Disclosure

Do you ever have something happen that gives you flashbacks to a little piece of what made you who you are? Not bad things, just silly stuff like why you may refuse to eat a particular food or use a particular product.That happened to me recently when Dove representatives contacted me asking if I would be interested in trying their products. You see, back when I was in college, my doctor commented during a routine visit something to the effect of “Your skin is abnormally dry.” Duh, doc. I live in Iowa… and it’s winter. Dry skin is a given. Skin that is not dry is a rarity.  But he said that skin shouldn’t be so dry that it is constantly cracked and bleeding – which mine was.  Fine, doc. What do you recommend? He said I should switch to a mild soap like Ivory. I don’t recall what I was using, but it obviously wasn’t good for my skin.  So I took his recommendation and bought Ivory.  I used it exclusively, even when I moved out of the frigid skin-cracking weather of Iowa.

Years later, my mom visited her dermatologist and was told that goat’s milk soap is one of the least harmful soaps to use. After deciding she liked it, she purchased some from a local vendor and shipped it to me in California.  Moms know best, so I tested it out.  My sensitive skin didn’t react to it and it became my new favorite soap. Each year for Christmas, my birthday or just when I would return to Iowa fro California, she would restock my supply.

I’ll admit that I’m totally a cheapskate.  But even claims by Dove and other companies to take “The 7-Day Challenge” (or other similar satisfaction guaranteed or your money back promotions) didn’t sway me. I was sticking to the “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it” mantra.  When I would receive free sample bars of quality products, I would proudly put them in the guest bathroom for visitors to use.  I’ve religiously used the goat’s milk soap all these years.

So when the Dove representative contacted me a few months ago, I wasn’t eager to respond. I was busy and pretty sure I wasn’t going to try their stuff out anyhow.  Here’s the video they sent me to encourage me to try it out:

When I had some time (like a few weeks after they first contacted me), I reluctantly agreed. Making sure to be completely up front about my pre-existing opinions, I explained “I’ll be honest, it’s been years since I even tried the Dove beauty bar. Since I have sensitive skin, it’s one of those things that I just didn’t talk myself into. But I would be more than happy to give it a shot (or one of the body washes) but wouldn’t want to provide a review of it until I had used it for at least a few weeks. That way I would be confident with whether my skin would react to it.“So I sucked it up and tried it.  The worst that was going to happen is that my skin would become dry and I would use one of the new lotions I’m testing out (Skin MD and Vaseline Clinical Strength) and I would go back to using my goat’s milk soap.

It only took a few days of trying it to realize that my skin didn’t hate it.  I was amazed to find that I actually really like the Dove beauty bar. It’s smooth and silky and washes off nicely.  My skin felt moisturized and wasn’t itchy at all.  Sorry if I sound like a commercial but it’s true.  They also shipped me a few other products to try out, including the Go Fresh Beauty Body Wash, the Go Fresh Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner – all part of the Go Fresh Cool Moisture Cucumber and Green Tea Scent collection.  Since they have complete confidence in their product, they sent me several products – despite my warnings.

Here’s what I tested and what I thought about it all –

Dove Beauty Bar – Like I already said, it’s nice.  Silky and lathers well.  I wanted to get an unmuddled opinion of it so I haven’t been using my anti-aging daily facial moisturizer lately.  Didn’t matter because my skin felt plenty moisturized without feeling greasy.

Dove Go Fresh Beauty Body Wash – It’s the bar in a bottle.  Except it was the cucumber and green tea scent so it smelled different.  Worked great though and didn’t leave me itchy.

Dove Go Fresh Shampoo and Conditioner – Both these products worked for me.  I’ve used shampoos and conditioners in the past that have left my hair feeling like straw.  So bad that I would prefer to not wash my hair for a week than use them.  But that wasn’t the case with the Dove shampoo and conditioner.  I was pleased with their effectiveness without leaving my hair feeling all dried out.

Dove Go Fresh Body Mist Energizing Grapefruit and Lemongrass scent – I stopped wearing perfume when I became a mom.  I didn’t like the idea of their little noses being overcome by fragrance when I was breastfeeding or even just holding them so close.  The body mist was light and didn’t seem overwhelming. Even Miss M loved it and asked a few times if she could put it on.  It doesn’t seem like a perfume so I told her okay and I don’t even feel guilty about it.

