Gabriela Margall

Do Lush Cosmetics Contain Parabens?

• Salvador
• 27.04.2023
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We also believe that products are best used fresh and it’s better for a customer to get the right advice and use that product freshly when the ingredients are most active than have a product which sits in the bathroom and never goes off.’ Does Lush make products without parabens? Yes!

Do Lush products use parabens?

Does Lush make products without parabens? – Yes. In every category, you will find products that are self-preserving, meaning they are preserved using natural ingredients and clever formulation. Take a look at,,, and more. As of 2016, 65 percent of our liquid products have been reformulated to be self-preserving. : Everything You Need to Know about Parabens | Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

Does Lush have bad chemicals?

Here’s how the 10 point system breaks down – 1. ARE THE PRODUCTS MADE WITH NATURAL & ORGANIC INGREDIENTS? – their score: 0.25 – For Lush, the answer is sort of. Lush ‘s products are not 100% organic, but they do use natural ingredients and also some possibly harmful synthetics like SLS, parabens and ‘fragrances’.

Lush is quite transparent about their ingredients and the use of them. If it’s coloured green on their website it is naturally derived and often organic, if it’s coloured black it is an ingredient that they call a ‘safe synthetic’. When I interviewed Hilary Jones, Lush ‘s Ethics Director, I asked her about the hypocrisy hidden in their products.

How could Lush use ingredients which are considered harmful to the planet and its inhabitants, especially as a brand known for its animal rights activism? Why also were only the ‘cute’ animals being considered and not the fauna that are most negatively affected when the synthetics and known carcinogens used are washed down the drain into our waterways? Hilary explained to me that they use these ingredients for a number of reasons.

First, customers want their soaps and shampoos to bubble ( hence the SLS ), second, with the new public movement away from parabens and other toxins, inappropriate similarly synthetic substitutes like Methylis­othiazolinone (MIT), formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, Organic acids, Sodium benzoate are being used in their stead.

These substances are not safer, in fact, they have as much as or more of a possibility to cause public safety issues as well. Basically, t here isn’t a preservative that’s a good alternative to parabens, and the reason these synthetics are used in the first place is to give skincare products a longer shelf life. 2. ARE THE INGREDIENTS ETHICALLY & SUSTAINABLY SOURCED? their score: 1 Lush supports Fair Trade and Community Trade initiatives, working to buy as much as they can directly from the source and considering worker’s rights, environmental safety, animal protection, and transport with the purchase of each ingredient.3.

ARE THE PRODUCTS CONFLICT PALM-OIL FREE? their score: 0.25 In 2009 Lush claimed to be palm-free, and though they are continuing to making serious efforts to remove palm and its derivatives from their product, according to Hilary Jones, Lush’s Ethics Director, who I challenged again with this issue when I interviewed her, Lush will “never make that claim again”.

Lush doesn’t use RSPO certified palm oil because they believe it is a Greenwash, so rather than using ‘sustainable’ palm, they’re trying to cut the substance out completely. To date, Lush has removed approximately 250 tonnes of Palm oil from their products in an effort to save the Orangutan and its threatened habitat in Indonesia’s rainforests. 4. ARE THE PRODUCTS TESTED ON ANIMALS? – their score: 1 – HECK NO. In fact, this is probably the most exciting part of the Lush brand, it has opposed animal testing from its inception. Though it’s not outwardly promoted, much of the management team and even the brand owners were amongst the original animal rights activists in the UK, and they have genuinely made a difference putting pressures on Parliament to adjust policy in England and the U.K.

This year during their Lush Prize Awards they honoured animal rights campaigner Andrew Tyler in a tear-jerking posthumous presentation led by his wife, Andrew was a Lush Prize Judge, as well as an animal rights journalist for 20 years who also acted as the director of Animal Aid, the UK’s second largest animal rights organization.

Hilary Jones, Lush ‘s Ethics Director, was a full-time animal rights activist for the majority of her life, helping to pressure Members of Parliament to do something about animal testing back in the day. She was amongst the activist who helped create the progressive Cosmetics Directive Bill, which stated there could be no animal testing in the EU and no products which had been tested on animals outside the EU sold within.

• The bill wasn’t passed until 2013 because the chemical industry pushed back claiming there weren’t safe alternatives to animal testing.
• And then in 2006, a new piece of legislation was passed that in effect nixed the whole movement.
• It was called the REACH regulation, and it called for all chemicals currently being used in products in the EU be retested, and much of that retesting was required to be on animals.

It was devastating for the animal rights activists and the cruelty-free industry, and they realized they had to do more than fight legislation, they had to come up with a solution that would render animal testing useless. And that’s where the Lush Prize ( discussed below ), came in.5.

Do Lush products have chemicals?

Are LUSH Products Natural? August 9, 2018 • 2 min read To be honest, I’ve never really been a fan of Lush products, and admittedly, have only set foot in one of their stores once. The smell alone was enough to keep me well away. As I’ve delved deeper in my journey towards sustainable and clean living, I’ve become more aware of what ingredients are safe and what aren’t.

1. A growing number of people have mentioned to me their love for Lush products, so I thought writing a post on it might help separate what is truth from greenwashing and advantageous marketing.
2. For a long while I believed Lush products to be relatively safe, though overly scented.
3. Upon looking further into their ingredient list however, I was shocked to see some of the synthetic ingredients that have become quite infamous for their toxicity on their list of ingredients.

What’s worse, is that they try to convince the unknowing consumer that those additives are “safe synthetics”. Using words like “natural” on their packaging convinces consumers that the brand is free of harsh chemicals, but in reality, The reason so many Lush products are chock-full of chemicals is because they are largely water-based formulas.

• Water needs preservatives (harsh chemicals) to keep it shelf safe and to prevent it from going moldy.
• What isn’t as well-known are dyes.
• Artificial dyes are heavily present in many Lush products, which is clearly obvious from the wide range of colours available, everything from neon yellow to shocking red.

While dyes aren’t as widely spoken about,, and is present in many products, ranging from toys, clothes, candy, food, and beauty products. Not only are artificial dyes terrible for our health, they’re also damaging to the environment, and when it comes to beauty products, they are completely unnecessary! We thought we’d give you a quick rundown of what all these ingredients are and why they’re best avoided.

