Seaweed

Under the sea, forests of slimy algae grow, and they’re full of benefits for the skin and hair.

What are the benefits of seaweeds in cosmetics?
Soothing
Mineral-rich
Radiance boosting
Softening
Texturising

On this last point, it should be noted that certain seaweeds have gelling properties, especially agar-agar and Irish moss (from which a powder called carrageenan is extracted). When combined with the right ingredients, they can help create a wide range of textures and shapes for our products such as our shower jellies.

Did you know?
Lush was founded in Poole, a coastal town in southern England where it is still strongly rooted in today. Outside the headquarters, massive seagulls soar and cry, and salty waves crash onto the quay. No wonder the seaside has been such an inspiration for our products! It’s also why we’re not afraid to use strong-scented seaweed absolute in some of our fragrances.

Where does Lush source seaweeds?
Saying that we source them from the sea would probably sound a bit vague! At Lush, we purchase a lot of different algae from around the world – fresh, dried, powdered, and even distilled. To learn more about each of these, you can go through your product’s ingredient list and click on the one you’re interested in. You can also click on this list of curious names below for a sneak peek:
Toothed wrack
Bladderwrack
Sugar kelp
Wakame
Kombu