Olay • Winter Retreat Body Wash in Vanilla Essence for Extra Dry Skin • Gels/Soaps

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*TOP REVIEWER* Sweetest_Taboo on 12/3/2011 10:15:00 PM more reviews by Sweetest_Taboo

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

This smelled divine when I sniffed it in the store; however, that smell turned "plasticky" once applied to my skin in the shower. Very disappointing. Will be returning b/c I can't deal with the artificial aroma.

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FlameKitty on 2/10/2010 6:28:00 AM more reviews by FlameKitty

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

Whenever I use this body wash it really does make my skin soft. So it does a good job at moisturizing.

The scent is alright. It is strong at first but it doesn't last long.

It foams up very easy too..

However I have noticed it leaving a thin "film" feeling on my skin a few times. Maybe I just used too much those times?

I think it's a pretty good body wash for moisturizing purposes.

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chocolegal on 1/6/2010 10:10:00 PM more reviews by chocolegal

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Love the light fragrance and love how creamy yet foamy this is. I got this from Target a huge bottle for $5.49. A nice changeup from my usual Dove. The only tiny issue is the bottle cap, seems rather flimsy.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ak0703 on 1/6/2010 9:43:00 PM more reviews by ak0703

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

The really cold, dry winters can take a toll on my skin. I picked this up at Target and it really has helped keep my skin moisturized. I suffer from eczema and this seems to help keep that under control too. (Although I pair this wash with Curel Anti-itch body lotion) Like other reviewers, the smell can be a bit much. It smells nice in the bottle, but once it hits air watch out. Luckily, the smell doesn't last all day...but the moisturizing effects do.

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*TOP REVIEWER* yshah0621 on 1/15/2009 10:26:00 PM more reviews by yshah0621

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Olive, Cool   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I'm a little undecided about this product, but since I don't love it I can't give it a great rating.

Pros: pretty moisturizing, and my skin is not as dry when I get out of the shower

Stuck in the middle: the smell is a pretty vanilla, but if you smell closer it has a cheap chemical scent to it, washability, i guess it doesn't leave you squeaky clean like other body washes

cons: the smell mostly, just nothing special, and you do get a huge amount for about $6 but just not worth it

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*TOP REVIEWER* jaqi16 on 12/26/2008 9:09:00 PM more reviews by jaqi16

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This stuff was a "gift", and I'm so glad I didn't waste any money on it. This stuff is disgusting!!!!!! It doesn't rinse off my body well at all, leaving a greasy/sticky feeling behind, leaving you feeling .... like you just want to shower.

Will NOT repurchase or recommend this to anyone. Gross!

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*TOP REVIEWER* jessicamc44 on 11/14/2008 2:34:00 PM more reviews by jessicamc44

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

OH MY!! This is so delightful!! I love the sweet, creamy scent of this body wash! Don't hesitate to pick this up. It's inexpensive, you have nothing to lose!

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GoddessGreenEyes on 10/5/2008 10:34:00 AM more reviews by GoddessGreenEyes

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

EDIT: After about two weeks after using this cleanser, I broke out in a hellacious rash that encompassed every pore of my body. Something similar to that had happened to me once before, eons ago, when I'd used a much older Olay cleanser. Also, since I wrote this review, The Rash has hit my best friend, to whom I gave two bottles of this. I wouldn't recommend it now, and I definitely won't buy. If you're skin's not sensitive, though, you're probably fine.

This cleanser makes my skin feel soooooooooooo soft and leaves just a faint scent of vanilla on skin after the product is rinsed off. I have weird skin - most of it's dry, but some parts will always be oily. This product does a great job of moisturizing my skin, but doesn't contribute to any oiliness. I'm really upset that this one is a "limited edition." Between the lovely scent and the good that it does my skin, I would love to see it as a 'keeper!"

