Body Wash

Fall is a paradox. It can be described as warm and cozy, yet crisp and dry. With L'Occitane's Bonne Mere Gentle Body Wash in Honey ($34) you'll get plenty of the warm and cozy, but none of the dry. The creamy body wash, as its name suggests, contains the subtly sweet scent of honey, with a tinge of fresh, clean, powdery notes.

The results envelop the senses, from touch, smell, and sight. Speaking of sight, you won't get much bubbly action overflowing from the bathtub, as the outer labeling appears to depict. In the shower, however, this moisturizing wash lathers up nicely. And if you're not crazy about strong fragrances, you'll revel in the whisper of a scent it leaves behind.

Hop in the tub and bathe in bubbles! Tots love to splash in the bath and shampoo & body wash combos are an easy way for mama to clean her wee one. Some kiddos need a rinse more then once a day, so we've run the numbers on how much soaping up costs.

• Burt's Bees Shampoo & Body Wash — 16 ounces ($8.99) = 56 cents per ounce
• Aveeno Wash & Shampoo — 18 ounces ($9.29) = 51 cents per ounce
• Johnson's Head to Toe Baby Wash — 15 ounces ($4.69) = 31 cents per ounce
• Mustela Bathtime 2 in 1 Hair & Body Wash — 6.7 ounces ($10) = $1.49 per ounce
• California Baby Shampoo & Body Wash Calming — 8.5 ounces ($9.99) = $1.17 per ounce
• Aquaphor Gentle Wash & Shampoo — 8.4 ounces ($9.99) = $1.18 per ounce
• Weleda Calendula Baby Shampoo & Body Wash — 7.2 ounces ($11.69) = $1.62 per ounce
• Method Baby Hair & Body Wash — 8 ounces ($5.79) = 73 cents per ounce
• Earth's Best by Jason 2 in 1 Shampoo & Body Wash — 8.5 ounces ($8.45) = 99 cents per ounce
• Nature's Baby Organics Shampoo & Body Wash — 8.5 ounces ($9.95) = $1.17 per ounce
• Avalon Organics Shampoo & Body Wash — 8 ounces ($10.49) = $1.31 per ounce

Caring for baby can cost a bundle! Check out all our It Adds Up! coverage.

Incapable of dragging yourself to the shower in the morning? Then why not make it an energizing, physically addictive experience with this Mountain Dew Caffeinated Shampoo and Body Wash ($16)? Once you become dependent, you'll have to shower (maybe several times) just to feel alive. One 20 ounce bottle has about 530 mg of caffeine in it, which breaks down to about a cup of tea's worth per usage — although it's not clear just how much actually gets absorbed.

On the pro side, if it works, all that transdermal caffeine will definitely hit your bloodstream faster than coffee. Plus, it's a diuretic, so it probably does something for cellulite in the short term. What do you think? Would you be curious to replace your morning chai with this stuff, or do you love showering too much as it is?

I'm a big proponent of going natural when you can, but confused by the term "hippie" when it gets thrown around to talk about ecologically conscious products. There are instances where it can be funny, like this cute Stinky Hippie Body Wash ($13.50), whose illustrated "hippie" girl with fragrant underarm is meant to be amusing. However, a lot of times when people use the term it's pejorative, and suggestive of being not as clean or as well groomed as other people. This is despite the fact that most who use natural products actually take great care with their appearances.

I think being an actual hippie in the late 1960s could have been pretty cool, but I don't know about the term now, especially when it comes to cosmetics and personal care. What do you think? Is it rude to call someone a "hippie" just because they like eco-beauty, or is it just one of those terms that's connected to the green movement and unlikely to go away?

Old Spice has been making increasingly insane and funny commercials for their body wash, and although they're usually addressed to guys, the latest spate all have the ladies in mind. I'm tempted to buy Mr. Bella some of this stuff myself in hopes of diamonds, tickets to that thing I love, boat rides, and more. Do any of you use, or frequently smell, a man who uses this stuff? Is it any good?

Are you in the market for a new body wash — especially one that's great for both seasonally and naturally dry skin? Perhaps you should take a piece of advice from reader stef42678, who recently reviewed ($20). Here's what she has to say about this new product:

What are some of your favorite body cleansers for cooler-weathered months? Tell us all about them in the Product Reviews pages. Perhaps your review will be featured right here on Bella, too!

Here's a fatty that won't get you in any trouble. I'm talking essential fatty acids, which are nourishing for the skin, and incidentally, found in hemp seed oil, a main ingredient of Nature's Gate Hemp Velvet Moisture Body Wash ($6). Reader Hottpink sung the praises of this moisturizing cleanser, and here's what she had to say:

I was on the hunt for a body wash that was eco- and animal-friendly, and thought I would give this a try after spying it at a Whole Foods Body. Overall, I am really pleased with this body wash. It has a slightly earthy scent which is not overpowering at all, and it really moisturizes my dry skin. Unlike some body washes, this rinses away clean and doesn't leave that "film" feeling. It doesn't suds up as much as bar soap, but I don't mind. I have even used it to shave when I ran out of shaving cream. Another plus: it lasts a long time!

Are you impressed with certain eco-friendly products you've recently tried? We want to know about it, even if the results have been less than stellar. Our Product Reviews section is the place to go for all things beauty. We look forward to reading your opinions each day, and who knows? Perhaps you'll be the next featured reviewer.