Olay Ribbons Body Wash - Product Review

The concept of combining body wash and moisturizer is not terribly new, but the Olay marketing machine outdid itself when it swirled layers of colored moisturizing lotion into its Olay Ribbons Body Wash line, then showcased the rainbow bright colors in frosty clear containers. Who can resist the idea of cleaning your body with these creamy blends that cleverly recall comfort food signifiers like jams and jellies, yogurt parfaits and ice cream? They literally scream colorful, wholesome cleanliness from the supermarket shelf.

Each hue represents a different moisturizer/lotion combination: purple contains jojoba butter while the blue contains aloe extract. A new green line known as "radiance ribbons" was recently added, which according to Olay's website is "the first body wash to add an actual ribbon of moisturizer with glucosamine complex and luminous brighteners to transform skin from dull to radiant."

See where I'm going? I try to be the educated consumer, to be so above it all, but I still can't resist beautiful packaging. I bought an 18 oz. bottle of the pink marble blend called "crème ribbons", containing swaths of almond oil. Unlike jojoba and aloe, I'm not aware of the specific moisturizing benefits almond oil carries, but I'm assuming the good people at Olay do. (I also wasn't aware that almond oil is pink)

The scent is floral and sugary, but it wasn't cloying or overpowering. Because of its thick and goopy consistency, the bottle instructions also encourage the body wash to be used as a shaving lotion, presumably for ladies' legs because I don't think I'd ever shave my beard with this.

As a body wash, however, I think it performed its job satisfactorily. A small amount squeezed onto a wet puff produced a frothy, copious lather and my body was left clean and lightly scented. But did I really feel moisturized? Olay promises that your skin will be visibly improved in just 5 days. I didn't see it, nor did I feel it.

Before I continue, I have to admit that Olay got me twice. A few days after buying the pink ribbon body wash, I spotted the new green "radiance ribbons" I mentioned earlier.

I couldn't resist.

$7 poorer, and now with body wash to last me until Cher's next comeback, I found the radiance ribbons experience to be the same as its pink counterpart, with a few notable exceptions, namely its light, pleasant coconut fragrance. Again, the lather was luxuriant and my skin smelled clean, however it didn't feel any more moisturized or supple.

I discovered an additional after effect with radiance ribbons: at various angles under the light, I noticed my body sported a glistening sheen. It was almost like body glitter but not as conspicuous. This must be the "luminous brighteners" they were talking about. It's a nice touch, but I don't need my skin to shimmer like fish scales and I certainly don't need my testicles to second as disco balls.

All told, I feel better moisturized when I step out of the shower and apply an inexpensive body lotion to my already damp body. I pass along the same advice to you so that Olay won't siphon $14 out of your wallet just because you like the pretty colors. As a reviewing consumer I can confidently say this product is thoroughly and utterly...average. Nothing more.