This article is about the oldest apothecary in America and it’s beauty products. C.O. Bigelow was founded in 1838 and continue serving customers until this day for nearly two centuries. The Apothecary was founded by Vermont Physician Dr. Galen Hunter in the Greenwich Village in New York City and was originally called The Village Apothecary Shoppe. On the same year, Dr. Galen Hunter has created the first formula Rose Wonder Cold Cream which was a cleanser, moisturizer, and makeup remover. Later on an employee, George Hooper has created Formula 005 of Lemon Body cream that is still a favorite product of C.O. Bigelow customers.
The Apothecary had some notable clients such as Major General Daniel Sickles an American politician, soldier, and diplomat, Thomas Edison, who was buying a Rose Salve Balm, Samuel Clemens, who mostly known by his pen name ‘Mark Twain’, and Eleonor Roosevelt. Starting in 1920 C.O. Bigelow even had a food menu and soda fountain, but the last meal was served in 1984.
We were excited to get our hands on the C.O. Bigelow products and we for our test and review we have chosen: Rose Salve Tin – No. 012, Whitening Mint Toothpaste, Body Wash – West Village Rose – No. 2017, Body Lotion – West Village Rose – No. 2024, Hand Cream – West Village Rose – No. 2010, Body Cream – West Village Rose – No. 2030.
Rose Salve is one of the oldest C.O. Bigelow products, which is taking care of dry skin and chapped lips since the early days of Apothecary. This product soothes and conditions skin with a pinch of rose essence and is a great remedy in a small tin box. Take a little product and apply to the area where needed, you will feel an immediate result.
Marvis Whitening Mint Toothpaste – is a really nice toothpaste! The first thing we noticed – is the design, the packaging is simple but elegant, and has a fabulous old-fashioned cap. The paste itself doesn’t feel too minty on the touch (which is good) and does a great cleaning and fresh breath.
Body Wash – West Village Rose – this body wash is formulated with hydrating sodium PCA, Coconut oil, and Aloe Vera – three ingredients to keep your skin clean, safe, and hydrated. The product has a calming and gentle fragrance with notes of wood and flowers. After wash, the product leaves a nice silky touch on the skin.
Body Lotion – West Village Rose – is a lightweight body lotion that provides moisture and hydration while replenishing. The lotion has such ingredients as Borage Oil – which is a fatty oil that promotes anti-inflammatory effects, help to treat acne and eczema, as well as helps cough and chest congestion; Panthenol that helps to improve skin hydration, smoothness, and elasticity; and Grapeseed Oil – which is powerful antioxidant with high levels of Vitamin E.
Hand Cream – West Village Rose – is a simple, yet very powerful product. This is a light, silky and gently hand cream that has a non-greasy formula, that makes your hands smooth, soft and nourished. The cream absorbs really well into the skin which makes it easy to use on the go. The Hand Cream such ingredients as Shea butter and Avocado oil that help to hydrate and lock moisture in the skin.
Body Cream – West Village Rose – is a restorative and moisturizing cream that is formulated with Coconut Oil and Shea Butter that has anti-inflammatory effects, and promotes hydration and smoothness of your skin, and Kukui Seed Oil that has been used for centuries in Hawaii, that softens and replenishes skin.
Our experts reported ‘You can feel the history in the C.O. Bigelow beauty products, and more to that – a quality that brand holds for over two centuries. It is hard to believe that some of these formulas are over 150 years old and still great today. We’re absolutely in love with C.O. Bigelow products.
