Product Review: C.o. Bigelow Rose Wonder Cold Cream

For years I struggled with oily skin and breakouts. And during that time I always looked longingly at the products designed for drier skin. It just seemed so much prettier and more glamorous. Side by side at the store, the clinical names and dull ingredients in products for problem skin didn't stack up to romantic sounding ingredients like rose water and neroli. After all, who wouldn't rather use a rich, decadent moisturizer than a drying lotion? Anyway, I got my wish. Now that I'm firmly in my mid-30s, I've found that the breakouts have almost stopped, except for a very occasional hormonal pimple or two. Now I am dealing with the drama of aging skin: fine lines, dullness, and dryness. While I'm waiting until after the pregnancy to indugle in some facial peels and possibly Botox, I wanted to deal with the dryness right away. My Peter Thomas Roth anti-ager is great, but it's a gel and not quite as hydrating as I need these days (this would be a great anti-aging product for oily or breakout prone skin. It is full of beneficial ingredients, and spreads on and blends in so easily and quickly. I'll fill in the name later, I promise!). So I went searching for a moisturizer, and went home with something entirely different. As I mentioned on one of my recent blogs from my trip to Chicago, I bought the C.O. Bigelow Rose Wonder Cold Cream. I love the old-fashioned feel of this product, and the process of rubbing in the rich cream and then smoothing it off with a washcloth or cotton pads. It just feels very vintage-y and romantic. But most of all, I love the fact that, unless you rinse very well or use a toner afterwards, this leaves a light moisturizing film on your skin. It's designed to do this, of course, as it can also be used as a moisturizer. For my skin, using it directly as a moisturizer would probably be too much. I think it might look greasy and lead to breakouts, although I might give it a try if my skin gets really dry. But the process of washing my face with it is perfect. It leaves just enough moisture to battle some of the dryness I've been experiencing. My skin already feels softer and smoother. Plus, it really removes makeup well. A new favorite! It's $15 for 3.35 oz.