The Body Shop sits comfortably in that sweet spot between high street familiarity and ethical credibility, a brand many of us grew up trusting for cruelty free formulas and no nonsense packaging. Even if it has slipped off your radar amid the avalanche of new indie labels, its legacy of fair trade sourcing and accessible price points is hard to ignore.
Enter the Aloe Soothing Night Cream, a mouthful of a name that promises exactly what it says on the jar: a calming overnight hug for sensitive skin. According to the brand it now boasts 48-hour hydration, a cocktail of 98% natural origin ingredients, plus sustainably harvested aloe and cica, all tucked into a recyclable glass pot. In short The Body Shop claims you will wake up to skin that is softer, calmer and thoroughly quenched.
To see if those claims hold water I swapped out my usual night treatment and spent a full two weeks massaging an almond sized dollop of this cream into freshly cleansed skin every evening, steering clear of the eye area as instructed.
This is not a paid or sponsored review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own and results can vary depending on individual skin type, concerns and routine.
What Is Aloe Soothing Night Cream?
This is an overnight treatment, meaning it is designed to sit on the skin while you sleep rather than being rinsed or wiped away. Overnight formulas tend to be richer than day creams so they can tackle transepidermal water loss, the gradual evaporation of moisture that happens during the night. The Body Shop’s version focuses on hydration and calming benefits for sensitive or dryness-prone skin.
The cream pairs aloe vera juice powder with centella asiatica, also called cica, two plant extracts often used to soothe redness and reinforce a weakened skin barrier. It contains humectants such as glycerin and propanediol to attract water, plus emollients like shea butter and squalane to lock that moisture in place. The blend is free of added fragrance which can be helpful if your skin reacts to perfumed products.
The formula is 98 percent natural origin and vegan. The brand highlights its Community Fair Trade aloe sourced from Mexico and wild harvested cica from Madagascar, and the jar itself is glass with an aluminium lid aimed at easier recycling. In short, this is a fragrance-free night cream positioned for people who want simple hydration and a bit of barrier comfort while they sleep.
Did It Work?
I benched my regular overnight mask for three nights before starting the test, which felt very scientific of me even if my bathroom shelf looked suspiciously empty. Fourteen days seemed like a reasonable window to see real change, so every evening after cleansing I scooped out the suggested almond sized amount, warmed it between my palms and pressed it into face and neck.
First impressions were pleasant. The texture sits right between gel and butter, spreading easily without that heavy greasy film some night creams leave. Skin felt instantly cushioned, though not dramatically plumped, and there was zero stinging which counts as a small victory when you have reactive cheeks like mine.
By the fourth night I noticed a reduction in the faint tightness that usually shows up around my mouth once the heating kicks in. Makeup also went on a bit smoother the next morning, likely thanks to the glycerin and squalane doing their humectant–occlusive tag team. Still, any redness around my nose remained stubbornly visible so the calming claim was only half fulfilled at this stage.
Midway through the trial I tried skipping my usual hydrating toner to see if the cream could hold its own. It managed to keep my skin comfortable until lunchtime but the promised 48-hour hydration felt optimistic. A midday spritz was still required to stop that telltale papery feeling across my forehead.
Nights ten to fourteen brought marginal gains. Dry patches along my jaw were softer and the overall surface looked a touch more even, yet I cannot say I woke up to a dramatically soothed complexion. On the plus side, no breakouts, clogged pores or milia surfaced which is impressive given the shea butter content.
So did it work? Partly. It delivered dependable overnight moisture and behaved well under make up the next day. The recyclable jar also earns eco points. What it did not do was replace the deeper nourishment or redness relief I get from my regular ceramide heavy cream. I will finish the pot happily but I would not rush to repurchase, preferring instead to keep it in mind as a gentle back-up rather than a must-have staple.
Main Ingredients Explained
The ingredient list opens with water followed by propanediol and glycerin, a humectant duo that pulls moisture from the environment into the skin so you wake up feeling less parched. Next comes caprylic/capric triglyceride, a coconut derived lipid that gives the cream its silky glide while reinforcing the lipid barrier. Shea butter, sesame oil and squalane round out the emollient team, sealing in the water those humectants attract. All three are rich in fatty acids that soften rough patches yet they sit differently on the skin: squalane is lightweight and fast absorbing, sesame oil is mid-weight and shea is heavier which is why the texture feels cushioned rather than gel light.
