BellaSugar

Lush Gets Political With Its Endeavors

BellaSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:00:57 -0700

When you shop, you could be helping make a political statement without even knowing it. For example, the owners of Amway donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to Republican candidates, and in a new profile of Mark Constantine, the founder of Lush, we discover that in the past year alone, Lush has donated more than $1 million to environmental groups.

But these aren't just "hey, um, it would be nice if you would recycle" do-gooders; some are more progressive groups such as Sea Shepherd, a maritime conservation organization that favors direct-action protests. (They've attacked whaling ships, earning support from the Dalai Lama in doing so.) "I hate the criminalisation of the environmental movement," Constantine says. "These people are vilified as eco-terrorists, when what they're doing is a selfless act."

To raise money, Lush has introduced a variety of products to support its causes. It's recently introduced Jungle Soap, a palm-free soap whose proceeds benefit the Rainforest Foundation; 100 percent of the retail price of its Charity Pot body lotion goes to groups that (among other things) create sustainable farming in Mali, support UNICEF's Unite for Children campaign, and send used bikes to developing countries. In general, I prefer to shop at stores that are transparent about where my money might be going; it makes me feel good to know that my purchase could support a cause I believe in. (Conversely, if I found out that a company sends profits to, I don't know, the Campaign for Kitten-Shaving, I'd stop shopping there.) Are you the same way?

Make Your Own Budget-Friendly Face Kit at Lush

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:00:34 -0700

Lush seems to have that cool factor down pat, with its cleverly-named products and all-shapes-and-sizes packaging. Walking into a Lush store is one part stimulating, one part relaxing, and another part indulgence. But, thanks to the "pick and mix" Lush Night in for Two Kit ($20), you don't have to sacrifice your bank account in the name of beauty.
The customizable kit includes seven items: a full-sized Fresh Face Mask (my suggestion here), two sample-sized moisturizers and cleansers, two Toner Tabs, and two reusable muslin face cloths. You interested? Just head over to a Lush store (unfortunately it's not available online) for a personal consultation, and a staff member will help you determine which products are best for your skin. As for the "night in for two" part, you pick the who and the when.

This Valentine's Day, It's Business Time.

BellaSugar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:00:25 -0800

Some people may say it's too early to start thinking about Valentine's Day presents. Maybe, but I like to get an early start on choosing the gift you give your sweetheart. After all, it says a lot about the relationship. (I once got a mixing bowl. As you may imagine, ours was not a lusty union.)

You'll send a very different message with Lush's new massage bar, Business Time ($8.95). The melt-on-your-skin massage bar is made with shea and cocoa butters and scented with rose, fennel, and lavender. I love Lush's massage bars because they last a long time and smell so good. Why not strip down to your socks and spend two minutes giving your lovah a rubdown? Consider it a romantic team-building exercise. All of you Flight of the Conchords fans know what I'm referring to, but if you don't, just read more.

Be a Lush With a Sparkling Bubble Bath

BellaSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:00:16 -0800

One of the simplest, most leisurely, and affordable luxuries is a bubble bath. Most of the time, I just squirt some shower gel into the bath, but sometimes I treat myself to more of a spa-like treatment by splurging on a bath fizzy.

Around this time of year, I head to Lush to stock up on its Holiday bubble bar ($6.95). It is a ruby-red, sparkling thing of beauty that smells so gorgeous. The scent of carnations, a hint of tangerine and a bit of rose is soft and subtle and fresh. And it is such a treat to bathe in a pool of bubbly, shimmery pink water. I can get two uses out of each bubble bar, so it's an easy way to feel fancy without losing your shirt.

Beauty Mark It! A Shining Shampoo

BellaSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:00:11 -0700

I recently confessed that I haven't yet found a shampoo that delivers the shimmering shine that is ubiquitously displayed in every hair commercial on television. I did, however, find the next best thing: Shu Uemura's Satin Design styling lotion. I love it so much that it's now a part of my blow-drying routine. But on those days when time is of the essence, I would love to pack all of that shine into a shampoo.

So for this week's Beauty Mark It challenge, I'm soliciting your help. What's your favorite shine shampoo? I'll start you off with Lush's Ultimate Shine solid shampoo. I haven't tried it yet, but if it lives up to its name, I may have found a winner. Do you have a favorite?

Share your choices by bookmarking items from around the web and tagging them with the phrase Shine Shampoo. I'll feature your favorites here next Tuesday.

To learn about Beauty Mark It challenges and how to add your picks, check out this how-to. To see some of my favorite online beauty stores, read more.

