The Body Shop - any good these days?

[Frazzledmum77]

I have very fond memories of The Body Shop as a tween/teen in the late 80s/early 90s. When a basket of soaps and pearls was the standard tween birthday gift and Aloe Vera moisturiser was a revolution!

My daughter is about to turn 12 and suddenly super interested in skincare and makeup. I’d like her to go cruelty free/organic/vegan where possible rather than buying crappy stuff full of badness. The Body Shop immediately sprang to mind as somewhere she could go and browse (when shops open again). Especially for skin tone make-up as that’s pretty hard to buy online (she wants a powder foundation, concealer blah blah blah).

My question is, is the Body Shop product range any good these days?

It gets a lot of hate on here and I do know why ... but I do like the Morninga and Satsuma shower gels. Elderflower eye gel is lovely but she’s probably not really into that? Their grapefruit serum is also really nice. I have a fondness for the body shop; I used to spend all my pocket money there

Agree there is a lot of hate on MN, but me and my daughter really love it.
Shower gels are lovely, make up brushes last forever, the make up can be nice and subtle, the skin defence SPF 50 moisturiser is light and amazing.
Not to mention body butters.. still some of my favourite moisturisers

I like their body butters and their hand cream is the best i've ever tried.

I don't know anyone who buys from them after the way they behaved towards J K Rowling. Holland and Barrett have a good range of brands.

All 'menstruators' are welcome at body shop.

It's really expensive for what it is. Years ago it was unusual to find cruelty free products but they are everywhere now.
Personally I stopped shopping there because I think they have thrown women under the bus to pander to bullying men - I thought I would miss certain products like the body butters but honestly there are loads of equally good alternatives. There are lots of brands which are very popular with teens and young women, that have a wide range of products that covers all the traditional BS market, but for basics Superdrug are good for ethical beauty.

I think there are some better options online tbh. I find Body Shop a bit over perfumed and synthetic.

I quite like Lush, but it's overpriced really.

I would look for a smaller, ethical cosmetics company online. There are so many!

I have liked everything I've tried from there apart from the body yoghurt.
Hemp hand cream is excellent.
Skincare is good,
Soaps and showergels lovely.

I also like the Dr Organic range from Holland & Barrett but it's not AFAIK vegan.

At age 12, I'd be looking at Superdrug or Boots own ranges, which will include vegan products, and keep it simlple.

Yes superdrug are pretty good and seem to be ethical too. Not expensive.

Body Shop make up is good too, but I usually go for Boots own brands.

Leaving aside the politics of the body shop - JK, menstruators and the horrific MLM side hustle - of course their products are nice but so expensive and no more likely to be cruelty free than any other range these days (check out L'Oréal connection)

I think the body shop is too heavily perfumed and likely to cause issues for any teen with sensitive skin. For a great skincare regimen I would recommend “The Ordinary” - scent free serums and skin care at amazing prices. Things like AHA and BHA acids, amino acid serums etc. It would have been so great to have understood this when I was 12 rather than taking 7 years of trial and error!

For makeup side of things I would recommend Glossier!

Glossier are cruelty free as far as I’m aware.

I love Tropic skincare (which also get hate on here as it's social selling - I'm an ambassador but only do it cos I buy the stuff. I don't pester my mates to buy!).

Happy to answer any questions.

My friends teen son uses the products and they've settled his angry breakouts.
I use the serums on my daughters eczema and it's cleared her up too. She's a bit young for the skincare routine yet

I love body shop and use lots of their products

Superdrug own brands of skincare, haircare and makeup are all cruelty free and very reasonably priced.

Thanks all,

Must confess I didn’t know about the JK issue. But I do know that L’Oreal no longer owns BS.

Sounds like Superdrug is the best plan. Maybe a bit of Glossier.

We have brilliant organic skincare shop right on my high street and I wouldn’t shop anywhere else myself but no way am I going to spend that kind of money on a 12 year old.

Tropic yes gorgeous, my friend is a seller - again way too expensive for a child. Ditto Lush. TBF I haven’t seen BS prices yet but I know those 2 are out of her league. Christmas gifts only!!

Thanks again. 😊

I love Body Shop stuff. I use their skincare stuff, shower gel & shampoo

For super sensitive skin and acne breakouts DD has found she can only tolerate Body Shop Aloe Range. It is really difficult to find product without alcohol or acids. We also buy pure Tea Tree from there, as well as some of their other tea tree products. As a student you get, I think, 10% off, and we also seem to collect a lot of £5 vouchers, so in the end I don't think it is that expensive if you bulk buy. Often have 3 for two type offers. We like it.

Ginger shampoo is also a winner. Again really mild but effective.

No, I don't work for them .

OP, on the Super Drug website, you can filter makeup by vegan options. That might be useful.

Here's more about the Body Shop behaviour: www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/body-shop-jk-rowling-transgender-row-twitter-a4465596.html

Superdrug own brands are good and they also stock Revolution which I really like (cruelty free and vegan options). Both very affordable. The Ordinary are good too but some items can be expensive.

DD is 13 and has recently started getting more spots. She really likes the body shop aloe vera face wash but I have also got her Green People OY moisturiser and serum. The serum is a recent purchase (a few days ago) and has already had an effect.

I’d like her to go cruelty free/organic/vegan where possible rather than buying crappy stuff full of badness

What does that even mean? Do you both have a fully vegan/cruelty free lifestyle? Or have you just bought into the nonsense that natural=good? That simply isn't the case. Natural ingredients and formulas can be great, but equally synthetic ingredients are also fantastic. Arsenic is natural, but I wouldn't recommend that as part of a skincare regime.