I Have Aesop Taste But Less Budget—I Buy Soaps, Creams and Candles Here Instead

As a beauty editor, I feel quite passionately about using beauty products that spark joy. Although I understand the importance of products that actually work, I also believe that there is a way to create efficacious products that make you feel good when you use them. In short, I like for my products to look good, smell good and feel good.

It's for this reason I'm such a big fan of Aesop skincare and bodycare. In fact, if you're asking me, I would say Aesop is the gold standard of super-chic beauty products that actually work. My only gripe? They're really expensive, so I can only invest in them every so often. They're so expensive, in fact, that most people (myself included) buy a product once and refill it with a cheaper alternative after it's finished. But the truth is you just can't beat the luxurious feeling of using an Aesop product, and I've never found a more affordable alternative that fills the gap—until now. 

best-c-o-bigelow-products-302924-1665136712907-main

(Image credit: @SHANNONLAWLOR)

C.O. Bigelow is a New York–based pharmaceutical institution. And when I say institution, I mean it in the sense that it has essentially become a New York landmark. Having existed in Greenwich Village since 1838, the apothecary-pharmacy is one of beauty's biggest success stories. Stocking various brands across skincare, fragrance and bodycare, the store also produces its own line of products, and they're available to buy here in the UK. While the brand's products are by no means budget, they are slightly more affordable than my go-to Aesop buys. An Aesop handwash might set me back £30, but my favourite C.O. Bigelow handwash costs £16. However, despite the pricing differences, C.O. Bigelow products really do possess every bit as much luxury and joy as Aesop products do.

For starters, they look great on the shelf. Seriously, walking into my bathroom and seeing my C.O. Bigelow products lined up fills me with unparalleled joy. Then we come to the scents. Rich, expensive-smelling and long-lasting, the aromas make every C.O. Bigelow experience feel spa-like and luxe. The best thing about C.O. Bigelow, however, is that the products really work. The creams are nourishing and unctuous, the candles fill a room in minutes, and the skincare is full of hard-working ingredients. So if you're looking to inject your beauty routine with a hint of luxury that won't totally bankrupt you, keep scrolling for the 10 best C.O. Bigelow products.

1. C.O. Bigelow Lemon Body Cream

2. C.O. Bigelow Herbal Comfort Soak No.122

3. C.O. Bigelow Lavendula Menth Scented Candle

4. C.O. Bigelow Lemon Hand Wash

5. C.O. Bigelow Lavender Salve

6. C.O. Bigelow Aqua Mellis Body Wash

7. C.O. Bigelow Purifying Cleansing Mask No.305

8. C.O. Bigelow Dr. Galen Herbal Skin Tonic No.010

9. C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve Tin No.012

10. C.O. Bigelow Musk Hand Cream No.2007

Next Up: 17 Affordable Beauty Products That Are Just as Good as These Expensive Ones

Explore More:
Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is the beauty director at Who What Wear UK. With over ten years of experience working for some of the beauty industry’s most esteemed titles, including Marie Claire, Glamour UK, Stylist and Refinery29, Shannon’s aim is to make the conversation around beauty as open, relatable and honest as possible. As a self-confessed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for hard-working perfumes, fool-proof makeup products and does-it-all skincare.