Saks Beauty Place
Sephora
Saffron Rouge
Drugstore.com
Fred Segal Beauty
Folica
Amazon.com Beauty
Strawberrynet.com
Nordstrom
Bergdorf Goodman
Beauty.com

Product Review: Lush Buffy Body Bar

BellaSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:00:18 -0700

Buffy Summers is arguably the smartest, strongest, most complex heroine in TV history, and I'm disappointed that we haven't seen anyone come close to her coolness since Buffy went off the air. (Maybe Dollhouse will change that.) But I remember Buffy every time I rub my bottom.

Let me explain. One of Lush's cult products is Buffy ($10.75), an exfoliating and moisturizing bar for use in the shower. You just rub your skin as you would with a bar of soap, but Buffy sloughs away dead skin while leaving a moisturizing layer of cocoa and shea butters behind. It's pretty great, since it effectively cancels out the need to use a body lotion afterward. The only downside is that it can be ever-so-slightly greasy, so you'll need to gently pat, not rub, your skin with a towel. Otherwise, though, it's great if you have scaly, dry skin - or if you just want to relive the days of the Scooby Gang in the shower.

Source

Valentine's Day Beauty, Part IV: Sweet Nothings

BellaSugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:00:17 -0800

Here are a couple of cute beauty-related sweet nothings to wrap up my series on Valentine's Day beauty products. These goodies make great heart-pounding gifts for your sweetie (or, if you prefer, just for yourself). And while you're thinking about love, don't forget to beauty mark your favorite Valentine's Day skin savers.

It's easy to take a shine to this Hard Candy Lip Gloss Ring. Yes, I know it's a little bit juvenile, but for $6, it just makes me smile. The rings have little pots that are filled with glitter-infused lip gloss and come in two shades; heartbreaker (peach with gold glitter) and yummy (blue with colored glitter).

For one more Valentine's Day inspired beauty product, read more.

Lush Perfect Match Silky Soap and Perfume Set ($19.95) is a sweet set of solid jasmine and vetiver perfume and Alkmaar heart-shaped soap. I love the soft scent of Alkmaar, but I like this idea even more: The goods come inside an eco-friendly biodegradable box that contains flower seeds so that you and your honeybunny can plant your love together.

Get Carded With Lush

BellaSugar — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:00:26 -0800

Ever ready with a cheeky pun, Lush has just come out with a new massage bar for Valentine's Day. It's called Play Your Cards Right ($8.95), and as you can see, it's designed just like a playing card. Cute, right? Its first ingredient is cocoa butter to soften skin, and it has essential oils of jasmine, clary sage, ylang ylang, and gardenia for fragrance. I haven't smelled it yet, but it's the same scent as that of Lush's bath fizzy Sex Bomb, which is fantastic. (Even Mr. Bella has asked me to pick up "more of those bath things" because he likes the jasmine fragrance so much.)

I prefer massage bars over massage oils because they're nowhere near as messy as drippy oils are; they melt on contact with skin, but as long as you keep them away from heat, they stay solid otherwise. Plus, they're moisturizing and wonderfully fragrant. I sometimes use Fever to moisturize dry skin, and without fail, someone asks me what "perfume" I'm wearing. But with any luck, you can use a massage bar to weasel your way into getting a full backrub from your sweetie.

Bella Bargain: Clean Slate 08 at Lush

BellaSugar — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 10:00:03 -0800

It seems like the holiday shopping season just ended, but the sales are actually just beginning. Starting tomorrow, you can score some good prices on Lush bath, body and facial products. Because the brand is all about being fresh, the stores are clearing out items made before this month. Here are the details:

Buy any bath bomb, bubble bar or soap made before December 2007 and get any two bath bombs, bubble bars or soaps made before December 2007 of equal or lesser value free.
Buy any regular item or gift made before December and get a second item or gift made before December 2007 of equal or lesser value free. (This deal excludes bombs, bubbles and soaps.)

The deal isn't available online, just in stores, and it runs through January 20-so if I were you, I would hold off from rushing in on the 26th. (Unless, of course, you love rabid shopping crowds.)

New Product Alert: Lush Charity Pot

BellaSugar — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:00:10 -0700

This week, Lush is introducing Charity Pot ($19.95), a hand and body lotion. I'm going to buy it not just because it's new, but because every penny of proceeds is going to a selection of worthy causes including Clean Ocean Action, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and UNICEF's United for Children, Unite for AIDS program. What's more, it's made with fairly traded cocoa butter from the Ivory Coast and the Dominican Republic. And like all of Lush's products, there's no animal testing involved.

Along with the cocoa butter, Charity Pot contains natural ingredients such as gardenia extract and oils of geranium, ylang ylang, and almond oil. I'm definitely planning to check this out, but I might wait a week or two because there's another new product coming soon. To find out what it is, read more

Boo! Scaaaaaaary! Just in time for Halloween comes Ghost, a shimmering white, lily-scented shower gel. It's a limited-edition product, though, so when it comes out later this month, hop on it-before it makes like Casper and disappears.