** What is it? **

A creamy, rinse-off body exfoliator: natural scrub particles suspended in a pale brown lotion that smells more like a dessert than a beauty product.


** Packaging **

The body scrub is packaged in a flat, transparent plastic tub (which is recyclable) with a brown screw-on lid. There's no danger of leakage with this (I can testify that it survived a flight packed in a suitcase with no problems) but I'd recommend keeping the lid on at all times when not use so that a) the scrub doesn't dry out and b) no water from from the shower/bath can get in and dilute the product (more on this below).


** Application **

The first time I used this product was under a running shower and I have to say I was not impressed in the slightest. I had barely applied it before it was all washed away. Whereas you can usually get shower gel lathered up before it starts to dissolve under the shower, this slightly sloppy scrub is rather more prone to dissolve on contact with running water, so I'd recommend either shutting off the water before you apply it, or using it in the bath.

Once you've prevented it from running away, this scrub is actually a pleasure to use. For a start, it is one of those products that smells so divine I often find myself having a crafty sniff when I go into the bathroom for something else! It smells of toffees rather than nuts, I think.

The kernels are just the right size and consistency - not scratchy, but large and rough enough to have a decent exfoliating effect - and their distribution in the carrier cream is just right. There's nothing worse than a scrub where you need to use big handfuls just to get any scrubbing action because it is all cream and hardly any bits. With this I use a couple of 10p-sized dollops each for my arms, chest, back and a little more for my legs. It is easy to spread and work into the skin thanks to its creamy consistency, and it rinses off easily when you've finished without leaving an oily film behind.


** Does it do what it's supposed to? **

Yes - I have been using this scrub a few times a week since Christmas and my skin is now in great condition and looks glowing. Areas of sensitive skin can sometimes looks a little too pink when I've just finished exfoliating, but this doesn't last, or hurt for that matter, and it certainly doesn't look as though my skin's been scratched (I have had this happen with other scrubs and it's not an attractive look!). If I get out of the bath straight away there I can still feel a slightly moisturising effect on my skin and still detect the fragrance, but these effects will wear off if you stay in the bath for a good long soak. Used in conjunction with a body butter this scrub has made my skin a lot softer and smoother than it used to be. At the moment I have to have an injection in my upper arm and so have to bare it every week under the harsh lights of a doctor's surgery - the last few times I've noticed that my skin looks a lot better. My back is also a lot freer of impurities since I started using the scrub.


** One slight problem **

My only issue with this product is that the kernels don't dissolve. Now this is great because it means you can scrub your skin for as long as you like with a small amount without the effect wearing off. However, if like me you like to lounge around in the bath for a while post-treatment, you'll find that the kernels eventually sink down to the bottom of the bath and are very uncomfortable to sit/lie on (though I suppose you could consider in an extra-intense bottom-exfoliation!). This wouldn't happen with sugar scrubs, for example. Of course, to the answer would be to use it at the end of your bath. The bathtub also requires an extra-thorough clean afterwards; the kernels don't go down towards the plughole with the water but rather stick to the surface of the bath. My bath is enamel and has not been scratched, but you might have to be careful with a plastic bathtub.


** Price **

Boots currently have this priced at £7.50 for a 400ml tub (you're paying for some fair trade and organic ingredients here), which I estimate will last me a couple of months (it will last a total of 24 months after opening before you need to throw it away).


** Conclusion **

A deliciously-fragranced scrub that really does leave my skin softer and smoother. I'm just taking one star off for the pesky, bottom-scratching, bathtub-sullying particles which prevent me from having a longer soak.