Dove Daily Moisture Therapy Replenishing Mist (Leave-in conditioner) – I’ve always had issues with flyaway hair.  But I dread hairspray unless it’s some very important event (read: wedding) that I don’t want my hair getting messed up for.  Since college, I’ve used various brands of leave-in conditioner but have found that manufacturers often discontinue them. Am I the only person using them?  I’m constantly on the lookout for leave-in conditioners and didn’t even realize that Dove had such a product.  It was a sweet surprise to find out they do!  While the Dove leave-in conditioner was actually a mist, as opposed to a cream (which I prefer), it was still a very effective product. During our Christmas trip to the beach, I was able to spritz my hair with it, fluff it a bit to revitalize it then head out again.  It didn’t leave my hair looking wet like the cream does but gave it new life without having to wash it again.  I can see it being a great product for mid-day retouches in the winter or added control in the summer humidity.  My only complaint with the leave-in conditioner is the shape of the bottle.  It needs to be a little more ergonomic for small hands.

Finally, Dove Clinical Protection Deodorant – Whether it’s my age, my weight, my goofy thyroid or just my gym routine, I feel the need to use clinical strength deodorants.  Once again, this was a Dove product that I didn’t know existed (I was using a competitor’s clinical strength deodorant).  It’s one of those products that you apply the night before and it works the next day… that’s great since I go to the gym first thing in the morning and need all the protection I can get.  The first morning that I used it happened to coincide with a ridiculously hard workout in my cardio class.  I swear I was dripping sweat from every part of my body… except my armpits.  It was the oddest feeling but it made me realize that if this product could handle this grueling workout, it could breeze through everyday life just fine.

Overall, I’ve been pleased with all the products that I tried and plan to check out what other Dove products might fit into my new Dove-ized life.  If you want to try out some Dove products, be sure to check to see what coupons and samples they may have on their site.  Better yet, I’m giving you the chance to win some great Dove products!

The Prize

One Dove Beauty Package (4 White Beauty Bars and a white bathrobe monogrammed with the Dove logo)

Participants –
…must provide a US mailing address.
…must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile. Winner has 72 hours from posting/notification to respond.  If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the second random selection.

Sometime on January 27, 2009, a winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all comments left. Winner will be posted on PRIZEYWinners.

How to enter: (CONTEST CLOSED)

195 thoughts on “Here, Sniff My Armpit

  1. I’d love to try the Go fresh Body Wash with waterlilly and mint because mint is my favorite scent/flavor ever and I’ve never seen a body wash with mint before.

    treflea4 at gmail dot com

  2. I’d like to try the Dove Cream Oil Intensive Body Lotion because it is fast to absorb and wouldn’t leave you all sticky!

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

  3. I would love to try the Dove SkinVitalizer tool with the cleansing pillows. It’s a daily gentle exfoliating facial cleanser. The tool vibrates to cleanse your skin every day, revealing a soft, smooth, radiant you. I have been suffering with adult acne and large pores since menopause and so far nothing has helped so I’d love to give this tool a try. Great giveaway-count me in!

    maggie@

  4. I would like to try the Cream Oil products. I have not tried them yet, but have heard really great things about them from others.

    joyfulnoise4him at yahoo dot com

  5. i would like to try the sensitive body wash. i have sensitive skin and get rashes often from scented products so this would be a good thing to try. thanks!

    jayme[dot]bouwens@yahoo[dot]com

  6. I too have sensitive skin and would like to try the Sensitive Skin Facial Cleansing Cloths, especially on vacation.
    Thanks!
    rcroix at sbcglobal dot net

  7. Dove products are so wonderful! I
    would love to try the Dove Go Fresh Body Mist Energizing Grapefruit and Lemongrass Scent. Please enter me in your fabulous giveaway drawing. Many thanks…..Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

  8. I’ve tried their discontinued Anti-Aging facial cleanser and moisturizers and really liked them, I haven’t tried the Pro-Age line yet. Seems like it would be good for my 50+ skin.

  9. I’d like to try the Cream Oil Body Lotion because I have very dry skin and I think it would be a good product. Once I’ve used up my current moisturizer, I just might buy some! 🙂
    Thanks!!

  10. I'm a dove-a-holic. I was the only "soap" my mom would use and when my son (now 25 years old) was a baby with problem skin it's the soap that his pediatrician recommended.I haven't tried the Supreme Cream Oil rich Velvet body wash & I'd LOVE to (it sounds VERY luxurious).

