This post was updated on the 25th January 2024 with all images re-processed, ‘cool’ photo filters removed and new, unseen images from my trip. I hope this serves as a bit of a time capsule for Lush fans and enthusiasts.

My collaborations with Lush through Manface have been such an enlightening journey into a booming British cosmetics company. But nothing could have prepared me for the invitation that landed in my inbox: a comprehensive, all-access tour of Lush’s operations in Poole, Dorset – a big Lush Factory Tour!

This wasn’t just a routine visit; it was a deep dive into the very core of the brand, encompassing the factory, cooking in the Lush Kitchen, and a rare chance to spend time with Mark Constantine, the visionary behind LUSH.

Lush Legacy: More Than Just Handmade Cosmetics

Who is Lush, beyond the vibrant bath bombs and fragrant soaps? Lush has carved out a unique niche in the cosmetics industry, renowned for its handmade products crafted with fresh ingredients. But the question lingers: are these products genuinely as fresh and handmade as they claim? So many brands make this claim but often fall short.

The scale of the Lush factory operation is impressive with locations replicating their tried and tested methodologies around the world, but their primary base of operations still in Poole.

This powerhouse of production employs over 800 local people, contributing significantly to the community. The sourcing of Lush’s ingredients is a global affair, blending very local, national, and international components to create their distinctive favourites.

During my visit, I had the pleasure of being guided by the fabulous Olivia Glorney, head of digital PR and Chase Clark – the charismatic director of manufacturing. Their insights and stories painted a vivid picture of a brand that is constantly evolving, yet firmly rooted in its core values of freshness, craftsmanship, and ethical integrity.

Lush Factory: The (Vegan) Dairy. Liquids, Lotions and Lather

My tour began at The Dairy, an intriguingly named section of the LUSH factory. So, why ‘The Dairy’? The name stems from the similarities between their production processes and those found in dairy manufacturing.

Although Lush’s products are predominantly vegan, they utilise methods akin to dairy production, involving extensive use of vats, heat, and large-scale mixing techniques to create their range of liquids, lathers, and lotions!

Pumping, Squeezing and Packing; oh my!

The filling room at Lush factory is mesmerising. Watching the team work with such speed, agility, and precision in hand-filling almost every product was nothing short of hypnotic.

Confidently, I tried my hand at it, expecting it to be a walk in the park. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I quickly realised that I was out of my depth and left the task to the pros. They moved with such fluidity and efficiency, you’d almost believe they had extra arms and hands.

Take the Emotional Brilliance makeup line, for instance – each item is carefully filled using syringes, a painstaking and meticulous process. While I admire the skill and precision it requires, I must say I don’t envy the artisans their task. Their finesse, however, is truly awe-inspiring.

Bath Ballistics: The Core of Lush’s Craft

Diving into the world of making Lush’s Bath Ballistics, you quickly realize these aren’t just your average bath bombs. They’re a fusion of color, bicarbonate of soda, a bit of citric acid, and those signature Lush scents. The production line is a behemoth – pumping out thousands daily direct from the Lush factory.

The Inside Scoop on Making Big Blue

I got my hands dirty making some of their Big Blue bath bombs. The guys I worked with had the hefty task of churning out around a thousand each day. It’s a grind, but Lush makes it worth their while. They start on a decent wage, with the chance to earn more based on realistic targets!

The atmosphere in the Lush factory was surprisingly (or unsurprisingly) upbeat. The place was buzzing with a diverse crew – different backgrounds, nationalities, all part of the LUSH mix. It felt genuine, not like some corporate showpiece.

From Powder to Bath-Time Pleasure

The journey of a Bath Ballistic starts with a mix of pigment powders and bicarbonate of soda, blended with whatever fragrance is on the menu. They’re pressed into molds, then off to a hot fridge – odd, but it works – where they set and harden, ready for the shelves.

