When I was a young teenybopper, hanging around the Paramus Park Mall, I shopped at The Body Shop. It was the first place I learned about skin and body care and of course my first obsession: makeup! As a 14-year-old, I can’t say that most department stores were teenager-friendly. The testers at The Body Shop though were all out in the open, and it was encouraged to try all the different products; I really learned a lot. The makeup range back then was spear-headed by Barbara Daly. Why am I mentioning this name you ask? Well, she did Princess Diana‘s makeup for her wedding. So, anything that was related to Lady Di, I needed to get my hands on.

Flash forward ten, fifteen, twenty years and new stores have opened up, come and gone. I had stopped going to The Body Shop. I suppose I had moved on to the next best thing. Newer stores seemed more open, and modern. I had abandoned my first love and had moved on to others. I always felt sad when I would walk past The Body Shop — kind of like dissing an old friend. But, I felt she just didn’t have anything new or interesting to offer me any longer.

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go to an event to reintroduce the public to The Body Shop. I was intrigued and decided to go. As I walked into the new boutique room, I was struck at how clean, modern and elegant all the packaging and testing areas looked. It was bright, sunny and fresh! The whole concept is based on the “Pulse” — the “Pulse” being the heartbeat of the community, therefore Pulse Body Shop boutiques. The first thing that caught my eye was a bulletin board promoting an animal cruelty campaign with the organization Cruelty-Free International. I was horrified to read that 80% of countries worldwide still allow animal testing. As a staunch animal lover, this made me sick. One of the new additions that The Body Shop will have will be a community bulletin board to promote such causes like stopping animal testing, as well as local events and causes in the community. So, each store really gives back to the community that they are in. They also have a sign up sheet so everyone can pledge their commitment to do away with animal testing for good.

As for the new store concept as a whole, I was so in love with it! The main table with all of the fragrances and body lotions looks like a cooking table, hence the name Anita’s Table. The concept is based on how the company got its start: in the kitchen of founder Anita Roddick. When you walk into the store there is a welcome wagon, showcasing all new fresh goodies — their body lotions and my favorite, the body oils. These particular oils can be used on the skin, hair and body. So nourishing and they make your hair look and smell yummy!

As a makeup artist and animal lover, their new makeup range is 100% cruelty-free. The new makeup range has just launched this month and was co-designed in part by British supermodel Lily Cole. The entire range is adorable. Don’t let the cute packaging and ladybugs fool you. This is a hard-working, multitasking line. From the Lip and Cheek Domes (15.00) to the Shimmer Cubes ($22.00), this line might be cheeky looking but it’s all business. My favorite picks from the line are the Lip and Cheek Domes in Pinch Me Pink and Crazy For Coral. They look bright in the dome, but, unlike other cream products, they are sheer and give you that dewy flushed look we all desire. I also loved the Puff On Radiance powder ($22.00).

Celebrity makeup artist Chase Aston and model create a Body Shop look

Again, packaged in a dome, this product when applied with the powder puff gives you just enough pearly radiance. No disco ball shimmer here, just a soft candlelit glow. This cosmetic range does not contain any bug shells — gross, right? — that were used to extract color for the products. Also, no fish scales were used to impart any shimmer — just mineral mica and binding agents made from natural vegetable materials, instead of fish scales. And lastly, NO ANIMAL HAIR was used to make any of the makeup brushes. All artificial hair was used, so no goats or ponies had to be shaved for the brushes.

Last but not least, I was most impressed with how The Body Shop put their money where their mouth is. Often you find out about different charity organizations that raise so much money, yet that money intended for certain recipients never quite makes it to where it is supposed to go. The Body Shop is passionate about using natural resources, giving back to the community and helping others in need. Launched in 1987, the Community Fair Trade policy was born. Through this partnership, The Body Shop is able to access nature’s finest ingredients which are grown and harvested by local farmers. For example, The marula oil, which I had mentioned earlier, is an oil that is harvested by local women in Namibia. Harvesting and partnering with The Body Shop enables these women and countless others to build a better life for themselves and their communities.

Run don’t walk to your local Body Shop, so much to do and see. It’s a place where you can go meet with friends, meet new people, learn new things all while pampering your body in the process. The new Pulse Body Shop boutiques. Definitely NOT The Body Shop of our youth… It’s even better. Find out more information on products and where to find a store near you at www.thebodyshop-usa.com.

So… Are you going to take the anti-cruelty pledge and buy The Body Shop products?

********GIVEAWAY: BeautyStat.com is giving away five products from the New Lily Cole Cruelty-Free Body Shop Makeup line to five lucky readers.

To enter, leave a comment in our new Community Forum (click HERE!) asking a beauty related question OR answering one OR post a product review OR post a photo of your fave new beauty look. Make sure to leave a link to your blog, videos, post photos, etc. AND make sure to invite your friends to give us a LIKE on Facebook by asking them to click ….>HERE! Good luck!

(This giveaway is only open to those in the U.S., sorry International fans!)

******************* WINNERS ALERT: Congratulations to Mrs. Shruka, Kimmy, Gle, Soos and Suze. We just emailed you to let you know that you won. If you did NOT win, be sure to subscribe to our e-newsletter below so that you never miss any of our hot giveaways.

– Erin Sutera, senior writer and makeup artist

For more giveaways and contests, sign up for our newsletter HERE.

If you like this post, share it with your friends and give it a LIKE on Facebook.