Lately I've been trying to coin a clever label for the recent wave of body care products that combine nature-based formulas with smartly designed, visually appealing packaging. I'm thinking specifically of brands like 4mula, MBeze, The Bubble Roome, and now Pattern, a small, Colorado-based company that focuses on multi-tasking Body Washes (or "skin cleansers") fragranced with essential oils.
All four Pattern Body Wash blends could easily be shared by male and female users. The Citrus Moisturizing Body Wash smells like a straightforward mix of lemon, bergamot, and perhaps some litsea cubeba. The Eucalyptus Body Wash is a zingy herbal scent whose central eucalyptus note is mingled with so-fresh-you-can-taste-it spearmint and a hint of astringent rosemary. My favorite Pattern selection, after testing all four, is the Black Pepper Body Wash. It's the warmest and the most subtly blended of the group: the black pepper is noticeable, but not sneeze-provoking, because it's rounded off with some sultry ylang ylang and a leafy geranium note. The Cucumber Moisturizing Body Wash is probably going to be my second favorite, once the weather turns hot. It smells like a real cucumber, not a drugstore body spray, so it's clean and watery, with a light rose-y note in the background.
These shower gels seem fairly concentrated, and they foam easily when I use a small amount on a mesh shower "pouf." Both Moisturizing Body Washes also work well as shave cream and can even serve as shampoo in a pinch. (The company also suggests trying them as facial wash, but I haven't tested that suggestion yet.) All four Body Washes are vegan, and they're free of petrochemicals, sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth, parabens, and phthalates. Plus, the bottles are color-coded with playful abstract designs that could suggest water droplets, molecules, or the Milky Way, so they look as lively and versatile as they feel and smell.
Each Pattern Body Wash sells for $20 for 240 ml at the Pattern website.
Note: top image is Telefunken FuBK Test Pattern via Wikimedia Commons.
These sound nice – I will look for them, My favorite bath and body product line that use real essential oils is EO, but they just discontinued my favorite scented hand wash – Chamomile! 🙁
Oh, that’s too bad! I like EO, too. We use their shampoos/conditioners at home — sometimes the Peppermint, sometimes the Lavender. And I love their Ylang Ylang lotion; it works well with most of my perfumes!
Jessica: I’ve just tried the Black Pepper and love it…LATHER from a vegan wash…amazing! I was a bit afraid of the “moisturizing” blends…some moisturizing body washes can leave the skin feeling “sticky” after showering. I take it that’s not the case with these?
Kevin, I know, right?! They’re not runny, and they *do* lather! The “moisturizing” formulas look different — they’re pearly, not clear gel — but they haven’t left any residue on my skin. I think they would make nice non-drying hand washes by a sink, too.
hi Kevin & Jessica, don’t worry, we formulate the moisturizing washes to not leave a film on the skin. And, if you really don’t like it, we will always honor a return. (although we don’t refund shipping costs.) As for hand washes, they are all great for that too. Best, jim at patternbodywash.com
I’ve never heard of this brand, but you can bet I’ll check it out! Thanks Jessica. 🙂
Always glad to share news of small companies with good(-smelling) products!
I know that “lather” doesn’t equal “cleansing” but I can’t help myself—if I don’t get some lather , I don’t feel clean enough….I’m sure the media is to blame somehow…. the eucalyptus sounds very appealing, I think I’ll have to give it a go.
BTW, I like by their name were it says: Think. Wash. Repeat.
( I like a company that’s got a little clever going on. )
Me, too!
Ordered! did you see that they have a special deal where you can get one each of all 4 for $60 ? Cool –I’ll let you know which is the most scrumptious!
Hi, Daisy! That’s a nice little discount, isn’t it? (For anyone else who is looking, it’s located in the “Shop” section of the site.)
Wow! …what a smart review. Jessica, I have worked in the beauty industry for a long time and your insight is very uncommon. As far as a facial wash, they work great, and we have a lot of women customers that use them for cleansing make-up from their face. The washes are cleansing and don’t leave a film.
Daisy commented on our byline, Think.Wash.Repeat. (The byline is a pattern btw.) It’s a bit of a joke for insiders. We always thought that the directions on shampoo… wash, rinse and repeat, were subtly manipulative and likely, not necessary, and often wasteful. Basically, the copywriter (and therefore the company) wants you to double your usage. In our humble opinion …not too cool. Part of the idea behind Pattern was to be very upfront and not hide behind jargon or a marketing agenda.
Pattern is straightforward and simple, and the products speak for themselves. Fyi, for a cleanser that has been formulated to be gentle, there is also very little difference between a shampoo and body wash.
Thank you all for the interesting dialogue,
Jim at patternbodywash.com
Jim, Thanks for chiming in, and for elaborating on Pattern’s slogan! I like that.