The first thing that hits you is the smell; a fusion of sweet, fruity and the herbal – and we're not even in store yet!
In Milton Keynes, Lush Cosmetics has moved premises and now occupies a fabulous space at centre:mk
No more will ethical shoppers have to nudge past each other in the aisles as they shop for good things.
The new store looks fabulous, and it's really roomy too. Total MK was invited along to investigate the new premises, and be wowed by the huge selection of goodies on the shelves. We've had worse jobs!
Store seller Haley Sirois is tasked with walking us through the stock, and she is a fountain of knowledge – sharing not only product details, but also little fascinating facts about those products, and the brand in general.
Our visit coincides with Christmas, and the store is even more colourful than usual, with a wide array of beautifully packaged, fragrant items to suit all pockets.
If you want to strip the nonsense from your beauty products, and replace with some surprising lovelies, you've come to the right place.
Our journey of enlightenment begins with hair care. Now you might regularly peruse supermarket shelves for products that will leave your hair looking lustrous, or that promises to turn your frizz into fabulousness, but you'll not have tried anything that harnesses the collective goodness of wasabi, horseradish and caffeine; Wasabi Shan Kyi will thicken the hair too.
There is much more to see, of course - including a whole range of treatments; Marilyn, perfect for blondes (natural or from a bottle) to maintain their brightness; Damaged, and Yuge.
The Soak and Float shampoo bar is a goody, but no matter whether dry and flyaway, or greasy and thick, Lush has a nature-inspired winner for your locks.
We mentioned Christmas, and the gift sets make shopping easy; they are pre-wrapped perfection.
A real winner for anyone struggling to buy this Crimbo, but for us, Lush at this time of year means one thing - Snow Fairy!
Pretty in pink, this bubblegum inspired sweetness comes in bath bombs and body spray, in conditioner and lotion, and we are addicted, as is the Lush fraternity - this limited edition delight sells-out year on year...and costs us a small fortune as we stock up on a 12 month supply!
But Haley throws a curve ball; by filling the air with the sweet scent-ation of Yog Nog and Golden Pear. We want both, and purchase the pear then and there. By the end of the week, we've returned for the Yog Nog. And there was no need for a sales patter!
You can't have a Lush without having a spectacular Bath Bomb array, and they are lined up and looking mighty fine in their new home.
There are a spectacular selection, including pick 'n' mix opportunities; from the buttery to the fruity.
The Santa Bomb Bomb is a strawberry chap, and the Turtle Jelly Bomb will be a hit with kids; and they'll get to learn about the environmental impact on the beautiful marine creatures while they scrub themselves clean, replacing the grim with the freshness of sandalwood and cypress oils, and pine.
We shop at Lush, but we've never sat down and been walked through its fresh products for face care - and we come away with an appreciation for the Rosy Cheeks Face Mask, and the Ultrabland Cleanser.
The difference between products is vast, in every way, so be seated and let the experts talk you through the right skincare. It was a revelation for us.
On the other hand, body lotions at Lush have long been a beauty cupboard staple of ours. Feeling stressed, wound-up? Want to press the button marked 'stop' every once in a while?
Sleepy Hand & Body Lotion is a welcome relief, and will help you relax into noddy land with the favourite aid of lavender.
It has taken an hour and a half, and Haley has walked us through the the shelves packed with their items of beauty.
The choices are huge, and, to the first time buyer, a visit to Lush might seem a little overwhelming. But to walk on by is to your detriment. Lush staff know their stuff, and can whittle down what you need with ease.
The move to this much bigger, brighter store in centre:mk is a great move, for Lush, and for shoppers alike.
When it comes to cruelty free beauty, Lush are ahead of the pack, pure and simple.
Visiting for the first time? Try these tips:
> Don't just go by colour - the best product for you might not be your favourite colour!
> Try before you buy - Testers and samples are throughout the store. Get stuck in and see what work for you
> Ask for help - Lush assistants will work with you to get you the right products, and they are trained in items and ingredients.
> Have fun! Lush is environmentally sound, and has so much good stuff in small packages that you can try new things all the time - just leave some of that Snow Fairy goodness for us!
