Ingredient

Lime Oil

Citrus aurantifolia

Lime oil spreads its sharp, energising and zesty scent across various ranges of Lush products. From the top of your hair to the tips of your toes, its antimicrobial and exfoliating properties keep things clear and healthy, while sebum production is being balanced.

The key lime grows on the Citrus aurantifolia tree which is nowadays mainly cultivated in Brazil and Mexico although it is native to Southeast Asia. Fruits are usually picked when green and unripe, making them richer in acid and sugar than lemons.

Limes (and their oil) contain citric acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that provides gentle exfoliation and thus cleanses the skin of dead skin cells, leaving it radiant and smooth. This acidity also gives a lot of shine to the hair as it flattens their cuticles which, as a result, reflect light better.

Lush purchase lime oil from a producer in Mexico. The whole fruit, peel included, is pressed to obtain a juice-and-oil emulsion that is then steam distilled to recover the aromatic oil. It is a top note in perfume blends, meaning it’s the first one your nose will pick, but it’s also the first to evaporate on the skin.