1. Nown as SLSs which are used in beauty products,,
2. They give your shampoos, body washes, toothpastes, shaving creams, and bath bombs the lather and fizz that we’ve come to believe is necessary when cleansing.
3. The problem with SLSs are that, stripping moisture and oils from the hair and skin, and can cause rashes, inflammation, hair loss, and dandruff, especially in Red dye groups are used in everything from beauty products to maraschino cherries.

in the artificial dye family, and they’ve been shown to cause health problems such as and Parabens are and bacteria. We might think water in a product is great because water is the ultimate source of life, but it just means that it takes a lot more work and therefore harsh chemicals to preserve the integrity of the product.

1. And mimic estrogen.
2. Lots of actually natural companies don’t use parabens at all, so we know it’s possible to make great products without hormone disruptors in them.
3. Fragrance is a commonly found ingredient in many beauty products.
4. It’s a synthetic blend of undisclosed scent chemicals and ingredients, and is often associated with,

Parfum is another example of how this would be listed on packaging. Using essential oils to scent beauty products is a much cleaner way of adding scent, while remaining chemical-free. Those who are well-versed in the green beauty world have boycotted these ingredients for some time now, and we urge you to do the same.

1. Holding a mega-giant like Lush accountable for their greenwashing and misleading advertising is important, not just for the ethics, but for our health.
2. While Lush products can be applauded for their humanitarian efforts in remaining cruelty-free and never testing on animals, the same can’t be said for the effects on humans.

Remember to always read ingredient lists, NOT labels, do your own research and keep these ingredients in mind to avoid for when you buy your next skincare product.

Does Lush have clean ingredients?

We believe. – We believe in making effective products from fresh, organic* fruit and vegetables, the finest essential oils, and safe synthetics. We invent our own products and fragrances. We make them fresh by hand using little or no preservative or packaging, using only vegetarian ingredients, and tell you when they were made.

We believe in buying ingredients only from companies that do not commission tests on animals and in testing our products on humans. We believe in happy people making happy soap, putting our faces on our products, and making our mums proud. We believe in long candlelit baths, sharing showers, massage, filling the world with perfume, and in the right to make mistakes, lose everything and start again. We believe that all people should enjoy freedom of movement across the world. We believe our products are good value, that we should make a profit and that the customer is always right.*We also believe words like “fresh” and “organic” have honest meaning beyond marketing.

: We Believe | Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

Is Lush BPA free?

Recycle – Recycled and recyclable are two of our favorite words. Our in-store bags are made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper and are recyclable, reusable or compostable, and our catalog is printed on 100% recycled paper too. Each one of our pots () and bottles are made from BPA-free 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, and can be reused, recycled or returned to a Lush shop for recycling.

1. When you return five clean, empty pots to a shop, you’ll even get a free fresh face mask! You’ll experience our commitment to the three R’s in our web shop, too.
2. When you order online with us, your products will be lovingly wrapped in a biodegradable cellulose bag, when necessary.
3. They’re then popped into a 100% recycled cardboard box and protected with Renature packing peanuts, a vegetable-based material that breaks down in water, and can be composted too.

Tagged as:

Naked Sustainability Recycling Packaging

: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle | Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

Are Lush bath products safe?

Are bath bombs safe? – In a word, yes. Originally, our bath bombs were created for those whose skin was too sensitive for bubble baths, but everyone is different and what works for one person might not work for another. If you’re using bath bombs and bubble bars on the regular and they don’t bother you, then you’re good.

What is in dirty from Lush?

A fresh fragrance loved by everyone, Dirty is a multi-layered sandalwood, tarragon and thyme perfume. Sandalwood is the earthy, invigorating note that calms, while lavender adds a floral, woody note to this fragrance. One sniff and you’ll pick up heady notes of thyme, tarragon, oak moss and sandalwood.

Spearmint oil is minty and invigorating Sandalwood oil is woody and aromatic Neroli oil is uplifting and refreshing

Made in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Spritz directly onto your wrists and neck for an immediate dose of your favorite aroma. Alcohol Denat. (Alcohol Denat.), Fragrance (Fragrance), Water (Aqua), Glycerine (Glycerine), Spearmint Oil (Mentha spicata), Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone (Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone), Hydroxycitronellal (Hydroxycitronellal), *Linalool (Linalool), Tarragon Oil (Artemisia dracunculus), Sandalwood Oil (Santalum Austrocaledonicum Vieill), Lavender Absolute (Lavandula angustifolia), Neroli Oil (Citrus Aurantium amara), Thyme Absolute (Thymus vulgaris), *Coumarin, *Cinnamyl Alcohol, *Eugenol (*Eugenol), Oak Moss Extract (Evernia prunastri), *Geraniol (*Geraniol), *Limonene,

Do Lush products have sulfates?

The verdict – Sulfates are effective and safe when used as directed in wash-off cosmetics like shampoo and soap. But they do have the potential to leave hair and skin feeling dry, depending on their concentration and what other hydrating ingredients are in a product.

• Lush products, for example, are formulated with the smallest percentage of sulfates possible while still providing a rich lather and a clean feeling on the skin and hair.
• We add naturally cleansing ingredients like salt, fresh fruit juices and essential oils to complement the effects of surfactants.
• And we always make sure to include rich, hydrating ingredients like olive oil, butters and bananas to prevent over-drying of the skin and hair.

Bottom line: if you’re happily using products formulated with sulfates, there’s no reason you shouldn’t continue using them. If you’re experiencing skin or scalp irritation, or have especially dry or damaged hair, exploring options with gentler sulfates or no sulfates may be beneficial.

Why did Lush get cancelled?

Why are Lush fans turning their backs on the brand? – Trina Albus is a marketer, digital content creator and beauty expert with 25 years of experience in the industry. She doesn’t believe that a beauty brand can stay relevant or survive without social media.

“I remember when Lush launched in retail locations,” she tells R29. “I felt compelled to walk into a store so I could touch, smell and experience all the products. I vividly remember the unwrapped bath bombs stacked in large bins and I was drawn in like a kid in a candy store. I had never seen anything like it before from a beauty brand.

