When The Super Mario Bros Movie hit cinemas in 2023, it came with an unexpected tie-in: a range of skincare and bathing products from cosmetics chain Lush. Known for natural ingredients and social justice causes, Lush seemed an unlikely partner for a major video game franchise. Yet the collection was so successful that Lush later released a Minecraft range, and now a Super Mario Galaxy line has arrived to coincide with the new film.
As the Guardian's de facto Lush correspondent, I found myself testing most of the products, including body sprays, shower gels, and lip balms. The new movie sees Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, and Peach blasting into space to help cosmic guardian Rosalina escape Bowser, so space references abound. The Princess Rosalina lip scrub contains edible stars, the Protect the Galaxy shower gel has a sparkly lustre, and the shower jelly features tiny Lumas suspended as if in zero gravity.
The shower jelly is gloopy, like scented ectoplasm, but has a sweet smell reminiscent of pick 'n' mix from Woolworths. The Princess Rosalina body spray, marketed as ripe blueberry, evokes Parma Violets and giant fruity bubble gum bars from the 1980s. My wife appreciated the Princess Peach lip jelly for its subtle pink hue and non-sticky texture, but the Princess Rosalina lip scrub, with its wet sherbet texture and taste, was less popular—we ended up eating it.
The family favourite was the Luma bubble bath star, which produced bubbles even in hard water and turned the water a disconcerting yellow. The cola-tinged Mario and apple-scented Luigi shower gels are identical to the 2023 versions, which is fine if you liked them. The large Yoshi Egg bath bomb, containing a shower gummy in one of four colours, has gone viral because the red one leaks a bloody trail in the bath, terrifying some children.
Overall, the collection matches the original set in quality. While some esoteric products like the blueberry-scented balm bar may challenge non-Lush regulars, the shower and bath items are easy to use and smell gorgeous, with amusing nods to the Super Mario Galaxy universe. I await my next Lush tie-in assignment with bated breath, secretly hoping for Sonic the Hedgehog 4 or Elden Ring.