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Sakuru on 3/18/2008 12:23:00 PM more reviews by Sakuru

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I purchased some of this after all the rave reviews on the bath forum here on MUA. I figured since it wasn't especially expensive compared to many of the other products I use "no harm, no foul" so to speak. The bottle was a large 22 oz bottle. When I sniffed it in the store I could smell a really nice but light vanilla fragrance. I must admit, this was one of the nicer vanillas I have smelled since so many of them have an undertone of "plastic" and this one did not. It was a nice bright creamy and clear vanilla. However, the scent was very light but I figured for the price I could live with that.

I get the product home and into the shower. Upon pouring some on my bath poof which if you are not careful this package will dump way more than you need onto your poof, I sniffed the product. It smelled like the light vanilla with a strange chemical under note to it. This was not a "soapy" smell others describe but straight bitter chemicals. While using this in the shower the scent became stronger with chemicals and it is almost too much to bear. The lather is a very luxurious lather and that was the best part about using it. When I finished rinsing off, I felt a terrible film on my skin. This was not the feeling of "oils" you get when using a solid lotion or massage bar in the shower. This was more like a waxy feeling. I do not like that waxy feeling at all.

In short, if Olay were to boost the fragrance in this to possibly cover up the chemical smells it might not be a half-bad product. I don't mind if a product does not leave me scented after a shower, I do mind bathing in something that smells like toxic chemical soup.

I am not going to repurchase and using this bottle up is taking forever since I only use it about once a week, only so that it will get used. I hate to waste product. As far as the bar soap goes, I have some of that in my stash and have yet to try it. I am hopeful it will not be as bas of an experience as the shower gel. Once I try the soap I will add to this review.

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*TOP REVIEWER* mellimello on 1/6/2008 7:38:00 PM more reviews by mellimello

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I have extremely dry, sensitive skin and I've usually had pretty decent luck with Olay products in the past. Hmm... so I wonder what happened with this product? It made me really itchy and I developed a scaly rash on my arms (yuck) that was only "cured" by covering my arms in a mixture of jojoba oil and aveeno lotion for extra dry skin. With the exception of the freakout on my arms, I did enjoy this soap. It smelled lovely and the rest of my body was really hydrated and looked good. I got this in a set at Walgreens with the Winter Retreat Exfoliating Wash and the Beauty Bar for.. $8? Which is quite a steal considering the body wash alone runs about $6 at my grocery store.

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*TOP REVIEWER* jamiemp on 1/1/2008 5:29:00 PM more reviews by jamiemp

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Other    

Why, oh why, do companies have to play this "Limited Edition" crap?To create a rush on the product, of course. Somehow, the existence of this product escaped me until the day-after-Christmas sale at Target, where I found huge boxes of the bar soaps, as well as GINORMOUS bottles of the body wash for $5 each. I love Olay soaps, so I bought a couple of each version. The smell is so, so good. A warm, sweet vanilla that doesn't linger after you rinse (I like that, since I wear perfume everyday). It's moisturizing and luxurious and wonderful. I love the bars and the liquid.

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*TOP REVIEWER* reihasama on 12/30/2007 10:04:00 PM more reviews by reihasama

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

Hmm, this smells nice, but I wouldn't say it's particularly vanilla nor indulgent. It smells more soapy than vanillaish, but it is pleasant, and a nice change of pace from my usual Dove. I can't testify to its moisturizing power; I always use a lotion right after I shower, so I can't tell the difference.

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soniawonia on 12/26/2007 4:13:00 PM more reviews by soniawonia

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Black, Wavy   Eyes: Brown    

I got the soap version. I just, omg, love this. It has the perfect amount of vanilla. Its not too over powering, just perfect. Leave my skin amazingly soft. I also use it for shaving and it works wonders. I dont even use shaving cream anymore. I got the 6 pack and im very glad I did. Hopefully it will last me till next winter cause once im out i'll go crazy. Haha.

