The Body Shop Drops of Youth concentrate is a purchase I first made, kind of by accident to be honest. Way back in 2016 or 2017, I was after another Drops of Light serum and grabbed this by mistake, only realising after I got home. I decided to keep it and try it out and see whether I preferred it to the Drops of Light serum. Having accidentally bought this, I guess it was the perfect opportunity to try out the Drops of Youth.
Price: £28
Quantity: 30ml
Blurb: [source: www.thebodyshop.com]
Our certified organic range has been created for the first signs of ageing. This innovative concentrate helps to enhance surface skin condition, leaving it looking smoother, fresher and healthier.
- Helps enhance surface skin condition
- Smoothes
- Instantly moisturising
- 99% of ingredients are of natural origin
Ingredients: Aqua/Water (Solvent/Diluent), Alcohol Denat. (Solvent/Diluent), Glycerin (Humectant), Chondrus Crispus Powder (Abrasive), Propanediol (Viscosity Modifier), Sodium Hyaluronate (Humectant), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract (Skin Conditioning Agent), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Skin Conditioning Agent), Adenosine (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Parfum/Fragrance (Fragrance), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Crithmum Maritimum Callus Culture Filtrate (Skin Protectant), Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil (Emollient), Citric Acid (pH Adjuster), Citronellol (Fragrance Ingredient), Buddleja Davidii Extract (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract/Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract (Skin Conditioning Agent), Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Extract/Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf Extract (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Benzoic Acid (Preservative), Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Potassium Sorbate (Preservative).
Purchased/ gratis: Purchased
Availability: Body Shop stores nationwide, online at www.bodyshop.com and Body Shop at Home distributors.
The first thing I notice about this is the texture. It is more viscous than the Drops of Light which is more like a watery fluid. This is very much a skincare concentrate rather than a serum.
While thick and gloopy, it’s not oily at all and disappears quickly once applied. At first I thought it had absorbed into the skin incredibly quickly. Then I looked at the ingredients and noticed that alcohol is high up on the ingredients list. That makes me think that maybe a lot of the water evaporates rather than sinks into the skin. That said, the skincare elements definitely do settle on the skin and are absorbed. I know this because over time, my skin did improve, indicating that at least some of the ingredients are making their way into my skin.
The main skin conditioning ingredients are Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, and Adenosine.
- Fagus Sylvatica comes from the Beech Tree Bud, and contains natural peptides that strengthens skin cells structure thereby smoothing the surface skin. It also aids in moisturisation. Both of these in turn help minimise signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles.
- Aloe Barbadensis, as with all aloe-derived ingredients improves the smoothness of skin, particularly dry or damaged skin by reducing flaking. Its high water content add moisture to the skin.
- Adenosine is a yeast-derived ingredient that soothes the skin and is known to be a general skin restoring ingredient.
This may seem like a pricey skincare product, but a couple of drops is sufficient for each application. A little goes a long way and so this little bottle will last you a good few months. In any case, there is no substitute for good skincare, and so if anything, I would always advise to spend a little more on skincare, and save on make-up.
The packaging is a durable glass bottle with a nice luxe feel. I keep mine in the box so as to avoid sunlight breaking down the ingredients. I prefer opaque bottles like the Drops of Light serum but have no problem keeping mine in boxes. I keep all of my perfumes in their original boxes for the same reason.
The scent is quite mild, which is definitely a good thing. A lot of the Body Shop skincare is too fragranced for my liking and it’s nice to have skincare that is only lightly scented if at all.
The verdict
Over time I have noticed that my skin is much more hydrated and bouncy to the touch. I use this on days when my skin needs a boost of hydration in the day time. Overnight I prefer the Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleep Mask. Both are fantastic products from the Body Shop range and are staples I have used for over 5 years on rotation in my skincare routine. Definitely worth buying for anyone over the age of 30 wanting to maintain hydration and skin elasticity.