Cosmetics retailer Lush recently ditched its social media channels, so we visited stores in the UK and the US to see their array of vibrant bath bombs, hand-crafted scrubs

Grace Dean,Áine CainJan 22, 2022, 19:41 IST

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

Lush is a top cosmetics brand that made headlines after announcing it's ditching social media.
Insider recently visited two stores in Leeds and Indianapolis that looked like they were made for Instagram.

Lush, a UK-based beauty product retailer known for its colorful bath bombs and strong stance against animal cruelty, made headlines recently after it said it was shutting down its Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat accounts because of "concerns about the serious effects of social media."

A Lush store in Belfast.Michael McNerney/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Lush, a UK-based beauty product retailer known for its colorful bath bombs and strong stance against animal cruelty, made headlines recently after it said it was shutting down its Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat accounts because of "concerns about the serious effects of social media."

It was an unusual move for a company with close to 1,000 stores globally, especially for one with such vibrant and visual products that seem to be made for Instagram. We visited two Lush stores — one in the UK and one in the US — to see how they stack up.

A Lush store in London.Dinendra Haria/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

It was an unusual move for a company with close to 1,000 stores globally, especially for one with such vibrant and visual products that seem to be made for Instagram. We visited two Lush stores — one in the UK and one in the US — to see how they stack up.

The first Lush store popped up in the town of Poole in Dorset, England, in 1995. The Lush we went to in the UK was in the city center in Leeds, northern England. Though the store didn't have particularly eye-catching window displays, the smell of Lush's sweet bathing products wafting down the street made it easily recognizable.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

The first Lush store popped up in the town of Poole in Dorset, England, in 1995. The Lush we went to in the UK was in the city center in Leeds, northern England. Though the store didn't have particularly eye-catching window displays, the smell of Lush's sweet bathing products wafting down the street made it easily recognizable.

One side of the store didn't even feature its name, and the window display was just a pile of Lush magazines.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

The store didn't really have one focal point — instead, the walls were filled with shelves showcasing its products and there were displays dotted throughout the store floor. Though we visited just four days after Black Friday, there was no sales section, and we didn't notice any signs advertising product promotion.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

The store didn't really have one focal point — instead, the walls were filled with shelves showcasing its products and there were displays dotted throughout the store floor. Though we visited just four days after Black Friday, there was no sales section, and we didn't notice any signs advertising product promotion.

The displays were all beautifully curated.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

The most eye-catching part of the store was a display overflowing with sweet-smelling bath bombs. It looked like it was made for Instagram — making it all the more surprising that the company had decided to quit social media.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

The most eye-catching part of the store was a display overflowing with sweet-smelling bath bombs. It looked like it was made for Instagram — making it all the more surprising that the company had decided to quit social media.

Behind this were rows of bubble bars, which look like bath bombs but are used by crumbling off small pieces into the tub to create a bubble bath.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

At £5.95 ($7.92) each, these seemed a bit expensive, but a staff member said they could be used around eight times each.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

Even if it's not as fun as getting to watch a whole bath bomb explode, bubble bars felt much more economical than the single-use bath bombs that Lush is known for, which cost around £5 ($6.65) each.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

Even if it's not as fun as getting to watch a whole bath bomb explode, bubble bars felt much more economical than the single-use bath bombs that Lush is known for, which cost around £5 ($6.65) each.

Lush is perhaps best known for its bath bombs, but it sells loads of other products too.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

The store had a display of Lush perfumes ...

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

... and body sprays in bottles that made them look like household cleaning products.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

There was a display dedicated to Lush's beautiful wrapped gift boxes ...

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

... soap embossed with the company's logo ...

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

... and a whole range of makeup products including mascara and lip products that you might not know Lush makes.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

There were also not just one ...

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

... but two displays dedicated to Snow Fairy, one of the brand's most popular collections.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

The store had a stand of gift cards for Lush's spa, too. The company has eight spa locations in the UK, offering a range of massages and treatments.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

The products all looked beautiful and smelled heavenly ...

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

... and they were largely packaging-free, too.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

The products we bought were packed in individual paper bags by the cashier, who added labels with the ingredients and instructions for usage.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

The packaging is recyclable, and Lush used it to show its stance against animal testing, too.

We visited a Lush store in Leeds, northern England.Grace Dean/Insider

To get a sense of Lush's presence in the US, Insider also visited a location in Indianapolis. The chain has stores across the US, including in New York, California, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois. Like with the Leeds location, the smell of soaps and cosmetics is noticeable to anyone walking by.

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

To get a sense of Lush's presence in the US, Insider also visited a location in Indianapolis. The chain has stores across the US, including in New York, California, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois. Like with the Leeds location, the smell of soaps and cosmetics is noticeable to anyone walking by.

It was a pretty sizable shop, filled with shoppers and attentive employees.

