B reviews

Wash Away Your Scales: A review.

swamp lady takes a bath

You know how it is. You’re a busy mom, you barely take time for yourself outside of a shower every other day and the daily toothbrushing and then one day you decide to put on a dress or a skirt instead of your usual mom uniform of jeans and a T-shirt. Everything is fine and dandy, you feel good about yourself and then you’re at the soccer field or sitting at a fancy restaurant and you glance down at your legs. Gah! That’s when you notice that you have three inch green scales growing off your legs.

Okay, I exaggerate, but have you ever looked down at your legs — that you thought were smooth and beautiful — and been horrified by what you saw? This happens to me ALL THE TIME! In fact, I now keep a tube of super-thick lotion in my car for just such horrifying situations. How did this happen?!! I don’t know! I think it’s a busy working mom thing. I guess I just don’t have time to make sure I moisturize regularly or maybe I drink too much coffee or something. It just happens to me. It sneaks up on me when I least expect it.

I rarely pay any attention to my legs. I’ve got bigger problems to deal with — like getting my kid out the door with her backpack, lunch and matching shoes, and like paying the bills. You know, important things. I’m thankful for my legs because they hold me up and help me get places. Other than that, they’re just appendages that ocasionally scare the crap out of me by getting all dry and scaly.

easy does it

Enter Olay’s new body wash called OlayÆ Ultra Moisture Body Wash. You know me: I’m a low-maintenance, no-fuss girl. I’m already a faithful fan of Olay’s face moisturizer so it was an easy yes for me to review this product. I just threw it in the shower and tried it for a week instead of my usual body wash. The first thing I noticed about this product was the smell.

I opened the bottle and it was like a breeze of fresh orange blossoms wafted in from a nearby orchard. It smells so good! I’m not usually a fan of super perfumey scents. Don’t even get me started on those ghastly vanilla-scented candles. But this scent hit me right away with pleasant memories. I don’t know if it’s the perfume my aunt used to wear when she was getting dressed up for church on Sunday morning or the smell of the orange groves I grew up in. I just know it’s familiar and I like it. I think it’s orange blossoms or maybe tuberose, I’m not sure. I looked all over online to see what it was but outside of so I could be totally off.

Secondly, it’s thick and lathers really well. I know we’re all trying to get away from sulphates these days and trying to lather with astringent but I have to admit I love a good lather. Shoot me. It’s just so luxurious and you can tell where you’ve been. There’s no wondering if you already rinsed there. You can see the bubbles!

Mommy, you have scales!

Thirdly, there is over a jar of Olay moisturizers inside each bottle. That’s a ton! This product will seriously help with the scale factor. In fact, they brag on the outside of the bottle that after four showers you’ll be able to go without moisturizing for 24 hours! The jury is still out on that last bullet-point, but I’ve used it in three showers and I’ve been feeling a little bit softer and prettier. I might even sport a dress tomorrow and go find some soccer field to sit in if it’s not raining.

a soak

Fourthly, it’s just really nice to take a bath once in awhile. Thanks, Olay, for giving me a good excuse! Since this is a review and we always like to get readers to chime in, what are some of the ways you simplify your beauty routine? Do you moisturize every day? Do you have any tricks to keep the scales away? Let us know in the comments and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card.

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This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 3/20 – 4/17
Be sure to visit the Olay Body Wash page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggersí reviews and find more chances to win! While weíre on the subject of looking good, you might want to check out the “Looking Your Best” posts in the Life Well Lived section of BlogHer.com. There are some great tips and expert posts!

124 Comments

  • Yara

    Does “ignoring my legs” count as simplifying? Because, I just looked at them, and they are quite embarrassing at the moment. Clearly I don’t moisturize every day. Oops.

  • Christine

    I am terrible about moisturizing and I so know what you’re talking about here. Just last week the weather was warm and I put on capri jeans and sandals and then realised that my skin was practically dusty, it was so dry and flaky. Ugh.

    My one streamlining tip is this, and maybe it’s terrible too, but I keep my facewash in the shower and use it in the morning. I’m getting all wet anyway so it’s much easier to do it then than to try to use it at night. At night, I just use makeup remover on my mascara and then try to moisturize my face like a good nearing-forty girl.

    And I love orange scented bodywash. It’s so invigorating, and I need all the invigoration I can get.

  • beyond

    i don’t moisturize enough. 2-3 times a week. that’s not enough for dry nyc winters. but i drink a lot of water! that’s my beauty tip. drink one glass more than you think you should.

  • Martha

    I always forget to moisturize as well but when I do remember.. I do it right after stepping out of the shower when skin is still wet – it really gets “sucked” in that way. And oh yeah, keep a tube of moisturizer in the car. Red lights are good for one thing!

  • flyingbird

    Your “scales” are too funny.

    I try to simplify by using a combo shampoo + conditioner in a single bottle. Sometimes my hair still needs an extra conditioning treatment, but it gets me by for the day-to-day.

  • Lisa J

    I don’t use any special moisturizing soap but I do use a good lotion ALL OVER after every shower. I love Aveeno lotion and my new favorite (being pregnant) is the Burt’s Bees Mommy Bee lotion. I hate feeling dry and itchy!

  • Becca

    I did the exact thing your talking about the other day. I was visiting family in New Mexico and it was warm enough for shorts, so I put on shorts. I thought my only problem would be my pasty white Oregonian skin but no. My legs were soooo dry.