That was the ’00s.” Today in 2023, Trina can’t remember the last time she stepped inside a shopping centre. “Retail has changed,” she says, citing the closure of shops and the decline of high streets, “I shop mostly online and I haven’t thought about shopping at Lush for over a year now since they haven’t been top of mind, in other words my social feed.” It makes sense, considering that Lush is such a sensory beauty brand with a focus on the experiential.

1. It’s not lost on Trina that the brand disappeared from social media at a time when we needed self-care the most: during a pandemic.
2. But is a social media presence really the be-all and end-all for a beauty brand like Lush? It seems that Lush fans (or ‘Lushies’) have gradually been losing faith.
3. In 2020, Lush apologised for allegedly donating thousands to Woman’s Place UK, a group that has been accused of anti-trans sentiment.

Activists encouraged fans to boycott the brand and TikTokers voiced their disappointment in droves. Two years before this, in 2018, Lush got it wrong with its ‘spycops’ campaign, Storefronts were emblazoned with faux police tape as the company highlighted “the ongoing undercover policing scandal, where officers have infiltrated the lives, homes and beds of activists”.

Why was Lush boycotted?

Alberta oil-and-gas supporters launch boycott of Lush Cosmetics CALGARY—A pro-oil industry Facebook group has recently called on Albertans to boycott Lush Cosmetics for the company’s long-held stance against North American pipeline projects. Lush, based in the United Kingdom, has been critical of the oil industry for years.

In June 2012, it began a series of advocacy campaigns in Canada and the United States that called for an end to the expansion of pipelines and pointed out the environmental risks behind Alberta’s oilsands. But in recent weeks, a social media campaign has called for a boycott of the company on this basis, claiming it is causing Albertans to lose oil-and-gas jobs.

“Our campaign to boycott Lush and raise awareness for their campaign to help Albertans lose jobs is based on the severe economic situation we find ourselves in Alberta currently,” said a message from the administrator of Pipeline Action, the pro-oil industry Facebook page, to StarMetro.

The administrator also said in their message that Lush has stores in Saudi Arabia (it has three), “who are the ultimate beneficiaries of Canadian Oil losing its market hold.” The Facebook page posted the phone numbers for the Lush stores at Chinook Centre, Market Mall, Sunridge Mall — all in Calgary — and Cross Iron Mills, just north of the city’s limits.

It posted a series of private messages sent to them by someone Pipeline Action claimed was the store manager at Lush’s Chinook location, asking them to stop harassing its Calgary-based employees. Lush Cosmetics has not responded to requests for comment from StarMetro concerning the boycott campaign and the alleged harassment of employees.

The administrator of Pipeline Action said in their message to StarMetro that no reports had been made to police concerning the alleged harassment of Lush employees and suggested any allegations “were from a few dramatic social media posts by people who disagree with us.” The Calgary Police Service said it was unable to confirm whether a harassment complaint had been filed.

Since posting about the boycott call last Thursday, hundreds of people have either liked, shared, or commented on the page. Just over 2,000 signatures have been collected on an online petition campaign hosted by Canada Action. And several prominent Calgarians have also shown their support for the campaign on their social media accounts.

I am certain that this brand is NOT WELCOME in Alberta. Or Saskatchewan,” wrote Brett Wilson, an entrepreneur and cannabis investor, on Twitter. “And frankly — suspect that shutting down operations in Canada would be their best move.” Councillor Sean Chu also voiced his displeasure with Lush on Twitter, suggesting it was insulting given unemployment rates in Alberta.

“I’m boycotting this company and you should, too,” he wrote last Thursday. : Alberta oil-and-gas supporters launch boycott of Lush Cosmetics

What are the side effects from using Lush?

About Lush Products – Common Side Effects of Lush are Application site irritation, Itching, Skin exfoliation. Luliconazole is an antifungal medication that treats skin infections. It works by killing the fungi on the skin by destroying their cell membrane. This treats your skin infection. Patient Concerns about Lush Products

Why does Lush products smell so strong?

McCoy cutting Lush’s soap. Some full size wheels can weigh up to 15kg Behind its huge following, Lush has an in store experience which quite literally sticks with those who enter the premises. “Any time you get into a train or elevator you can feel people sniffing and thinking, ‘Oh, there must be someone from Lush in here,'” says McCoy.

“Standing in line at the bank, too, everyone’s like ‘Are you from Lush?’ The smell permeates.” If you’re drawn in off the street by the delectable smells, don’t expect the source of the scent to be narrowed down to just one product. “People come in all the time and say ‘What’s that wonderful smell, can I buy that?’ I’m like ‘Sure, let me wrap the whole shop for you,'” McCoy says.

She says the company ‘romances the olfactory nerve’ in customers’ noses with its perfumed products. “When you smell something, you get a memory triggered in your mind, and we work a lot with that. People can come in after 10 years and they’re transported back to the first time they came in with their boyfriend,” she says.

1. The secret to Lush shops’ powerful scent is it’s actually an environmental choice.
2. The company keeps soaps and bath bombs “naked” to use as little plastic and packaging as possible.
3. McCoy says the smell is a mixture of everything that’s unpackaged.
4. The majority of products are handmade in Lush’s factory in Australia, except for the facemasks, which are made near Auckland in Silverdale.

If the products smell good enough to eat, that’s because they almost are. Ingredients used in products include fresh fruit and vegetables, honey and beeswax. The shop’s fit out also plays into this idea. Blackboard-like signage featured around the store testifies to the days when Lush was starting out and used the cost-friendly solution of blackboards and chalk to make signs.

Now, the strategy gives the shop a marketplace feel. Colourful bath bombs of all shapes and sizes are spread out in bowls on a table, resembling fruit baskets at a marketplace. Tubs of facemask product are chilled on ice in large metal bowls with fruit toppings. The soap display looks like a cheese deli, with stacks of smaller square bars and big wheels.

Actually eating the products is discouraged, but that doesn’t dissuade people from trying. McCoy says staff have found crackers next to face masks, which someone has tried to dunk in and eat, as well as bite marks in soap bars. She says Lush’s customer service is why the shop is a fan favourite.

• I think the expectations of our staff are a lot higher than at many places, so staff are really highly trained,” McCoy says.
• New staff undergo an eight-hour induction training process, which includes a history of the company, ingredient information, demonstrations and how to use products.
• Every month there’s a three-hour training session for staff, and twice a year a training session with a staff trainer from Australia.

