Ingredient

Irish Moss Gel

Chondrus crispus

Dried Irish moss is boiled in water until it makes a cleansing and soothing gel. Rich in antifungal sulphur, the seaweed is said to help treat acne and dandruff.

Despite its mossy name, Chondrus crispus is a bushy, red seaweed found on the Atlantic coast of Europe. 

People tend to be disgusted by seaweed floating in the sea, slime-ly touching bathers' ankles by surprise, but most of it is actually very beneficial for the skin and hair, like the Irish moss. Its mucilage (the gel produced by the plant) is antifungal and nourishing and can be extracted to create carrageenan powder, a popular thickening agent.

Lush buy this moss in powder or dried flakes. The seaweeds are hand-harvested at low tide, on the coast of Brittany, France, where they grow on the foreshore. After being picked and sun-dried, they are sent to a nearby factory for final quality check, cleaning and possibly grinding.