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You are here: Home / Body / Dreams Come True – I Got to Tour the LUSH Factory in Vancouver!

Dreams Come True – I Got to Tour the LUSH Factory in Vancouver!

in Body, Lifestyle, Makeup, Men, Misc, Skin, Travel, Vegan on 11/29/16

PR Sample

Opus Hotel Vancouver

A few weeks ago, I was SO honored to have been invited to attend the LUSH Prize awards ceremony in Vancouver, BC. I’m super excited to share my trip with you – including my LUSH factory tour, meetings and interviews with LUSH VIPs, Capilano suspension bridge visit, and bath bombs for days! Warning – it’s going to be a photo-heavy article – but I just have a ton of pics to share with you!

Vancouver BC

vancouver-aqua-bus

Vancouver BC

When I arrived in Vancouver, I was immediately, like okay – I need to move here. It was cold, but it felt crisp and fresh. Instead of choking in the LA smog, I felt like I could actually breathe! There were trees and greenery mixed in with the HUGE high rise buildings, and I got to take a ferry ride on the water, which was a few blocks from my gorgeous hotel (The Opus in Yaletown).

The Opus Hotel Vancouver

LUSH

When I first stepped into my hotel room, I smelled LUSH immediately. I was excited to see LUSH bath bombs and other products that had been left in the room along with a sweet note from my new BFF, Peter (AKA member of the LUSH PR team). I don’t think I need to tell you that I took a LUSH bath every night while I was there! I haven’t stopped since I’ve been home – in fact I think I’ve developed a bath bomb addiction. Hey – could be worse, right?

LUSH is the only beauty company I know that puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to ending animal testing. Not only do they NOT test on animals, they actively campaign against the practice, and they give out huge awards to scientists, researchers, nonprofits, lobbyists, and others who are working to end or replace animal testing.

LUSH Prize Vancouver 2016

The LUSH Prize awards ceremony takes place every year in London, but this year, they held two additional young researcher ceremonies in the Americas (Vancouver) and Asia. The Vancouver event was just beautiful. It was a formal dinner at a beautiful venue in downtown Vancouver.

The theme was “cruelty-free science” (obviously!) and there were beakers filled with colorful water and dry ice, as well as the famous “fighting bunnies” logo everywhere. The award winners came from all over the world, and their passion was contagious. I felt so happy to be in the presence of so many like-minded people who aren’t just saying they are against animal testing – they are DOING something about it.

LUSH Prize Vancouver

LUSH Prize Winners 2016

(Photo credit: LUSH) How freaking cute are these guys? And that bunny award is amazing – maybe someday I’ll do something big and get one! For now, I’m happy just to be in the presence of these amazing people. 😀

I interviewed Hilary Jones, the Director of Ethics at LUSH. First thing I noticed – she had bright orange hair (Co-founder, Rowena, has pink hair – maybe it’s a company requirement to have cool hair!). Second thing I noticed – she REALLY cares about animals, and so does LUSH. As she told me the history of LUSH, the strides they have made in fighting animal testing, and how far they have come, I could sense the passion.

She told me that the reason for the LUSH Prize is that legislation alone isn’t enough. For example, the European Union banned animal testing, but there are loopholes. Brands can still sell in countries that require animal testing by law (like mainland China). She went on to tell me that we do need good legislation, and we have a lot of work to do on that front, but we also need scientists to change the way they do things in labs. Oftentimes animal testing is just a result of “we’ve always done it that way”, so we need young researchers to come in to the labs and say “hey – we really need to try something new.”

Education is also hugely important – and sometimes that takes a little shock value for news outlets to take notice. I know not everyone is on board with the methods LUSH has used to bring awareness to animal testing, but sometimes people need to be shocked in order to change. Seeing PETA’s undercover footage of animal testing facilities is what inspired me to create this blog in the first place (even though I cried all night when I first saw it!).

