Products you buy through our links may earn us a commission. Oh, and if something's out of stock, oops, it was there (and all prices were accurate) at time of publication.
What I Tested…
Nutrient Rich Body Cream ($29, Amazon)
Rose Bud Sensorial Body Wash ($35, Sephora)
Rose Bud Roll-On Perfume Oil ($24, Sephora)
Lactic Acid Foaming Body Polish and Wash ($32, Sephora)
Self-Tanning Milky Essence ($36, Cyklar)
Why I Tested…
Test Results…
Nutrient Rich Body Cream. I’ve written about this miraculous body lotion many times before, and my obsession hasn’t waned. Over the past year or so, I’ve collected almost every scent and each of them is potent, long-lasting, and ultra sophisticated, with all the complexity and subtlety of a high-end perfume. I rotate them seasonally (sunny-citrus Naked Neroli for summer, smoky-sexy Crescent for winter, etc.). But as a rose-scented-anything lover, the Rose Bud is my hall-of-famer. It smells like actual roses — earthy, green, with a hint of citrus that keeps it fresh. I love the smooth, fluffy consistency that blends in with no effort and keeps my dry skin feeling plush all day.
Rose Bud Sensorial Body Wash. I mostly love this body wash for the scent. It layers beautifully with the Rose Bud lotion to enhance the fragrance and really make it stick. As an actual body wash, this is totally fine. It doesn’t lather as well as I prefer, but it leaves my skin feeling hydrated, not stripped and tight. I don’t reach for it constantly, really just when I want something more luxurious than Dr. Bronner’s.
Rose Bud Roll-On Perfume Oil. Told you I was obsessed with this scent. This is a concentrated perfume oil in a chic little roll-on. Here, the Rose Bud scent is even deeper and sexier, thanks to the addition of hemp and pink pepper. If you’re familiar, it smells exactly like Diptyque Eau Rose — my signature scent for many years — but it’s a fraction of the price. My only issue here is the vehicle. The rollerball doesn’t roll as smoothly as it should, so you have to scrub it onto your skin to get it out.
Lactic Acid Foaming Body Polish and Wash. This has a creamy base with a very finely milled physical exfoliant (it’s microcrystalline cellulose and volcanic pumice), so it’s less harsh than scrubs with larger granules of sugar or salt. It also has lactic acid, and that double dose of exfoliants works to make my skin feel ultra-smooth. I use it as a targeted treatment for things like keratosis pilaris, ingrown hairs, peeling sunburns (guilty), or as part of an everything shower once a week. I love that it lathers up, which makes me feel like I’m getting a thorough cleanse. You don’t need to use a regular body wash in addition. One thing to note: this is unscented, so if you’re in the Cyklar game for the fragrances, you might want to skip this one.
Self-Tanning Milky Essence. As a proud pale girl, I tend to shy away from self-tanners. But this one actually works for me. I use it only on my legs, and it blends easily, doesn’t streak, and dries down quickly. It also doesn’t transfer onto clothing or sheets, so I don’t stress about getting dressed right after application. Importantly, this doesn’t read orange or muddy — it just leaves my skin a shade or two tanner and it’s pretty natural-looking. It lasts about a week. It does have a hint of that chemically self-tanner smell, but it’s not nearly as bad as others I’ve tried.
Sidenotes…
Cyklar was founded in 2023 by Claudia Sulewski, one of the OG YouTubers, a fact I literally just learned. In my opinion, it’s ascended well beyond “celebrity brand” status — the products are effective and high-quality enough to stand on their own.
For a relatively new brand, Cyklar has an impressive curation of products. Some others I’m curious to try: the Illuminating Body Oil, Exfoliating Bar, and the cult-favorite Deodorant Gel, made with brightening mandelic acid.
The Fine Details…
Nutrient Rich Body Cream, $29 at Amazon.
Rose Bud Sensorial Body Wash, $35 at Sephora.
Rose Bud Roll-On Perfume Oil, $24at Sephora.
Lactic Acid Foaming Body Polish and Wash, $32 at Sephora.
Self-Tanning Milky Essence, $36 at Cyklar.