I think for as long as I have a blog or a least some kind of platform to talk about exfoliation I will always be looking for the roughest body scrub I can find. I don’t know why I am so obsessed with scraping every last bit of skin off my body – I just can’t help it! Ben, my ex used to say that I would be a psychiatrists dream patient as they would probably come up with loads of different theories for my fascination with desquamation.
I’ve been so disappointed of late with the slew of scrubs I’ve been testing that I didn’t think I wasn’t going to find anything to rave about any time soon. This Italian beauty brand I am happy to say has given me a reason to smile again.
Lacote is not a brand I’ve used before but seeing as they are Italian and I’m half that nationality I thought I should give them a go. Lacote products are all about GUAM algae and it’s benefits including ridding your body of cellulite. Let me just say what I love about this scrub is the size of the tub. I hate body scrubs that come in tubs the size hand cream. What’s the point if you only get one use out of it? The scrub is suspended in mixture of plant and essential oils but there isn’t a pool of oil floating on the top. I mixed mine with a little plastic scrub spatula just to even it out a bit. This contains marine salts so the scrubby bits are nice crushed chunky bits of beautifully fragrant sodium chloride.
The distinction of this scrub to the zillion other ones I’ve tried before is that you need to wash before you use this scrub (and not after) as soap/shower gel interferes with the affects. I would suggest you wash with a normal bar of soap, nothing fancy or moisturising, just soap. I used Wright’s Coal Tar Soap which is good at getting rid of dirt and oil and leaves your skin squeaky clean.
The best way to use this scrub is in small handfuls and I like to very vigorously rub it on all the different sections of my body. I found it really effective on my triceps (bingo wings) and inner thighs. You may notice that your skin goes a bit blotchy and red but this doesn’t last. You are meant to leave the scrub on for for a few minutes before you rinse it off to get the full effect. There is a lovely cooling tingling effect (from the mint essential oil) after you pummel yourself to death. Make sure you rinse yourself thoroughly as scrub can end up in the strangest places. You will feel a bit oily when you’ve rinsed it off but after you’ve towel dried most of it will come off and you will be left with a lovely sheen and a buff, sexy bod. Just a few warnings though, you cannot use this during pregnancy, breast feeding, or if you have irritated or broken skin. And as with all oily body products be extra careful when getting in and out of the bath or shower!
Posted on : 01-09-2010 | By : Annabella | In : Body Scrubs
After living in the UK for nearly 14 years I’ve realised that the British Isles get the short end of the beauty stick. I’m always finding beauty brands online from my native US that I doubt I will ever see this side of the pond. I love food inspired bath and body products and my fellow Americans never fail to come up with the goods!
Bourbon Bubbler Body Scrub – this is made with brown sugar, Kentucky whiskey and smells like pecan gingersnaps. I would be quite happy to walk around with this in a brown paper bag!
Honey Heel Glaze – This contains honey (obviously), cinnamon, sweet cloves and comes with a glazing brush so you can easily apply this to your dry cracked hooves.
Smooth as a Duck’s Butt Fine Scrub – comes in three ‘flavours’: Sugared Maple, Sweet Cream, Whipped Honey and is beautifully presented in a glass jar with a cute wooden spoon. Overload pleasure overload!
One of my favourite Sex and the City episodes is in the fifth season when Carrie meets Jack Berger. She tells Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha that Berger gave her that feeling of Zsa Zsa Zu – butterflies in her stomach which is how she knew she liked him. I love it when beauty products give me the same sensation.
This review could go one of two ways. I could say this is a gentle scrub, ideal for those who have sensitive skin that don’t want to use anything really rough; or I could also say it’s rubbish and don’t waste your money because clearly all they have done is chuck a bunch of stuff in a tube and called it a scrub. Before I completely diss this, I will say I love the smell which is quite fresh and not dissimilar to aloe vera or a fern type scent. It has a nice creamy formulation and it rinses really clean so no gooeyness or greasyness. However the grains are too small and there isn’t enough of them to make a real difference so I don’t understand what the point of this scrub is. I also don’t understand why if something costs less than £5, they can’t get more grains in the tube. Surely the grit they use isn’t that expensive. I always want to try different scrubs from different price points but this makes it difficult to get excited about doing so because I know I will always end up being disappointed. *Yawn* come on guys how difficult is it to get this right? Just put more crushed Apricot seeds in and it could redeem itself, otherwise it’s just a nice smelling cream with bits in it.
One last thing I would like to point out is that its mentions on the back of the label ‘tired skin that looks dull or oily needs a thorough workout’. This product is supposed to be for the body but that sounds like it’s a reference to the skin on your face. I’ve never had oily body skin so I think this is a bit strange. Anyway after using this several times for several weeks I have to say ‘Is that all there is?’
