ESPA Fitness Shower Oil

ESPA Fitness Shower Oil

Efficacy100/100IrritancyHigh

Works for

Cleansing
Polysorbate 80, Glyceryl caprylate/caprate + 6 more
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“A nourishing creamy shower oil to cleanse the body and revitalise the mind.”
Source: Espa UK

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (glyceryl caprylate/caprate, lauryl glucoside, olive oil polyglyceryl-6 esters, polyglyceryl-4 caprate, polysorbate 80, sodium cocoamphoacetate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate) and should be able to cleanse the skin gently. Still keep in mind that any cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.

Even though this formulation is mild, the following cleansing agents could trigger an irritation or allergy for some people: sodium methyl cocoyl taurate

Polysorbate 80Effect: HighHelps water and oil mix together~22–33%
Glyceryl caprylate/caprateEffect: High~3.3–4.9%
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent~2.2–3.3%
Polyglyceryl-4 caprateEffect: High~2.1–3.2%
Olive oil polyglyceryl-6 estersEffect: High~0.85–1.25%
Sodium cocoamphoacetateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Creates foam~0.5–1.15%
Sodium methyl cocoyl taurateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together. Can be used as cleansing agent~0.5–1.2%
Lauryl glucosideEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~0.45–1.1%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
13 strong irritants: Parfum, Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil + 11 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 20 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Sodium methyl cocoyl taurateHelps oil and water mix together. Can be used as cleansing agentHigh~0.5–1.2%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.15–0.6%est.
Eucalyptus globulus leaf oilAn essential oil that can be very irritating. Has some anti-bacterial propertiesHigh~0.15–0.5%est.
Litsea cubeba fruit oilAn essential oil with a lemon-like smell that is extracted from a fruit grown in Asia. Used as a fragranceHigh~0.1–0.45%est.
Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oilA plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that can irritate the skin. Can be used as a fragrance. Has anti-bacterial properties and might help neutralize free radicals on the surface of the skinHigh~0.15–0.5%est.
CitralA fragrance with a lemon scent. A likely irritantHigh~0.05–0.3%est.
EugenolA fragrance. Is a likely irritantHigh~0.1–0.35%est.
LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.25%est.
Eugenia caryophyllus bud oilUsed as a fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.25%est.
Mentha piperita oilUsed as a fragrance and can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.25%est.
LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~0.05–0.15%est.
GeraniolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.01–0.05%est.
Pelargonium graveolens flower oilAn essential oil. Can be irritating. Can become an allergen with oxidationHigh~0.01–0.05%est.
CitronellolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.01–0.05%est.
Caprylic/capric triglycerideA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerinMedium~5.8–8.7%est.
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinateHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agentMedium~2.2–3.3%est.
Glycine soja oilA good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.Medium~1–1.5%est.
Lauryl glucosideHelps oil and water mix togetherMedium~0.45–1.1%est.
Sodium cocoamphoacetateHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Creates foamMedium~0.5–1.15%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~0.05–0.15%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Glycine soja oilA good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.2/5~1–1.5%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Polysorbate 80~22–33%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together

More about Polysorbate 80
Caprylic/capric triglyceride~5.8–8.7%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin

More about Caprylic/capric triglyceride
Glyceryl caprylate/caprate~3.3–4.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Glyceryl caprylate/caprate
Water~3.2–4.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Polyglyceryl-4 caprate~2.1–3.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Polyglyceryl-4 caprate
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate~2.2–3.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent

More about Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate
Glycerin~1.3–2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Glycine soja oil~1–1.5%
Comedogenic 2/5Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
Moisturizing

A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.

More about Glycine soja oil
Olive oil polyglyceryl-6 esters~0.85–1.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Olive oil polyglyceryl-6 esters
Lauryl glucoside~0.45–1.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Lauryl glucoside
Sodium cocoamphoacetate~0.5–1.15%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent. Creates foam

More about Sodium cocoamphoacetate
Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate~0.5–1.2%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together. Can be used as cleansing agent

More about Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate
Parfum~0.15–0.6%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil~0.15–0.5%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Antibacterial

An essential oil that can be very irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties

More about Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil
Litsea cubeba fruit oil~0.1–0.45%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Antibacterial

An essential oil with a lemon-like smell that is extracted from a fruit grown in Asia. Used as a fragrance

More about Litsea cubeba fruit oil
Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil~0.15–0.5%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
AntibacterialAnti-oxidation

A plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that can irritate the skin. Can be used as a fragrance. Has anti-bacterial properties and might help neutralize free radicals on the surface of the skin

More about Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil
Polyamide-8~0.2–0.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Polyamide-8
Phenoxyethanol~0.1–0.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Citral~0.05–0.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance with a lemon scent. A likely irritant

More about Citral
Eugenol~0.1–0.35%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Is a likely irritant

More about Eugenol
C12-13 alkyl lactate~0.15–0.55%
Formula
Linalool~0.05–0.25%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Linalool
Eugenia caryophyllus bud oil~0.05–0.25%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Eugenia caryophyllus bud oil
Mentha piperita oil~0.05–0.25%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Used as a fragrance and can be irritating

More about Mentha piperita oil
Limonene~0.05–0.15%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat

More about Limonene
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.05–0.15%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Geraniol~0.01–0.05%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Geraniol
Pelargonium graveolens flower oil~0.01–0.05%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-oxidation

An essential oil. Can be irritating. Can become an allergen with oxidation

More about Pelargonium graveolens flower oil
Citronellol~0.01–0.05%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Citronellol
Pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate~0.01–0.05%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to increase stability of product formulations

More about Pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Ingredient list view

Polysorbate 80, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Glyceryl caprylate/caprate, Water, Polyglyceryl-4 caprate, Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, Glycerin, Glycine soja oil, Olive oil polyglyceryl-6 esters, Lauryl glucoside, Sodium cocoamphoacetate, Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, Parfum, Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, Litsea cubeba fruit oil, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil, Polyamide-8, Phenoxyethanol, Citral, Eugenol, C12-13 alkyl lactate, Linalool, Eugenia caryophyllus bud oil, Mentha piperita oil, Limonene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Geraniol, Pelargonium graveolens flower oil, Citronellol, Pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate

Compare prices

Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.

🇬🇧 Espa UK (UK)15 ml
≈ $6.63
Buy
🇦🇺 Recreate Yourself (AU)15 ml
≈ $9.93
Buy
🇦🇺 Lookfantastic Australia (AU)200 ml
≈ $22.10
Buy
🇬🇧 Espa UK (UK)
≈ $36.06
Buy
🇬🇧 Lookfantastic (UK)250 ml
≈ $38.31
Buy

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
ESPAFitness Shower OilYOUR PRODUCTKopari BeautyToasted Vanilla Hydrating Vitamin C Shower OilBiodermaATODERM SHOWER OILCosmedCleansing Oil - Cleansing Oil for Face and Body - Oil Based Cleanser
Match—32%31%31%
Price—$32.00$11.51—
Shared key ingredients—2 of 113 of 113 of 11
Key difference—Vitamin CNiacinamidePca
Irritancy High Medium Medium Medium
Drying alcohol————
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 12 studies and safety reviews.

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ESPA Fitness Shower Oil
ESPAFitness Shower Oil

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As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.