl of hot water and watch the tab fizz as it infuses a blend of aromatherapy essential oils into the steam. Lean over the bowl, covering your head with a towel and inhale the vapour, which will simultaneously clear the mind and cleanse the pours. When the water cools it can be used as a toning water, to wash away any traces of cleanser or dirt from your face, neck and chest. Choose between:

Moon and Sun steamer tab containing a blend of neroli oil to uplift your mood and lavender oil to balance and soothe the skin; or

Dream Steam steamer tab features the same blend of oils as Lush’s best selling Dream Cream. Tea tree oil acts as an antibacterial for the skin whilst rose absolute calms redness and chamomile and lavender oils relax and calm the mind.

For a unique Spa experience...

If you’d prefer to treat yourself and have a Lush SPA treatment, Validation Facial (£75.00) is a great choice to not only leave your skin looking and feeling fantastic - it will also work on your frame of mind. Choosing from the right selection of Lush’s natural skincare products for your skin type, sit back and relax as our therapists take you on a surreal journey of self-discovery, using little techniques to tap into the sub-conscious through the element of touch, sound and smell. You will be left feeling validated and renewed. Available at all Lush SPA’s.

Music for the mind...

CD’s are available to buy, priced at £10.00, with music from each SPA treatment – so you can recreate an oasis of tranquility in the comfort of your own home. Simon Emmerson – the leading light in both The Imagined Village and Afro Celt Sound System – and Lush Co-Founder and Product Inventor, Mark Constantine OBE, have combined a love of folk music traditions and bird song to create a unique musical experience.