I wonder if we could compare notes on a few minor purchases. And do feel free to ask about your OWN minor purchases in the comments section, for others to weigh in.
1. Body wash. I was using Love Beauty & Planet’s Argon Oil & Lavender body wash, which is more than I’d usually spend but I really liked the scent and it frequently goes on various “buy 4 get a $5 gift card” or whatever sales at Target. I used up the last of my bottle, went to re-order—and it NO LONGER EXISTS. Which I then remembered discovering when I TOOK OUT this bottle, because I re-order when I take the last one. And that explains why I also have Olay Birch Water & Lavender body wash, which is…fine. But not as birchy or as lavendery as I’d prefer. It’s more…body-wash-scented.
I would like to know what body washes you like. It’s fine to mention the ones you use without really thinking about it (I have felt this way about Ivory body wash, or any of the St. Ives or Suave ones), or the ones that feel kind of special to you (like my Love Beauty & Planet). But I am especially interested in the ones that feel a little extra special, and have a nice scent.
2. Ear plugs. I thought I would just Buy Some, but as soon as I put in the search term and saw the results, I thought “THIS looks like the kind of thing where an ear-plug novice thinks you would just Buy Some, but anyone who has USED ear plugs has AN OPINION.” So I request your opinion.
I use wax ear plugs- they have some at Target or you can buy them from Amazon. I don’t use body wash, so no help there :)
Mack’s Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs – 6 Pair, Value Pack – The Original Moldable Silicone Putty Ear Plugs for Sleeping, Snoring, Swimming, Travel, Concerts and Studying https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003LZQGN6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ECZAD2X5PK04CXTEH5W8
Seconded. I use these every night.
Third, I like the Mack ones for swimming. I usually cut them in half because my ears are small.
Macks is what I used for swimming. I’ve never really used ear plugs for noise, but I recommend these to anyone who gets swimmers ear and doesn’t want to just stop putting their head under water.
I like the flents quiet time 33db earplugs and use them almost every night. I prefer purple but the colors are all probably the same. They aren’t too long or too wide at the part that stays outside your ear. Some packs come with a little travel case.
I have used and liked the dr bronners liquid castille soap as body wash for many years! I like the almond scent.
I also like Dr Bronners, I like quite a few of the scents and usually have two or more bottles going at once so I can decide each day. Right now, I have citrus and lavender. The almond is nice, the only one I don’t like is the tea tree.
I rarely use earplugs, but I also recommend the Mack’s as suggested above.
We use Kirk’s body wash. It’s moisturizing and sensitive-safe and smells clean, like soap used to.
https://www.swansonvitamins.com/kirks-3-in-1-head-to-toe-nourishing-cleanser-original-fresh-scent-32-oz-liquid?SourceCode=INTL4071&showPopup=f&DFA=1&UTM_Medium=PaidSearch&UTM_Source=GOOGLE&UTM_Campaign=SWAN_National_Gen_Shopping_Null_Null_Beauty_Smart+Beauty&UTM_Content=PRODUCT_GROUP&SourceCode=INTL4071&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvLOTBhCJARIsACVldV12ow9UOW38Y_JXlYIzUdky7gnEwgGGtNlHlXG-VGDShr5zRCq4vIYaAkldEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
I’m currently using the unscented/baby Dr. Bronner’s soap as a body wash (I originally bought it to hand-wash certain laundry items and then discovered I would never be willing to do that). It’s nice, but not very fun. I’d recommend to those with sensitive skin though!
I also like the method body washes—they’re a bit creamy (?) and feel luxurious and soft, and don’t dry out your skin. I’ve tried the rose scent and the shea butter scent and like both; they also have a rain scent (?) and maybe others.
Relatedly, I love the Alaffia kids lemon lavender soap for bubble baths. I’ve also used it for body wash when I run out, and it’s nice for that as well!
I also like the method body wash! I have the peony scent, which I like despite not smelling anything like actual peonies.
+1 for the method body wash. I really like the deep detox scent. They have some great scents for men, too. My husband would never wear cologne, but will occasionally use the body wash because he knows that I like it.
