Remember how hot bliss spa was back in the day? Flashback to 1999… There I was, stomp-walking down the windy streets of downtown SF, where I worked as a legal assistant. Wherever I went, I left a trail of spicy white pepper and blood orange in my wake, thanks to bliss, and the brand just got a makeover. The products, some of which are classics that stuck around, and some of which are newbies, are now available at Target with new packaging, new formulas and lower prices. They’re also cruelty-free and sans parabens, phthalates, SLS and SLES.
Here are some of them I’ve been testing lately…
Poetic Waxing Hair Removal Kit ($24 for a 5.3-oz. cup of wax, a few spatulas and a bottle of pre/post-wax oil)
This is THE BEST at-home waxing kit I’ve ever tried (and I’ve tried quite a few). It isn’t messy, it’s relatively painless to use, it removes even the babiest baby hairs, and you can get it done quickly.
Like, this morning I stuck the cup of wax into the microwave on high for three minutes (30-sec intervals; it’s all in the instructions), smeared it on my fuzzy bits, let it cool, then riiiiiipped that sucka off. Now, no more ‘stash! 🙂 It’s totally GONE.
And this works just as well on brows and the bikini area. It comes with a detailed how-to, which pretty much nails all of the insider tips you need to know for a quick, relatively painless wax. It’s REALLY helpful, too, so read it.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 5 out of 5 hearts.
Did you know? I consider this a pro tip: I usually take two Advil about an hour before waxing (to take the edge off)…
Lemon & Sage Refreshing Body Wipes ($8 for a pack of 30 wipes)
These disposable body wipes whisk away sweat, dirt and oil to leave you with a non-sticky neck (also great for the inside of your elbow and the back of your knees), and they smell like a lemon drop. 🙂
As an HSP (hella sweaty person), I find these useful and refreshing, but I’d like them even more if they were individually wrapped (like the ones by Sweat Cosmetics).
❤️❤️❤️❤️ 4 out of 5 hearts.
Did you know? According to bliss, these wipes contain a mild plant-based deodorant that relies on enzymes to reduce odor.
Makeup Melt Wipes ($7 for 30 wipes)
Pros: ? These wipes really do lift everything, including waterproof mascara. ? Plus, no oily residue. ? Also plus, they don’t make my sensitive eyes water, even when they touch my water line.
Cons: ? You have to put your back into it when you use them (translation: you have to rub your lashes quite a lot) to remove waterproof stuff. ? Also, the wipes feel kinda dry.
❤️❤️❤️ 3 out of 5 hearts.
Did you know? These Makeup Melt Wipes are oil-free and made for all skin types.
Blood Orange & White Pepper Body Butter ($12 for a 6.7-oz. tube)
This is pretty much the same as the old-school version, only much less expensive. It’s moderately moisturizing and smells like a peppery orange soda. The old one was $4.11 per ounce, and now it’s $1.79 per ounce. Love!
I’m a lizard person and use it twice per day, once in the morning and once at night.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 5 out of 5 hearts.
Did you know? This body butter, like all of the items in the line now, is cruelty-free and doesn’t contain parabens, phthalates or SLS.
Your Situation Hair-softening Oil & Bump Minimizer ($22 for a 2-oz. glass bottle with a dropper)
Does one need a lightweight, quick-absorbing oil for one’s lady parts? No…but it’s kinda nice having fuzz that doesn’t feel like crispy ramen noodles, and the explosion of red bikini line bumps I got from shaving with a cheap razor has subsided considerably.
❤️❤️❤️ 3 out of 5 hearts.
Did you know? You can also use this under your arms and on your chest, and dudes can use it on their beards.
Bump Attendant Ingrown Eliminating Pads ($22 for a jar with 25 pads)
I’m happy to see that bliss kept these around. I used one pad — ONE! — on a slew of red, angry ingrown hairs that cropped up along my bikini line, and they were gone within 24 hours. As much as I like how effective these are, though, I’m a little irked that they increased in price. Now they’re 88 cents per pad instead of 76. Booooo.
❤️❤️❤️ 3 out of 5 hearts.
Did you know? These pads contain both glycolic and salicylic acid exfoliators.
Oh, That’s Rich Body Cream ($20 for a 7-oz. jar)
This stuff smells like Eau de Cool Whip, and I dig it. It absorbs quickly, and it’s just as moisturizing as the bliss Blood Orange Body Butter (comparable to Lubriderm or Aveeno).
❤️❤️❤️ 3 out of 5 hearts.
Did you know? This is supposed to leave behind a sheer, luminous glow, but I gotta be honest… I can’t see it on my skin.
Do you have any fond memories of bliss or bliss spa? I remember one really great day trip with my girlfriends Jen and Cindy years and years ago to the spa at the W Hotel in SF, which is no longer there (the spa), from what I understand.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
breyerchic04 says
May 16th, 2018 at 6:41 pmI bought the cleansers and masks from this line, the gelly ball and makeup remover cleanser, and then the masrhmallow and watermellon masks, so far so good, I really love the makeup remover in the pump, it feels like Glossier’s but it’s cheaper and even emulsifies better.
