Hmm… I honestly don’t know what Tabs would have said about me if he’d known me back in my Neutrogena Rainbath Refreshing Shower and Bath Gel phase ($8 for an 8.5 oz bottle), aka the late ’90s, aka my club kid days.
“Meow,” perhaps?
In his short kitty lifetime, he’s only known me as his cranky, uncool mum — the boring one who hits the haaay every night at 10.
He probably would have liked the late nights and parties because, back then, that’s how I rolled.
My, how things change…
‘Fridge magnet philosophy
Neutrogena Rainbath Refreshing Shower and Bath Gel sure takes me back… I’ve been using it off and on for years, at least as far back as the mi-’90s. It’s like the Old Faithful in my shower and keeps returning over and over again.
I guess that’s because it’s a workhorse. I’ve always loved the scent — to my nose a balanced blend of orange, white musk and vanilla — how well it lathers up, how hydrating it is, and that it’s easy to rinse without leaving behind a greasy or sticky film.
It’s weird, but I have memories of seeing the bottle in different showers from my past…
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: An oldie, but goody, Neutrogena Rainbath Refreshing Shower and Bath Gel is priced right. If you like the scent and don’t mind the somewhat dated ingredient profile (sodium laureth sulfate is NOT to be confused with the harsher sodium lauryl sulfate, although both are still synthetic detergents). Available at drugstores and many places online. Grade: A+
What’s the Old Faithful in your shower? Are there any shower/bath products you keep returning to over and over again?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Tracy says
Looks like Tabs really likes his Neutrogena too! Love that shot!
I always have a bottle of the Dove Exfoliating Body Wash in my shower. I like that soapy clean smell it has. I love Neutrogena Rainbath too, but the Original scent-I’ve never tried this one. Think I’ll give it a shot!
Karen says
Hi Tracy,
I like the scent of the Dove body washes too, especially the Go Fresh Grapefruit one. Yum!
Happy Wednesday, btw.
Amber says
Ooh, love Rainbath. I haven’t used that in years. When I run out of my Philosophy Red Velvet Cake body wash I may grab some!
I don’t rebuy a lot of bath products consecutively, because they tend to hang around so long that I’m itching to try something else when I get to the end. But what I really hate is when I get to the end and have only enough to wash half of myself with it, and have to go to something with a different scent for the rest. I don’t know how I got so neurotic about that, but it’s been the cause of many near-empty products hanging on for weeks longer than they ought to!
Karen says
Does your hubby ever swipe your shower products? Once or twice El Hub has come out of the bathroom smelling like grapefruit/roses/what have you, LOL!
Amber says
Haha, no — and it’s a good thing, because that man can burn through a bar of soap in record time. I honestly don’t know how he does that.
The soap is usually something that smells really sweet anyway because I choose it!
Karen says
Maybe he’s using it as an all purpose cleanser? A few years I found out El Hub was using my Bumble & Bumble Shampoo as a shampoo/body wash/face wash/shave lotion (“What? It’s all just soap anyway!”). Yeah, I was NOT happy!
Amber says
He shaves his head, so it does get used for everything, but that’s once or twice a week. I just don’t know. The man likes to shower.
I love the story about El Hub and the Bumble & Bumble. That’s hilarious!
steph b says
Had he seen the price tag? Just show him that vs. Dove body wash and I bet he straightens out!
Karen says
LOL, Steph!
Eventually I ended up buying him his own designated body wash from The Body Shop, but I totally should’ve done that. That would’ve changed his tune in a hot second.
Karen says
Amber, seriously… you’re so lucky. I’ve known one too many dudes who don’t shower nearly enough.
snoopysteph says
I’m exactly the same way. It takes me FOREVER to finish a body wash & I always have a lineup of new ones I want to try, so I very rarely repurchase the same thing twice.
Karen says
You could always try mixing things up by buying travel-sized ones, like the kind they sell at Bath & Body Works.
I’ve done that before and it keep things interesting!
mandy says
I love your blog, I’m always on my blackberry reading one of your articles! I love rainbath too, its amazing!