McCoy also attends managers meetings in Australia three times a year. Unlike some shops, where workers barely crack a smile while saying from afar, “You happy just browsing?” the enthusiasm of Lush staff is infectious. They bound over, get in a customer’s personal space bubble and talk to them about who they are, what they’re after and offer to try products on their skin.

We don’t look at our customers like money that’s walking in the door, we look at them as humans that are getting the opportunity to try a beautiful product,” she says. “When I’m training new staff, I say, ‘If someone walked into your living room, would you just let them walk around and peruse your things or would you start a conversation with them?'” “Customers have cried and customers have hugged me.

It’s wonderful experience talk to people, massage a product onto them and make them feel good.” They also don’t market products as gender specific. Although there are products specifically for men, like moustache wax, McCoy says staff don’t just steer men in the direction of all the blue or citrus-smelling products.

• A really big message that Lush promotes is there’s no reason to think a man won’t want something pink,” she says.
• Our most popular product at Christmas is Snow Fairy, a hot pink, glittery shower gel that smells like bubble gum.
• It’s so many mens’ favourite product.” As for competition from the shopping online phenomenon, McCoy says the sensory experience makes the trip to the store worth it.

“Imagine looking at a golden egg bath bomb, versus picking it up and getting glitter all over you for the rest of the day,” she says. “It’s a real hands on experience.”

Why is Lush not in China?

What About China’s Animal Testing Laws? – As of May 1, 2021, some imported ordinary cosmetics can be exempt from animal testing under certain conditions, However, for the most part, animal testing is still legally required for most imported cosmetics in 2022.

1. But Lush has confirmed they do not sell their products in retail stores in mainland China; therefore, they are not required to test on animals.
2. We do not sell in mainland China.
3. As you may know, their government requires all cosmetics to be tested on animals, which contradicts our cruelty-free commitments.

We know this is disappointing to our many fans in China, but we’d never put profits over animal welfare, ever! We hope they use their love of Lush and cruelty-free beauty products as impetus to spark change.”

Why does Lush use SLS?

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Ingredient When this safe synthetic ingredient comes in contact with water, it creates a rich cleansing lather that can trap oil-based dirt from the hair, allowing it to be rinsed away. Sodium laureth sulfate allows you to work shampoo through the hair more easily, giving the fresh and clean feeling we’d expect from a shampoo; surfactants also leave the hair feeling conditioned and soft.

• All of our sulfates are safe synthetic surfactants with a long history of safe use.
• We use these ingredients in concert with fruit juices, clays and powders and essential oils in our haircare to cleanse the hair.
• When used in a body product, this ingredient creates a rich lather to give you the bubbles you’d expect from a cleansing product.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is a surfactant. It’s partly water-soluble and partly oil-soluble, allowing oil and water to become dispersed. : Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Does Lush have Microplastics?

Cosmetics don’t need plastics, anyway – Thankfully, cleansers using natural ingredients are readily available, so you won’t have trouble finding an environmentally friendly product that’ll leave your skin looking clear and fresh. You’ll find ground almonds, polenta, aduki beans, rice, sugar and sea salt in products like,,,, and,

From head to toe, you can exfoliate away unwanted dry bits for smooth, glowing skin. And when you wash these products down the drain, their natural ingredients will break down without harming our ecosystem. Scrubby ingredients aren’t the only microplastics threatening our waterways: glitter is a huge offender, too.

For our glitters and lusters, we’ve done away with microplastics completely by switching to synthetic mica. Our ingredient suppliers have worked hard to develop plastic-free alternatives for our products, making them safer for the environment. Everything we wash down the drain will eventually end up somewhere in our ecosystem—and in the case of non-biodegradable microplastics, they’ll stay there forever.

Benefits Ingredients Environmental conservation Ethical campaigns Ocean Conservation

: Microbead-free Skincare | Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

What makes Lush different from other beauty brands?

In my line of work, strategising on how to differentiate against the competition and position our brand is an important focus. So for this reason, I follow different brands to observe their strategies and tactics. Lush Cosmetics is one of the brands that I follow that definitely differentiates against the competition and is one of my favourite stores.

• What makes Lush different is the fresh approach to the way their products are made.
• All the cosmetics available in their stores and online are handmade from only fresh fruit and vegetables, and where possible, are organic.
• These are combined with the finest essential oils and safe synthetics from sustainable suppliers around the world, making the products 100% vegetarian too.

Lush is against animal testing and focuses on sustainability as seen in this Bizcommunity article as well as through the production of the cosmetics, ethical buying and the ” naked ” approach to packaging. By stripping away excess packaging and thoughtfully designing the products the brand has managed to avoid thousands of kilograms of waste. Lush is a self-proclaimed cosmetics grocer and the experience in-store is an integral part of the brand positioning. The store design and all touchpoints relate to the positioning as customers are encouraged to test, smell and sample the products. The visual and verbal language of the brand assist in creating this holistic experience. This positioning works very well for Lush as indulging in their products is a pampering, guilt-free and fun experience for customers. In addition, Lush does not have to compete based on price as other brands do not offer the same products, experience, benefits or quirky positioning and this allows for a premium pricing structure. The differentiation through natural handmade products and socially responsible production sets Lush apart from the competition and encourages the audience to associate with the brand and these positive attributes. The closest competition to Lush Cosmetics is The Body Shop in that both brands sell body products and cosmetics and are against animal testing and use sustainable business practices. What makes Lush different to other retailers and The Body Shop in particular is the in-store and online experience.

The brand identity shown through the visual elements, tone of voice, personality and customer experience create a quirky and fun positioning that is unique, approachable and fun in its messaging. A point in the brand’s differentiation scale, was the the Naked campaign. The change in approach to packaging detailed on the Lush website was launched by making a statement in-store.

During the launch, all the staff in the store were naked, except for their aprons that had the phrase “Ask me why I am naked” emblazoned across the front. This shows a holistic way in which the brand values were communicated through public relations activities.

The Lush approach to sustainable practices aligns with the market trends of more socially aware consumers that are interested in conservation, sustainability and how our consumerism can effect the world we live in. The gains that Lush enjoy are brand loyalty, popularity, sustainable competitive advantage and global appeal as many of the brand’s values relate to human issues that customers can identify with through the positioning.