I’m quite excited to learn that Sara Happ who makes the lovely lip scrub and lip slip, has now branched out into body scrub. This looks like a good, chunky sugary scrub and is currently sold at Beauty Habit in the US and retails for $46.00 for 10oz or roughly 283 grams. It contains kukui nut, sweet almond and macadamia nut oils but doesn’t leave greasy residue behind which sounds like heaven to me. I’ve emailed the Sara Happ office to find out when it will be available in the UK which I’m hoping is soon!
Sometimes when you really love something there isn’t a lot to say so I’m going to keep this review short and sweet. I love love love this; it smells wonderful, the black sand feels great, my skin is left smooth and beautifully perfumed with Tiare Flower. This isn’t the roughest scrub I’ve ever used and I still think it’s amazing which says a lot. Who else would like this? Anyone who wants to smell gorgeous and have velvety soft skin. If you already love the Hei Poa range then add this to your bathroom shelf. Hei Poa is free from Parabens and artificial dyes. This is made with Tahitian monoi oil, coconut, Tahitian black sand, and Tamanu oil. My only complaint is that I wish this came in a bigger tube!
This has been around for awhile now, I do think the packaging changes now and again but you can’t miss it on the shelves. It’s like a bright yellow bird amongst the pigeons. I bought this scrub ages ago, used a few times and then forgot about it. I found it lurking behind my other scrubs in the shower with a pitiful look on it’s face so I thought it best to review it.
This contains sugar, exfoliating particles, and natural fruit (apple) extract. I know when I first used this I thought it was nice/okayish but it didn’t wow me so it went to the back of my shelves. Having re-discovered it the other day I think I may have judged it too quickly. This is a great frequent use scrub that can be used three times a week. It has a good ratio of scrubbing grains to shower gel which is very important to me. This would be a good place to start if you don’t normally use body scrub. It’s good enough to actually deliver results but not too harsh to put people off. This would also be a great pre-tanning application exfoliator as it rinses easily and doesn’t leave an oily residue. The best thing about this scrub is the smell! I forgot how much I loved it. It smells like a Gin & Tonic which somehow makes me feel really clean. Unfortunately Garnier aren’t known for their natural credentials so if you are looking for something 100% natural and organic look away now. It does suggest using body lotion or cream afterwards but I didn’t find it necessary.
Overall I think this is a great basic scrub, but it probably won’t knock the socks off hardcore scrubbing addicts. If you are a frequent traveller or regularly go to the gym this would be a good addition to your shower bag. It’s inexpensive and can usually be found on offer at Boots or Superdrug.
Aveda is more well know for their haircare products but they do offer and extensive range of bath & body products, skincare, men’s products, makeup, perfume, gifts and some very refreshing teas! I’ve regularly used the Rosemary Mint Shampoo and Conditioner to give my dull locks a boost.
Caribbean Therapy Body Cleanser – I bought this in a travel size. I always try to take advantage of this when brands offer it as it’s a great way to test products before committing to a full size product. This is a very creamy body wash that smells wonderful. It’s very gentle on the skin. I did find that it doesn’t lather as easy like shower gels do. I really had to work it into my scrubby gloves to get some foam so if you don’t use gloves or a washing implement you may have to work the lather in your hands. Make sure you don’t keep adding more as it will eventually lather up. Whilst I did like using this, it didn’t wow me enough to buy a full size product. It would be great for someone who has tight dry skin as it does leave it very hydrated afterwards.
Caribbean Therapy Body Scrub – This contains sea salt, Caribbean cane sugar, coconut, avocado and passion fruit oils. When you open up this tub you notice three things: the smell which is fabulous like ginger and lime, the tub says 450g but it was only about 3/4 the way full which I think is a bit cheeky considering the price, and you have to stir it up as the oils and sugar separate. I was a bit dismayed with the amount in the tub but you only need a few handfuls to do your entire body. This is quite oily even after stirring it up, so you need to be careful to rinse the shower afterwards. I thought the sugar felt nice and rough but there was way too much oil for my liking. If I could change it I would have definitely put more sugar and sea salt into it and less oil. If you are a regular user of body oil in the shower this would be a great alternative to buying seperate exfoliator and body oil. This would also be good for people who suffer from constant dry legs in the winter. I would use this again but I’m going to save it for the colder months when my skin is zapped of moisture.
Caribbean Therapy Body Cream – Contains Caribbean Mango and coconut. I also bought this in a travel size. I didn’t really need to use the body cream after using the body scrub but I wanted to try it anyway. This by far is my favourite product as the cream sinks right into the skin and doesn’t leave a greasy residue. It also smells wonderful like the rest of the range. I don’t usually use body lotions and creams in the summer but I would use this and I will definitely get a full size one for the winter months instead of using body butter which is too heavy for me.
Overall verdict – I will pass on the body cleanser but I will keep the body scrub and body cream in my winter arsenal to combat dry skin. I would encourage anyone to take advantage of Aveda’s travel sizes as it is a great way to try something because if you don’t like it, you won’t feel like you’ve wasted your hard earned cash.