Karen says
Hi Mandy,
Aw, thanks! Tabs sends you a big kitty hug.
As for Rainbath, it’s so old school, but I love it. Do you use any other Neutrogena bath/body products?
Rachel says
the most awesome narrative pictures of Tabs to date. perfect.
funny you mention it, but rainbath really screams old school to me too. i admit i am turned off by the packaging. i am a bit of a shower snob and get a kick out of pretty bottles in my shower.
Karen says
He’s always in the mood to ham it up for the camera. 😉
Okay, I can totally see how the packaging could turn you off. It’s very… efficient.
Kim says
I’m a fan of St. Ives Collagen and Elastin body wash (and lotion). The Hubs uses whatever is in there but he has reading comprehension fail on the necessary amount. No, dear, you only need to use a quarter-sized dollop. We shouldn’t be going through a bottle per week! 🙂
Man, I love those Tabs photos!
#1: Rainbath rocks!
#2: What’s that? Not enough feeling? OK..
#3: Rainbath ROCKS!!!!!!!
Karen says
Hi Kim,
Oh, that lotion is an old school fave of mine! I went through buckets of it when I was a college student.
Love your Tabs captions!
Nina says
Rainbath is pretty awesome – super moisturzing and it makes one feel squeaky clean after!
Karen says
So awesome! I love that I can totally depend on it, ya know? Sometimes shower gels/lotions give me hives, but this one never does.
Nina says
There are certain shower gels that get me itchy too – I tried Bath & Body Work’s Fresh Pineapple — no bueno! I itched like it was going outta style!
Lately ive been alternating Rain Bath and St Ives Shea Butter Body Wash — keeps the itchies at bay!
This post made me remember that I miss the Neutrogena Body Oil that smells like Sesame. Ill grab a bottle when I shop next!
Glosslizard says
I’ve gotten incredibly hooked on soaps from a brand called Villainess! Hubby especially likes the soap called Pyromania which has a sweet but spicy-peppery scent and has little poppy seeds mixed in to make it feel all scrubby!
I think Tabs is saying “I don’t like rain, and I don’t like baths! I like this though…” 😉
Karen says
What a cool name for line! I just looked at their website and am digging their old time-y packaging.
Do you suppose that vampires use this soap?
http://www.villainess.net/blood.html
Glosslizard says
I certainly hope so, no-one likes a stinky vamp! I’ve used it and it smells delish!
mkdallas says
For some reason, I never felt the love for this body wash, although the giant-sized matching body lotion is actually really good stuff. You can get it for around $15, especially around the holidays. I’ve been kinda hooked on various Philosophy 3-in-1s for a couple of years now. Those Tabs pics are freakin’ adorable; he is a dense little muffin, isn’t he???
Karen says
LOL, yeah… he’s “husky.”
shelby says
neutrogena body clearing body wash in grapefruit, i just buy it for the scent alone, i love how it actually lingers on my skin so it doesnt just smell good in the shower but i actually still smell like it when i get out, plus a little goes a long way, it lathers like crazy. love love love.
Karen says
I like that one too (use it on my back). It really helps wake me up in the morning!
shelby says
for years, i have been eyeing up philosophy body wash with the eggnog scent but i just cant put up the money for a seasonal scent… and then tonight, miracles occurred, i went into winners and they had a jumbo one, for… $15! yes it was like christmas had come early, i can not wait for my shower tomorrow morning when my grapefruit gets swapped for eggnog, yumm
steph b says
I am forever searching for shower gels reminiscent of Victoria’s Secret’s Tranquil Breeze. I found it in college and my devotion to it was well-known (and sometimes mocked) by my friends. Right now I’m enjoying the (sigh) discontinued Deep Rain from Bath and Body Works. I like these oceany-green scents. Second to that are citruses that aren’t purely citrus so Rainbath has made more then one cameo in my shower.
