Review of Cyclar's In-Shower Body Oil Balm in Vanilla Verve

One thing you should know about me is that I am the driest, scaliest, crackliest person you will ever meet. So dry in fact, that I may be the first person exhibiting signs of humanity's evolution away from its dependence on water. In recent years, my skin has looked more normal and less diseased because I’ve started to use body oils and lotions more seriously. I’ve had a steady body oil in my rotation, but over the past month, I’ve dabbled in something new.

Cyclar’s Vanilla Verve In-Shower Body Oil Balm is a new product for them and an even newer one for me. I was so excited to get my first product by Cyclar, and I landed on this as I was looking for a different body oil to add to the rotation for a little variety. The product is meant to be used directly after a shower. The balm should be massaged into wet skin before gently toweling off. The box also states that it can be used while dry by applying small amounts on excessively dry patches to help moisturize.

I wasn’t sure which scent to choose at first, since there was nowhere local that I could smell their fragrances in person. I do NOT normally recommend blind buying, but I finally bit the bullet and chose to go with Vanilla Verve. It seemed like an approachable option with a lot of rave reviews. I do really, really like the fragrance. It is exactly what I like in a vanilla scent. This is warm, sweet, and woody, not a gourmand. I dislike vanilla scents that are too sweet or smell like frosting. This is a mature, grown vanilla. Imagine an old library (heavy wood tables and books that haven't been opened in years) with golden sunlight filtering through huge glass windows onto the shelves. That is the vibe of the vanilla here.

As far as products go, I don’t think this is my favorite. As I mentioned above, I am a fan of the scent, but I feel like I am absolutely blowing through the balm. It’s hard to tell exactly how much I should be applying or if I’ve used enough until after it's had time to settle into the skin. I don’t really know how much of it I’ve used, but it feels like I’m halfway through already, and I’ve only used it 3 times. At this rate, I’ll be out by the end of March. Two months doesn’t sound bad, but I’m not using it after every shower. If someone were using this every shower, I’m not sure how long it would last. This could 100% be user error, and I’m willing to learn from my mistakes moving forward.

I will say that, as my final review, the scent is 10/10. The concept is great, and it really does work to moisturize. I shower at night, and even after a full night's sleep, I can still feel the moisture on my skin and smell the vanilla. It is such a cozy nighttime ritual. In the future, I will not repurchase this product, but I will try their body oil in the same scent.

Keep on Sniffing,

Anosmic