Now and then, I get nostalgic and think about The Body Shop, where it all started. Since relocating to the UAE, I’ve had difficulty finding the brands and products I need, and, on top of that, adjusting to my new lifestyle, climate, traffic, and work has been hectic.
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When I do take a break from all of it, in the middle of all the chaos, I find myself longing for the comfort of routines that once felt like home, especially the small, meaningful ones like walking into a Body Shop store, sampling body butters, and picking up a new shower gel with that familiar sense of excitement.
There’s something deeply personal about a brand that shaped your first beauty memories. For me, The Body Shop wasn’t just a store. It was a gentle introduction to the idea that taking care of yourself should be kind, empowering, and even a little bit rebellious in all the right ways.
Back when sustainability wasn’t trendy and ethical sourcing wasn’t stamped across every label, The Body Shop was already advocating for fair trade, cruelty-free products, and environmental consciousness. That mattered to me then, and it matters even more to me now. Especially in a region where conscious beauty choices are still developing, I miss having those go-to brands that reflect my values.
It was beauty with intention, and it shaped the way I understand skincare to this day.
Since launching routine11 Middle East, my mission has been to bring that same sense of purpose and empowerment to women in the UAE and the wider MENA region. Here, we need more than just effective skincare; we need products that match our climate, our pace, and, most importantly, our values. Products that respect the skin and the planet. Brands that speak our language of sustainability, transparency, and care.
This article isn’t just a nostalgic reflection. It’s about craving that same emotional connection with what we put on our skin, one that began in a little shop with bold scents and even bolder ideals.
It’s a reminder of why routine11 Middle East exists: to create a trusted space for conscious beauty lovers and to support women who believe their skincare routine starts with self-respect.
I was a Sales Assistant at The Body Shop
I moved to Bucharest for my bachelor’s degree (Foreign Languages, English-German), and because I needed money to support my studies, I was only looking for a job to help with my daily expenses and nothing else but to attend the Uni courses. Sales assistant at The Body Shop, the first of its kind, in the first-ever Mall in Bucharest, Romania, was my first-ever job. I was 20.
I had no experience, expectations, or idea of what would happen, and I remember the store manager told me I got the job because of my English language skills (well, doh!).
I loved the training sessions, learning about Anita, how the company grew, the ethical principles they stood for, and what ingredients they used. They had training content focused more on ingredients, where they purchase them from, what each ingredient does, and why it is important to inform the customer about the ingredients list.
I learned how important the relationship between the client and the brand is, and most importantly, I learned how to identify the product based on the client’s needs.
For the next three years, I was talking to a lot of women every day in the store about skincare routines, skin types, and concerns, allergic reactions to different ingredients, and what other brands they tried; I was going to Uni classes and talking to girls in my group about, somehow, the same things, the beautiful lessons about self-realization, self-care, awareness, I hold since.
A memory I will always have with me: on top of practicing PR every day while working in the store, one day, the store manager asked me to get the mail. On the way back, I was checking the mail (not opening it, just checking), and a title on the cover of a business magazine caught my attention.
It read, “What’s the difference between PR and advertising?” I tore the protective plastic film wrapped around the magazine, read the article, and applied for a Master’s in Communication and PR.
Anita Roddick was the first to introduce me to concepts like PR, self-care, cruelty-free, vegan, environmentally friendly, and fair trade. The company’s ethos became deeply ingrained in my values, influencing my choices in beauty brands, products, and lifestyle.
As an employee, I used to have a considerable discount, so I got to try and test most of their products. Who remembers that Vanilla Shower Gel and that whole Vanilla range?! Or the Oceanus range?! And who remembers the Cocoa Body Butter? OMG! I was totally crazy about that Cocoa Butter, and since the Cocoa range was discontinued, I was left with a fixation on Shea Butter and the entire The Body Shop Shea range.
The year is 2005. I just turned 20, and The Body Shop has entered my life, skin, and education.
A gentle reminder
The Body Shop is a well-known British cosmetics and skincare company that was founded by Anita Roddick in 1976. The company’s history and story are deeply rooted in social and environmental responsibility principles, fair trade, and ethical practices.
Anita Roddick, an entrepreneur and human rights activist, started The Body Shop in Brighton, England. Her inspiration came from her travels worldwide, discovering various traditional beauty practices and ingredients from different cultures. She wanted to create a business that could combine these beauty traditions with a strong emphasis on ethical and environmentally friendly principles. These principles were taught in the training sessions for the new staff.
From the outset, The Body Shop was built on a foundation of ethical values. They were one of the first companies to promote cruelty-free beauty products, meaning they didn’t test their products on animals. Instead, they focused on using natural ingredients and sourcing them responsibly.
The Body Shop became a pioneer in promoting fair trade practices in the beauty industry. They established the Community Trade program, which involved sourcing ingredients directly from communities in developing countries, such as shea butter, cocoa butter, and hemp. This initiative empowered local producers and ensured fair compensation for their products.
The company quickly gained popularity in the UK and expanded internationally during the 1980s and 1990s. By the early 2000s, The Body Shop had stores in numerous countries.
After the L’Oréal acquisition in 2006 concerns were raised among some loyal customers and activists who worried that the company’s ethical values might be compromised under a large corporation.
Despite the acquisition, The Body Shop continued to uphold its ethical principles and commitment to social and environmental causes. They advocated for various issues, including animal rights, environmental protection, and human rights. Natura &Co, which bought The Body Shop in 2017, is known for its focus on sustainable practices and natural ingredients, making it a more fitting home for The Body Shop’s ethical ethos.
The Body Shop, today, in the Emirates
I have introduced The Body Shop products to my family, friends, the humans I work with, and my hubby. Today, hubby and I are “followers” of the Refill Scheme, and we both have the aluminum bottle to play “refill, reuse, repeat” with our favorite potions.
The impact of The Body Shop on my life transcends the realm of skincare products. It opened my eyes to the power of ethical and socially responsible businesses, taught me the importance of genuine connections with customers, and sparked a lifelong passion for advocating for a better world. The Body Shop will forever hold a special place in my heart as a transformative force that shaped my skincare routine and values.
If you are looking for vegan, cruelty-free, environment-friendly, and efficient products at decent prices to upgrade your skincare routine, The Body Shop is definitely the option to look at. Across the UAE, you can find refill stations in Ajman, Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, and there is a dedicated website for the UAE, thebodyshop.ae, where you can order online.
Throughout its history, The Body Shop has been a shining example of how a business can succeed while maintaining a strong sense of social and environmental responsibility. Anita Roddick’s vision and dedication to ethical practices have left a lasting impact on the beauty industry, inspiring other companies to follow a similar path of sustainability and moral awareness.
The Founder
If you are an expat in the Middle East facing skin concerns and want to share your story, send us a message at contact@routine11.com
*Disclosure: I received no compensation for this review. This is solely based on my personal experience and assessment.