Karen says
I remember that one from BBW, and it was great. It’s a real pain when they discontinue the good stuff, isn’t it? If they ever stopped making Green Clover and Aloe Vera I’d probably freak out…
Nina says
I remember that … I think I still have a bottle of the cologne from that line … I like that smell! 🙂
saku says
My re discovery old faithful are dove soaps and St. Ives wash. Mostly the sensitive and exfoliating dove soaps. Lol, Tabs in the 2nd picture is like don’t take my gel, cute.
Ashley says
Oh man how I love Neutrogena Rainbath! I found a huge bottle of it at Costco some years ago and feel inlove with it instantly. Now Costco no longer sells it in the biggest size and neither do the drugstores that carry it… I love the shower gel but I HATE having to trek across the borders twice a year to stock up on the big size!
Negative Nancy says
I have been using the bar formula of Cetaphil since I was a teenager. I have crazy sensitive skin and it’s one of the few soaps that doesn’t cause me to break out in hives. Plus, since I always travel with it (god knows what kind of soap they might have at a hotel,) I associate the smell of it with places as far off as Hawaii, Venice, and London. Love it!
Tania says
Dove Sensitive Skin bodywash lives in my bathroom. I always have a bottle around as my skin likes to freak out every once in awhile. Right now I’m loving St. Ives Oatmeal and Shea lotion. Ohhhh skin bliss!!!
saku says
That one by St. Ives is my fav.
Tania says
Good I’ve been wanting to try it. That lotion smells delish so I’m hoping the wash smells the same!
PeeChee says
Your hilarious girl! I feel you on the ex-clubber and now asleep by 10pm thing tho. 🙂
Rainbath was my “go to” before and now I’m feeling the Dove grapefruit one. I does wake me up, even if its just for a minute. 🙂
daniele says
lmao@ tabs 😀
Trisha says
Those pictures of Tabs are so hilarious. He doesn’t seem to like this shower gel as much as you!
Tara says
I’ve been using Neutrogena Body Oil for 25 years. I credit it with preventing stretchmarks when I was pregnant with triplets. It has been the one constant in a constantly changing beauty routine!
Amber says
With the sesame scent? That stuff smells like heaven!!
Instant Karma (formerly L) says
I always come back to the Philosophy 3 in 1s. They seem really expensive, but ounce for ounce, they’re cheaper than the things you get from, say, Bath and Body Works. I love so many of them, but I’ve purchased Cinnamon Buns the most often. The Mint Chocolate one is also great, and so is the Raspberry Sorbet. Right now, I’m using the Chocolate Fudge one, and it smells AMAZING. One of my best friends (a guy) visited me, and he loved it, lol!
HanaBerlin says
I have never tried the Rainbath. Maybe I should grab one, everyone seems to love it!
Andrea says
Hi, Karen! I REALLY LOVE John Frieda brilliant Brunette Shine Release shampoo and conditioner. it is a must have! u should really try it, it is fantastic for bringing out hairs natural highlights. Whenever I use it, i get TONS of compliments. I think you would really like it, you should give it a try!
Love, Andrea
misshikergirl says
Dove Body Wash is definitely my old faithful! Smells clean, feels great, and leaves my skin soft and moisturized. =)
Felicia says
Haha, lovely pictures!
Tiffany says
oooh, I wanna try this because of the scent alone! and I feel ya; I like to look back and laugh at my raver days 🙂 I used to come home after sunrise sometimes – now I have to wake up before sunrise. being an adult is no fun!
leo says
ha!! love Tabs’ face in that picture!!! 😀
Vonvon says
I saw this in Target when I was in the US. Was hesitating whether to get it or not, since I have shopped quite a lot…. Next time, then…
Love citrus-y scent for my bath products!
Ashley Nicole says
I love that you did this post!! Rain bath is an ld faithful that is for sure!! I get a huge bottle (think Costco size) every Christmas!! But I also love to soak on the neutrogena body oil after i shower- it smells great!! i usually do it in the shower when I am still wet then towel myself off- otherwise you end up looking like you are ready for a round of oil wrestling !!
Hannah says
I bought A HUGE bottle of this from Target. Mine might have been a different formulation because it definitely has a spicy, more herbal smell.
But it, along with some of the body oil from the same line are perfect.