I like to use body scrub a few times a week to ensure that my skin is soft and smooth with any loose skin particles effectively removed. I had previously only had experience with a few brands such as The Body Shop and Sanctuary and whilst both offer positive results, I wanted to try something different, so decided to browse the beauty aisles of Tesco in search of an alternative product. I must admit that I was extremely disappointed as despite there being a huge variety of scrubs for the face, I was unable to find anything for the body and this was the case for both our local Asda and Sainsbury's stores. There seems to be a gap in the market for affordable body scrubs unlike the array of products available for the face. My next option was Avon and although I didn't particularly want to wait the three weeks for delivery, I selected their Naturals Strawberry Body Scrub and this review discusses my experience with using it.

The previous scrubs I've used have each been designed for a specific skin type and despite carefully scrutinising the 200 ml sturdy plastic tube I was unable to find any information, so presumably this product is suited to all. Appearance wise the packaging is very appealing with its bright eye catching colours of pink together with the mouth watering image of some freshly picked strawberries. I'm not keen on the packaging design of some of The Body Shop scrubs where they are presented in a tub, as this normally results in me accidentally splashing bath or shower water into the contents. Consequently, the fact that this scrub is presented in a tube, which neatly sits on a flip top lid is most welcomed by me.

The lid is fairly robust due to its strong plastic hinges although I experienced no problems with either opening or firmly closing and I was able to manage with one hand whilst the other received the product. I have found that Avon is generally considerably sparse on the directions for use for the majority of their products or in some cases they provide no directions at all. However, two lines of tiny text can be found on the reverse of the tube, which advises to massage over dry skin areas and to use two to three times per week. I prefer to use scrubs in the shower as opposed to the bath, particularly as I normally ending up sitting on the scratchy particles, which can be rather uncomfortable although I must admit that I possess a very soft and smooth rear end!

The good consistency scrub is easily dispensed and is of a very pale pink. Whilst the scrub is part of the Avon Naturals range I would argue that the aroma is natural, as whilst I can definitely detect strawberries, the scent reminds me of children's jelly sweets. The aroma is initially a little too sweet for me and whilst the scrub contains strawberry extract I would have preferred a slight sharpness, but nevertheless, it is favourable. As I massaged the scrub over my skin I was able to witness the tiny exfoliating particles, which are similar in size to grains of salt, so my first impressions were that it would not be particularly effective. However, as I continued to massage a gentle lather was created, which offered a luxurious creaminess and the sweet aroma seemed less evident.

The product was easily rinsed away without leaving any sticky or greasy residue and I must admit that I was amazed when I brushed my fingertips over the surface of my skin, as it was silky soft and very smooth. I suffer with problem areas of dry patches on my elbows and knees and the scrub was effective enough to keep these areas in tip top condition. I also experience dry skin on the underside of my feet, but unfortunately, the scrub cannot tackle this problem although I do not believe that any body scrub is suited to this purpose and a specifically designed product is required. I would wholeheartedly agree with Avon's claim that this scrub will leave skin feeling velvety smooth, which is due to the shea butter content. I felt the results were very similar to The Body Shop's Strawberry Body Polish although Avon's product is a fraction of the price. I generally moisturise directly after bathing or showering, but in order to fully assess the product's abilities I omitted this stage of my routine. I cannot report of suffering from any dryness or tightness, so clearly the scrub contains a high proportion of shea butter to keep the skin sufficiently hydrated.

The scrub should be used within twelve months of opening with the tube being recyclable once empty. I cannot recall how much I paid for mine, particularly as it was a few months ago although I have checked on the Avon website for the current price and would advise that it is currently on offer where it has been reduced from £3 to 99p, which is excellent value for money and suited to all budgets. Due to the reasons discussed above, I can highly recommend Avon Naturals Body Scrub although the fragrance was a slight issue for me, as unfortunately, it lingered on the skin's surface for a good while after use and for that reason it loses a star. However, I would definitely repurchase solely for its excellent exfoliating and moisturising properties.

I hope you found my review useful and thanks for reading.