Lush: Cosmetics retailer announces exit from Westfield stores across Australia

Global cosmetics retailer Lush has announced its intention to leave all Westfield shopping centres across Australia this week, ending a long-standing presence inside the country’s largest shopping centre network.

The British cosmetics brand is known for its immersive scent-infused experience and renowned for colourful bath bombs, handmade soaps and cruelty-free ethos.

It is understood that the brand will be leaving all 10 of its Westfield locations nationwide as leases expire.

Lush made headlines in October 2025 when it closed its Australian stores, website and Sydney manufacturing facility for a day in protest against humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

Several Westfield centres subsequently covered up Lush shopfront signage during the protests.

The retailer arrived in Australia in 1997, opening its first store in Sydney’s historic Strand Arcade and quickly winning over shoppers with a distinctive approach to beauty retail.

Instead of traditional department store counters, Lush displayed products deli-style, with soaps sliced from large blocks, bath bombs piled into wooden crates and fresh face masks kept on ice.

Its unpackaged products and anti-animal-testing stance also helped distinguish it from mainstream beauty retailers, particularly among younger consumers.

Australia became one of Lush’s fastest-growing early international markets, prompting expansion into major shopping centres and capital cities throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The Westfield exit comes amid a history of unconventional business decisions by the privately-held company.

In 2021, Lush deactivated its official accounts on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok in protest against the impact of social media algorithms on young people’s mental health.

The retailer is expected to explore alternative ways to reach Australian customers outside the Westfield network, including standalone stores and other retail partnerships.

A Lush spokesperson told nine.com.au that as the business separates itself from Westfield, it will focus on realigning its brand with the Australian community.

“We aim to grow our presence across the country by serving local communities in the right locations with the appropriate size and type of store,” the spokesperson said.

“Lush is at its best when it reflects not just the skin and haircare needs of local communities, but amplifies that community’s values and aspirations.”