Category: Bath

I love trying new body wash scents, but I have to be very conscious of how much I spend. If you’re on a tight budget and want a fragrant treat, Softsoap’s two new limited edition holiday body washes are definitely worth trying.

My husband loves the Wintermint Snowfall body wash. The mint fragrance is very strong when you’re in the shower, but not really noticeable afterwards. The peppermint is quite invigorating, so this would be a good choice if you want something that will wake you up in the morning.

Personally, I prefer the Sparkling Berry Bubbly fragrance. The berry fragrance seems to be a cranberry, raspberry, and strawberry combination. The scent isn’t as noticeable in the shower, but it seems to stick with you longer than the Wintermint Snowfall.

It also doesn’t scream “Christmas” like the Wintermint Snowfall, so you could easily enjoy Sparkling Berry Bubbly body wash all winter long. I just ran out of Softsoap’s summer Lemonade Berry Splash scent, so this seems like the perfect seasonal update for my shower routine.

Both of the new Softsoap body washes are fairly moisturizing, but I think the Wintermint Snowfall is a bit creamier in the shower.

Suggested retail retail for both body wash fragrances is $3.48. They will be available in Walmart stores from now until the end of the year.

In my family, I always like to buy everyone something practical to help fill our stockings without spending a lot of money or encouraging a day long candy binge. Either of these body wash washes would be a great stocking stuffer option for the teens or adults in your family.

Disclaimer: Product samples were provided by the manufacturer for the purpose of preparing this review.

Photo credit: Softsoap

I’ve always been jealous of my friends who claim that they can get away with shaving their legs once a month when it’s not bathing suit season. If I go more than two days without shaving my legs, I risk being mistaken for a Wookiee by my Star Wars obsessed son.

Over the years, I’ve tried many different brands of razors in search of something that fits my budget and kept me from getting nasty razor burn. The razors from 800 Razors are by far the best that I’ve seen for the price.

Their 5-blade women’s razor, which is comparable to Venus razors, gives me a close shave with absolutely no razor burn and the razor pivots nicely to let me easily shave the tricky spots on my knees and the back of my legs. I love the razor’s wide lubricating strip, which is fortified with aloe to be gentle on sensitive skin.

Since 800 Razor’s products are so affordable, I also feel less guilty about swapping out my dull razor for a fresh blade. You’re supposed to replace your razor at least every two weeks in order to prevent nicks and cuts from a dull blade. Buying razors from 800 Razors lets me keep my legs smooth without draining my bank account. (I received a sample from 800 Razors for this review, but ended up placing my own order soon after because I loved them so much.)

If you’re looking for razors for your husband as well, 800 Razors also sells razors for men. They have two options for men: a 3-blade razor that is comparable to Mach III razors and a 5-blade razor that is comparable to Fusion razors. The 3-blade razor has an impressive metal handle with a substantial feel to it.

From a purely political standpoint, you can feel good about supporting 800 Razors because all of their products are made in America. My budget doesn’t always allow me to choose American-made products, but I do try to support companies that are providing much needed American jobs whenever possible.

Visit the 800 Razors website to order your razors. A 4-pack of women’s razors sells for $9.99, an 8-pack is $17.99, a 16-pack is $32.99, and a 20-pack is $38.99. All orders qualify for free shipping and every new customer gets a free handle.

Disclaimer: Product samples were provided by the manufacturer for the purpose of preparing this review.

Photo credit: 800 Razors

My son loved playing in the bathtub as a toddler. I didn’t mind letting him splash around at the end of a long day, but I was completely grossed out the first time I realized his favorite rubber ducky had mold inside of it from not draining properly.

Once I figured out how hard it is to keep bath squirt toys clean, I started looking for other things for him to play with.

This drum set from Alex Toys looks like the perfect bath time activity for toddlers and preschoolers. The set includes two waterproof drums that float in the tub. You can adjust the pitch level of the drums by changing the water level inside them.

Kids can either randomly bang on the drums or you can try to teach them a song using the waterproof rhythm sheets that are included.

You can buy the Alex Toys water drums on the Fat Brain Toys site for $17.95. Fat Brain Toys has a flat rate shipping system charging $3.99 regardless of order size. All orders are shipped via UPS Ground to the contiguous United States.

Fat Brain Toys gives the Alex Toys water drums a 9.04 on the Toy Value scale and a 174 on the Toy IQ scale. This means that tester and customers have found that the toy is something that offers educational benefits while providing many hours of entertainment for your child.

If your kids love playing in the tub, what do you think of these waterproof drums?

Photo credit: Fat Brain Toys

When I first saw Hello Toothpaste in Sweet Cinnamint, I thought I was looking at a tube of sunblock. I like that, though, because their packaging is interesting; this isn’t just any old tube of toothpaste.