I sleep with ear plugs every night so I buy the regular Mack’s earplugs that come in the big jar. They are fine.
I like the Native brand from Target for body wash. They have a Lilac and White Tea scent which hits me as spring-y and also unique.
For earplugs, I highly recommend the Mack brand purple ones. If you have small ears, consider the beige ones.
I love the intense fragrances of the Dr Teals body washes, but this last time I tried the Odele brand body wash, bought at Target. I’m on my first bottle of the grapefruit/orange peel scent, and I love how citrusy and fresh it smells! Feels a little fancy. (I also tried their volumizing shampoo/conditioner and those also smell very nice even though I don’t know exactly what the scent notes are.)
I love JĀSÖN lavender body wash. I don’t know if this is a brand you have there (I’m in Canada), but it’s extremely pleasant and relaxing. Their other scents are trash though, IMO.
I have read excellent reviews of, but have not personally used, Happy Ears earplugs. Bonus, they look like tiny sex toys.
We discovered Baylis and Harding hand soap and body wash while in England and it looks like Target has one of their scents! https://www.target.com/p/baylis-38-harding-goodness-oud-body-wash-with-pump-cedar-and-amber-33-8-fl-oz/-/A-83272325#lnk=sametab A quick google also suggests that Bed, Bath, and Beyond has a few other options.
My other default, go to, no thinking required option is the Target version of Shea Butter and Oatmeal body wash.
For body wash, I love Raw Sugar. Everything I’ve had from them smells delightful, but vanilla and lemon sugar are my favorite scents.
I like the watermelon mint one- it smells like a jolly rancher!
I sleep with ear plugs every night and use the Happy Ears. Hadn’t tried Mack’s before.
My splurge body wash, in the dry-depths of winter, is Moroccon Oil Body Milk (rose scent) – truly magic and the rose scent is not grandmother-ish!
Our family also loves the Olay Body Whip!
I’ve used these ear plugs for years and like them:
Howard Leight by Honeywell Laser Lite High Visibility Disposable Foam Earplugs, Pink/Yellow.
I like the alba botanicals body wash from target. The scent is honey and something… I can’t remember what. It’s in a big orange bottle. The smell is nice and doesn’t give me a headache like many perfume type body wash fragrances do.
I love Alba Botanica Very Emollient Honey Mango bath soap. TBH, I’m not sure what makes this Very Emollient and other versions…less so? Pleasant scent, feels a little fancy.
My favorite earplugs are the freebies I occasionally get from the state fair or other type of swag event. Clearly I have very discerning taste.
I have Happy Ears ear plugs and like them a lot….but, I haven’t compared them to anything except the cheap orange foam ones that you can buy by the bag full.
I got the Discovery set (3 sizes) so you can see which Happy Ears fit best.
I worked with someone who was very sensitive to noise and swore by 3M E-A-Rsoft Yellow Neon Blasts Uncorded Earplugs.
I bought a big box of them and have used them since. No idea if they are better than others, but they work well for me (generally this co-worker’s advice on stuff served me well, he was someone who thoroughly researched his purchases).
My favorite body wash I used to only be able to buy in-store in January and June. Was never given an explanation as to why. But that’s hit or miss now so I just buy it online. Bath and Body Works Plumeria scent. I get the body wash, lotion and body spray. Fell in love with the scent from the flowers when I was in Hawaii 25+ years ago.
Dove Gentle Exfoliating body wash and Dove Deep Moisture body wash are my favorites. I’ve used only them for like 17 years lol.
I sleep with earplugs every night and now use the loop quiet. I have very tiny ear canals so I need size XS tips , which are included. https://us.loopearplugs.com/products/quiet/ I have a pair of their experience ones as well that I like for louder events. Too much noise makes me twitchy.
I like Trader Joe’s tea tree body wash. The nearest TJ is an hour from me, so it kind of feels like a treat when I happen to get some.
I like Method’s Simply Nourish body wash – it’s cozy and comforting and doesn’t do weird things to my skin. I”m not really sure what rice milk is supposed to smell like but I love most things coconut. Iit smells like a hug. I use it mostly in the colder/darker months.
