As a beauty editor, I feel quite passionately about using beauty products that spark joy. Although I understand the importance of products that actually work, I also believe that there is a way to create efficacious products that make you feel good when you use them. In short, I like for my products to look good, smell good and feel good.
It’s for this reason I’m such a big fan of Aesop skincare and body care. In fact, if you’re asking me, I would say Aesop is the gold standard of super-chic beauty products that actually work. My only gripe? They’re really, expensive, so can I can only invest in them every so often. They’re so expensive, in fact, that most people (myself including) buy a product once and refill it with a cheaper alternative after it’s finished. But the truth is, you just can’t beat the luxurious feeling of using an Aesop product, and I’ve never found a more affordable alternative that fills the gap—until now.
C.O. Bigelow is a New York-based pharmaceutical institution. And when I said institution, I mean it in the sense that it has essentially become a New York landmark. Having existed in Greenwich Village since 1838, the apothecary-pharmacy is one of beauty’s biggest success stories. Stocking various brands across skincare, fragrance and body care, the store also produces its own line of products, and they’re available to buy here in the UK. While the brand’s products are by no means budget, they are slightly more affordable than my go-to Aesop buys. While an Aesop hand wash might set me back circa £30, my favourite C.O. Bigelow hand wash costs £16. However, despite the pricing differences, C.O. Bigelow products really do possess every bit as much of luxury and joy as Aesop products do.
For starters, they look great on the shelf. Seriously, walking into my bathroom and seeing my C.O. Bigelow products lined up fills me unparalleled joy. Then we come onto the scents. Rich, expensive-smelling and long-lasting, the aromas make every C.O. Bigelow experience feel spa-like and luxe. The best thing about C.O. Bigelow, however, is that the products really work. The creams are nourishing and unctuous, the candles fill a room in minutes, and the skincare is full of hard-working ingredients. So, if you’re looking to inject your beauty routine with a hint of luxury that won’t totally bankrupt you, keep scrolling for the 10 best C.O. Bigelow products.
This is without doubt my favourite body cream in existence. I truly can’t find anything to compare it to. If you don’t like the gently uplifting and invigorating scent of lemon, chances are you won’t like this. However, if you are a fan of citrusy scents, you will absolutely adore this. It’s rich and creamy without feeling like a cloyingly sweet balm. Instead, skin slurps up the nourishing concoction and is left feeling silky-smooth without a hint of greasiness. It’s so good, in fact, that an entire day after applying it, limbs still looking glowing and radiant.
If you’re not a bath person, this soak might just convince you to run a tub. Producing luxurious bubbles while it works, this soothing blend of herbal extracts is nothing short of perfection—particularly if you’re feeling bunged up or a little forlorn after a taxing day. With strong aromas of eucalyptus and peppermint filling the room as soon as you start running the tap, it clears the senses more effectively than any beauty product I’ve ever tried, making it the perfect way to unwind in times of high stress.
The newest launch from C.O. Bigelow, the brand’s range of luxury candles are just that—luxury, in every sense of the word. I’ll admit, the price tags on the candles are higher than I’d like. In fact, I’m not sure how often you’d find me dropping more than £50 on one single candle. Having said that, I do think they provide good bang for your buck. This lavender and mint scent, for example, is head-clearing, earthy, and beautifully fresh. Plus, it looks like an ornament on the shelf.
This was the product that finally convinced me to stop spending £29 on my favourite Aesop soap. Not only does it look pretty, the creamy lemon scent has me smelling my hands all day long and it doesn’t cause any drying discomfort.
I’ll admit, the consistency of this is very Vaseline-esque, but it just seems to work a bit harder. Personally, I use it most on my lips and cuticles as its greasy nature doesn’t make it ideal for dry elbows and knees. The thing I love most of all though is the smell. With a gentle aroma of lavender, it makes for the ultimate pre-bed lip treatment.
I truly can’t get enough of this body wash. I know it sounds a little silly, because it’s just a body wash after all, but it truly is such a joy to use. In fact, I didn’t realise just how subpar my recent body washes have been until I experienced the rich, fresh-smelling lather of this stuff.
If you have oily skin, I implore you to give this mask a go. With a bunch of oil-absorbing, mattifying, and pore-minimising clays, a generous layer spread over freshly cleansed skin will leave skin looking clear and glowing. The best bit? Unlike other clay masks it doesn’t cause even a smidgen of unwanted tightness or discomfort.
Again, this stuff is ideal for those oily guys and gals amongst us. I’ll admit I typically don’t endorse skincare products that are heavy with Witch Hazel due to its potential for irritation, however with salicylic acid to slough away at dulling and pore-clogging dead skin cells and clary sage to soothe, it makes for the perfect skin-loving tonic.
Just like the aforementioned lavender salve, this stuff is a nourishing, moisture-retaining concoction of petrolatum and lanolin oil to soothe dryness and irritation. However, with added rose extract to give a subtle pink tint and a delicate rose scent, it feels beautifully luxurious to use.
I’m very picky when it comes to hand cream. The skin on my hands is easily irritated and I detest the way certain formulas can leave behind a greasy film. This formula, however, does nothing of the sort. It soothes and nourishes areas of dryness and discomfort with next-level ease.
