Cult Beauty Brand Lush Cuts Ties With Westfield Shopping Centres

Lush is set to close 10 stores across Australia over the next three years after deciding not to renew its leases with Westfield.

The global cosmetics retailer confirmed this week that it would end its presence in the shopping centre group’s locations as part of a broader strategy focused on aligning its stores with local community “ethics”.

It remains unclear who initiated the end of the arrangement, but a Lush spokesperson told News.com.au that the company was committed to separating from Westfield, which is operated in Australia by Scentre Group.

“Over the next three years, Lush will be coming out of all 10 of our Westfield locations across Australia,” the spokesperson said.

“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.

“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.”

The affected stores are understood to include Parramatta, Penrith, Miranda and Kotara in NSW; Chermside, Carindale and North Lakes in Queensland; Fountain Gate in Victoria; and Booragoon and Carousel in Western Australia.

The move will leave Lush with only one store in Perth, as two of its three existing locations in the city are situated inside Westfield centres.

Lush said it does not plan to scale back its Australian operations. Instead, it intends to shift towards high-footfall strip locations.

Further details are expected as the Westfield leases expire over the next 36 months.

The company said leaving Westfield would give it the opportunity to identify “appropriate” stores that better reflect its code of ethics.

Daily Mail has contacted Lush and Westfield for comment.

Best known for its bath bombs, soaps and other beauty products, Lush has long associated its brand with causes including animal welfare and waste reduction.

The retailer also campaigns on social and humanitarian issues and regularly launches products linked to those causes to support fundraising efforts.

Lush has been vocal about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza since fighting between Israel and Palestine reignited in 2023.

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In October 2025, the company closed its Australian stores for a full day and halted operations at its Sydney factory for 24 hours to draw attention to the issue.

Shop windows featured banners reading: ‘Stop starving Gaza – we are closed in solidarity’ during that time.

The stunt drew widespread debate with some applauding the brand for staying true to its activist roots while others accused it of ‘moral selectivity’.

Centre management at Westfield Chermside, in Brisbane, covered the store’s windows to block shoppers from viewing the Gaza banners. 

Many customers praised the beauty brand for standing by its values.

‘I’ll continue to support Lush. Not only are they animal friendly and environmentally friendly, they’re pro-Palestine,’ one commented online.

Another added: ‘Good on them! I’m sad I won’t be able to smell their products in-store before buying.’

Others were not sorry to see the stores shut up shop.

‘Thank god. The smell that comes from these stores is disgusting,’ one wrote.

‘Full of synthetic smells,’ another said. 

Founded in England in 1995, Lush opened its first Australian store two years later and had since expanded to almost 900 locations in 50 countries worldwide.

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