In 2023, the release of The Super Mario Bros Movie was accompanied by an unexpected collaboration: a collection of skincare and bathing products from the cosmetics retailer Lush. Renowned for their commitment to natural ingredients and advocacy for social justice, Lush did not appear to be the most intuitive partner for a prominent video game franchise. Curiosity led me to explore these products, assuming my foray into beauty journalism would be brief.
To my surprise, the collection was remarkably successful, prompting Lush to subsequently launch a Minecraft-themed range, which I also reviewed. Now, there’s a new Super Mario Galaxy line associated with the film. Somehow, I have found myself designated as the Guardian’s Lush correspondent, ensnared in an ongoing cycle of video game-themed personal care items. It could be worse, so I am embracing this unexpected role.
As part of my commitment to this exploration, I sampled various products from the collection, including body sprays, shower gels, and lip balms. The film features characters Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, and Peach as they venture into space to assist the cosmic guardian Rosalina in her battle against the notorious dinosaur Bowser. Consequently, the products are filled with space-themed elements. For instance, the Princess Rosalina lip scrub includes edible star-shaped pieces, while the Protect the Galaxy shower gel boasts a sparkling finish, and the shower jelly contains tiny Lumas, giving the impression of floating in zero gravity.
I began my testing with the shower jelly, which had a somewhat gooey texture reminiscent of scented ectoplasm. Its sweet fragrance reminded me fondly of the pick-and-mix selection at Woolworths, although this reference may not resonate with the intended audience. The Princess Rosalina body spray, described as having a ripe blueberry scent, evoked memories of Parma Violets and large fruity bubble gum bars from my childhood in the 1980s—an unexpected wave of nostalgia during this assignment.
My wife particularly enjoyed the Princess Peach lip jelly, appreciating its delicate pink tint and non-sticky formula, unlike many other lip balms. However, the Princess Rosalina lip scrub’s texture and flavor were akin to wet sherbet, and we found ourselves eating it instead. The standout favorite among my family was the Luma bubble bath star, which successfully generated bubbles despite our notoriously hard water, and included small star shapes. However, it did turn the bathwater a rather alarming yellow hue. The Mario and Luigi shower gels, flavored cola and apple respectively, are the same as those from the 2023 collection, which is perfectly fine for those who enjoyed them and, like me, have completely used them up.
One item we have yet to try is the large Yoshi Egg bath bomb, which contains a shower gummy in one of four colors. This product has inadvertently gained viral attention due to the red variant leaking a bloody trail in the bath, causing some concern among young children. Lush might consider leveraging this feature for Halloween or as part of a promotion for the upcoming sequel, Return to Silent Hill.
Are these new products as appealing as the original collection? I believe they are. If you are not a regular customer of Lush, you might find some of the more unique items, like the blueberry-scented balm bar that requires warming in your hands before use, to be challenging. However, the shower and bath products are user-friendly, and if you enjoy sweet, fruity scents, they provide delightful aromas while incorporating playful nods to the Super Mario Galaxy universe. I now eagerly anticipate my next assignment involving Lush’s themed toiletries, secretly wishing it will be a collaboration with Sonic the Hedgehog 4, or perhaps Elden Ring. How about a Starscourge Radahn shower gel?