And let’s talk about the lustre, or as I see it, that infernal glittery powder that manages to get everywhere. Despite my personal vendetta against lustre powder, it’s a hit with almost everyone else. Watching the staff painstakingly spray each Ballistic by hand, you’ve got to admit, the attention to detail is impressive. It’s a lot of effort for each item, which, when you see it firsthand, makes the price tag a bit more understandable.

The Soap Room

Stepping into the soap room at the Lush factory was like entering a wonderland for me – a whole factory space dedicated to soaps. If you’ve never experienced a LUSH soap, trust me, you’re missing out on something special.

I still remember my first Lush encounter: buying a slice of ‘Honey I Washed The Kids’ soap and a bottle of ‘Happy Hippy’ shower gel from their store near the Lowry art gallery in London. I was 16, on a college trip, and that moment marked the start of my unwavering loyalty to LUSH.

The variety of moulds used for the soaps caught my eye. From specialist shapes to everyday items like garden planters and washing-up bowls – some of them have been around for ages, even predating the Lush era, harking back to the days of Cosmetics To Go.

There was this moment when Bart, the soap room manager and probably the nicest guy at the Lush factory (and that’s tough competition) unveiled a freshly made ‘Honey I Washed The Kids’ soap cake. If it weren’t so massive and if I would’ve sneakily tucked it under my T-shirt and legged it. It looked and smelled absolutely divine – almost tempting enough to take a bite – but I was warned not to eat the soaps for the second time that day.

The Bubble Room: A Fragrant Haven

Stepping into the Bubble Room at the Lush factory was like entering a scented paradise – I seriously considered moving in. This is where all the bubbly magic happens: Bubble Bars, Shampoo Bars, and, for some reason, Lip Balms too (still trying to figure out that one).

Crafting the ‘New’ Shampoo Bar

I got the chance to make some ‘New’ shampoo bars – and trust me, they’re as good as they sound. Infused with cinnamon sticks and oil, it’s my top pick. Sure, it’s available all year round, but there’s something about its Christmassy vibe that’s unbeatable. Using it is a treat as I did that evening (just before writing this!) – it leaves your hair soft and smelling like a dream.

The Wizard Bubble Bar Experience

Then there was the time with Mandy Stockley and Maxine Olive – “The Grannies” of the Lush factory – two of the most fantastic people I met on my trip. They walked me through creating the ‘Wizard’, a new Bubble Bar for Halloween, designed to look like a wizard’s hat complete with a beard and face.

And yes, there was that moment when someone made a cheeky ‘Wizard’s Sleeve’ joke while snapping photos, and I couldn’t stop laughing (okay, it was me). I was luckily not asked to leave.

A Trip I’ll Never Forget

Wrapping up my all-encompassing tour of the Lush factory in Poole, it’s hard not to feel a deep sense of appreciation for what this brand stands for and accomplishes.

From the bustling Bubble Room to the enchanting Soap Room, every corner of the factory pulsated with creativity and a commitment to ethical, fresh, and handmade cosmetics. Witnessing the meticulous crafting of products like the ‘New’ shampoo bars and the ‘Wizard’ bubble bars, and even attempting (albeit comically) to contribute, offered me an invaluable insight into the heart of the Lush factory and production operation.

The dedication of the staff, the lively yet focused atmosphere, and the sheer variety and quality of the products reinforced my belief in LUSH as a brand that truly lives up to its claims and values.

But beyond the mechanics of production and the allure of fresh, fragrant products, it was the people of Lush that left the most lasting impression. From Bart in the soap room to Mandy and Maxine in the Bubble Room to spending the day with Olivia and Chase, each person I met was not only an expert in their field but also a passionate advocate for the LUSH ethos.

Their enthusiasm was contagious, and their pride in their work was evident in every bath bomb, soap bar, and shampoo bottle. This journey through the world of Lush was more than just a tour of a factory; it was an immersive experience into a company that is genuinely changing the game in the cosmetics industry, one handmade product at a time.