I have given a lot of thought to my gift list this season and have decided to impart a little of myself in my presents. None of those frazzled buying where I convince myself that something decently presentable will do because it’s "the thought that counts" anyway.
I did some fashion styling for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) early last year and gleaned from one of its regional members that UK-born cosmetic brand Lush is one of the real animal-friendly beauty brands on the market – when Lush says that all its products are fresh, hand-made, and do not use ingredients that have been tested on animals, the brand really means it. As a vegetarian and a frustrated planeteer and animal lover, I go nuts over anything that does its bit for the environment. Lush, with its vegan-friendly products, environment-cognizant minimal packaging, and pro-animal standard appeals to me as much as a tub of Valhrona excites any chocolate lover.
Since its inception 10 years ago by a group of nature-obsessive Londoners, Lush has been championing the cosmetic use of plants, fruits, and vegetables. Essence from fruits and veggies is squeezed in workshops and poured straight into a product mixture. Some ingredients are considered "safe synthetic," which means that these are derived from plants but have gone through a lot of processing. Some ingredients are also quite unexpected – charcoal, a cleansing and exfoliating agent, is found in Coalface cleansing bar; China clay to absorb dirt and oil is included in Angels on Bare Skin cleanser. Though most products are vegan (no ingredients came from animals or animal by-products), some are listed as vegetarian, particularly those products that sneak in chocolate ingredients (After 8:30 massage bar contains white and dark chocolate; Sonic Death Monkey shower gel contains chocolate.)
The entire organic experience doesn’t begin and end with the products. Each Lush store all over the world is designed to look like a deli – bars are stacked in a carefree system, Ballistics (Lush’s signature bath salts formed into huge balls of essential oils) are contained in wooden tubs or baskets; bottled goodies are stacked on simple wooden shelves. Just like in a deli, most of the products are cut from a huge block, weighed out in grams, and wrapped in paper. A sticker comes with each product, bearing the expiration date ("fresh" is a philosophy) and a cartoony portrait of the product’s maker.
What trips me out even more are the names given to Lush’s products. Some were christened as such, inspired by books, movies, poems, and events. Sonic Death Monkey shower gel was named after Barry’s band in Nick Hornby’s novel, High Fidelity. Cereology facial cleanser was christened after those crop circles that mysteriously appear on fields during summer. The name of the Olive Branch shower gel was inspired by the peaceful settlement between Palestine and Israel (the bath gel also includes an olive oil made by Palestinian women living in areas that used to be controlled by Israeli forces).
While Lush has new products specially created for the holiday season, such as Christmas Party ballistic, Christmas Kisses bubble bar, and "Twas the Night Before Christmas" soap, I am also eyeing the new butter creams to complete my gift list. These moisturizing agents look and smell good enough to eat. Just add water and these bars double as exfoliating agent and body cream – the Almond and Skinny Dip butter creams are said to be bestsellers. I am thinking of filling up my shopping basket with colorful shower jellies for my godchildren, Party On temple balm for friends who will surely abuse festive spirits and claim death by hangover, and Karma Dusting Powder for friends who need a sprinkling of good luck for 2006.
We’ve been told to make a difference each Christmas, and it’s a saying you take to heart if you’ve pushed through too many bazaar crowds and department store throngs only to come up with gifts that will only end up being recycled for the ensuing holidays. I may not turn anybody vegetarian with my intended gifts this Christmas, but if I do turn someone into a Lush believer, then I would at least feel that I’ve done my share.