Karen says
May 16th, 2018 at 8:22 pmGah, I need to try that makeup remover next! 🙂
Swoozy says
May 16th, 2018 at 7:57 pmI loved the old formulations of the body butter (and bought out my local TJ Maxx when they were there), so I’m very fearful that the new bottles are new formulations that just can’t be the same – they’re half the price. I still have about 6 supersized bottles of the old stuff left before I’m facing my fears.
Karen says
May 16th, 2018 at 8:22 pmHi Swoozy,
I went through several tubes of the old school Blood Orange over the past few years, and this new version is very similar (at least to me). If you want to keep stocking up I noticed there are quite a few places that appear to still have the previous formulations: Kohl’s, Overstock and Dermstore.
Swoozy says
May 17th, 2018 at 6:09 amIt’s good to hear it’s not that different. This is my holy grail body moisturizer.
Karen says
May 17th, 2018 at 8:37 amIt’s rough when your faves get discontinued; I totally feel your pain!
Daphne B says
May 16th, 2018 at 8:02 pmThank you so much, Karen! I have been wondering ever since I saw the Bliss line in Target if they had downgraded to an inferior product. Ulta carries Bliss too, and the Ulta Rep told me they are no longer considered a prestige line. I love the lemon and sage body butter, but I would only buy it when I could get it half price at T.J. Maxx. I cannot wait to get a tube of this at Target for only $12 (which used to cost $36.00) It sounds like they are as good as they ever were. Makes you wonder why they had to charge so much before. Also glad to hear that they are cruelty free, and fee of many harmful ingredients.
Karen says
May 16th, 2018 at 8:19 pmHi Daphne,
You’re welcome. I’m happy to that the quality’s still there, too! I loved the line back in the day but would only buy it when I could find it at Nordstrom Rack. I hope you like the new Lemon Sage. I’m gonna try that one next, I think. I’m also curious about the liquid makeup remover!
Linda Libra Loca says
May 17th, 2018 at 5:12 amNo, bliss wasn´t a thing here in Germany, probably because the WWW wasn´t that big so trends didn´t cross the pond that easily.
Linda Libra Loca recently posted … La Roche-Posay Redermic C – Nothing new here?
Jane says
May 17th, 2018 at 7:01 amWow, I remember back when I worked in NYC, going to Bliss Spa in between customer meetings. I didn’t buy many of the products,as they were a bit pricey. It is great to see that they have returned with lower price points that may appeal to a larger market base. I may have to check out my local Target.
I recently went to my local Trader Joe’s and purchased the Shea Butter
& Coconut Oil hair mask. My hair is just out of control with this crazy East Coast weather we are having. I have used it once and while it smells like a Pina Colada (not a favorite of mine)at first, it did make my hair a bit softer and manageable. We shall see.
Enjoy the day!
Karen says
May 17th, 2018 at 8:37 amHi Jane,
Glad you were able to grab a tube of the hair mask. Someone in the comments raved recently about the lotion for dry skin at TJ’s. I’m going to try that next!
Happy Thursday!
Kim says
May 17th, 2018 at 7:27 amWell, good for them. It sounds like they’re still putting out quality products and, since they split their spa and product divisions, they don’t need the high margins on products to support expensive physical locations. They seem to have passed the savings on to customers with lower product prices. Win win for everyone! 🙂 I’ve never used their products in the past, apart from a couple of samples, because they were quite expensive. You’ve made me want to pick up some wax, though!
Savannah says
May 17th, 2018 at 8:41 amCrispy ramen noodles! LOL you’re hilarious!
I remember my Sephora used to carry Bliss and I got a little roll on perfume. It was a fresh scent and it lasted me a long time. Ok, if I can find this brand where I live I’m going to get those ingrown hair pads. Out of nowhere mine are getting so bad, so I need something like this!
Karen says
May 17th, 2018 at 9:07 amYa know, I never got around to trying that perfume! I vaguely remember it thought. And girl… the pads are GREAT! If you wanna save even more $ just cut them in two.
Tatiana says
May 17th, 2018 at 1:26 pmThe only thing I ever bought from Bliss was the Naked Body Butter. It was moisturizing and didn’t interfere with my perfume.
Renee Fresquez says
May 18th, 2018 at 7:52 amI have been loving the Jelly Cleanser/Makeup Melter and the Makeup Melt wipes as well! The products are so gentle and work wonders on my skin! Not to mention I love how affordable their products are. I have been wanting to try out some other products to see if I love them as the ones I have tried. I did a whole blog post as well reviewing the products I have tried! Loved your review, very thorough and the set up was organized and easy to follow.
http://reneemichelleblog.com
Suzi says
May 27th, 2018 at 8:34 amAccording to the website, the Micro Magic scrub that I’ve been using for years, is now $15 instead of $38. If it has the same formula, this will be a very welcome update. I love the stuff, but always thought it was very expensive for a scrub.