For over 40 years, The Body Shop has sourced the best ingredients from around the world to produce its bestselling range of body, face, and hair products. Whether you're a fan of the classic body butters, or addicted to the tea tree skincare line, there's something for everyone in the ever-evolving product range. But what many people love as much as the products are the brand principles. The Body Shop was the first global beauty brand to take a stand against animal testing in cosmetics, and to this day takes measures to ensure products are 100 percent cruelty-free [1] and vegetarian [2].
The Body Shop also has a vested interest in preserving the environments from which its ingredients are sourced, through its Community Trade initiative [4]. It encourages customers to be environmentally-conscious with its recycling programme [5], and is also active in the battle against period poverty [6], collaborating with the charity Bloody Good Period to collect donations in store.
Whether you're looking to shop with a conscience, or just on the hunt for a good quality, affordable beauty treat, we've found the best buys from across The Body Shop's range. Keep reading for the 21 products you should look out for next time you shop.
The Body Shop Satsuma Shower Gel
It's hard to walk by one of the brand's outposts without getting a whiff of the popular The Body Shop Satsuma Shower Gel [7] (£5) with utterly intoxicating satsuma scent. Not a morning person? We recommend lathering up with this energising, citrusy shower gel to help kick-start your day (don't be surprised if it also helps brighten your mood).
The Body Shop Drops of Youth Liquid Peel
If you've got any experience of K-beauty, you've probably tried one of the "magic peel" liquids, which grab hold of flakes of dry skin and dirt and "peel" them off in little balls as you massage them over the skin. The Body Shop Drops of Youth Liquid Peel [8] (£18) is The Body Shop's version, in a bumper-size bottle, and it'll leave you with radiant, fresh-feeling skin. The act of using this is so gratifying, just be careful around the sides of your face: if it grabs hold of your baby hairs, it can take a while to get it out!
The Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain
A modern classic, The Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain [9] (£8) is a multipurpose stain that's developed a following for its easy and beautiful application. It's now available in more colours, so if the original red didn't work for you, try the new pinks for a softer finish. Just sweep on your lips and cheeks — it's buildable, so you can control exactly how much you want to blush — and you're out the door.
Tea Tree Targeted Gel
An oldie but a goody, The Body Shop Tea Tree Targeted Gel [10] (£7.50) will shrink spots down to nothing in a matter of days (hours, if you're lucky). It's a little easier to use than neat essential oil, has less of a strong scent, and it's gentle enough for sensitive skins. It also won't dry out the skin around the spot in the way some other spot wands will.
The Body Shop Banana Shampoo, Conditioner and Mask
The Body Shop enthusiasts have been going bananas (sorry, we had to) for years over this hair care line made with Community Trade organic banana puree from Ecuador. The bestseller was recently given a fresh new look, and is free of silicones to help keep hair from feeling weighed down. Team The Body Shop Banana Truly Nourishing Shampoo [11] (£6.50) with the matching Banana Truly Nourishing Conditioner [12] (£6.50) and use the Banana Truly Nourishing Mask [13] (£12) when your hair needs an extra dose of moisture.
The Body Shop Shade Adjusting Drops
An idea so obvious you wonder why every brand doesn't do a similar product, The Body Shop Shade Adjusting Drops [14] (£11) were designed to help you tweak the colour of your foundation by one or two shades. Simply add a drop or two to the back of your hand with your foundation, and mix in before applying to your face. They're perfect to help you make one base shade last all year round, even when you're tanned.
The Body Shop Shimmer Waves
A blusher, bronzer, and highlighter in one, The Body Shop Shimmer Waves [15] (£16) help you get a natural, sun-kissed glow with barely any effort. Sweep a big brush across the entire palette to mix the shades for a suits-all wash of colour, or use a smaller brush to apply the different hues individually if you're a pro at contouring. You can even use your fingers to make the illuminating powders work double-duty as eyeshadow.
The Body Shop Spa of the World Hawaiian Kukui Cream
The Body Shop Spa of the World Hawaiian Kukui Cream [16] (£25) from the popular Spa of the World collection, is the ultimate indulgent body cream, for when you want something even more luxurious than a body butter. It contains Polynesian monoï for radiance and Tahitian orchid, community trade brazil nut oils, and cocoa and shea butters for ultimate moisture. It also features a unique, slightly tropical scent that lingers long after you put it on.
The Body Shop White Musk Eau De Parfum
Instantly taking you back to the '90s, The Body Shop White Musk Eau De Parfum [17] (£22) is still a bestselling fragrance all these years later. Slightly musky and slightly floral, it's been given a modern makeover, resulting in a scent is hailed for being soft and feminine but not overpowering. It'll bring back so many feelings of nostalgia.