LUSH Factory Tour

So, the biggest excitement for me during the trip was that I GOT TO TOUR THE LUSH FACTORY! Oh wow – talk about beauty blogger dreams come true! It was such a nice experience – the team showed me around the main factory area (where the bath bombs and other products are made for Canada and the US).

LUSH Factory

LUSH Bubble Bars

It was like a high-volume bakery more than a factory-factory. I have toured other beauty factories, and this one was a lot…well friendlier. The people who worked there seemed genuinely happy – and the products are made with the kinds of tools you would see in a cupcake or cookie bakery!

LUSH Factory Tour

After the tour, I got to meet LUSH co-founder, Rowena Bird (who has major style and awesome pink hair), and actually make a batch of Buche de Noel with her! They gave me my very own LUSH factory shirt with my name on it – and LUSH “made by stickers” to put on the products I made – how cute is that?

Rowena Bird and Jen Mathews

Buche du Noel

LUSH Made by Jen Stickers

Jen LUSH Factory Tour

We used all fresh ingredients to make the seasonal body cleanser (REAL oranges, cranberries, almonds, cocoa butter, essential oils and brandy). If it didn’t have the essential oils and cocoa butter, you’d be able to eat it! Below is a pic of me sniffing the brandy while Dan patiently waits for my photo opp to be over!

My Beauty Bunny LUSH Factory Tour

Making LUSH Buche de Noel

Blending it up was no joke – it took some major power tools for such a large batch. I don’t know how these guys do it all day – major blending muscles! The next day I was excited to see the product I had made (okay not the ACTUAL batch) in a LUSH store – how cool!

LUSH Buche de Noel

After my tour, I went with Peter and Lauren (from LUSH) and Madelynn (cruelty free and vegan YouTuber and Ipsy stylist – check out her channel here) to the Capilano Suspension Bridge (right outside of the city).

Capilano Suspension Bridge Vancouver

Capilano Suspension Bridge Vancouver

Capilano Suspension Bridge Vancouver

Capilano Suspension Bridge Vancouver
So much greenery – I had no idea that area was considered a rainforest (I thought rainforests were only in South America and Africa – not true!). That bridge is scary in the best way possible – I loved it. All I can say is WOW – so gorgeous – I am ready to go back. Vancouver (and LUSH) – I hope you will have me back soon!

About Jen Mathews

Jen Mathews is the Chief Bunny and social media maestro for My Beauty Bunny. She is also the President of Top Tier Media, a digital marketing agency for beauty, fashion, health and lifestyle brands. Follow My Beauty Bunny on Instagram for more cruelty free goodness!

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Comments

  1. DRTVrMoi says

    November 30, 2016 at 9:19 am

    I’ve been buying Lush since the ’80s when I lived in London. It’s always been a charming brand with excellent ethics. Your tour of the factory made me so jealous. It looked like a great place

  2. Monica says

    November 30, 2016 at 1:18 pm

    WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!! ❤️

  3. Janelle Tio says

    December 1, 2016 at 9:56 am

    this looks amazing!! congrats on being invited to the lush awards AND their gorgeous factory! 😀

  4. chiefbunny says

    December 4, 2016 at 4:50 pm

    Thanks Janelle!

  5. Janine says

    December 5, 2016 at 7:59 am

    Those Made by Jen stickers are THE BEST!!

  6. chiefbunny says

    December 6, 2016 at 4:30 pm

    Isn’t that cool? I died! 😀

What is My Beauty Bunny?

My Beauty Bunny is an award-winning, top 10, cruelty free beauty, health, and lifestyle blog. We've been publishing cruelty free beauty reviews since 2009!

Top beauty blog, My Beauty Bunny, focuses on finding the best in beauty from companies who do not test on animals. We are not a vegan blog, but we do have a vegan section.

Founder & Cruelty Free Beauty Expert, Jen Mathews, is the President of social media and marketing agency, Top Tier Media. As seen in People Style Watch, Refinery 29, HuffPost Live, Shape Magazine, Fab Fit Fun, GQ, Teen Vogue and QVC. Founder of the Beauty Blog Coalition.

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