These values are palpable in-store and at other touchpoints, making Lush different to most competing brands. Lush creates a feel-good experience for customers as it allows people to affiliate themselves with an innovative environmentally-conscious approach through their daily pampering rituals.

What’s the smell in Lush?

Why Lush Stores Smell Like That Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for, You can also see what we’re up to by,

1. You’ll know the Lush smell — even if you’ve never stepped foot inside a branch, you’re probably familiar with it, as the plume stretches halfway up the street.
2. It hits you like a punch in the face.
3. You’ll be walking along, minding your own business, when BOOM! There it is.
4. The Lush smell is a squeaky-clean flower assassin that slips up your nose and commands your attention.

But what is the Lush smell, exactly? At first whiff, the Lush smell is raw, bold, bright, loud, and unmistakable. I haven’t shopped there in a long time, but every time I pass a Lush — with 932 shops in 47 countries, there are a lot of them — I always have the same thought: peanut butter and banana milkshakes.

1. It’s an odd association, but scent memory is a strange thing: My first Lush was next door to the best shake shop in town.
2. That means that for me, even 17 years later, the craving resurfaces every time that flower bomb explodes in my nose.
3. In an effort to put my finger on the Lush smell, I spent an hour inside the biggest Lush shop in the world, found on Oxford Street in London.

The place is a three-story Alice in Wonderland experience in every sense of the phrase: It’s fascinating and thrilling, and also overstimulating and a touch threatening. It’s very bright and colorful in there, with loud and upbeat music. By the door, a Lush employee whips up foam next to piles of bath bombs under a sign that reads “Great Balls of Bicarb.” Overwhelmed, I make some notes about the smell. It’s surprisingly difficult to describe a scent. “I always think Lush is like a bakery: There’s this great smell, but you’ll never be able to take it home,” says Janie, who’s a fan. Each product has its own smell; the Comforter bubble bar hints of blackcurrant, and the Sea Vegetable soap is clearly lavender.

• It feels a bit like chasing the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow,” says Janie.
• But not everyone likes that cocktail.
• The Lush smell feels like an attack on my senses,” says Karima.
• It’s so aggressive!” Lush and its infamous smell has traveled far since the company started out in 1995 in Poole, England.

(The founders originally wanted to name it “The Cosmetic Warriors from the Temple of Temptation,” but the name was taken, alas.) A Lush shop resembles a food market: soap stacked high like cheese wheels, bath bombs piled up like apples, and fresh face masks on ice like a deli counter.

• No, you can’t eat any of it, but everything at Lush is vegetarian and mostly organic, made from fresh ingredients with minimal preservatives, synthetics, and packaging.
• It’s the last fact that makes it such a pungent experience, as most of the products are kept out in the open.
• The Lush smell is a mixture of our top products,” says Brandi Halls, Lush’s director of brand communications for North America.

“When I walk in, I can definitely smell the Avobath bath bomb, the Karma soap, and the Vanillary perfume. These are some of our cult products.” This suggests key notes to the Lush smell include lemongrass and bergamot from Avobath, patchouli and orange from Karma, and vanilla and jasmine from Vanillary.

“When I walk in, I can definitely smell the Avobath bath bomb, the Karma soap, and the Vanillary perfume.” Halls says Lush sometimes has to take steps to comply with odor regulations. “We’re often asked if we pump the fragrance out in our stores, we actually spend a lot of money on ventilation systems to keep the fragrance in.” Lush does have a sense of humor about its trademark smell, having created several limited-edition products that supposedly embody the shop, like the 29 High Street solid perfume and the Oxford Street soap.

“But if you’re new to Lush, the shop like a burst of freshness,” says Halls. If you like a scent, being overwhelmed by it can be an enjoyable experience. “Sometimes I just go and stand in there to make me happy,” says Gemma, who didn’t use to be a fan of the Lush smell, but came around after learning about the company’s commendable ethics and political outspokenness.

“It’s a place I associate with good memories.” Laura has a similar reaction to the Lush smell. “I’m often daydreaming on the street, or running around in haste,” she says. Then that soapy tang hits her and shakes her up: “Something about clears my head of feelings and thoughts.” Maria Larsson, a Stockholm University psychology professor who focuses on smell and memory, says people can react very strongly and emotionally to odors.

This is because signals from the nose make a beeline for the limbic system. “With smell you have an uncensored route to the oldest part of the brain, which is responsible for the most basic survival instinct that all mammals have: the ability to learn from emotional experience.” Larsson laughs when I tell her about my Lush milkshake association. I’ll probably link the two forever, she tells me. “These types of responses are extremely resistant to the passage of time.” People have highly individual reactions to smell. One person may love margaritas, while another had a terrible experience doing tequila shots at 21 and can’t go near the stuff.

One person may feel nauseated by just a few molecules of odor, while others can handle loads without problem. Former Lush employee Lisa has to be careful around strong smells to avoid triggering migraines, but she says the shop never bothered her. “You don’t really notice the smell when you’re in it,” says Lisa, who has positive memories of her time at Lush.

She was encouraged to get customers to sniff the goods. “Our training taught us to use imagery and emotion to describe the smell. Some products smelled like a sunny beach, while other smelled like a dark forest.” The olfactory sense still remains something of a mystery, especially in terms of how smells trigger such strong feelings.

1. Larsson says people are often unaware of their poor sense of smell, reacting with surprise when she tells them in her smell lab.
2. But our noses are also important for tasting food.
3. There are just five basic taste perceptions — the rest is picked up by the olfactory nerve,” Larsson says.
4. This is good to know for when a smell offends you: Just breathe through your mouth.

This is what Bernadette does whenever she goes to Lush to buy her favorite shampoo bars. “I locate the bars from outside the shop,” she says. “I grab them, pay, and go. The smell is eye-watering. It’s invasive, like the sound of very deep bass reggae.” “The smell is eye-watering.

• It’s invasive, like the sound of very deep bass reggae.” At the Lush emporium on Oxford Street, I keep waiting for my nose to adjust to the smell, but after 30 minutes it still came on strong.
• I’ve sniffed my way around three floors of this soapy Disneyland, and I’m starting to feel a little loopy.
• My heart is like an open highway,” Jon Bon Jovi croons on the sound system, “I just want to live while I’m alive!” “Yes!” I think to myself, nose deep in bath jelly, “I’m alive!” My memory’s a bit hazy from this point, but I know that I start shopping.

