Last week, I asked on Twitter which brand you would like to see in a “What to buy from…” blog post. The options were Benefit, Revlon and Lush and the latter won by a landslide! I’ve included only permanent items in this list (otherwise you’d be reading this all day) and I’ve been quite strict about only listing my absolute favourites. There are tons of other Lush products that I like but these are the cream of the crop!
Big Sea Salt Shampoo
If you have thin, fine hair like me, then this is for you. It’s a very strange consistency for a shampoo – basically lots of coarse sea salt flakes suspended in a lightweight gel – but the strange ingredients are designed to give the hair maximum texture and volume. The salt creates grip and definition, while seaweed, lemon and extra virgin coconut oil add softness and shine. It can be a little bit drying so be sure to follow up with a good conditioner through the ends, but it really does the job and I’ve read that it’s also great for wavy/curly hair. Jersey Bounce is a similar product from Lush, although with extra protein (egg white), honey, glycerin and a super lemony scent, it’s a bit more nourishing and better if your hair is prone to breakage.
Price: R225 for 330g
Seanik Solid Shampoo Bar
One of my favourite travel-friendly products is this solid shampoo bar from Lush. Using something that looks like a bright blue soap to wash your hair might sound a bit odd, but after one use I promise you’ll be sold! It lathers up amazingly well, and with texturising ingredients that are similar to Big (seaweed, lemon, sea salt) it has a similar effect, although it’s not quite as hardcore. And because it’s not a liquid, it’s perfect for an on-the-go beauty bag.
It’s worth noting that I don’t like the solid conditioners – they just aren’t softening and nourishing enough for me because I can’t get enough product off the bar to properly condition my hair, even though I have hardly any of it!
Price: R115 for 55g
Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner
This in-shower body moisturiser is one of Lush’s most indulgent products and one of my all-time favourites. It has a rich, fragrant, “rose jam” scent and is packed with Argan oil and almond oil, as well as cypress oil, capuacu butter, Brazil nut oil, cocoa butter and shea butter so it’s SUPER softening. You smooth it onto the skin while it’s wet (e.g. in the shower) and leave it for a couple of minutes, before rinsing it off and patting dry, so you don’t wipe all the oils away. It leaves your skin extremely soft, smooth and supple, and the scent lingers all day. It’s one of the more expensive goodies from the range but the fragrance is also used in the Rose Jam Bubbleroon and the Rose Jam Shower Gel (available at Christmas) so you can get your fix for less too.
Price: R295 for 225g
Brightside Bubble Bar
I’m a real sucker for a killer citrus scent and the Brightside Bubble Bar has a triple-shot of orangey goodness so I was a fan from the first sniff. Sicilian mandarin, tangerine and bergamot essential oils give you that Italian citrus grove vibe, and the bright colour also turns your bath a vibrant orange, so it’s terribly cheering, especially in winter. You crumble the bar under the running tap and it creates loads of fluffy bubbles that are perfect for soaking in. It’s the perfect way to lift your spirits at the end of a bad day.
Price: R78.50 for 200g
Avobath Bath Ballistic
Avocado oil is rich in vitamins A, B, C and E, so it’s extremely beneficial for skin and hair. The simple combination of mashed-up organic avos and olive oil in this bath ballistic makes for super soft skin, along with an uplifting blend of lemongrass, rosewood and bergamot essential oils that will clear a foggy brain so body and mind are both refreshed. It’s also a great option if you find the scent of many of Lush’s products quite overwhelming as it’s on the more subtle end of the scale.
Price: R59.50 for 200g
Mint Julips Lip Scrub
Lip scrubs are a real “nice to have” beauty product – sure, you could make one at home using whatever’s in your kitchen cabinet but I think it’s much more fun to buy one with a delicious scent and flavour! Lush has a few in their range but this one is my pick of the bunch because it smells like a mint-choc ice cream, one of my favourite things. Essentially a mixture of sugar, peppermint, vanilla and tagetes oil, you simply rub it into dry lips to slough away dead skin, leaving your lips smooth and your sweet tooth satisfied. I’m also a fan of the sweet, buttery Popcorn lip scrub flavour – it even contains popping candy!
Price: R105 for 25g
Porridge Soap
While citrus scents are wonderfully invigorating, I also love “warm” smells like sweet almond and oatmeal. The latter is the main ingredient in Porridge soap, which smells deliciously breakfasty and contains coconut oil, a splash of orange (although it’s more of a background note) and actual pinhead oatmeal that adds a satisfying scrubbiness to the bar. Oat as a cosmetic ingredient has been shown to be anti-inflammatory, to relieve itchy, irritated skin and to help with allergic reactions.
Price: R47.50 for 100g
Salted Coconut Hand Scrub
I discovered this product at last year’s Lush Christmas launch event, which included a selection of items from the “Oxford Store range”; a number of special edition products made in the flagship store in London. I really didn’t think I’d ever need a hand scrub but the smell sucked me in, and then I fell in love with how it worked. It’s got tons of salt in it so it’s really exfoliating and leaves your hands feeling extremely smooth – like, much smoother than you would think was possible for such a hard-working part of the body. Follow-up with Love and Light hand cream and you’ll have the smoothest mitts in town.
Price: R160 for 100g
Happy Hippy Shower Gel
I’m back on the citrus kick with this one, courtesy of this shower gel with a splash of pink grapefruit, which creates a scent with a bitter edge, not just straight-up tang. It’s a great addition to your morning shower routine because it’s very zingy and invigorating, and lathers up beautifully so you get lots of foam. It’s also really good for skin that’s prone to congestion, because pink grapefruit juice is acidic and antibacterial, so topical application is particularly beneficial for body breakouts.
Price: R85 for 100g
Check out our other “What to buy from” posts for Dermalogica, The Body Shop and Urban Decay.