I had a hankering for some Satsuma from the Body Shop during early lockdown and it did not disappoint – it smells exactly the same as it did back in the 90s. Citrus so sweet it makes your mouth water. To me that smells like summer and happiness.
I really miss Dial’s White Tea & Vitamin E body wash (before they reformulated it). Method’s Sweet Water handsoap reminds me of it a little bit.
+1 for The Body Shop’s Satsuma. It’s the only body wash my husband will use. My kids also use wash from The Body Shop, and their current scents are grapefruit and english rose. I use whichever happens to be in the shower I’m using.
1) I believe I have most of, if not an entire, bottle of the Lavender Argan Oil body wash in my cupboard that I’d be happy to ship your way. Just say the word.
2) I don’t know if you’ve considered this, but recently my conscience got the better of me and I switched to fancy bar soaps as an attempt to cut out at least one unnecessary source of plastic in my home. The process of finding a favorite takes a bit longer because the bars last longer but I always feel a bit of satisfaction with myself when I use the bar.
I switched to Dove bars for health reasons but the reduced plastic is nice! Also the mesh sponge thing in the shower, if I think about it too long, starts to gross me out.
I really like The Seaweed Company’s body washes, particularly the “Awaken” scent (Rosemary and Mint).
You can buy them online through their own website, e.g. at https://seaweedbathco.com/products/awaken-purifying-detox-body-wash. Or I have bought through Whole Foods at a slightly cheaper price.
It’s not an inexpensive brand and may be a Startling Expense. But speaking as someone who used to pay considerably more than this for Lush shower gels, the Seaweed Company seems comparatively affordable!
Favorite body washes are Love Beauty Planet Coconut Water and Mimosa Flower, Method Pure Peace or Dr. Bronzer’s Eucalyptus. Thanks to these comments I’ve got a few others to try now!
When I was first searching for earplugs, I bought sampler packs from https://www.earplugstore.com/.
Funnily enough, I ended up sticking with the Mack’s foam ones, the ones that are a light beige color. Every once in a while I try something new and I always go back to Mack’s.
I’ve been sleeping with earplugs for….18 years. And I always go back to Mack’s.
My “fancy” body wash is Bliss body wash – the scent is Lemon & Sage and it smells clean to me and helps me wake up in the morning. Online I can buy a big jug that lasts us quite awhile.
In between, if I forget to order, or whatever, I just grab whatever Suave looks appealing.
I agree with the suggestions for Mack’s earplugs. I like Swedish Dream soaps and body wash.
I use Tree Hut Shea Moisturizing Body Wash Coconut Lime scent. Bought it at TJ Maxx or Marshalls almost exactly a year ago and the bottle is only a little more than half empty. Very sudsy, smells a bit like suntan lotion. I like it a lot.
I have not yet found ear plugs I like.
My current favorite body wash is Renpure in the lavender and honey scent. It doesn’t smell like either lavender or honey, just a nice, soft, clean scent. I was very attached to the Love, Beauty, Planet counter spray in the Tea Tree and Vetiver scent and it also disappeared entirely. Sad.
Food for thought- I switched back to bar soap to reduce plastic waste. I tried bar shampoo with meh results but bar soap is back at my house. Well at least in my shower. Hand soap is still liquid.
My favorite super-splurgy body wash is Necessaire’s Eucalyptus scent. Smells like a spa! BTW, TJ Maxx is a great place to find nice body washes at a discount.
I’ll join the chorus of Mack’s earplug recs – both my husband and I use them every night.
Body wash: I have long used and liked Everyone brand 3 in 1 soap. It comes in a large (32 oz) bottle, so it’s a commitment, and I prefer to buy in person if I’m trying a new scent. The coconut/lemon is nice for summer, and the cedar/citrus smells pleasingly expensive, like an Aveda product. Target seems to only carry their hand soap, but the body wash is available at grocery stores, especially more “natural” ones, and sometimes at Marshalls et al.
For ear plugs, a few other people have mentioned Mack’s, and I recently got the Mack’s smaller “Dreamgirl” earplugs “For Women” which is such annoying marketing, but they do fit my ears better than the larger ones.
