Lush - an ethical environmentally focussed beauty company

I rather like the ethos of Lush and I was made to revisit them when they sent me a catalogue in the post this week. They only buy ingredients from companies that don't ever test products on animals and they tend to test on humans instead. They invent all their own products and fragrances and avoid excessive packaging and preservatives and they obviously really enjoy coming up with new and innovative products that are really good value. All products are fresh and organic so if you haven't visited this brand in a while why not familiarise yourself afresh!

Here are some of the more unusual ingredients

BB seaweed fresh face mask

The key ingredient to the BB seaweed fresh face mask is Toothed Wrack Seaweed, found at all British coastal areas. This seaweed grows densely on the seashore and is added to this ultra soothing mask made specifically for men with sensitive skin (though can be used by women too). £5.95 for 75g, this mask is fresh so needs to be kept in the fridge.

'Great for anyone with sensitive skin – and fantastic on faces that go through the rigors of shaving every day and need a cooling treat sometimes.'

Buffy Body Butter

Buffy Body Butter is great for buffing up your bum getting rid of dead skin cells and making sure you have all-over soft skin. The unusual ingredients in this bar are ground rice, ground almonds and ground aduki beans which aren't too harsh but are still tough enough to really clear things us. I have tried this and it is a wonder as your skin feels beautifully moisturised too because of the addition of cocoa and shea butter alongside the lavender oils which give it a heavenly smell. £10.75 for 200g. 

H'Suen Wen Hua hair mask

This amazing hair mask (and yes I've tried this too) has a whole raft of ingredients to bring back shine to totally wasted hair. Bay leaf infusion really is the key ingredient alongside watercress infusions, balsamic vinegar, rosemary oil and fresh free range eggs. There's lanoline which moisturises naturally and olive oil to give strength plus cinammon leaf oil with all it's antiseptic qualities. H'Suan Wen Hua hair treatment is a bargain for £8.95 for 225g.

'This product is intended to be piled on generously and left for 20 minutes, preferably whilst sitting in the bath or somewhere steamy, to go about its work of putting back into your hair all that modern day life and habits take out.'

Móa - The Green Balm (and why you should buy it)

I am a bit wedded to my Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream which seems to work for most things - dry skin, cuts, bruises, chapped lips, cold sores... but I have now discovered a green and organic 'miracle' product that is just as good!

Móa Green Balm is a waxy moisturiser with the killer ingredients of yarrow and tea tree oil. Apparently yarrow has been used for thousands of years and was reported to have been used on wounds in the Trojan War so why we don't use it all the time I just don't know. Mix that with the antiseptic qualities of tea tree oil and that is why I think it's such a great product. 

It works as a moisturiser and can even be used on your hair as a mask. It heals rashes, eczema, nappy rash, and is 100% organic. You can also add it to hot water and honey and gargle with it for sore throats. I had the start of a cold sore, put some on and it vanished almost immediately (I kid you not).

Don't be put off by the fact that Gwyneth Paltrow is a fan - she does have some good ideas. Buy it today at Cult Beauty for £12.50 for 50ml.