Slippery When Wet: In Shower Moisturizing
Kim inquires: In the winter, I swear by Olay’s In Shower Body Lotion. It works better and lasts longer than any regular moisturizer I’ve ever tried. How does it work even after you rinse it off? Why is it different from other moisturizers or moisturizing body washes? Is it safe?
The Left Brain responds:
As the name implies, this lotion is designed to be used in the shower. You rub it on your body after you wash and then rinse it off (just like you use a rinse off hair conditioner.) P&G (makers of Olay) have developed a very interesting formula for this product. Take a look at the ingredient list:
Olay Ingredients
Water, Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Dimethicone, Fragrance, Stearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Mica, Polysorbate 60, Titanium Dioxide, DMDM Hydantoin, Disodium EDTA, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Cetyl Alcohol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide
Pay attention to the first five ingredients: three of them very hydrophobic (meaning water insoluble) moisturizers: petrolatum, mineral and dimethicone. These ingredients are good at creating a barrier that prevents water vapor from escaping your skin.
How Is Olay In Shower Lotion different than other moisturizers?
Compared to traditional lotions there are two main differences. The moisturizing ingredients noted above are high up in the ingredient list. Normally the fatty alcohols that form the body of the lotion are the primary ingredients. Second, this formula uses a modified starch to suspend/emulsify the ingredients instead of traditional emulsifiers. (Regular lotions usually contain two or more emulsifiers to help the oil and water soluble ingredients mix.) Because of the way regular lotions are formulated, most of their moisturizing ingredients will rinse off and go down the drain if you use them in the shower.
Olay’s In Shower product uses a modified starch to tie the water and oil soluble ingredients together. They’ve balanced the formula such that the oily ingredients aren’t highly emulsified. That way, when you apply it in the shower, these ingredients tend to stay behind on the skin instead of mixing with the shower water and rinsing away.
Safe in the shower?
Is it safe? Sure, these ingredients are excellent moisturizers. The only danger I see is that the high concentration of water insoluble ingredients could end up making the shower floor very slippery.
Has anyone tried Olay’s In Shower Lotion and slipped in the shower? Slip in and leave a comment.
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Cate Says:
Oh I am SO trying this. I started a thread in the forum about good lotions or body creams. This one would seem to take away what I hate most…applying lotion in my not so warm bathroom in the winter. Simply put..thanks BB!
Nic Says:
I have tried it. It is slippery, but unless you’re putting it on the soles of your feet I don’t think you have to worry. And, this goes back to a previous discussion about pumps on lotion bottles, I wish this one had one! That way I could keep one hand on something stable and the other dispensing the lotion.
My other complaint is that it has a very very strong fragrance. I could smell myself on my morning bus ride to work. My perfume + this = ick.
Nic Says:
Just to be fair, I tried the one with shea butter, so maybe a different one doesn’t smell as strong.
LeighAnn Says:
I tried this stuff. It made absolutely no difference and it id make the floor very slippery.
Shirley Says:
My friend swears by this product to keep her winter itching at bay and I was going to try it the next time I buy body wash or lotion. Now I think I really will. I usually put baby oil on my skin before body lotion this might save me some time.
Brigit Says:
My skin cried in despair when I moved from the Caribbean to upstate NY. Then winter came and I was ready to shoot myself. I survived with a mix of heavy creams, but it took forever to apply in the mornings and it felt really sticky.
The Olay in shower lotion works perfectly for me. It’s fast, it sticks on you, and I don’t have whitish dry skin anymore! That said, I’m always bundled up and indoors (heating!), so it may be different if you have to be outside for a while.
Julie-Anne Russo Says:
This product is amazing, my skin gets so dry in the winter and moisturizing in the shower is so much easier. Plus it smells really good too. The shower floor does get slippery so be careful
Cate Says:
Brigit-that really sucks having to go to up state NY from the Caribbean! I would want to shoot myself too.
I can’t wait to purchase this!
Banglaminerva Says:
I also live in upstate NY and this lotion makes a huge positive difference for me. It moisturizes well, lasts long and is quick and easy to apply. I haven’t noticed it making the floor slippery and as I’m quasi-paranoid of falling (one spinal surgery was enough!) I do watch carefully for that. I think perhaps if I should put a lot on, so a lot would rinse off, then perhaps the floor would get slippery.
kristinalese Says:
It started with a Jergen’s product about seven? years ago…then Aveeno put one out - now Olay. I have loved this product in all of its forms. I just hope it stays on the shelves this time. I found a Suave version in a random discount store (Cook Brothers for you Chicagoans) for $1.50 a bottle, works great with a light scent.
anonymousblonde Says:
I used this product and loved it. Rinse the shower floor after use- or get a shower mat- to prevent build up that can lead to slipping.
onesong Says:
i received free samples of this stuff in all the scents and while it does a great job of moisturizing, all have an extremely strong smell. every time i used it, people noticed the scent, and as one poster mentioned it lingers for a looong time. i couldn’t take it and wouldn’t purchase it for this reason.
eucerin for sensitive skin works fine for me in the winter.
Glitterati Says:
Hooray! Who knew so many people loved this product? I actually really like this scent, I wish they made an actual lotion in it, so I could re-apply it.
Anyway, very gratifying to see that the moisturizing effects weren’t just my imagination. Now, all they need is to add a pump and drop the price a little and I’m ecstatic!
Lulez gyrl Says:
Bought this at Biglots.. Loved it then couldn’t find it again. HA HA on me.. forgot about the internet.. There is hope..lol
Hey, wanted spread some joy:
1 - yes, strong smell. I found if you use a non fragrant soap - the stong scent won’t knock you out. Also, there are different scents like the Shea butter - much milder.
2- I heard they are coming out with a fragrance free version - it may be out and I didn’t know but, I heard it from the grapevine so, hope that helps.
3- I found a new liquid body soap from IVORY..yes, ivory.. OMG - it’s called simply lavender and it rocks. Very fragrant but soft and wow. I tried it before I went to bed.. so yummy!