Johnsons Baby Softwash

I am reviewing the 250ml Johnsons Baby Softwash Creamwash which I received as part of a beautiful gift basket when I left work. There are a number of other types of Softwash, which I have to admit confused me at first - are they all the same product or are they all different. With a little bit of investigating I have found that Softwash is not just one product but actually a range of different ones, each doing something a little bit different than the last.

Here are the other Softwash products I have found (I am not reviewing these products, simply listing them):
- Softwash Baby Shampoo
- Softwash Body Wash
- Softwash Calming Body Wash
- Softwash Cleansing Cloths - a disposable cloth
- Softwash Fresh

-- PRODUCT DESCRIPTION --

This is a basically a baby cleansing lotion with moisturising properties that can even be used on your baby's face thanks to Johnsons' 'NO MORE TEARS®' formula. It contains one third baby lotion to 'leave even dry skin perfectly babysoft'.

As with all Johnsons Baby products, this can also be used by adults. With the Creamwash the description on the bottle focuses on how it 'makes your hands and your face feel clean and babysoft'. I am sure you could use this product on the rest of your body as well if you wanted to, even though the bottle does not suggest this. I think that this is a money-making ploy and Johnsons would prefer you use something else for cleaning your body from their vast product range as well as using the Creamwash for your hands and face - or am I just cynical.

Once opened, it has a shelf life of twelve months.

For anyone who is interested the ingredients are:
Aqua, Glycerin, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Laureth Sulphate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-150 Distearate, Glycol Distearate, Polyquaternium-7, Acrylates/C10-30, Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-14M, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Paraffinum Liquidum, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Polypropylene Terephthalate, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum - [FPT1331]

-- PRICE --

A 250ml bottle of Softwash Creamwash can be found at Tescos for £2.28. I do think that this is a bit expensive for those on a tight budget, like myself, and can't see myself buying any more once the bottle I have is used up.

I am sure I have seen it in Wilkinsons for a bit less, but cannot at the time of writing this review recall how much it was (I will update the review when I do find out).

-- PACKAGING --

Johnsons Baby Softwash Creamwash comes in a cream plastic bottle with a light blue 'dispenser' lid.

The label on the front is a very light pink colour and has both the 'Johnsons Baby' and 'NO MORE TEARS®' logo on it, as well as the product name.

The label on the back has a short product description, the ingredients, and the weight and shelf life information.

-- WHAT I THOUGHT --

I have been using this on my baby boy for just over a month and will admit to 'borrowing it' and using it myself when I ran out of shower gel the other day.

~ For Baby ~

With Oliver, I usually put some of this product into a bowlful of warm water and use a flannel or cotton wool and give him a wash from top to toe. As there are no instructions for use on the product label, I had to guess how would be best to apply it and this seemed to be the simplest way.

It is definitely moisturising as I had been using a baby bath product which had left Oliver with a bit of dry skin on his arms and legs. After a couple of days using the Creamwash, these dry patches had disappeared and have not returned.

The 'no tears' promise is kept as I can use this to clean my baby's face, even around the eyes, and he doesn't seem to be affected at all - no irritation or redness and certainly no tears. However, after using this product for a couple of days I did notice that Oliver got some spots on his cheek and could find no other explanation for why they were there other than that I had been using this wash on his face. I stopped using it until the spots went down and have had no further problems since then.

As for the smell, it is nothing special - it smells like soap - although it is quite a strong fragrance which does last all day. I suppose having a baby that smells of soap if preferable to one which smells of dirty nappies, so this is not really a negative point, I had just expected something more than a plain soapy smell.

~ For Me ~

The other day I was in the shower and I realised that I didn't have any shower gel. The only things within reach of the shower were my partners bar of soap, complete with a layer of man dirt on the surface, or my baby boy's Softwash. I don't think I need to explain why I chose the latter.

I'm afraid I wasn't completely impressed. I like to use a shower puff in the shower and, try as I might, I just could not get a nice lather despite using lots of this product on my puff. I tried my son's baby sponge next, which produced a slightly better lather, but not much! In the end I had to squirt it straight onto my skin (it was quite thick and a little sticky), which meant I used an awful lot just to get myself clean. It didn't even moisturise my skin that well either!

I have used it a couple of times since, but only to wash my hands before feeding Oliver and only because I don't have any of the normal handwash. (Can you tell I need to go shopping? LOL!) It does make my hands a bit softer and leave them smelling like my baby's (clean) bum!

-- CONCLUSION --

I am going to give Johnsons Baby Softwash Creamwash four stars out of five. This is because although it is great for babies, I wasn't that impressed when I used it myself. Also, I would have liked more of a lather and a nicer smell… so I can't give it top marks! I must also say that at the price it is currently retailing at I am not going to rush out and buy some more.

- Good Points -
- comes with a handy 'dispenser' lid
- NO MORE TEARS ® formula really works
- long lasting fragrance
- moisturising on baby's skin

- Bad Points -
- slightly boring smell
- didn't lather up as well as I would have hoped for
- not as moisturising on Mum's skin
- not exactly a budget item
- no usage instructions on label