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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion versus The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Fresh Emulsion SPF20 PA+++ .

Published on April 14, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free . 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 anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain common allergens, fragrances and oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Essence British Brand United Kingdom
Facial Treatment British Brand United Kingdom

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.

Facial Treatment

Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.

Price

Shop

Buy Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion

Starts at $12.00
Shop

Buy Drops of Youth™ Youth Fresh Emulsion SPF20 PA+++

Starts at $17.50

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
20

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

BHA
Vitamin E
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (3)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (2)
Scar Healing (3)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (3)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating
Anti-Aging
Scar Healing
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (4)
Eczema (3)
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 1.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Fresh Emulsion SPF20 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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 Glycerin

The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 2.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Fresh Emulsion SPF20 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 8.

3
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

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.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Fresh Emulsion SPF20 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 2.

4
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

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.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Fresh Emulsion SPF20 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 15.

5
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

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 Hyaluronate

The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 13.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Fresh Emulsion SPF20 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 26.

6
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

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 Gum

The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 14.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Fresh Emulsion SPF20 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 36.

7
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

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 Parfum

The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 15.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Fresh Emulsion SPF20 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 19.

8
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

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 Adenosine

The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 19.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Fresh Emulsion SPF20 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 22.

9
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Glycine Soja Oil comes from the soybean. Glycine Soja is native to eastern Asia.

Soybean oil is an emollient. It is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids including palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids.

As an emollient, the fatty acids in soybean oil helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. It does so by creating a film on top that traps moisture in.

Soybean oil is also rich in vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. Vitamin E is also anti-inflammatory and provides a soothing effect.

Studies show soy may help fade hyperpigmentation from UVB. It does so by disrupting the melanin process from UVB induced skin inflammation.

This ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne, safe.

Soybeans are rich in proteins and are part of the legume family. Foods made with soybeans include tofu, soymilk, edamame, miso, and soy sauce.

Learn more about Glycine Soja Oil

The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 21.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Fresh Emulsion SPF20 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 5.

10
What it does: Perfuming, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

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 Limonene

The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 23.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Fresh Emulsion SPF20 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 30.

11
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.

Linalool has the same effect as Limonene when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.

Linalool has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.

Learn more about Linalool

The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 25.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Fresh Emulsion SPF20 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 21.

12
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

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 Acid

The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion contains this as ingredient number 27.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Fresh Emulsion SPF20 PA+++ contains this as ingredient number 34.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

33% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
48% are disliked or very disliked
11% have no rating yet
17% are loved or liked
8% have mixed ratings
50% are disliked or very disliked
25% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The Body Shop Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion 27 ingredients

Roots of Strength™ Firming Shaping Essence Lotion hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Youth Fresh Emulsion SPF20 PA+++ 36 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
BronwynMacmillan_385's avatar

BronwynMacmillan_385

8 months ago · Dry Skin
Review

Just amazing. The texture is a mix between a cream and serum, so not too heavy or too light. Makes a difference to skin, improves and reduces acne

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