Lush launches new, animal testing-free sunscreens

Lush’s approach to skincare is spearheaded by Co-Founder and Product Inventor Helen Ambrosen, who has been formulating suncare for decades. Helen follows the advice and philosophy of an expert in photobiology in dermatological sciences and is passionate about ensuring that Lush customers not only get effective products but accurate advice. 

“It would be so easy to pop a sunscreen or two into a day moisturiser, which is what the rest of the industry does,” she explains. “But we have followed expert guidance, which is not to mix your daycare with your suncare. That’s been very helpful guidance for us in terms of formulating.” – Helen Ambrosen, Lush formulator & co-founder.

Reasons to use sunscreen sensibly 

Sunscreens are most effective when you use them alongside shade and clothing to protect your skin. 50% of UV is received directly from the sun and 50% from scattered UV in the sky,  so the best line of defence against sun damage is to seek dense shade (thick tree foliage or an umbrella that covers a majority of the sky) and cover up with clothing, a hat and sunglasses during peak UV times. Be sun savvy!  

Sunscreens have an important public health role and can reduce your risk of sunburn and skin cancer, but weighing up the pros and cons of sunscreen – unfortunately often detrimental to the environment and tested on animals – has been a focus for Helen during sunscreen formulation. Thankfully, due to the sophisticated in vitro tests conducted by animal-free lab XcellR8, Helen is now able to formulate with confidence.

“Testing the sunscreens on human cell models has given us data that is far more relevant for human exposures than animal testing data, meaning we can be confident that our suncare products are safe. And we’ve done this in a completely animal-free way,” Helen explains.

Find a sunscreen that you love – and apply generously

Helen is keen to offer products that are lovely to use so customers will apply generously when they are needed.  “We know that people use less sunscreen than they think, which is a problem if they go out in the sun thinking they are well-protected. So, we really want to tell customers to find a product they love so they will use it generously, re-apply it regularly and use it alongside shade, a hat and protective clothing to look after their skin in the sun,” she says.

Sun Companion sunscreen lotion, SPF 20 (£12 – £24)

An evocative melon-scented nutritious lotion, containing nourishing ingredients such as evening primrose oil, along with olive, jojoba and almond oils to keep the skin soft and protected. Lush purchases jojoba oil from a producer who sustainably cultivates organic jojoba seeds in Peru.

Skin Guardian facial sunscreen, SPF 15, (£20)

A gentle sunscreen with softening shea and cupuacu butters for moisture, fresh apple juice for the AHAs, and sunscreens for broad spectrum SPF 15 protection. Soothing organic almond oil, a rather lovely lily infusion and plenty of humectant vegan glycerine leaves the complexion feeling super soft. A lovely dewy finish keeps the skin looking fresh and glowy.

These two new sunscreens join Lush’s current collection. The Sunblock (SPF30) is a solid, self-preserving bar designed to be used in the shower to ensure every bit of exposed skin is covered before going out in the sun. Million Dollar Sun Cream (SPF10) contains luxurious skincare ingredients and light-reflecting pigment for delicate shimmer and a dewy complexion. There’s also Sesame Aftersun Lotion to help skin retain moisture and feel soft and radiant.

You can find further information on Lush’s approach to suncare here 

notes to editors

For more information please email [email protected].

About Lush

Since establishing in 1995, Lush has been driven by innovation and its ethics. Creators of pioneering beauty products, one of Lush’s most well-known creations is the bath bomb. 

Invented in 1989 by Lush Co-Founder Mo Constantine in her garden shed, bath bombs have become a global sensation – all hand pressed in Lush’s own manufacturing sites across the world, Lush sold over 21.2 million last year.

A beauty company with a campaigning heart, Lush is on a mission to create a product for every need and a cosmetic revolution to save the planet. The ultimate goal is to leave the world ‘Lusher than we found it’.

Today, Lush operates in 50 countries with over 850 shops, 38 websites shipping worldwide and a global network of native apps, broadcasting channels and digital communities in over 30 languages.