Lush Cosmetics: Fresh Handmade Cosmetics
January 21, 2023
that sells fresh handmade cosmetics.
After completing his training as a hairdresser, Mark Constantine, who was also a trichologist, went to work for Elizabeth Arden in London. It was there, in the 1970s, that he met Liz Weir, a freelance beauty therapist. The two became friends and, ultimately, would become business partners. In 1977, under the name, Constantine & Weir they made products for local herbalists and salons, including Body Shop. In fact, they became Body Shop’s biggest supplier until the early 1990s when the retailer bought out LUSH for $7.35 million. This gave Body Shop the manufacturing rights to the products they had been buying from Mark and Liz.
Cosmetics to Go
Ready for a new challenge, Mark and Liz founded Cosmetics To Go, a mail-order company that offered fresh, handmade bath bombs, solid shampoo bars, and massage bars. Mark and his team created and innovated, always fighting against animal testing. Six years later, the mail-order business closed and Mark and Liz moved on to another challenge.
As a trichologist, (Mark specialized in the study of diseases and problems related to the hair and scalp, as well as their treatments. With Liz’s background as a beauty therapist, she and Mark made the perfect team to open a brick-and-mortar cosmetics shop. In 1995, the two opened their first shop on High Street in Poole, creating and selling cosmetics from fresh fruits and vegetables.
What should we call our store?
Mark and Liz held a customer competition which they advertised in the store’s newsletter. The winning name for their company was LUSH Cosmetics, commonly known as LUSH.
In 1997, Lush opened two new stores in Covent Garden and Kings Road, London, and by 2000, they had expanded into Croatia, Australia, Brazil and Dublin.
In 2010 Mark and his son Simon launched Gorilla Perfume.
In December 2010, Mark and his wife Mo Constantine were awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year’s Honours list, for services to the beauty industry. In 2014, Gorilla perfume opened its own standalone store in Islington, London.
Covid-19 Pandemic
To help reduce the spread of the virus, LUSH offered free handwashing in all its stores. On March 16, 2020, as the virus took a global grip, Lush closed all North American stores but continued to pay staff. Fours days later Australian stores closed and those in the UK followed suit the following day. Sadly, later in March, the company was forced to lay off staff in Canada.
Some interesting facts about LUSH . . .
- In 2021, Lush believed that social media was having a negative effect on the world’s mental health and body image and so, removed its Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok accounts.
- The company operates in 49 countries, with approximately 20% of its stores located in the USA.
- The company follows a “no advertising policy,” which means it does not spend money on TV campaigns or celebrity endorsements. It’s word-of-mouth, only, for LUSH!
- Lush does not have a target demographic as it prefers to make its stores and brands welcoming to all.
- Lush produces creams, soaps, shampoos, shower gels, lotions, moisturizers, fragrances, scrubs, toothpaste tablets, masks and other cosmetics for the face, hair, and body using only vegetarian or vegan recipes.
- In 2016, Lush produced 41 million products, of which 13.3 million were bath bombs.
- In July 2012, Lush began selling their “Emotional Brilliance” makeup collection, which includes liquid lipsticks, liquid eyeliners, cream shadows, and mascara.
- Lush products are made in factories around the world including England, Canada, Croatia, Germany, and Australia.
- The Environment Possibility Award conferred the “Award of Earth Defender” upon Lush in 2020.
Gloria Sauvé
Communications