I used to think that all body washes were basically the same. And if we’re being completely honest, until a couple of years ago, I was never particularly discerning. If a body wash had 1) a pleasant scent and 2) achieved a nice rich lather…well, I was good to go. But as my skin care needs changed, so did my choice in body wash. Somewhere around turning 30, I began to notice how seasonal climate changes negatively affect my skin. Generally, most people are drier in the winter and more oily in the summer…but my skin is a bit of a wild card. I get really flaky and dried out in the winter…due to extreme cold. And in the summer, due to extreme heat, my skin gets terribly dehydrated. So you see, I’m pretty much dry all year round. Fun! #NotReally.

Given my year-round dry skin conundrum, I was more than happy to try Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash and see if it lives up to its lofty name “Ultra Moisture”…and even loftier claims “Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash is a conditioning body wash that contains a unique blend of moisturizing ingredients, for all-day soft, healthy-looking skin.” “All-day soft”, you say? Well, I’l be the judge of that.

So, for the last four weeks, I swapped my usual Dove Body Wash for Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash….and here’s the scoop:

Pro’s:

Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash is truly the creamiest drugstore body wash I’ve ever used….leading me to 100% believe the product claim of “containing over one jar of Olay moisturizers“. The first few times that I used Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash, I must admit to having overused the product. With drugstore brands I often find that I have to use a little bit more to get an adequate lather. Though Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash is soap free, the shea butter based body wash really lathers like a champ. You need less than a quarter size amount for your entire body….any more than that and you’re just throwing money down the drain – literally! And speaking of money, the cost of Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash is a major ‘pro’. It’s only $3.99 for 12 oz. and $5.99 for 23.6 oz. Both Mr ThisThatBeauty and I have been using the 23.6oz size for the past four weeks and there’s still plenty in the bottle.

As for moisture, my skin feels thoroughly nourished and hydrated. Again, the claim of containing “over one jar of Olay moisturizers” feels real. My skin feels immediately softer in the shower…not too squeaky clean or thirsty for lotion afterward. My skin feels supple. I’ve also noticed that I use far less body lotion after showering with Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash. So my little $5.99 bottle of body wash is saving me money in more ways than one.

Con’s:

The one ‘con’ that I’ve noticed actually stems from how well the product moisturizes. For my arm pits, which can be particularly stubborn in the summer (TMI, sorry), I felt like the moisturizing “effect” was not getting my arm pits as clean as they needed to be. Maybe it’s just me, but I like to get a little rough with cleaning my arm pits…especially in summer when it gets so icky and gross outside. So for my arm pits, I added a little baking soda to Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash just to give the body wash a bit more grab. And it worked like a charm.

The Bottom Line:

Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash gets a ‘thumbs up’ from this super finicky Beauty Editor. My expectations were more than exceeded. I was particularly impressed with how well Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash performed for the price. I buy drugstore shower gels and body washes all the time….it’s the kind of body care product that I’m just NOT going to invest a ton of money in. So I’ve come to expect very little in terms of performance. But Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash really opened my eyes to how well a drugstore body wash can work to combat super dry skin. Suddenly I feel cheated by all the other drugstore brands I’ve used prior. Well, all’s well that end’s well…I’m so glad I gave Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash a try. This one’s becoming a staple!

Now I want to hear from you. Have you tried Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash? Do you primarily buy drugstore or specialty store body wash? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Or tweet me (@ThisThatBeauty) your questions using #OlayMore4Less.