Skin Care

C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve No. 012

Coco

C.O. Bigelow’s famous Rose Salve has been a favorite since the early days, due to its ability to care for lips and beautify skin. Emulsified with extra-soothing rose extract, which helps ease irritation and condition the skin.

I bought C.O. Bigelow’s Rose Salve almost a year ago, and have been obsessed with it ever since. I didn’t know much about C.O. Bigelow before purchasing, but Bath & Body Works was having their usual sale, and I purchased two other lip balms and got the Rose Salve for free!

First Impression:

The salve is in a red round tin (as pictured above), and seemed very simple and classic to me. It immediately caught my eye because I had never bought anything like it and was super excited to try it out!

Ingredients: Petrolatum, Lanolin Oil, Squalene, Flavor (Aroma), Octyldodecanol, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Jojoba Esters, Red 30 Lake (CI73360).

Application:

“Pat on anytime as needed to care for lips or anything that needs a fix.” It really is as simple as that! Open the tin, dab a little on a finger and apply to your heart’s content! The salve is so smooth, and smells wonderful! My lips feel immediately hydrated. On occasion I use the salve on my hands, cuticles, and elbows and it is definitely more convenient than carrying around a bunch of different lotions and lip balms; this salve does it all! I carry it around wherever I go, and if I am not carrying a purse or backpack, I tuck it into a jeans pocket. It’s my lifeline, I wouldn’t leave the house without it. In the past, I never remembered to use lip balm, but now I use it daily! I love everything about this salve!

Bottom Line:

At $5.50 each, C.O. Bigelow’s Rose Salve is a real WINNER. Even though it’s only 0.8oz/22G, my tin has lasted me over a year of everyday use — even multiple times a day, and if I let it, it could probably last many more years. If it hasn’t been clear, I’m begging you to run out to your local Bath & Body Works (or from C.O. Bigelow online directly) and purchase this salve ASAP. Your skin will thank you!

Courtney’s Rating: A+

Gillette Venus ProSkin MoistureRich Razor

Coco

Gillette Venus ProSkin MoistureRich Razor

The Venus ProSkin MoistureRich razor is designed with MoistureRich shave gel bars, enhanced with a triple blend of body butters, which create a layer of protection for your skin with every stroke.

Included in my Influenster Cosmo Voxbox was the Venus ProSkin MoistureRich Razor from Gillette with two refill cartridges. Check out Gillette’s website for more information on the razor!

First Impression:

The packaging design is very appealing in soft blue tones. Once removed from the package, I initially was skeptical of the razor. I don’t have much experience with gel or soap bars, but this one definitely looked flimsy, and I expected the soap to immediately fall off as soon as I started shaving. Despite my doubts, I attached my new shaver to its suction hanger and waited for the morning to try it out.

Application:

I first decided to shave under my arms, luckily I hadn’t for the last few days, and so the timing was perfect to test out the razor. With the first stroke, I was not impressed and ready to write off the Venus razor, but within the next few tries, my armpits were silky, smooth and hairless. I can honestly say that this was the most pleasant experience with shaving I have had in a long time. I was shocked at how close the razor shaved! Legs were next and it was the same results, the gel left my legs smooth and smelling fresh. And on a more personal level, the razor even did a decent job on the bikini line and pubic hair areas. (Although, Venus has a Bikini Trimmer that might be useful for those specific areas.) The only downside I can see is that the attached soap seems to be used rather quickly, and buying refill cartridges could get pricey. But I suspect this is common with any gel bar razors, and the smooth finish might be worth the extra cost.

Bottom Line:

The Gillette Venus ProSkin MoistureRich Razor is definitely a great option for shaving and after experiencing such a pleasant shave, I don’t think I will ever be able to go back to plain razors. I will, no doubt, be purchasing refill cartridges in the future.  You can purchase the package set of 1 Venus® ProSkin™ MoistureRich® Women’s Refillable Razor, 2 Razor Blade Refill Cartridges, and 1 shower hook for under $10 and subsequent refill cartridges cost about $15 for a 4-count pack.

Courtney’s Rating: A

Disclaimer: I received these products to test for free through the Influenster VoxBox program.

Vitabath® Spa Day™ Cucumber & White Tea Body Wash

Coco

Vitabath® Spa Day™ - Cucumber & White Tea - Body Wash

Keep it cool with refreshing crisp cucumber mixed with soft water florals and soothing white tea.

Included in my Influenster Cosmo Voxbox was one of Vitabath’s new body washes. Touting a Sulfate & Paraben Free formula rich in Vitamin A, B3, B5, C & E, Vitabath’s four Fragrance Collection Body Washes (Fruit Fanatic, In Bloom, Spa Day, and Cupcake Couture) currently include 16 unique fragrances that will surely leave your skin feeling clean, refreshed and vibrant. For this review, I received the “Cucumber & White Tea” fragrance.

First Impression:

The Vitabath body washes come in very simple, colorful bottles. I’m always a big fan of good design aesthetics, so I was super excited to try the body wash based solely on the cute bottle design; I would definitely gravitate towards Vitabath products in a store. The Cucumber & White Tea bottle is a deep blue-green color with pink flowers, as shown in the stock photograph above, and is slightly reminiscent of the Arizona Green Tea bottles. Upon opening the lid, there was a strong floral scent. I couldn’t place the cucumber, but the white tea was very present. I was a little apprehensive by how strong the smell was from the bottle, but my opinion on that changed with application.

Application:

I found the bottle a little hard to open with wet hands, because the cap closes so tightly, but I managed after a few tries. I applied only a few drops of the body wash to my bath pouf and that little amount was sufficient for a full body scrub. The scent is a lot more subtle on the skin than it is in the bottle, so that was a relief. I did think it might be too subtle at first, but the softness is actually very appealing and as I’m sitting here typing this review, I can’t stop smelling myself! A few hours later, the smell is still there slightly, but not as much as I would have wished. Sadly, I am a little disappointed that the scent hasn’t stayed longer. And as a fragrance collection, I expected the perfume to be longer lasting. Overall, the body wash left me feeling beachy, sexy and clean. And the little whiffs of the body wash I get throughout the day make me smile.

Bottom Line:

At $9.99, the cost is a little pricey for only 12oz, but the fact that a little product goes a long way is a plus. Will I be purchasing another Vitabath product when my body wash runs out? Definitely! But I might try a few different Vitabath body washes before I settle on just one.

The Fragrance Collection body washes retail for $9.99 or less each at www.myvitabath.com and at ULTA Beauty, Harmon Discount, Stages, Duane Reade, Fred Meyer and Bed Bath & Beyond stores.

Courtney’s Rating: B

Disclaimer: I received these products to test for free through the Influenster VoxBox program.