For ear plugs, I have tried many kinds. I lean toward the kid–sized ones and I also cut off a tiny bit of the ends. I have incredibly sensitive ears and don’t want to feel any pressure from the ear plugs.
I use Dove body wash. Really want something that adds moisture without feeling sticky. Reading through comments now!
I use earplugs every night. My preference (I have tried several brands, but not the wax kind) is for Hearos Xtreme 33 NRR. I get them via Subscribe and Save on Amazon.
My household likes the Neutrogena Rainbath body wash. They sell it in very large bottles at Costco.
This!! I really like the amber musky tones of the original rain bath: I’ve gotten compliments on my perfume stepping out of a shower. It’s definitely not a floral or particularly “feminine” smell, whatever that means, but when it’s I run out it’s a crisis.
I’ve been using Dr Bronner’s Liquid Castile for over twenty years. My favorite is the almond but it comes in several different scents AND an unscented option. There are matching soap bars but we don’t use them. Himself uses bars of Ivory when he must have ‘solid’ soap but we use Dr Bronner’s for body wash, shampoo, hand washing delicate things, dish washing, hand soap, cat and dog wash and for washing the automobiles (Himself has opinions).
One can buy small bottles to check out the scents and then, once you’ve chosen one you like, you can move up to big bottles to refill the smaller ones. Dr Bronner’s is also available in bulk at the local health food store where I sometimes shop: just bring in a reusable container and fill it up!
Jason’s lavender body wash is great. I think they have a tea tree oil scent that I also like. They have multiple other scents, a lot of them are quite strong but sometimes I like to change them up
Another Dr. Bronner’s user. I like almond the best. You smell like a cookie while using it, and the scent fades away to just a nice “clean” scent shortly after.
Also a fan of JASON Lavendar body wash. Whenever I try anything else I return to this.
I can’t sleep without earplugs-but I don’t like the wax ones. I love the foam ones-I used to buy them at Walmart but can’t find them anymore. I now get them from Amazon-Flents Protechs Quiet Please Foam Ear plugs. They work great!
I don’t use body wash, so no help there…
I love the idea of a sampler pack! I’ve got tiny ears, and it takes me a while to get the plugs seated properly. Can’t wear them sleeping because they stick out slightly, rub against the pillow, and are very very loud! Plus they fall out. I’ve had better luck with the wax ones which stay in better and block the noise better – but I only use about half a plug.
Also want to second someone’s suggestion of using soap instead of body wash. There are some really amazing soaps out there, as well as bar shampoo and conditioner. I’ve found that Lush has some great options for shampoo but I’m not crazy about the conditioner (it is hard to get it off the bar and onto my hair), Etee has a much nicer conditioner and is far less scented. They’re unexpectedly expensive, but also last me 4-5 months (short hair), and are fantastic for traveling…which used to matter to me a whole lot more than it does currently…but I’m hoping it will matter again someday.
This thread got me on a body wash kick, too! I ordered Kiehl’s Original Musk and it’s dreamy. Also thanks to whoever mentioned the Ethique shampoo bars. It’s amazing how well they work! So tiny and cute, in their little heart-shaped molds!
I can’t use body wash because I am a Giant Weirdo and it makes me feel slimy – that’s right, self-care for me is using something that leaves me as dried out as an alligator, and then I look at pictures and complain about my visibly crackly skin. For years I used Dove soap or Caprina goat milk soap, but during the pandemic I’ve been ordering expensive soap like a fancy lady – Swedish Dream sea salt soap or Honey Grapefruit Goat Milk soap. Because dammit, so many things suck, at least I’m going to smell AWESOME when I get out of the shower.
I use these earplugs https://smile.amazon.com/6645-Sparkplugs-station-Earplug-Dispenser/dp/B00B747YO8/ref=sr_1_35?crid=3BK8EM6QUZP4N&keywords=ear+plugs&qid=1652290992&sprefix=ear+plugs%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-35 every night. I cannot sleep without them. That container lasts YEARS. These are…denser…than others and block out everything.