LUSH, the chain of stores that doles out handmade soaps and cosmetics, is hosting a pop-up in Millennium Park this week where they'll be giving away free products to the public. The shop, located on the South Promenade of the park, is open from noon to 5pm today, and is running from 11am to 9pm on Thursday and Friday.
The company flew in "compounders" from their factory in Vancouver who are demonstrating how a few of their products are made. During the early hours of the day, visitors will be able to answer a questionnaire on an interactive touchscreen outside of the shop, which will then suggest one of three products made by a team member on-site.
If you go before 2pm, you'll be treated to a full-size bottle of LUSH's Ocean Salt face and body scrub, Yuzu and Cocoa shower cream or Catastrophe face mask. The products range from $7.95 to $36.95 in price, so a free bottle of the stuff is a pretty big steal. Guests who arrive later in the day will get small, sample-sized products, which is still great considering that the chain has just four locations in Chicago proper (none of which are in the Loop).
LUSH is making a big deal about the level of freshness of the ingredients in their products—they're squeezing and slicing fruit inside the shop, and they've got plant wall on its exterior.
Expect a sizable crowd at the south end of Millennium Park this week. People tend to go bananas over free stuff, especially when it's something like luxury soap.
Photographs by Jaclyn Rivas