Ingredient

Almond

A staple in cosmetics, the tear-shaped almond is beloved for its soothing properties and comforting scent.

What are almonds?

Almond crops thrive in sunny regions such as the Mediterranean, California, the Middle East and North Africa. The almond tree is part of the plum family (Prunus), and its fruits are very similar to its relatives, such as apricot or peach. Hiding deep in the soft flesh is a very hard pit, which reveals a tender almond when broken.

There are two types of almonds: sweet and bitter. Sweet almonds (Prunus dulcis) can be ground, pressed into oil, or mixed with water to make milk. Almond essential oil is distilled from the kernels of bitter almonds (Prunus amygdalus amara) to make a perfume material.

What are the benefits of almonds in cosmetics?

In general, almonds and almond-derived products are soothing and conditioning to the skin and hair, as well as being emollient and packed with vitamin E (an antioxidant). But the benefits also depend on the type of ingredient, of course. For example:

• ground almonds gently exfoliate the skin,
• the essential oil has a sweet and almost cherry-like aroma,
• almond butter is even more moisturising than the oil. 

Where does Lush source almonds?

As we’ve said above, almonds are used in our products in several forms. Each of them will have its own source. To find out more, browse your Lush product’s list of ingredients and click on the ones you are interested in. This should take you to a page full of details!