I buy some bright purple shampoo and hippie deodorant. I add my name to the campaign to free Andy Tsege from death row. I buy lotion in support of Nanas Against Fracking. The smell stayed with me for the rest of the day. It stuck inside my nostrils, and I could taste it in my mouth even after I’d eaten.

• I had a single glass of wine that night before I crashed.
• Now that I’ve slept it off, I understand: I was high on the Lush smell.
• It had short-circuited my limbic system, taking the open highway to my heart.
• I was lush with a little L that day — fresh, green, and drunk.
• For a moment I was wild and free, and so very fragrant.

: Why Lush Stores Smell Like That

Is Lush PETA approved?

Yes, LUSH is certified by Peta.

Do Lush products actually go bad?

Left on the shelf? – You’ve probably noticed that, just like the food you buy at the supermarket, LUSH products have a ‘use by’ date. But unlike most other cosmetic brands, we also let you know when our products were made. We recommend that you keep our Fresh Face Masks in the fridge and use them as soon as possible while the ingredients are still fresh and active, but the majority of our products have a shelf life of 14 months from the date that they were made.

Why does Lush use black plastic?

So why do we use it? By choosing black recycled plastic we are able to use 100% post-consumer recycled feedstock very easily. This is because we do not have to be too choosy over the colours of the feedstock we use and can incorporate many different sources of recycled PP plastic into the Lush pot mix.

Is Lush safe for babies?

So you want to give your baby (and possibly yourself) the spa experience, with the bonus that she might fall asleep immediately after. You turn on some soothing rain sounds, gather your baby shampoo, soft towel, some lotion, and remember that lovely lavender bath bomb stashed in the cabinet since forever.

1. But are bath bombs safe for babies ? Lush sells a special bath bomb specifically for babies called the “Ickle Baby Bot,” and true to Lush, it’s chock full of natural ingredients.
2. Unlike many of the company’s other bath bombs, the Baby Bot doesn’t contain sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), the chemical that makes all those bubbly suds.

According to Skin Deep, sodium laureth sulfate may irritate eyes, skin, and lungs, Baby Center also noted, however, that SLES is a common ingredient found in baby products, and is considered safe. It’s also far gentler than its cousin, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).

1. Because baby skin is thinner than yours, you should avoid using products that contain SLS, which can cause irritation when used too frequently or in high concentrations.
2. And you should definitely avoid SLS if your baby has eczema or sensitive skin,
3. So, while Lush’s baby bomb is extra gentle and contains no sulfates, the truth is that all of Lush’s soaps and bath products are more gentle than most.

In fact, they’re more like baby soap, opting for SLES over the more-irritating SLS. However, it’s always best to call your pediatrician before using any particular bath product, especially if your baby is using any medicated creams, like medicine for diaper rash.

1. The most “natural” bombs use essential oils to create that relaxing fragrance, and according to Healthline, babies under 3 months shouldn’t use essential oils,
2. For older babies, well-diluted essential oils are considered safe, and even beneficial in small concentrations, noted the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy.

Additionally, some bath bombs contain small objects, like rose buds, which could be a choking hazard. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to know how much essential oil a bath bomb contains. Recommendations for essential oil use with babies range from two to four drops per bath.

1. If your toddler is bathing with you in a large tub, consider using only a small piece of your bath bomb, and don’t let her drink the bath water.
2. If she sucks some off her fingers, it’s probably fine.) If you’re using a small baby tub, use a bath bomb designed for babies, like the Ickle Baby Bot, or make your own with this fun recipe from Popular Science.

If you cook up your own spa day, just be sure to use the amount of essential oils recommended for child baths, Some companies keep their bath products more “natural” than others, and Consumer Reports noted that some of the more chemical-heavy bath bombs contain talcum powder, a carcinogenic substance.

Synthetic scents aren’t terribly healthy, either — these are usually listed on the ingredient label as “fragrance.” So choose bath bombs made with essential oils, and skip the synthetics. Bottom line? Bath bombs made for babies are likely the best choice, but you can also check your bath bomb’s ingredient label.

Sulfates are probably fine, but mineral oil, talc, and unspecified “fragrance” aren’t safe for little ones. Also, keep in mind that you can’t know exactly how much essential oil is in your bomb. Age factors into it, too, and babies under 3 months should probably stick with soaps designed for babies.

If you want to give your baby the spa experience without the hassle of ingredient sleuthing, consider using a diffuser to make the room smell of lavender, and pour some baby-safe bubble bath in the tub. When in doubt about anything that comes into direct contact with your baby, please refer to the ultimate authority on these issues, and give your pediatrician a call.

Happy Spa Night.

Does Lush use plastic?

Pots and bottles are made with 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic, saving about 65 tons of Carbon Dioxide and 90 tonnes of virgin plastic, or 800 barrels of oil, each year. Carrier bags are made with 100% post-consumer recycled paper, saving 100 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide each year.

Do Lush bath bombs go Mouldy?

Can I use Lush after the expiry date? – In my opinion: yes, you can. I have always done this, there have been seldom been products that I had to throw away because they went bad. It depends on which products and which ingredients are in them. Color, smell, texture or effectiveness may be less effective after the expire date, but it will do no harm to your skin.

Last week I threw away an Ultrabland, which expire date was in 2017. It didn’t smell good anymore, so I threw it away. But if a product still smells good, and if there’s no mold or whatsoever on it, then just try it. If it doesn’t smell good — toss it away. Simple as that. Use your common sense with this.

If you don’t want to take a risk, or if you’re hesitating whether a product is still good, toss it away! Especially with facial products. There is no point in using products that will only irritate your skin or cause other problems. I have a lot of shower gels and jellies that are expired in 2016 or 2017, I still use them, as long as they smell good.

I may have to give ’em a good shake, but that’s all. Bath bombs can also be used after the expire date. The worst thing that can happen is that it becomes a dud and that it sinks to the bottom of your bath. Bubble bars can look like their a bit moldy, I have still used them — just cut or break off the part that looks bad.

Top 10 LUSH Products You NEED To Try + DEMOS!

Although this rarely happen.

What products have the most parabens?