About 2-3 years ago I stopped going to The Body Shop other than to get my scrubby gloves. I can’t remember why or what prompted me to end my relationship with them. It’s kind of like when you fall out with a friend and then see them about 10 years later and you both wonder what happened. I was on my way to Molton Brown this afternoon and I had to pass the Body Shop I decided to go in. They were having a sale on discontinued items but I headed straight for the body scrub. I think I vaguely remember thinking that their scrubs had gone down hill and that I couldn’t be bothered with them anymore. Well everyone deserves a second chance so I decided to road test three of them to see what, if anything had changed.
Wild Cherry Body Scrub – I chose this one because of the smell, it’s not as sugary sweet as the others. The scrub is suspended in a soapy gel, and the small grains are made of bits of walnut and kiwi seed. Whilst this is way too mild for my liking, it is good for people who don’t like to scrub themselves raw like me. I’m thinking of people who like gentle exfoliation, sensitive/irritated skins, or older skins. Just because you’re a pensioner doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use body scrub! Rinses easily and doesn’t leave an oily residue.
Olive Body Scrub – I love the olive oil smell of this one but it won’t make you smell like a salad. This is a shame, I would be quite happy to smell like a salad. Anyway, the grains in this one are suspended in a cream base with crushed olive stones and walnut shells for exfoliation. This scrub is a bit rougher than the Wild Cherry and I like it because it isn’t as runny and easy to scoop out of the tub. This is lovely and creamy and does perform well. I would say from my own experience this is a moderate scrub. Enough to get good exfoliation but gentle enough to use a few times a week. This also rinses very well with no residue. This ideal for drier skin types.
Sweet Lemon Body Scrub – This is one of the of their newest scrubs only released a few months ago. I have read a few other blogs talking about the lip butter in this range and I was curious but it didn’t motivate me to go into the shop. If I had known about this scrub I would have been there earlier. One of the first things you notice is the smell, it’s very strong like proper American lemonade which is always a good thing. This scrub is made from sugar so it is rougher and I love it! No surprises there then. There is nothing better than a rough sugary scrub suspended in a water soluble oil. This will make my skin polished and will go great with Korres Lemon Basil shower gel. So two thumbs up to Body Shop for making me happy again.
I bought a few other old favourites that I will be blogging about at a later date. I also signed up to their Love Your Body rewards card which for a £5 annual fee you get 10% off your purchases for a year, and free gift worth £5 on your birthday, and a few other free things when you made a certain amount of purchases. Hopefully this time round I will stay mates with BS for longer.
Last week I did my first Dirty Works post on their Hot Salt Scrub. As I shop at Sainsbury’s each for the most part I thought I’d revisit the Dirty Works section again to what else they had in the range. At the moment they are 1/3 off an already bargain price so I got the body scrub. Now again I wasn’t expecting much considering the price but I do love to be proved wrong.
Wow what can I say I’m impressed. Where the Hot Salt Scrub was missing good scrubbing action this has loads of it. The sugar is nice and rough and there are plenty of grains to get decent exfoliation. This is always a bug bear with me. I hate getting a body scrub and getting all excited about using it only to find when I squeeze it out of the tube there is more shower gel than scrub. This is definitely rough enough to slough off the dry skin on problem areas such as elbows, knees, and the bumpy skin that some people suffer from on the upper arms.
This rinses really well too it’s water soluble so you don’t get a greasy mess in the tub. The only thing that I’m not that keen on is the smell. It’s a light floral scent which, as James put it ‘quite girly’. Others may be happy with it though and it’s not a deal breaker as far as I’m concerned. The exfoliation is good enough for me!
Dirty Works is a new beauty brand that is exclusive to Sainsbury’s. I noticed it on the shelf last nite when I was doing the weekly shop. The kitsch/retro packaging resembles a brand that shall not be named (nudge nudge wink wink), but I think it’s cute. I know the vintage/retro packaging thing has been done to death the last few years but I love it. You could say the same about sleek black packaging in most cosmetics brands Hello Chanel, Bobbi Brown, Mac, NARS etc.
To be honest I didn’t expect a lot of fanfare with this scrub as it isn’t expensive and it’s sold in the supermarket. Harsh but true. However I love the consistency, it feels like proper spa mud nice and gooey. It doesn’t really have much of a scent other than a light floral aroma. And the warming sensation works really well. Unfortunately there ain’t a whole lotta scrubbin’ going on with this. There aren’t enough scrub grains per square centimetre for my liking. Having said that it did feel nice on my arms, shoulders, and legs. It washes off very easily and there is a mattifying effect left on your skin afterwards so it makes it feel quite clean and smooth.
Who would this be good for? If you were doing any kind of activity that broke a sweat like exercise, sports, or gardening and you showered as normal you could use this afterwards especially under your arms and on your feet. It would make you feel clean and dry after being grotty. Although the exfoliation of this tub of scrub leaves me a little disappointed it was still a pleasure to use. I think I will need to move up the Hot Salt Scrub food chan in future to get the salty roughness I crave. But it’s not a total bust I’d be happy to use it again.
