The last times I entered a Lush shop, it was in the UAE a few years ago and with the only wish to look for a wellness me-time. I had received a great present from my work BFF and tried a scrub, a funny body jelly and a shampoo with fresh eggs to be kept in the fridge. The combo was totally strange and absolutely pleasant, but I had not looked at the brand on the level of zero-waste cosmetics.
After trying my first zero-waste bathroom items in Switzerland with high enthusiasm but limited positive results, and using a friends birthday as the best alibi to look into new options, I decided to give it another try and enter the shop in Zug.
First obvious advice to start with: people with sensitive noses, be aware that you will not leave without various soap smells stuck all over you. I find it though slightly more pleasant that after a walk through Sephora, but the threshold is tight.
For the readers who would not know the brand, Lush - Fresh Handmade Cosmetics has specialized in cruelty-free, (almost-)zero-waste, freshly-made soaps, shampoos and other bathbombs coming in all possible shapes, smells and colours.
(If I wrote "almost-zero-waste", it is because a fair share of products does come in bottles and boxes, but they can all be returned and re-used in the shop - customers get rewarded for this).
Following this first zero-waste experience I targetted hair products immediately, and bought a Godiva shampoo and a Jungle after-shampoo bars. I completed the shopping frenzy with a piece of Aromaco hard deodorant and a sample box of Boom toothpaste tablets.
My overall impression is very good, somehow a lot more positive than the zero-waste shop in Baden. Let's look at it in a few more details:
Along the same line as the other shop, Lush is fairly expensive, I could count a good 13 CHF per item. By comparison, a liquid shampoo or a liquid deodorant can be found for 5-8 CHF in the supermarket.
With my very long hair, the bars however disappear at a good pace compared to a large bottle of liquid shampoo, for example. However I expect this point to change when I finally cut my hair short.
I was very impressed by the customer service in the shop, with a very personal experience as the lady looked for the products that would best fit my requirements (hair type, skin condition etc...) and wishes (perfumes, impressions, etc..). The number of options is overwhelmingly big and somehow confusing, so this customer service is more than welcome.
So far the use of these products on a daily basis has been just great. There is surely a placebo effect going on here: between the zero-waste factor and the impression that the products are a lot healthier than the ones bought in the supermarket (the entire list of ingredients is available online), I already feel like I have done a good deed here to myself.
In terms of quality, haircare has been just great and I am extremely satisfied about the deodorant bar whose texture, perfume and feeling remind me a lot of the old-fashion bars (without the unnecessary plastic packaging). The toothpaste tabs are also a winning point to me, in terms of texture and taste. The activated charcoal gives it obviously a fun twist, and I already feel like my teeth have become whiter (combined with much less coffee intakes daily obviously).
I might try other products in the future, especially when I get my hair shorter and see a greater value-for-money. There are surely better zero-waste options available around (for instance, cosmetics that I could do on my own, like deodorant), but until I jump this line I shall also look further into the healtier, less-chemical based options compared to the ones available in regular supermarket.
What are your healthy, zero-waste daily routines in terms of cosmetics, make-up and more?
Share them with us here in the comments section or on our Facebook page!