This month the world’s most well-known ethical skincare brand joined other exclusive international labels at the Colombo City Centre, with the opening of a new store on its ground floor. Guests celebrated at the launch event on Sunday, 27 January. 

The Body Shop needs little introduction. Anita Roddick founded the skincare and beauty company in 1976 with the firm belief that businesses could “enrich, not exploit,” the planet and its people. The Body Shop brand ethos has been driven by a philosophy of creating premium quality cosmetics and toiletries without exploiting the planet’s resources or its people, pursuing sustainability and ethical business long before it became fashionable. 40 years on the company is one of Britain’s most iconic brand ambassadors and remains committed to its vision. 

In Sri Lanka, The Body Shop opened its flagship retail store on Galle Road attached to Bagatale Road in 2016. In addition to an outlet at Odel, Alexandra Place, the company moved into Sri Lanka’s second most densely populated commercial hub, Kandy, in 2018 with a store at the Kandy City Centre mall. 
Although it has been four years since the first Sri Lankan store opened, the brand remains fresh in the market due to an exciting new product range launch or campaign every season. Last year, for example, The Body Shop Sri Lanka launched a range of products for different skin types and environments including a trio of new bath and body formulas, the Roots of Strength range for firm skin, Strawberry Haircare and Fruity Lip Juicers, new Expert Facial Masks, the Vitamin E Gel Moisturizer range, Body Yogurts, and a brand-new range of men’s skincare products. Drops of Youth is a very popular product among Sri Lankan clientele, as it is especially designed for skin regularly exposed to polluted environments- the newest addition to the range is the Youth Concentration Sheet Mask, a biodegradable mask infused with Drops of Youth concentrate for fresher, bouncier and healthier looking skin in just 15 minutes. 

Gayani Fernando from the Lush Skin Clinic delivered two sessions on expertly caring for skin at the launch, which paired well with two sessions on makeup and makeovers with Nadiya Fernando from the Wax Museum. Guests also browsed through the store’s extensive collection and engaged in fun casual competitions throughout the event.