What to select when you’re expecting? Our pregnancy-safe massage bar: The Bump

Got a baby onboard? Fasten your seatbelt; you’re in for a bumpy ride! Pregnancy is a weird and wonderful time, truly magical one moment and a little gross the next. We can’t bring you pickles at 5pm, but we can help you ride out the changes to your body with The Bump: a pregnancy-safe product that you can use throughout all three trimesters (and beyond). Read on for the lowdown on this new massage bar and other Lush products during pregnancy.

What inspired this product for pregnancy?

Complex changes happen to your body when you’re growing a baby. You may notice differences to your hair, skin and mood, but the ‘biggest’ change for many people is the development of a ‘bump’ as your baby grows. Making space for your baby places a lot of pressure on the skin to stretch in a short period of time (relatively speaking  – after all, nine months can feel like a while when you’re living it!).

For millennia, pregnant people have applied butters and oils to their bump to help keep the skin hydrated and supple. Some have reported this has helped to minimise the appearance or even the development of stretch marks. We know our customers want to use a product that will care for their skin during pregnancy. We also know that pregnant people want reassurance that a product they use during this time, in an area so close to their developing baby, is safe. Both factors have led to the development of a product made for this very purpose. 

The Bump massage bar is an ultra gentle product for pregnancy, made with nourishing butters, beautiful essential oils and an impressive list of organic ingredients. A collaborative effort between Lush Co-Founder and Product Inventor Helen Ambrosen, Bodycare Category Lead and Massage Therapist Nikki Camm and Lush Toxicologist Dr Chloé Raffalli, it’s been specifically designed to support your skin as it stretches to accommodate your growing baby, and is safe for use during all stages of pregnancy, whether you’re carrying around a pomegranate or a watermelon. 

How did you confirm this product is safe for use in pregnancy?

In recent years, the ever more sophisticated non-animal-testing methods we have available have given us better toxicological data relevant to humans, and this has enabled us to formulate more confidently than ever before. This has meant we were able to use a variety of methods and available research to both formulate and assess the safety of this product. Lush Toxicologist Dr Chloé Raffalli explains, “We evaluated several toxicological endpoints to ensure the safety of our consumers. This included assessing skin sensitisation and genotoxicity, with all our ingredients tested for these concerns by XCellR8, our animal-free testing partner. We also examined systemic toxicity, which refers to potential effects occurring at sites distant from the application area over the long term. Knowing the holistic benefits of essential oils, we ensured all fragrance materials were at careful levels below the toxicological threshold of concern during pregnancy, and, as a result, customers can enjoy a pleasant-smelling product with complete safety.”

How did you test The Bump?

After careful in-house toxicological assessments from Chloé and her team, Lush products go to human testers for practical feedback. Lush Testing Manager Jet Shears and her team ensure all products, including The Bump, are tested in real-life conditions to get feedback that will go directly to the product inventors.

“We tested this massage bar in a couple of ways” explains Jet. “Firstly, we put a call out to our Lush staff to see if any pregnant staff would like to try this bar whilst pregnant and again postpartum to see how this bar helped maintain the skin's elasticity throughout. We also asked our independent tester volunteers whether they had any stretch marks and if so, would they like to test this product over a four-week period to see if they noticed any improvement on existing stretch marks within this time.”

• 82.9%* of product testers found their skin felt smoother and softer using this massage bar. 
• 80.8%* of product testers found their skin felt more moisturised using this massage bar.

*Based on 47 human product testers.

• The majority* of product testers found that their stretch marks reduced after using this massage bar. 

*Based on 52 human product testers

Can I use The Bump after a c-section?

Yes, as long as your wound has fully healed. You may find this product helpful for minimising the appearance of surgery scars, keeping the skin soft and supple during recovery, or just giving this area some well-deserved TLC. However, if you are experiencing any complications with infection or other medical issues, we advise not using any products unless recommended by your health professional.

Can I use The Bump on my baby?

Lush products are generally formulated with over three’s in mind. This is because safety assessments for children under three differ from that of older children based on their body surface area, low weight and less mature skin barrier. We do however have a few products that we have carefully assessed and know to be safe for ages six months plus: Sleepy Bot With Shampoo Bar and Ickle Bot With Shampoo Bar. With this in mind, we do not advise applying The Bump (or other Lush or cosmetic products unless indicated) to a young baby. Many babies need only water and a gentle plant-based oil (like coconut oil) to clean and care for their skin. We would advise speaking to a health professional if you feel your newborn baby needs more. 

Can I use The Bump when breastfeeding?

Yes, The Bump is perfectly safe to use when breastfeeding. We advise not to apply this product to your breast before feeding, however, so your baby does not ingest any.

Can I use other Lush products during pregnancy?

Our recommendation is only to use The Bump massage bar on your bump as it has been especially formulated to use in this area, which is closest to your baby. However, we are otherwise confident that customers can continue to use their regular Lush routines during pregnancy, although you may wish to adapt some things if you notice changes to your skin or hair. If you have a health condition or specific concerns regarding what you can or should be using during your pregnancy, we would recommend speaking to your midwife or a medical professional for advice. 

Can I have a treatment at the Lush Spa when pregnant?

We’re happy to say that a number of our treatments are suitable for you to enjoy from second trimester onwards, so please do book yourself in for a pamper. 

With a signed disclaimer, you can receive The Spell, Validation Facial, Fresh Facial, The Sound Bath, Tales of Bath, Tangled Hair, Good Hour, Tailor Made and Book a Bath experiences. (Please note that for The Good Hour and Tailor Made, side-lying will be required to perform parts of the treatments.)

Our welcoming spa therapists are very happy to give recommendations based on how you are feeling or you can browse our spa treatments online with a cuppa. To book yourself in for a treatment, find through your local Lush Spa here or book directly on the Lush App.

Don’t forget to care for yourself after baby has arrived too! Our spa therapists are ready to help you relax once you’ve recuperated, so why not treat yourself to a voucher?

Now that you’re all clued up on what makes The Bump safe (and indeed lovely) during pregnancy, why not indulge your skin and senses with a little TLC? Pick up The Bump for your bump (or a friend or partner’s) here.