The Body Shop Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask
Taking inspiration from Korean skincare trends, The Body Shop Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask [18] (£25) has a texture unlike any other, and if you're suffering from "hungover" skin, pop this on overnight and it'll works brilliant to plump and moisturise without making your skin feel greasy. It's fresh and cool to apply, with ingredients including edelweiss from the Italian Alps, and sea holly from the Brittany Coast.
The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil
The Body Shop's Vitamin E range has been a favourite for years, and they don't get much better than The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil [19] (£16). This eight-hour miracle serum contains Community Trade sesame seed oil from Nicaragua and a high concentration of wheatgerm oil, along with plenty of Vitamin E, which is a popular ingredient for more mature skins. Unlike some other oils on the market, we especially like how lightweight and non-greasy the formula feels on the skin.
The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Refreshingly Purifying Cleansing Scrub Shampoo
A hair scrub may sound like a fad, but your scalp probably suffers from more product build-up than any other part of the body (especially if you're a dry shampoo addict [20]). The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Refreshingly Purifying Scrub Shampoo [21] (£15) is massaged deep into the scalp to remove product residue and stimulate blood flow. With menthol, mint, and green tea, you'll really feel it working!
The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil
The launch of Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil [22] (£30) signified a real turning point for The Body Shop's skincare offering. The brand had perhaps been living off the reputations of its vitamin E and tea tree ranges for a little too long, but this incredible (and good value) facial oil really upped the ante. Combining black cumin seed oil, camellia seed oil, and rosehip seed oil with a blend of essential oils, it's a joy to use and really makes the skin glow.
The Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil
Put simply, The Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil [23] (£18) will give you music video skin. Think Beyoncé writhing around in the "Baby Boy" video or any Jennifer Lopez [24] clip from the early '00s. It's a little messy to apply, but it will make your skin shimmer like nothing else, without the need for fake tan or tricky contouring. It also smells incredible, like a holiday in a bottle!
The Body Shop Brazilian Cupuacu Scrub-in-Oil
The Body Shop's Spa of the World products come in hefty 350g tubs that look really luxurious and indulgent, and the formulas within definitely deliver on luxury. For a really rich scrub with a moisturising finish, reach for The Body Shop Spa of the World Brazilian Cupuacu Scrub-in-Oil [25] (£22). The oil within the scrub comes from ground cupuacu nuts harvested in Brazil, the exfoliation from salt, which gently dissolves as you scrub. This is amazing for reviving postholiday skin.
The Body Shop Shea Body Butter
The Body Shop's body butters have remained among their most beloved products to this day, and right at the top of the list is the ever-reliable The Body Shop Shea Nourishing Body Butter [26] (£15). Made with community trade shea butter sourced from Tamale, Ghana (where the ingredient is traditionally used to protect skin from harsh winds), the formula is moisturising enough to tackle skin's roughest of patches. The sweet, nutty scent also has a calming effect, so you'll begin to feel more relaxed as you're applying. You'll notice a difference in your skin almost instantly.
The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter
There are few cleansing products that I'd recommend for all skin types, but The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter [27] (£10) is one of them. Camomile is said to be soothing and calming, meaning this cleanser can safely be used on all but the most sensitive skins (even around the eye area). Massage the sumptuous melting balm it into the skin and remove using a flannel or muslin cloth soaked in hand-hot water. It removes makeup and leaves skin feeling soft and pampered, plus the tin lasts for ages.
The Body Shop British Rose Exfoliating Gel Body Scrub
The Body Shop really does use roses harvested in the UK to give the instantly recognisable scent to its British Rose range. If you love roses, you'll love the entire collection, but my top pick is the British Rose Exfoliating Gel Body Scrub [28] (£15). Unlike most of the brand's scrubs, this one doesn't contain oil. Instead, the gentle exfoliating particles (ground shells and dried rose petals) are suspended in a gel formula. When rinsed, the skin is left smooth and free of residue, making it perfect for warmer days, self-tanning, or applying body makeup!
Foundation Brush
I bought my first Body Shop foundation brush as a teenager, and over a decade later (after trying numerous other options over the years), I still find myself reaching for The Body Shop Foundation Brush [29] (£12) frequently. The well-packed bristles hold just the right amount of product, and the brush has just the right amount of softness to help apply easily and smoothly, especially around the eyes. Though the foundation application world has moved on, this brush still delivers.
The Body Shop French Lavender Massage Oil
Another Spa of the World winner, this is a must if anyone in the family has trouble sleeping. Give any tired, stressed-out soul a neck and shoulder massage using Spa of the World French Lavender Massage Oil [30] (£15) and they will soon drift off.
The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask
If you have oily or spot-prone skin, make The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask [31] (£17) part of your weekly regimen. A clay mask, this is the only Body Shop face mask that dries completely on the skin, and if you look carefully you can sometimes see the oil soaking in as it does. There's also tea tree oil, bamboo charcoal, and green tea leaves in there for an extra treat. Those with combination skin can also benefit from this, but keep it to the T-zone only, and multimask with a more nourishing formula on your cheeks [32].