The Body Shop Challenges The Beauty Ideal of Flawless Skin

According to a global study by The Body Shop, the majority of people think the beauty industry has a negative impact on self-esteem¹; and most see this stemming from the use of airbrushed or photoshopped images, and unrealistic beauty claims. The survey also found that people regard model choice in advertisements as the largest single contributor to low levels of self-love. The Body Shop is committed to boosting self-esteem and is using the findings to improve its practices, including product development and marketing. With the launch of its new and improved bestselling Tea Tree range, The Body Shop is encouraging people to be proud of the skin they’re in. By using skin-positive models throughout the new campaign², the brand is destigmatising blemishes, bumps and texture. The new range also features an updated, skin-loving formula, combining tea tree oil with salicylic acid, for those unpredictable skin days.

Laura Keane, Global Product Development Director for the Body Shop, says: “There is no such thing as perfect skin. Our skin is an amazing living organ and it has a personality all of its own. Sometimes that personality can be a bit annoying. Our Tea Tree range is to help skin play ball and make it more manageable. But ultimately, it’s about being comfortable in our skin, no matter what. That is why in our campaign imagery, we don’t cover up, smooth out, stretch, thin, lighten or darken. Instead, we celebrate the quirks and eccentricities that make us human.”

Take Back Control of Your Skin with Tea Tree

The Body Shop has renovated its number one skincare range³, with a new line-up that helps people manage the impact unpredictable skin has on their lives. It now comes with a skin-loving power couple: tea tree oil & salicylic acid, to help visibly reduce blemishes. With significant updates to the formula, the new Tea Tree range now includes salicylic acid in all the products⁴, alongside tea tree oil which is known for its naturally antibacterial properties. The result is skin that feels purified and a visible reduction in blemishes⁵, so you can feel in control of your skin, even on unpredictable days.

Introducing a brand-NEW Rapid Action Gel. With 2% salicylic acid, this fast-action gel works to visibly reduce the appearance of blemishes overnight. In fact, 80% of users found they had clearer-looking skin after just one use⁶.

The line-up also includes the bestselling Skin Clearing Facial Wash, with one sold every 16 seconds around the world⁷, the updated version has been reformulated to include salicylic acid, and is proven to reduce the appearance of blemishes in just 7 days⁸.

Naturally powerful Tea Tree Oil from Mount Kenya

Tea Tree has been used for thousands of years for its natural antibacterial properties. The Body Shop sources this naturally powerful plant from the foothills of Mount Kenya, where it is carefully hand-harvested by expert farmers and steam-distilled within 12 hours of harvesting to deliver the highest-quality oil.

The tea tree oil is organically produced, under small-scale cultivation and hand-harvested, with no pollution-emitting machine processing methods. What's more, it is all sourced through the brand's longstanding Community Fair Trade programme. The partnership with Kutoka Ardhini is providing over 1,000 small-holder farmers with a fair and predictable income, as well as a social premium which is used to fund community projects.

Meet the new Tea Tree line-up: improved formula, updated packaging

The improved range comprises 11 products, including cleansers and treatments with the addition of salicylic acid, for the ultimate blemish-busting routine. The range has the naturally clean and fresh scent of tea tree oil in a range of sensorial textures. And what’s more, all products have over 90% ingredients of natural origin⁹ and are complete with stylish new packaging, containing recycled and recyclable combinations of glass, aluminium and plastic¹⁰.

Recommended routine for unpredictable skin:

1. Start with the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Face Wash; massage an almond size amount into damp skin in circular motions to build up a lather. Rinse with water to remove.

2. Next, tone with the Skin Clearing Toner. Shake to activate, then with the help of a cotton pad, apply to dry, cleansed skin, swiping across all contours of the face. Do not rinse off.

3. Follow up with the Tea Tree Daily Solution. Apply 2-3 drops onto fingertips and massage all over the face.

4. Finish with the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Hydrator. Squeeze a pea-sized amount on to your fingers and smooth over the skin

References:

¹ Self Love Index 2020, Figure 10 Self Love and the beauty industry

² Campaign developed by The Body Shop’s in-house creative studio, The Greenhouse

³ Based on global sales from 01/01/2022-31/12/2022 and selling period of 12 hours per day, 7 days a week

⁴ Does not include Tea Tree Oil

⁵ Independent user trial of 100+ women

⁶ Independent user trial of 103 subjects

⁷ FY 2022 volumes with all sizes included, 60ml, 250ml, 400ml

⁸ Independent user trial of 95 subjects

⁹ Excluding Tea Tree Oil

¹⁰ Where local facilities allow