These days I prefer 100% natural or naturals-heavy body care, but I made an exception this winter when I reached for my review samples of Crabtree & Evelyn Gardeners Body Wash ($26) and Body Lotion ($32). Such is the allure of Crabtree & Evelyn, a brand synonymous with luxurious moisturizing products that come in a variety of botanicals-inspired scents. I knew that no matter what, the Crabtree & Evelyn body wash and body lotion would smell good and leave my skin feeling soft, and I was right.
Gardeners is one of Crabtree & Evelyn's cult fave scents. In fact, it's so popular that there's a whole collection based around this fragrance (a blend of botanicals, cucumber, sage and rosemary). It's earthy, fresh and spicy, not too floral or fruity, fairly unisex. I've tried Gardeners Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy before and liked it (although not as much as my all-time fave scent Avocado, Olive & Basil), so when I was introduced to the new body wash and lotion at the #LDBeauty event last fall I was definitely intrigued. The fragrance in both products is not overpowering and fades within an hour, so it's not like you'll walk around all day smelling like an herb garden.
The body wash has a gel texture that spreads over skin in a thin cleansing film and rinses away cleanly. It doesn't lather up as much as conventional drugstore body washes despite the fact that sodium laureth sulfate is listed as the second ingredient. Because of the lack of suds, I prefer to use it directly on my skin like a liquid soap instead of pumping gobs of product onto a shower puff (the puff just swallows it all). A little product goes a long way if you use this like a liquid soap in the shower.
The body lotion has been running out faster than the body wash and I suspect it'll be part of an empties round-up very soon. I've been using a dime-sized dab on each arm and my back and my chest, and two dabs on my legs each time. The lotion absorbs quickly and doesn't feel greasy as long as you don't over-apply. The formula is not all-natural, but that also means it sits on top of skin longer and forms a barrier against dry winter air. I find that natural body moisturizers tend to absorb quickly and only provide about 8 hours of dry skin relief before my arms and legs start to feel itchy again. By contrast, the Crabtree & Evelyn body lotion provided relief up until my shower the next day.
Final verdict? These products make a nice treat for yourself and a lovely gift idea for someone else. Crabtree & Evelyn Gardeners products are available at London Drugs, and although I can't find the body wash and body lotion listed on the website right now they do have a Hand Soap & Hand Therapy duo ($55 on sale for $27.99)!
[EDITED TO ADD March 17, 2019] So apparently I've been living under a rock and didn't realize that Crabtree & Evelyn filed for bankruptcy in December 2018. Yikes! Thanks to a sharp-eyed follower who pointed it out on my Instagram. It's a shame because I really love their hand lotions, but on the bittersweet upside, there might be sales on remaining inventory.
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