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kahaluumauka4 on 12/11/2007 5:07:00 PM more reviews by kahaluumauka4

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I LOVE this scent of the winter retreat body wash, but after rinsing off this body wash, the moisture content in this body wash and ALL of olays body washes tends to sit on my body like it didnt or cant rinse off completley!!! I love the scent, so I will stick with Olays winter retreat BATH BAR, THIS one is PERFECT!!! The scent is the same as the body wash, and cleanses off well, I am SOLD on winter retreat bath bar of Olay!!!!!!!Oh, and the purifying body wash of olay is another Perfect body wash, only thing is they got to remove those gritty beads in that shower gel.

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tinydancer73 on 11/19/2007 4:17:00 PM more reviews by tinydancer73

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I hate to be the lone naysayer here, but I did not like the smell of this product. I LOVE the smell of the fragrance they added. The problem is that I smell soap mixed in with the vanilla, and the combination makes my stomach turn. It's as if they didn't add enough fragrance to drown the smell of the rest of the product. If the vanilla smell were stronger, and I didn't smell the soapiness mixed in with it, this would've gotten a 5.

I still gave it a 4 because it's an amazing body wash. Thick, rich, very moisturizing and it lathers like crazy! My skin feels so soft and silky after using this. I don't even need lotion afterward. Of course, I put on lotion anyway, just because I love the smell of my lotions. =) But if I were in a hurry and didn't have time, I'd still be covered by this stuff. Yes, it does leave a slippery film on your bathtub, like some of Olay's other washes, but I figure those are the moisturizers. The ones that don't leave a film tend to dry my skin out, so it's a tradeoff. If I want a moisturizer in my wash, I have to put up with some of it ending up on the tub!

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*TOP REVIEWER* PeeWeeScaresMe on 1/21/2006 4:22:00 AM more reviews by PeeWeeScaresMe

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I bought 5 bottles of this at Wal-mart because they marked them down to $2 a bottle, and the bottles are huge! The smell is a nice light vanilla and it makes my skin really soft. Overall I am quite impressed, and very happy with this product.

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*TOP REVIEWER* AlFitz614 on 1/13/2006 9:17:00 AM more reviews by AlFitz614

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

This is a great body wash. It's creamy and feels very luxurious. It does not dry out my skin at all, it's somewhat moisturizing. The smell is just amazing. I don't know if I would call it vanilla, as I generally do not like vanilla scnets.

I'm also disappointed this is a Limted Edition, hopefully Olay will come to their senses and make this a permanent product. This bottle is huge, but I'm considering getting another before this comes off the shelves.

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cchottie55 on 1/12/2006 10:32:00 AM more reviews by cchottie55

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

FREAKIN. LOVE. THIS. I'm a little pissed off that it's limited edition, because my skin is super dry. After using this, the Olay Moisturinse In-Shower Lotion, and Curel for extra dry skin (hey, I told you I have dry skin!!!) I am ready to face the harshly cold New York winters. I should start a petition to keep this stuff on the market year-round...

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*TOP REVIEWER* SuzyCutie on 12/22/2005 6:26:00 PM more reviews by SuzyCutie

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Red, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I love this!Rather disappointing that it is limited edition.We have forced air heat in our house and we live in Maine,so my skin has been extra thirsty.I had to switch from bar soap to body wash-that bad.This smells lovely,like a previous poster said not cloying,very clean imo. The best part is that I barely needed body lotion after my shower,which was a first!Definitely worth a trip to Wal Mart to grab a bottle,I doubt you'd be disappointed.

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*TOP REVIEWER* axialmeow on 12/13/2005 5:40:00 AM more reviews by axialmeow

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

+UPDATE+ This stuff smells *just* like the Secret Vanilla Sparkle body spray! If you like that scent you will love this one. The 2 work very well together.

I am so glad I came across this. It's super rich and moisturizing. Perfect for winter dry skin. The smell is great. It's vanilla but not super sweet or cloying in any way. I got a huge bottle at Walmart for under $6. It makes a great shaving lotion too. Pick some up!

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