I think a lot of us are familiar with parabens many personal care products today will proudly label themselves as ‘paraben free’ making it – it seems- easier than ever to avoid parabens. But then why, I recently asked myself, were my own methyl paraben levels somewhat elevated when I tested for them? I recently took the Million Marker test this is a test that you can do from the comfort of your own home- you collect a urine sample and send it into their lab for analysis.

They can test for the most common phthalates, bisphenols, parabens & oxybenzone (for a discount use code ” AIDA” for a small discount) My levels, as I had hoped, confirmed that my low tox lifestyle is paying off: as all toxins came in at very low levels (will share more about these in a later post),

that is all but methylparaben which came back at a “MEDIUM compared to the National Averages.” level I know for a fact that the personal care products I use are paraben free- so I was puzzled trying to figure out where was I being exposed to methylparaben? Parabens are preservatives often used in cosmetics but also in pharmaceuticals, skin creams, foods and beverages.

Some scientists and health officials feel strongly that parabens, in the low doses allowed in personal care products, are safe and have shown they do not cause harm parabens are not bioaccumulative: so your body can actually rid itself of parabens in about 3 days (that is, if your body is not overburdened by too many toxins) however, parabens have been found intact in breast cancer tumors which begs the question: if you are constantly being exposed to approved, low doses of parabens from multiple sources could they then in fact accumulate and lead to health effects? Some parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butylparaben) have been found to be “weakly estrogenic” meaning they could mimic estrogen hormone In one Japanese study: propyl paraben decreased sperm counts in young rats at and below the concentrations which the U.S. FDA considers safe for human consumption in food A study by researchers at the Harvard suggested that exposure to propyl paraben might be associated with diminished fertility in 2006, EU regulators removed propyl paraben from the list of food additives authorized for use in the EU due to concerns of affects on male fertility a mice study showed that exposure to butyl paraben resulted in elevated internal levels of estradiol and BPA some parabens have been shown to disturb the function of thyroid hormones and potentially playing an important role in fat accumulation ( Pereira-Fernandes et al., 2013 )

There are 2 ways we can be exposed to parabens. Skin absorption:

mostly via personal care products (makeup, moisturizers, hair care products, shaving cream etc), Women tend to have significantly higher levels of parabens in their bodies due to their greater use of personal care products. Parabens in the US are allowed in personal care products in concentrations up to 0.25% Ingestion:

Parabens are allowed to use in food and food packaging as antimicrobials to prevent food spoilage. The most commonly-used parabens in food are methylparaben ( food additive E218) and ethylparaben (E214) processed foods tend to have higher levels of parabens, including: cereal-based snacks, dried meats, beer, sauces, desserts, soft drinks, jams, pickles, frozen dairy products, processed vegetables and flavoring syrups A US study looked at parabens in 8 categories: beverages, dairy products, fats and oils, fish and shellfish, grains, meat, fruits, and vegetables and found the majority (>90%) of food samples contained measurable concentrations of parabens, with no significant differences in paraben concentrations, so it is fair to say that we might be exposed to low levels of parabens through many foods A 2021 study in Spain looked at 585 adolescents (53.4% boys) aged 12–16 years and found: The main contributors to dietary paraben exposure in adolescent boys were eggs (41.9%), canned tuna (46.4%), bakery and baked goods products (57.3%) and pineapple (61.1%). In adolescent girls, the main contributors were apples and pears (35.3%), canned tuna (42.1%), bakery and baked goods products (55.1%) and olives (62.1%). The presence of parabens in eggs might be explained by the ingestion of paraben-contaminated feed or soil, which then penetrates into chicken tissue and is subsequently transferred into eggs ( Pajurek et al., 2019 ). In food parabens can be listed as: methyl-, ethyl- and propyl p -hydroxybenzoate or with “e” numbers (( food additive E218) ethylparaben (E214)

Parabens dont remain in our body for very long. Our body – when performing optimally and not overwhelmed by a high toxin load- can excrete them-which it usually will do in about 3 days. This could mean: if you are able to isolate the source of exposure and eliminate it their presence in your body can be reduced even eliminated. Reduce enough sources of parabens and in theory if your body is detoxifying correctly you r own body should be able to deal with the (lower) exposure levels) on its own.

However, The cumulative effect of parabens together with other endocrine disruptors present in food such as bisphenols, heavy metals, pesticides and polybrominated diphenyl ethers could pose a risk to human health. We know that all of these toxins often found in food, which are all endocrine disruptors, act in different ways in low doses than in higher doses and can even act in different ways when exposed to other endocrine disruptors

Cosmetics and personal care products: read ingredient list and avoid parabens. Food: a bit harder to identify as sometimes they can be listed as ingredients but in general:

Decrease processed foods Read labels: Parabens will show up on packaged food labels as hydroxybenzoic acid or p-hydroxybenzoic acid ester or with “E” food additive numbers\ Avoid food that comes in plastic packaging, from where parabens may leach into the food inside Eat a well balanced diet

EWG has recorded this list of foods that contain parabens: FOODS THAT CONTAIN PROPYL PARABEN :

Amport Foods Chocolate & Nut Trail Mix Archer Farms Gourmet Dessert Cookies Arizona Snack Company Canyon Runner II Trail Arizona Snack Compan y Sweet Energy Trail Cafe Valley Apple Spice Mini Muffins Apple Spice Cafe Valley Banana Nut Mini Muffins Cafe Valley Blueberry Mini Muffins Cafe Valley Cake Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cafe Valley Chocolate Chips Mini Muffins Cafe Valley Corn Mini Muffins Cafe Valley Lemon Poppyseed Mini Muffins Cafe Valley Orange Cranberry Mini Muffins Cafe Valley Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins Creative Occasions Old Fashioned Carrot Cream Cheese Cake Elizabeth’s Natural s Psychedelic Sunday Mix Emerald Breakfast On The Go Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Nut & Granola Mix Energy Club Fancy Mojo Mix Energy Club Nuts N Chocolate Blend Entenmann’ s Coconut Crunch Donuts Essential Everyday Classic Trail Mix Island Snac ks Fancy Chocolate Mix La Banderita White Corn Tortillas La Banderita Yellow Corn Tortillas Little Debbie Pecan Spinwheels Newton’s Naturals Get The Munchies Trail Mix Nuevo Leo n Tortillas Oh Yeah! Candies Chocolate Caramel Ole Mexican Foods Corn Tortillas Patissa Pumpkin Pie Cream Puffs Premium Orchard Rainbow Trail Mix Private Selection Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Quality Clu b Deluxe Moxxi Mix Roundy’s Cranberry Trail Mix Roundy’s Pak O Snax Sara Le e Cinnamon Rolls Sara Le e Honey Glazed Buns Setton Farm s Hiker’s Trail Mix Superior Chocolate Nut Trail Mix Superior Mini Chocolate Eclairs Sweet P’ s Bake Shop Black & White Cookies Tropical Corn Tortillas, Traditional Style Turano Brat & Sausage Rolls Weight Watchers Carrot Crème Cake Weight Watcher s Chocolate Crème Cake Weight Watchers Golden Sponge Cake Weight Watchers Lemon Creme Cake Weight Watchers Red Velvet Creme Cake Weis Cross’n Country Weis Milk Chocolate Candies

