At the start of April, I was invited to check out the new location of Lush Cosmetics at Chinook Centre in Calgary. Lush has had a store in Chinook for several years, but they have been rolling out a new look in large cities. Their new location is 2500 square feet, six times larger than the old location. You may recall the store used to get packed, especially during holidays and sales, to the point that product could not be seen.

The new concept was designed to hopefully give customers enough space to check out all products as well as provide a one-on-one experience with their knowledgeable staff. I hadn’t checked to see where the new location was but, as I was walking through Chinook and was getting close to the old location, I could smell the appealing scent of Lush essential oils, and followed my nose. I felt like that toucan on the Fruit Loops commercials.

Approaching the storefront, you can easily see all the changes they have made. The entrance way is just about the full width of the store, making it easier to see what Lush has to offer. The space is bright, colourful, spacious – with sections set up for specific product lines. Right up front are the bright and colourful bath bomb tables, homing quite a selection.

Off to the left side is a demonstration counter. This is where they show how things are made or used. For media that came to the grand opening, we were treated to a demonstration of how they make their product "Cup 0’ Coffee", a face and body mask. I knew that Lush was not like your typical cosmetic company – where product is made in a large-scale factory with ingredients that are questionable – so seeing the product made live was a treat. Lush staff used a hand blender and mixer to create this face-mask. The ingredients were simple: organic coffee beans, agave syrup, vegetable glycerine, vanilla extract, caffeine. They demonstrated that the ingredients were edible too but, depending on what it was, it might taste better than it smells. When they create the products in larger batches, out of either the Vancouver or Toronto offices, they said they it is pretty much done the same way, just with much larger appliances.

They walked us through the store showing the different areas dedicated to product categories, each having a theme or purpose. They have an area set up with a hair stylist’s chair and mirror for the area that homes hair products like shampoos, conditioners, styling agents and dyes. Another area is set up for perfumes and colognes. The far back wall looks like it could be a kitchen; with sinks, white ceramic tiles and a wood counter. Face cleansers, hand and body lotions, scrubs, deodorant, products for your feet and other goods are on display there.

In front of the back wall is a great new feature. For a moment, I thought they had a salad buffet set up: there were bowls of colourful creams on ice. It’s their product testing area. Customers looking for face masks or creams can sit down and a consultant will give them a personal demonstration. I decided to try it out. They apply a small sample on an area of your hand, give it a couple minutes to do its thing, then rinse off the product using a wet towel and ask you what you think of the difference. The experience was educational as well as impressive. Lush lets you try out pretty much anything in the store and see if it is right for you, and they will help you decide. I asked if these products on ice were new. They said they have always carried them, just that they could never display them properly. They even have a refrigerator stocked with them.

Along the other side of the store, across from the demonstration counter is the display of gift boxes, soaps and body wash. They have a large basin set up to test out the bubbly products and bath bombs, which you know it is a hit for kids. On the tables out front, along with the bath bombs, are the colourful chunks of soap that they cut and wrap up for you, as if in a deli.

Lush has always been very progressive in the way they do business, supporting fair trade, community trade and charitable initiatives. Their products are not tested on animals; every product is vegetarian with about 85 per cent being vegan. About 40 per cent is free of preservatives, and over a third are unpackaged.

While walking through the store, you can see that they consider diversity when hiring too. A good number of the staff were part of the LGBTQ community, and were proud to show it. It does not matter who you are, the products are for everyone: anyone can try out the make-up or other products in the store and the staff will help if needed. Lush is proud to decorate their windows for Pride and even advertise on social media with same-gender couples in bathtubs. Their models span a wide spectrum of body types; plus sized men and women are shown using their products.

Their location in West Edmonton Mall had opened with the new look and concept prior to the Chinook location in Calgary. There are about 250 Lush Cosmetics locations across North America so, even if you are not able to visit these new concept stores, it is worth checking out their products. There is something there for everyone to use and enjoy.

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Contributor Steve Polyak |

Locale Calgary |

Topic LUSH Cosmetics | Product Review |

Photo Gallery LUSH Cosmetics |