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

There were also quiet a few sink stations, where shoppers can sample the products ...

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

... as well as a DIY fragrance sampling station.

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

The displays were set up to look more artisanal than those in your average store's beauty section.

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

We were pretty fascinated with these vegetation-wrapped cleanser products, in particular ...

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

... as well as these bars that look like soap but are actually hardened massage oils. The bar "was made to melt on contact with skin."

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

We also noticed unexpected offerings like these toothpaste tablets ...

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

... and these avocado oil treatments.

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

The mountain of carved blocks of soap was a main focal point in the store.

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

But the most grabbing section were the shelves decked with these colorful shower and bath bombs, clustered near the front of the store.

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

These shelves held silvery bells and pink seashell-looking creations ...

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

... mermaid-inspired bath bombs ...

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

... strange purple monsters ...

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

... festive treats ...

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

... and even these cute little gummy bears.

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

While the US store was filled with interesting offers, it seemed that these eye-catching bath bombs were definitely the centerpiece of the store, and a main draw for mall-goers who might happen to glance over.

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

While the US store was filled with interesting offers, it seemed that these eye-catching bath bombs were definitely the centerpiece of the store, and a main draw for mall-goers who might happen to glance over.

Overall, Lush stores on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean seem to cater to shoppers who don't mind spending a lot on boutique beauty options and artisanal cosmetics.

Insider visited a Lush store in Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

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Cosmetics retailer Lush recently ditched its social media channels, so we visited stores in the UK and the US to see their array of vibrant bath bombs, hand-crafted scrubs

Lush, a UK-based beauty product retailer known for its colorful bath bombs and strong stance against animal cruelty, made headlines recently after it said it was shutting down its Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat accounts because of "concerns about the serious effects of social media."

It was an unusual move for a company with close to 1,000 stores globally, especially for one with such vibrant and visual products that seem to be made for Instagram. We visited two Lush stores — one in the UK and one in the US — to see how they stack up.

One side of the store didn't even feature its name, and the window display was just a pile of Lush magazines.

The displays were all beautifully curated.

The most eye-catching part of the store was a display overflowing with sweet-smelling bath bombs. It looked like it was made for Instagram — making it all the more surprising that the company had decided to quit social media.

Behind this were rows of bubble bars, which look like bath bombs but are used by crumbling off small pieces into the tub to create a bubble bath.

At £5.95 ($7.92) each, these seemed a bit expensive, but a staff member said they could be used around eight times each.

Even if it's not as fun as getting to watch a whole bath bomb explode, bubble bars felt much more economical than the single-use bath bombs that Lush is known for, which cost around £5 ($6.65) each.

Lush is perhaps best known for its bath bombs, but it sells loads of other products too.

The store had a display of Lush perfumes ...

... and body sprays in bottles that made them look like household cleaning products.

There was a display dedicated to Lush's beautiful wrapped gift boxes ...

... soap embossed with the company's logo ...

... and a whole range of makeup products including mascara and lip products that you might not know Lush makes.

There were also not just one ...

... but two displays dedicated to Snow Fairy, one of the brand's most popular collections.

The store had a stand of gift cards for Lush's spa, too. The company has eight spa locations in the UK, offering a range of massages and treatments.

The products all looked beautiful and smelled heavenly ...

... and they were largely packaging-free, too.

The products we bought were packed in individual paper bags by the cashier, who added labels with the ingredients and instructions for usage.

The packaging is recyclable, and Lush used it to show its stance against animal testing, too.

To get a sense of Lush's presence in the US, Insider also visited a location in Indianapolis. The chain has stores across the US, including in New York, California, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois. Like with the Leeds location, the smell of soaps and cosmetics is noticeable to anyone walking by.

It was a pretty sizable shop, filled with shoppers and attentive employees.

There were also quiet a few sink stations, where shoppers can sample the products ...

... as well as a DIY fragrance sampling station.

The displays were set up to look more artisanal than those in your average store's beauty section.

We were pretty fascinated with these vegetation-wrapped cleanser products, in particular ...

... as well as these bars that look like soap but are actually hardened massage oils. The bar "was made to melt on contact with skin."

We also noticed unexpected offerings like these toothpaste tablets ...

... and these avocado oil treatments.

The mountain of carved blocks of soap was a main focal point in the store.

But the most grabbing section were the shelves decked with these colorful shower and bath bombs, clustered near the front of the store.

These shelves held silvery bells and pink seashell-looking creations ...

... mermaid-inspired bath bombs ...

... strange purple monsters ...

... festive treats ...

... and even these cute little gummy bears.

While the US store was filled with interesting offers, it seemed that these eye-catching bath bombs were definitely the centerpiece of the store, and a main draw for mall-goers who might happen to glance over.

Overall, Lush stores on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean seem to cater to shoppers who don't mind spending a lot on boutique beauty options and artisanal cosmetics.