So it’s only natural that the global retailer would have a beauty suite to enable people to take the perfect selfie, with all the right products.
The Body Shop has long been associated with ethical beauty—and for good reason. It was one of the first companies to sign The Compact for Safe Cosmetics in 2004, which asks companies to pledge not to use ingredients known or strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutation or birth defects. In 2010, it joined forces with Cruelty Free International and helped launch the Leaping Bunny program in China—the first international certification program for animal-free cosmetics testing. Today, more than 80 percent of its products are vegan (excluding makeup brushes), and almost all are vegetarian.
So what does this mean for your selfie game? The Body Shop can help you look good and feel good about yourself at the same time. For starters, its new Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil ($15) is a godsend if you wear makeup. A single pump will remove all your foundation, mascara and lipstick without drying out your skin—in fact, it leaves it feeling softer and smoother. Follow up with the Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask ($28), applied before bedtime; when you wake up, you’ll see a noticeable difference in your skin’s texture and radiance. And don’t forget sunscreen! The brand’s SPF 30 Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence ($25) contains antioxidant white tea extract to help protect against environmental damage while brightening skin tone.
If you want a little color on your cheeks (for when those selfie flashes hit), go for The Body Shop’s new Shade Adjusting Drops ($12). Add a few drops to your moisturizer or foundation, blend well and voilà—you have a custom-made tinted moisturizer or light foundation that adapts to your skintone. It comes in two shades: Light/Medium and Medium/Deep. I tried the former and found it gave my face a healthy glow without looking overdone—perfect for no-makeup days or when you just want a little something-something but don’t want to deal with full-on contouring.
For eyes that pop in photos, reach for The Body Shop’s Coconut Waterproof Mascara ($18). One coat gives lashes volume, length and curl that lasts all day (I put it on at 8 a.m., went swimming at noon and still had perfectly intact lashes at bedtime). And since we’re on the topic of water activities, if you wear contacts like me, you know how annoying it is when they get dry from being in chlorinated pools or salt water. To combat this, try The Body Shop’s Shea Butter Richly Replenishing Eye Cream ($20). Just dab a bit around your orbital bone before heading out—it creates an invisible barrier that keeps moisture in while also hydrating and depuffing tired eyes.
Now let’s talk lips. If yours are anything like mine, they get chapped easily (especially during winter) no matter how much lip balm you slather on them. Enter: The Body Shop’s new Hemp Heavy-Duty Lip Care ($8). This stuff is seriously amazing—within minutes of applying it, my lips felt soft and hydrated (and stayed that way even after I ate lunch). Plus, it has SPF 15 so you can avoid sun damage year-round. For extra protection (and shine), top off with The Body Shop’s Born Lippy Lip Balm in Strawberry (£3/$4), which contains Community Fair Trade shea butter from Ghana as well as organic jojoba oil from Mexico. Trust me: Your lips will thank you later!