Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion versus Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence .
Published on November 18, 2020
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe essences. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Essence
Essences are used to prep skin for further treatment and may provide extra skin benefits. They are usually used before serum and moisturizers. Essences are thought to have originated in either Japan or Korea and is an essential step in K-Beauty.
Essence
Essences are used to prep skin for further treatment and may provide extra skin benefits. They are usually used before serum and moisturizers. Essences are thought to have originated in either Japan or Korea and is an essential step in K-Beauty.
Price
Ingredient Info
The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion 27 ingredients
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence 19 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion 27 ingredients
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence 19 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion 27 ingredients
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence 19 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Propylene Glycol • Dipropylene Glycol • Butylene Glycol • Phenoxyethanol • Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Arginine • Chlorphenesin • Peg-20 • Salicylic Acid • Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate • Xanthan Gum • Parfum • Phospholipids • Zingiber Officinale Root Extract • Disodium EDTA • Adenosine • Panax Ginseng Root Extract • Glycine Soja Oil • Tocopherol • Limonene • Citral • Linalool • Geraniol • Citric Acid
Water • Butylene Glycol • Glycerin • Dipropylene Glycol • Alcohol Denat. • Methyl Gluceth-10 • Phenoxyethanol • Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30 • Chlorphenesin • Parfum • Capryloyl Salicylic Acid • Tetrasodium EDTA • Iris Florentina Root Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate • Xanthan Gum • Citric Acid • Sodium Citrate • Adenosine • Limonene
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterThe Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 1.
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 1.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinThe Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 2.
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 3.
Dipropylene Glycol is a synthetically created stabilizer and solvent. It is a part of the glycol class in the alcohol family.
Dipropylene Glycol helps dissolve and evenly distribute ingredients. It also helps decrease viscosity and thin out texture.
As a masking agent, Dipropylene Glycol can be used to cover the smell of other ingredients. However, it does not have a scent.
Studies show Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use in skincare.
Learn more about Dipropylene GlycolThe Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 4.
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 4.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 5.
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 2.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 6.
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 7.
Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinThe Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 9.
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 9.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateThe Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 13.
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 14.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumThe Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 14.
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 15.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumThe Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 15.
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 10.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineThe Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 19.
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 18.
Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneThe Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 23.
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 19.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidThe Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 27.
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence contains this as ingredient number 16.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion 27 ingredients
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence 19 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion 27 ingredients
Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence 19 ingredients
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