  11. I would like to try the waterlily mint wash and the Intense damage Therapy shampoo. The first because I usually can’t stand flowery scents but am curious about this one. The second because my hair is too staticky in the winter time and it might help w/flyaways and damaged ends.
    solta(at)hotmaildotcom

  12. I would like to try the Go Fresh Energizing Body Mist because I don’t wear perfumes/colognes much and prefer a lighter scent. This one sounds so fresh, light and with the hint of moisturizer seems it would be a hit with me
    jeanilynne at gmail dot com

  13. I love Dove products especially the shampoo. Love the smell and the way it makes my hair feel. I have never tried the deodorant. Just like you I have tried a few others that just didn’t work (I live in South Texas with extreme heat and intense BO if the right deodorant isn’t used) so when i found that Secret deodorant works best for me that is what I stuck with. My hubby and sons even use it –

  14. I really have just used their regular soap bar in the past. I am impressed with the selection of products that are now available. I would like to try many of them but will select a shampoo. What ’bout Intense Damage Therapy Shampoo! My girls have long hair and sometimes they develop split ends. I would have to pick something for hair that is colored. Thanks for the giveaway.

    gahome2mom(

  15. I’d love to try the Energy Glow Body Lotion. My skin is dry (and pale). It’d be nice to have a moisturizing lotion that added a little color!
    princess3sah(at)cs(dot)com

  16. The skinvitalizer and the exfoliating daily facial cleansing pillows look really interesting. During the winter my skin gets very dry and I think this would be the one to try for me. 🙂

    Thanks for the great giveaway!!

    JLWalden1{at}gmail{dot}com

  17. I would like to try the Cream Oil Intensive Hand Cream. If I’m not careful my fingertips crack and bleed in winter so this looks like it would work.
    slrdowney at hotmail dot com

  18. The go Fresh Cool Essentials Body Mist sounds refreshing enough to lift my winter weather mood, so think I’d try that for starters.

    cockneysparrow[at]carolina[dot]rr[dot]com

  19. I’d like to try the Dove Cream Oil Intensive Body Lotion because my skin gets very dry in the winter.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    bmc1978[at]yahoo[dot]com

  20. When I went camping once out in the willies with no shower to speak of I was complaining to my sister about having to take a sponge bath and how it just didn’t make me feel clean and she handed me a dove Sensitive Skin Facial Cleansing Cloth and said use this to wash with and you will be surprised but she also handed me a pair of scissors and told me to cut it in half because it really lathers a

  21. Ok I know I was up to no good when I took off with your subscription but It was just there doing nothing just waiting for me to take it. What’s a girl suppose to do!?!

  22. Love Dove products! I would love to try their new "Dove go fresh Beauty Bar, Energize Grapefruit & Lemongrass, 4.25 oz Bars". I want to try them because I love the smell of lemons and greapfruit and it will wake me up in the morning.
    tamben7996(at)aol(dot)com

  23. Dove is the only brand of soap in my house! Even my husband insists on Dove soap. We use the gentle exfoliating. I was given the cucumber and green tea by a friend and use it to wash my face each morning, I love it as well!

    slcremer at gmail dot com

  24. Before I add the item that I most want to try? Got-to tell you I think the Dove moisturizing Facial cream is UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME. It just gives a youthful glow with minimal cost & effort. In fact, after using it for a few weeks on my face & neck I felt I'd lost some age on my face to the point where I suddenly realized that with the lines on my face reduced? the lines on my upper

  25. I would love to try the Cream Oil Intensive body Loition. My skin gets so dry in the winter and that sounds like something that might help 🙂

    anastasia[at]mediamafia[dot[org

  26. I would love to try any in the Dove proage line. My first pick would be the Dove proage Day Moisturizer. I spend a lot of time outdoors in all seasons.My skin gets really dry. I can relate to your story about the goats milk soap. I have used Old-Fashioned Handmade Lye Soap for as long as I can remember. It would be hard to pry that from my hands. lol.

  27. I’d like to try the go fresh cool essentials body mist-I had never heard of this product before, but sounds nice for the summer months

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

  28. I’ve never tried the Pro-Age rich night cream and would like to try it because I am always looking for quality face products that work for me.

  29. I would love to try the leave in conditioner, I have VERY thin fly away hair and in the winter it feels like cobwebs on my face…hair spray only holds til I touch it or the wind blows, then Presto, in my face! lol

  30. I would love to try the DOVE Cream Oil body Lotion since my skin is really dry right now with the winter months and also being pregnant doesn’t help much 🙂 Thanks for a great giveaway!

  31. I am a e mail subscriber that has used Dove products for a long time. I started with the Dove bar for senstive skin and loved it. My skin is sensitive and dry. It is the first product that has worked for me that I tryed so I stuck with it. I also use the Dove deorant and shampoo. Love all of them. ybutler@oppcatv.com

  32. I’ve used lots of their things and loved them…but I haven’t tried the Energized body wash w/ lemongrass and grapefruit scent…yummmmmmy! 🙂 Thanks for the awesome blog and fun giveaway!

  33. Intense Damage Therapy Shampoo. I could use some hair help!
    I love Dove products. I have used them all of my life. My skin is super sensitive and dry. My girls use it as well.
    We love everything they make.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *