Pink Corner
Curiosity inspired David Bembem to wander into Michigan's first Lush store Thursday afternoon. New to the Somerset Collection in Troy, the shop offers an inventive array of handmade soaps and skincare products made to delight the senses "I thought it was a candy store," said Bembem, a Macomb Township resident. It's a common mistake, according to Lush's Toney Steca. He said newcomers expect to find a candy store or a cheese factory.
It's no wonder, considering the wide array of products made with fresh ingredients. Positively cake-shaped Buttercreams are actually decadent moisturizing glycerine soaps, sometimes topped with chocolate shavings. They're situated next to colorful tubs of shower jellies, wiggly cleansers with names like Sweetie Pie.
Those already familiar with Lush stop in seeking hand-made products containing only organic fruits and vegetables, essential oils and safe synthetics. Shoppers, like Sandie Allen of Waterford, will go the distance to buy these products. She used to drive to Windsor to visit Lush.
"Everything smells so good," she said. "I like that there's no animal testing and it's all natural."
Since Jan. 9, there is no need to commute. Troy marks the first Michigan location, one of 33 stores in the United States. Lush began as a joint venture in the 1970s between founders Mark Constantine and Liz Bennett, who customized fresh hair and skin products for their clientele in England. The company's long history included a thriving mail-order business, and in 1995, its first storefront opened in London. It took another 8 years for Lush to reach the United States.
 "We're like the produce section of the cosmetics industry," said Steca. The products are so fresh, some require refrigeration. They are made with few or no preservatives. All Lush products include a sticker detailing who made the product, when it was made and when it expires.
Depending on a customer's skin type and skincare needs, Lush employees will suggest the right combination of products to suit. "We'll customize your regimen," said Steca.
Some products are more expensive than others, depending on the ingredients. An $83 bottle of Gorgeous facial moisturizer, Steca said, was originally formulated for Princess Diana, and is derived from pressed flowers.
Indulge for less with a tub of Cupcake, a thick chocolatey facial mask for $10.95. "We sell out of this one all the time," said Steca. Shampoos and conditioners at Lush come in tubs or solid bars, not bottles. Big shampoo leaves hair soft and volumized. While Hard, a pink bar, cleanses and moisturizes. "A little goes a long way," said Stecca.
Following a bubble bar demonstration and with samples in hand, David and Sandy Bembem called Lush "an interesting store."
"We're going to try it out," added David Bembem.
By Stephanie Angelyn Casola
PINK appears weekly in Observer & Eccentric Newspapers.
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