A Spanish study found Parabens in these foods:

chicken burger (“contained remarkably high concentrations of MetPB”) frozen chopped onion (“contained remarkably high concentrations of MetPB”) eggs, (“contained remarkably high concentrations of MetPB”) milk bread with chocolate (“contained remarkably high concentrations of MetPB”) canned tuna in oil (. The highest concentration of EthPB) anchovy stuffed olives (86.9 ng g−1 ), pineapple in plastic packaging

An Albany, New York study found parabens in:

pancake syrup (contained the highest levels of methylparaben: flavored syrup) muffins, iced tea, pudding turkey roast

Highest levels of propylparabens :

turkey breasts, yoghurt, turkey roast and apple pie.

The highest levels of ethylparabens were found in red wine, sources https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/Parabens_FactSheet.html Concentrations of parabens in human breast tumours https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jat.958 Some Alkyl Hydroxy Benzoate Preservatives (Parabens) Are Estrogenic https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0041008X98985441?via%3Dihub https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/myth-natural-parabens Effects of propyl paraben on the male reproductive system https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12419695/ Urinary Paraben Concentrations and Ovarian Aging among Women from a Fertility Center https://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/11879222 Butyl paraben and propyl paraben modulate bisphenol A and estradiol concentrations in female and male mice https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0041008X17301424 Occurrence of and Dietary Exposure to Parabens in Foodstuffs from the United States https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es400724s

Should I avoid parabens in hair products?

How Parabens and Sulfates Damage Hair The biggest reason why you want to avoid parabens is because they are easily absorbed through your skin and are harmful to your scalp. Recent research found that parabens were often in the urine and blood stream of people using products containing parabens.

This just means that what you’re putting on your hair and scalp often gets into your pores and blood. Therefore, it’s important to be mindful of what you’re using on your body. Parabens can cause a number of problems for your hair including drying, irritating your scalp, fading your color, and even hair loss.

Since they are generally unsafe, it is best to avoid parabens until proven otherwise.Along with parabens, there are other harmful ingredients you should avoid using. One other ingredient type, benzophenones, are commonly found in hair products can cause scalp irritation, premature scalp aging, and even cancers.

1. I know this may seem scary but just get in the habit of checking the label of your products.
2. Parabens and Allergic Reactions Parabens can cause allergic reactions and exacerbate some skin conditions.
3. With all the doubt being cast on the safety of parabens, it is wise to switch to a paraben-free hair products.

Paraben-free products will typically indicate that on the label and if they don’t you can read the back label to be sure. One paraben-free product you can definitely try is the PureFix Hair Elixir which is a 6-in-1 hair and scalp treatment. Its all-natural ingredients work together to support longer, stronger hair. So which ingredients should you definitely avoid? You can click here to read more on what to look for and what to avoid, but here’s a short list:

Sodium Laurel / laureth sulfate (SLS), also known as many other names such as sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate. It is also known as ammonium laurel sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sulfuric acid. Finally, it is known as sodium salt sulfuric acid, A12-00356, Akyposal SDS, Aquarex ME, and Aquarex methyl. According to Livestrong.com there’s a laundry list of healthcare issues associated with exposure to this chemical, least of which is the severe damage it does to hair by drying it out. Isopropyl Alcohol is essentially rubbing alcohol. It’s great for cleaning your skin in preparation for a shot or maybe getting a tattoo but it’s horrible for your hair. It removes all of the good, natural oils in your hair. Over time, this will make your hair weaker and cause it to break. Propylene Glycol (PG) is another common hair ingredient in shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. However, it’s probably one of the ingredients that will cause irritation to your scalp, in addition to breaking down healthy hair proteins.

Other ingredients to definitely avoid? PEG or Polyethylene Glycol is traditionally used in cleaning products intended to remove grease stains (such as oven cleaners). However, it will make your hair brittle over time. This is a safe ingredient but it’s not something you want in your hair.

• Diethanolamine (DEA) Triethanolamine (TEA) stabilize the pH of hair products, and are common allergens and eye irritants.Formaldehyde is another preservative and extremely irritating to the skin and eyes.
• It is a known animal carcinogen, and may increase cancer risk for humans as well.
• Formaldehyde is another preservative and extremely irritating to the skin and eyes.

It is a known animal carcinogen, and may increase cancer risk for humans as well. Source of recent Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5618656/ : How Parabens and Sulfates Damage Hair

What cosmetics are parabens in?

What is a cosmetic? A “cosmetic” is any substance used to clean, improve or change the complexion, skin, hair, nails or teeth. Cosmetics include beauty preparations (make-up, perfume, skin cream, nail polish) and grooming aids (soap, shampoo, shaving cream, deodorant). Some products that seem to be cosmetics may be classified differently and managed by different programs at Health Canada:

Products that claim to have a therapeutic effect (e.g. to prevent or treat disease), or that contain certain active ingredients not allowed in cosmetics are considered to be, for example, topical antibiotic creams. Products containing natural active ingredients that claim to have a therapeutic effect (for example, a topical herbal remedy to speed scar healing) are considered, Items that are intended to be eaten and do not have a therapeutic effect or claim are, such as chewing gum. Insect repellent lotions and sprays are, Products that provide a therapeutic benefit to animals, like dander-reducing creams, are,