For the soothing headline act we get aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder paired with centella asiatica extract. Aloe is well documented for reducing surface irritation and temporarily boosting hydration while centella brings madecassoside, asiaticoside and asiatic acid compounds that can calm redness and support a compromised barrier. Although the percentages are not disclosed both sit ahead of the neutral thickener xanthan gum on the list which suggests there is a meaningful, if not blockbuster, dose.
The formula contains two fatty alcohols – cetearyl and cetyl – that thicken and stabilise the emulsion. They are often misunderstood as drying alcohols when in reality they are skin friendly and help trap moisture. Phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol provide broad spectrum preservation so the natural origin content stays safe over the jar’s shelf life.
On the comedogenic front none of the ingredients are high risk pore cloggers for most users though shea butter and sesame oil carry a moderate comedogenic rating. That means they can, in theory, trap dead cells and sebum leading to bumps if you have very oily or easily congested skin. My combination skin handled them without a single blocked pore yet anyone prone to acne might prefer patch testing first.
The entire formula is vegan friendly with no animal derived components and The Body Shop maintains its cruelty free status. As for pregnancy safety the ingredient line up is free from retinoids or high level salicylic acid but every pregnancy is unique so the brand rightly reminds consumers to consult their doctor before adding any new topical, especially if you are already on a prescribed regimen.
Worth noting is the inclusion of palm oil. The Body Shop sources it under a certified sustainable scheme however palm based inputs remain an environmental talking point. Finally if you are sensitive to coconut derivatives be aware that several emollients and surfactants here trace back to coconut though the absence of added fragrance lowers the overall irritant load.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
Here is the quick rundown after two weeks of nightly use
What Works Well:
- Cushiony gel cream texture spreads easily and sinks in without a greasy film so it layers well with serums
- Reliable overnight hydration that softens dry patches and leaves makeup sitting more smoothly the next morning
- No fragrance plus a short soothing ingredient roster makes it friendly for reactive or post-treatment skin
- Vegan formula in a recyclable glass jar wins ethical and shelf appeal points
What to Consider:
- 48-hour hydration claim feels ambitious as a midday mist was still needed on dry office days
- May not give enough barrier support for very dry or eczema prone skin that thrives on ceramides
- Contains sustainably sourced palm derivatives which some eco-minded shoppers prefer to avoid entirely
My Final Thoughts
Finding an overnight treatment that strikes the right balance between cocooning and clog free is a bit like shopping for jeans: deceptively simple until you are faced with the options. After two weeks Aloe Soothing Night Cream proved itself a pleasant, dependable pair of skinnies rather than a life changing bespoke fit. The texture is comforting, the ingredient list gentle and the recyclable jar plays nicely with my conscience, yet the 48-hour hydration headline reads more fairy tale than fact when my combination skin still asked for a midday top-up. Redness ease was moderate, barrier support adequate, and overall I would award it a solid 7/10.
Who will love it? Sensitive or normal-to-dry types who want fuss free, fragrance free hydration and appreciate the brand’s fair trade ethos. Who might look elsewhere? Very parched or barrier compromised skins craving ceramide muscle, or anyone chasing dramatic overnight transformation. I would recommend it to a friend who fits the first camp, noting that it plays nicely under makeup and never once flirted with breakouts.
Should you fancy alternatives that I have rotated through my own night-stand, Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is an excellent allrounder that somehow manages to hydrate, smooth and lightly firm without upsetting even oily zones, and it does so at a price that feels refreshingly sensible. Medik8’s Advanced Night Restore layers generous ceramides with antioxidants for those nights when central heating is doing its worst, while LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask remains my lazy-girl secret for bouncy skin after a long haul flight or late Netflix marathon. All three deliver different personalities yet share that crucial wake-up-and-glow promise.
Before slathering anything new across your face remember the basics: patch test behind the ear or along the jaw, give the formula at least a fortnight to prove itself, and understand that results stick around only if you keep up the routine. Sorry to sound like an overprotective parent but your future self will thank you.