Le Couvent des Minimes Energizing and Soothing shower gels
Left to right: Le Couvent des Minimes Energizing and Soothing shower gels
Le Couvent des Minimes has a variety of shower gels, and for this review I tried Energizing Shower Gel with verbena and lemon and Soothing Shower Gel with lavender and acacia. Both come in clear 8.4 fl. oz. bottles, and the former is a light green, almost yellow color, while the latter is a light periwinkle blue with beads throughout. In the bottle, both products are clear; these don’t have a milky consistency, like some body washes do.
According to Le Couvent des Minimes, Energizing Shower Gel is for “those looking to invigorate their senses with the energizing aroma of citrus,” and “gently cleanses the skin” and “leaves the skin delicately scented with fresh and invigorating notes.” The ingredient list only includes “verbena,” “lemon, and “vegetable foaming base.” Soothing Shower Gel also “gently cleanses the skin” but “leaves a delicate lavender scent on the skin,” and has “seaweed micro-beads” that offer an “invitation to relaxation.” Its ingredients are only listed as “lavender,” “acacia,” and “algae or seaweed concentrates.”
For the most part, I found these descriptions accurate. Both shower gels foam up really easily; smell exactly like lemon and lavender, respectively; and don’t leave behind any kind of residue. They are both really lively and bright, and I liked using Energizing Shower Gel in the morning and Soothing Shower Gel at night (especially because the seaweed micro-beads aren’t rough at all, and aren’t meant to exfoliate; they just add a bit of texture).
But my turnoffs are that I didn’t experience the scent of either shower gel lasting after I left the bathroom—the fragrance existed while I showered, but not after I had rinsed off—and that I couldn’t find a full ingredient listing for the products, either on their website or on the products themselves. The brand makes a big deal out of using only natural ingredients, but having the proof of that would have been appreciated.
Otherwise, these are really nicely smelling, effective shower gels, and I appreciate their simplicity. I just wish I could back up that sense of simplicity with an ingredient list.
VERDICT: B+. If I knew what exactly was in these, that rating would boost into A- range.
AVAILABILITY: $16 for each 8.4 fl. oz. bottle of Energizing Shower Gel or Soothing Shower Gel; both available online at the Le Couvent des Minimes online store.
EDITORIAL NOTE: The products featured in this post were provided to Chesapeake Family’s About Face blog by the manufacturer or their public relations company for review. Chesapeake Family’s About Face blog posts are inspired by personal experience and opinion, and are not paid for or influenced by the manufacturer, PR company, or any other organization unless mentioned.
Photos by Roxana Hadadi.
In middle school, Roxana Hadadi was a cosmetics-scorning tomboy; in high school, a glitter eye shadow- and black nail polish-loving trend kid; in college, obsessively committed to dying her hair unruly colors that upset her mom. Now a bit older and a bit more mature, she’s trying to figure out what hair, body and cosmetics products will work for her, you and your family in About Face, Chesapeake Family’s new beauty blog — and she’ll leave the sparkle makeup and neon highlights in the past. Roxana also writes movie reviews for Chesapeake Family’s Popcorn Parents blog.
