A few weeks back, I was invited to a Lush breakfast at the Mount Nelson with Lush Co-Founder, Rowena Bird. I really do love Lush products, not only because they smell amazing and are mostly natural, but also because of the brands stand against animal testing.
All products use either vegetarian or vegan recipes, and often contain yummy fruits and vegetables like vanilla beans, rosemary oil, grapefruit juice and coconut. However, some products do contain lanolin, eggs, honey, milk and beeswax.
What I admire most about Lush is that they don’t purchase raw ingredients from companies that carry out, fund or commission animal testing. All their products are tested on human volunteers before making their way into the stores. Also, Lush has thankfully phased out its use of palm oil, which has had a devastating impact on the orangutan’s natural habitat.
I also have to commend the brand for their ‘Lush Prize’ – a major initiative aimed to encourage safety testing without the use of animals. You can read more about it HERE.
Q & A with Rowena Bird
Tell us how you came up with the idea for Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner – a product named after you? “I was in the shower one day, and was marveling at how, by adding a bit of conditioner to my bleached, dry hair took it from feeling dry and coarse, to soft and silky. I then wondered if the same concept could be applied to a product for the skin – one you’d use in the shower so you didn’t have to apply a body moisturizer after. Ro’s Body Conditioner (R295) is also a self-preserving formula, thanks to the glycerin – which I might mention is a great ingredient because of its molecular structure. It absorbs water really well, forming a layer on the skin, thus preventing evaporation while rehydrating.”
Tell us a bit about the divine rose fragrance you use in a few of your products, such as the Rose Jam (R95)? “Our rose fragrance comes from a rose oil we get in Turkey – and it smells just like roses. To this we also add some organic rose absolute and some fair trade vanilla pod infusion, that adds to the glorious fragrance.”
What is the biggest challenge with formulating organic, vegetarian and vegan products? “If a company we work with decides to start testing on animals, we wouldn’t work with it anymore, and that would be a challenge as we’d have to re-think our formulations. We often have a limited amount of raw materials we can use, so that also becomes challenging.”
Are you working on anything new and exciting that you can tell us about? “Yes. Currently we’re working on a nail varnish that’s great – but stains the nails. So, we’re not quite there with the formulation just yet. However, it’s a lovely nail polish, and doesn’t contain all the nasty ingredients most nail polishes do.”
If you were stuck on a desert island with a bath, and you could choose only one product to use for the rest of your life, what would it be? “It would be a toss up between the Gee Whizz Intergalactic Bath Bomb (R69.50), because then I’d always have a pretty, colourful picture to look at as it dissolves in the water, and the Titsy Tosty Bath Bomb (R59.50) – because maybe it would help me conjure up my true love.”
Image courtesy slightgem.com (a wonderful vegan & cruelty free lifestyle blog)
What are your current favourite products? “Ultrabland Cleanser (R155) because it’s a great cleanser, really gentle yet thoroughly effective. I can use it in my hair, add things to it to turn it into a scrub (I do love a good scrub). Mother Nature provided us with many scrubby things; we really don’t need to use the Nano plastics that are rightly so getting such bad press at the moment. At lush we use ingredients like salt, sugar, sand, charcoal and ground almonds, which are all gentle scrubs. I could also use Ultrabland as a moisturizer to soothe any sore or irritated bits. There are just so many uses for it.
I also love the Glamorous lipstick (R195) – a pretty bright pink.
When I created the colour range, I wanted the colours to be very strong because then you’re able to tone them down a little, or use a little less. Remember, it’s hard to build up if you don’t have the strength of colour in the first place.”
My 2 Current favourites from the Xmas Collection include:
Respect Your Elders Soap (R51.50) – This blackcurrant scented soap lathers beautifully without drying the skin out. It leaves a soft trail of elderberry scent on the skin (and in the bathroom).
I also just LOVE the Sleepy Body Lotion (R125/95g) a rich, lilac coloured creamy lotion made using a gentle oatmeal infusion, calming lavender flowers and a sweet tonka bean absolute. Fair Trade organic cocoa butter and delicate lavender water cool and nourish the skin.
Do pop into your nearest LUSH store and check out the super cool Xmas Collection – there are some must-have products that are only available during the festive season that you really want to try out.
Purchase Lush products in stores or online at www.lush.co.za
