TO MAKE the launch of Lush’s new boutique in Glorietta 4 extra-special, Stores Specialists Inc. flew in Lauren Savage, who handles international business development and support for Lush International.

She reintroduced everyone to the brand’s Charity Pots, a beautifully scented hand-and-body lotion, where every penny goes to carefully selected grassroots causes for people, animals and the environment.

In the Philippines, Lush will be donating part of the proceeds to local organizations such as Cara Welfare Philippines that works for animal welfare.

The new formula includes seven materials sourced from the brand’s Sustainable Lush Fund (SLush Fund) projects: Rosewood oil from Peru; ylang-ylang oil from Swedru, Ghana; geranium oil from Nanyuki, Kenya, for the fragrance; fresh aloe leaves, also from Kenya; moringa oil from Techiman, Ghana; fair trade shea butter from Ghana; and fair trade organic cocoa butter from Colombia.

I had to ask the redheaded Katy Perry doppelganger about her top five desert-island picks from the brand. She couldn’t resist—and chose six:

1. “New” Shampoo Bar

“It’s got cinnamon and peppermint. Maybe because it’s Christmas, and I’m feeling a little bit festive as well, so I really like this one,” Lauren explains of her choice, which is a solid shampoo bar with cinnamon, clove and peppermint to stimulate your scalp, an infusion of nettle and peppermint to stimulate the scalp and promote healthy hair, and rosemary to soothe and calm the scalp and add a glorious shine to hair.

2. Veganese Hair Conditioner

“This is seaweed with lemon,” Lauren points out. “The seaweed keeps the hair really soft, and the lemon gives your hair a shine as well.” Created for customers with fine hair, this is also Lush’s first vegan hair conditioner. They use agar seaweed gel as a natural hair softener instead of lanolin, and blend in generous helpings of lemon oil to create the perfect vegan conditioner to leave hair with tons of gloss and shine. They also added in the scalp soothing effects of lavender and rosemary.

3. Damaged Hot Oil Treatment

“These are really new,” said Savage. “We only launched them in Oxford Street in May, and we’ve just rolled them out internationally about a month ago and they’ve become very popular.”

Packed full of extra virgin olive, almond and avocado oils to replenish deeply and rehydrate thirsty locks, this treatment bar is attached to a wooden stick. To prepare, mix it in with some hot water, and stir it in a pot for about five minutes. Apply to dry hair and leave on for around 20 minutes before shampooing.

4. Celestial Facial Moisturizer

“So this is a facial moisturizer with almond milk, so it’s really gentle and quite rich on the skin, but really good for sensitive skin as well,” said Savage. “I like it because when I’m traveling, different climates can affect how your skin behaves, so it’s great to have this on-hand.”

For those with oily complexions, however, Savage has another recommendation: “The Vanishing Creams are popular in Asia because they’re a bit lighter on the skin, and it has lavender in there, so it’s very balancing.”

Meanwhile, “the Skin’s Shangri La is a really rich, intensive cream. It has a lot of cold-pressed oils, which is the most expensive and nutritious form of oil. I think it works great as a night cream.”

As an added incentive to keep purchasing Lush moisturizers, “We do this thing where if you bring back five pots, we give you a free face mask or facial cleanser!”

5. Star of Wonder Bath Bomb

“This one actually has 100 stars inside,” said Savage. “In the water, it’s absolutely gorgeous.”

“You basically run the water and then just give it a swirl. It’ll start to change color, and then all the stars come out. That’s my favorite Christmas bath bomb.”

6. Twilight Bath Bomb

“This is what I like all year round,” said Savage. “It’s got bubble bomb mixture in it as well, so when it fizzes, it starts to bubble at the same time. It changes color and then you get all these silver sparkles, which are nonplastic and PET-free.”