It’s 99 percent natural, but it’s still effective at making your mouth feel clean and fresh. I can’t speak for the whitening claims. I haven’t noticed a huge difference, but I never do with whitening toothpastes because they’re so gradual.

The first thing I noticed about the toothpaste was that it came out of the tube in a fun star-shape and it seemed creamier than most other toothpastes I’ve used, almost like a body cream consistency. The smell wasn’t strong.

While I was brushing my teeth, I found myself wishing the flavor was stronger. I love cinnamon toothpaste anyway, but this one’s (very mild!) flavor is more like cinnamon rolls than cinnamon gum. There’s a very slight bitterness to the cinnamon flavor (like real cinnamon), tempered with something sweet, like vanilla.

The toothpaste doesn’t lather much, which could lead you to feel as if you should put more on the toothbrush. I haven’t stopped to add more yet, but after I’m done brushing, my whole mouth (not just where I started) still feels clean, so the toothpaste is still doing its job even though you don’t get the sudsy effects you get from most other toothpastes (this one is 99 percent natural, so that’s probably why).

While I wish the flavor was a lot stronger and the toothpaste would lather up a little more, I really do like this one. My daughter does, too. She’s insisted that I throw out her “kid” toothpaste so she can use this one all the time.

She’s much more excited about brushing her teeth these days. One thing I noticed is that my daughter’s breath smells really good after she uses it, not just “not stinky.” She came up and said something to me a little while after brushing her teeth and I smelled the sweet cinnamon-mint-vanilla combination.

I was pleasantly shocked that it was that strong since it doesn’t taste like it would be (it doesn’t burn your mouth!). That’s enough to make me choose this kind over the others I’ve used.

The price is $4.99 (at Walgreens) for six ounces, but the flavor is good (especially if you dislike the strong mint flavors most toothpastes come in!) and you’re able to avoid a lot of chemicals by going with a more natural choice.

Disclaimer: This product was sent for free by Hello Products’ PR representative for the purpose of this review.

Photo credit: Walgreens

I don’t really like mouthwash. It burns. The flavor sticks around forever because it’s so strong (which I guess is partially the point, but sometimes it’s just too much), if you don’t rinse it feels like there’s a film in your mouth, and they most often come in harsh minty flavors (which I also don’t like).

How can something so clean feel so gross, so often?

I tried Hello’s Mint Mojito mouthwash recently, and it’s like they read my mind when they created it. It doesn’t burn because there’s no alcohol (there are also no artificial colors or harsh chemicals, and it’s 99 percent natural).

The flavor, though still minty, is mint mojito, so there’s an interesting enough twist to it to make me wish they had actually made the flavor even stronger so I could enjoy it more. I can really detect the lime; it’s just a fun flavor to use.

The flavor is really faint for a mouthwash, so don’t expect a fruity, minty kick in the mouth that screams, “It’s five o’clock somewhere.”

Because the flavor’s faint, it doesn’t stick around. So if you do need to take a sip of water not long after using it, the mouthwash won’t totally ruin the experience for you. Even though the flavor doesn’t stick around, the feeling that you have a clean mouth—and the confidence to talk to people without worrying about your breath—does.

I think the reason I feel as if there’s a film left behind after I use other mouthwashes has to do with the way the alcohol dries my mouth out. I didn’t get that feeling with the Hello product.

The only downside, aside from the slightly-too-mild flavor, to the Hello mouthwash is the price. At Walgreens, for example, the 16 oz bottle is $5.49. For comparison, the 33.8 oz bottle of Listerine is $5.29 and the Walgreens brand is $2.99 for 33.8 oz.

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for free by Hello Products’ PR representative for the purpose of this review.

Photo credit: Walgreens

Johnson’s baby oil gel with vitamin E and aloe vera is less messy and easier to control than regular baby oil, which is great when you’re trying to apply some to a squirming infant or toddler.

However, you do need to keep in mind that the product is more concentrated than liquid baby oil. Be careful not to use too much gel at one time. Just a drop or two is enough for most purposes. Read more…

Move over, Eucerin. There’s a new cream in town and it’s not greasy. It’s not heavy, nor does it feel like an oily mess that’s going to rub off on everything from your hair to your pillow case. It’s made with colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and eucalyptus oil.

I got a generous sample of First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream from Sephora after a sales rep recommended it for my eczema, which was flaring up again thanks to stress, caffeine, and my inability to find a suitable daytime moisturizer with SPF. Fun times. Read more…

I recently discovered this line in my quest to replace a lot of my regular skin care items with natural products, and I haven’t been too let down.

This body wash smells amazing and I can feel good about using it every day because it’s made only from natural, organic ingredients and not a ton of questionable chemicals. Read more…

I’m trying to make the switch to natural skin care where I can, and though I like to make my own products, I can’t always make them myself.

If nothing else, I need to have a few lotions and creams on hand to toss into a bag for when I travel. Read more…