    I might have to give that body wash a try because remembering to actually moisturize is probably too much to ask.

  • Joy

    Thank you soooo much for the info about Olay! I do use Neutrogena Sesame Oil when I get out of the shower but will definitely give the Olay a try! The scales are too funny!!! :)

  • OMSH

    I had to click through because of the scales on your legs. I was thinking, “St. Patrick’s Day?”, “Mermaid”????

    My routine is using Philosophy’s Amazing Grace Perfumed Firming Lotion. Love, Love, Love it. Also, compressed coconut oil. Works wonders on my heels, knees, elbows.

  • leslie

    I like to use a dab of body oil before exiting the shower, but after the water is turned off – it only takes a second and really helps seal in moisture. I have extremely dry skin and love the way it feels when I follow this will a little body lotion after patting dry!

  • Milissa

    I don’t even think about my legs during the five months of wintertime.. But in the summertime, I will moisturize them only if iknow that I will be wearing shorts or skirts. This review makes me think that maybe I should start pampering myself more…a nice bubble bath sounds relaxing!

  • nikkapotamus

    your green scales are so much cuter than mine! I saw this and thought that you and Bug had been playing mermaid at first.

    My routine is generally hop in the shower, out, dressed and then remember that my legs were dry and scaly and I should really think about putting on lotion next time, repeat.

  • Lorey

    I do something you SHOULDN’T do, take a hot shower. It dries out your skin. But it is sooo nice, especially in the winter. If you want non-dry skin, you should take a warm shower and then moisturize right after to lock in the moisture of the shower. I get around to that sometimes…

  • MichelleE

    I love a good bath with a good moisturizing bubble (Olay works great!). Lotion every night is a must!

  • Mami2jcn

    I simplify my morning beauty routine by really keeping makeup very simple. I only wear blush and lip gloss on any given day, sometimes concealer if my skin needs it, and mascara only on special occasions! I moisturize before bed.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

  • Rosa

    I try to simplify my routine by keeping my skin moisturized, and when in a hurry, I just add some blush

  • Stephanie M

    I LOVE this body wash. I notice a definite difference after one time of using something else — that’s all it takes. It’s definitely a time-saver.

  • Brooke

    I only shower every other day and sometimes less depending on how many kids are going in how many different directions. But–I rinse, lather and repeat two times to make the grease stay away for a bit longer–and it actually works. P.S.–was there a cool green ring in your tub after you drained that water?

  • Karen

    I’m in a panic after reading this as I’d planned to get up 15 minutes early tomorrow to shave my legs and now realize I should make it 20, so I’ll have time to do something about the scales I will surely find under the winter layer of insulating hair (oh, shoot, who am I kidding? I’m just to lazy to bother in the winter…). Pleasantly scented, exfoliating, and all that moisturizing? I’ll pick some up and try it this week!

  • Tina

    I have to use a body wash with moisturizing lotion in it…About the only time I remember to use lotion is right after I shave–if I don’t they start to itch! :)

  • ellen

    I try to take baths that arent quite as hot- that really strips moisture. Also watch the bath products some are pretty drying!

  • Bekah

    I simplify my beauty routine by forgetting to shave my legs 60% of the time, remembering but not having time to shave my legs because a kid is going to wake up or bang down the door any minute 30% of the time, and only taking the time to ACTUALLY shave my legs 10% of the time.

    Lately I’m finding that the younger I’m not, the more I need the moisturizer.

  • Bethany

    The best moisturizer I have found is udder cream. It’s unscented (I loathe perfumy smells) and non-greasy. Also it lasts a long time: 24 to 48 hours. And it’s cheap. It doesn’t clog up your pores, and I even use it on my face, not just scaly winter legs.

    For extremely scaled body parts, such as dry, cracked hooves, I mean heels, I have the best cure: clean nasty heels with Stridex acne pads, then rub a thick lotion or vaseline on heels, put socks on and leave them on overnight. Do this a few times and voila! Your hooves will be a lot less scary.

  • Kuky

    I always moisturize. I don’t know if it’s our water or what but if I don’t, I feel it immediately, my dry skin. So I just do it automatically.

    And simplifying…I wash my hair only once a week. I do it that way because it takes forever to wash and dry. But my lovely hippy sister says that’s a good idea because washing it too frequently strips it of moisture. In fact she sent me a link for conditioner washing. I think I might give that a try.

  • Ami

    I don’t moisturize as much as I should, for sure. I use body butter on my legs when I wear a dress, though. And I have to ask, did you draw your own scales, or did your little coloring-contest champion help you out with that? Too cute.

  • jeanine

    Guess I’m with the minority, I moisturize every morning. It’s just part of my daily routine. Sit on the couch, watch the news, and spread on some moisturizer. I like the “fruity” smells, too. Just NOT vanilla.

  • Dena

    I shower at night and always moisturize afterwards, but not always with the “right” lotion I know. The lovely smelling ones aren’t the best moisturizing ones. If this body wash eliminates the need for lotion that would be great.

  • Deb

    No tips as my legs are so, so dry…I guess to simplify, I skip moisturizing. NOT GOOD! I am going to have to try this.

  • Debbie B

    I have a nice vanity area in my bathroom that I’m able to keep everything organized and ready for my morning routine. Showering at night helps saves time in my routine as well

  • Jessica F

    I try to be as simple as possible in the mornings… just a little lip gloss and mascara! I also shower at night too so I can spend more time sleeping :)