Lush.com--Shop Online, With a few Caveats!
by - Written: Feb 29 '08
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| Full Review |
I waited ages to review this site, because I was really unsure as to how best to convey my feelings. Lush.com offers some unique and fun features, but since their products are so expensive, and scent is so personal a choice, I hesitate to recommend shopping there unless you have money to burn, a nose that is not too picky, or you know exactly what you want.
Shopping at Lush
From the get-go, a trip to the Lush website is unlike any other I have taken. You will be taken to a main page where you have to pick your country from a huge array of options. For me, after clicking on the United States flag, I am taken to the Lush U.S. website. I am assuming this is similar for the other countries, but I'm not sure. You will find a main page that is easy to navigate, although I'm not wild about the script lettering they use. It's hard on my declining eyesight.
A Mission Statement To Get Behind
Lush.com is a company with a mission. They offer beauty products that make you feel good about purchasing them. Their statement (from the website) follows:
We believe fresh cosmetics are more effective and require fewer preservatives. That's why we hand-make our products in small batches in our own factories . And unlike other beauty companies, many of our products are vegan, and none of our ingredients or products has been tested on animals. We choose ethical sources for the ingredients in our cruelty-free products and use minimal or recyclable packaging. We also give generously to charities championing animal rights, humanitarian concerns and environmental conservation.
I can get behind a company that has the same core values that I do, and I commend Lush for striving to offer better products that leave less of a "footprint" behind them.
Ready To Shop
Products are found from the menu on the left of the page, that yields sub-menus to choose from. you can find items such as Hair Care, Bath, Shower and so on. It is quite easy to find what you are looking for and browse through what is perhaps the most extensive product detailing I've ever encountered online. Lush goes above and beyond to list ingredients, directions for use, whether or not an item is vegan, and links directly to customer reviews. Very neat features.
Prices are high. There is just no other way around it. They are fresh, handmade and done in small batches. Compared to drugstores, you will be startled. I have to say that overall, I have been happy with my Lush purchases, but to minimize disappointment, I highly suggest a trip to a store (if possible) to sniff for yourself, what you'll be getting.
Selection of items is good. I do know that the masks Lush sells in the store are one thing the site does not offer due to freshness issues.
Purchasing items is quite easy. You select a size option (if it's offered), a quantity and then add it to your bag. When you are ready, you check out in the usual fashion.
Payment can be made via Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, with Lush gift cards, and via PayPal.
Shipping is done via FedEx, and really takes quite some time. When you check out, the cost is calculated via your order weight, and you have some options for speedy of delivery, but none of them are particularly fast. I only live about 200 miles from the Lush shipping center in Vancouver and my last order was received on the 13th of the month, shipped out on the 17th of the month, and arrived the 23rd. It's certainly not the fastest shipping I've ever received. While not a deal breaker for shopping at the site, it's something to be wary of, if you have a time sensitive gift or date in mind.
Quality of my items has been top-notch. They are packaged as if they were valuable breakables. Wrapped in the usual Lush packaging, I also had a good deal of bubble wrap used to keep things from crumbling en route.
Notable Features
~In addition to selling their wares, the Lush online site also has a pretty extensive online forum. This is a great place to find information if you are particularly Lush driven. Although I find the product reviews here at Epinions to be much more comprehensive, I find some great tips on the forum. You will find true fanatics that will suggest items to "cocktail" with Lush products you might not be thrilled with, you can see that latest instore news, and find out what products are coming or going from the stores. I really enjoy poking around the forum when I have some extra online time.
~Lush orders also usually come with samples that I always enjoy getting.
~Be sure to join the e-mail list and be on the hunt for shipping promotions and codes! They are out there.
All In All
I enjoy the shopping and community featured at the Lush online site. Just consider my recommendation to shop online to be tempered with the warning that shipping is slow, and you might want to "experience" your scents before investing in them.
Recommended:
Yes
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