| Body
Scrubs
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Julie
Register, Your Guide to Spas, evaluates products to use at home.
September 2003.
I met
a women while at Echo
Valley Ranch & Spa in a remote area of British Columbia. Among other
things, we chatted about spa treatments. Her favorite treatment was a body
scrub. I was dumbfounded. I could not imagine why she was so fond of having her
body exfoliated. It seemed so harsh to me. Why have your skin rubbed off when
you could have it pampered with a soothing massage? She suggested I try it a few
times and see what I thought. Over the next several months I did just that. I
have to say that my skin became extremely soft and smooth.
The beauty of
body scrubs is that they are one of the spa treatments that you can do yourself
at home with great results. I started collecting body scrub products to use at
home. They use a variety of things to do the actual exfoliation - salt, sugar,
apricot shells, polyethylene beads, pumice, ground loofah, sand, and crushed
grape seed. Twice a week, I fill my tub with warm water, shave my legs and use
one of the body scrub products on my entire body (but not my face). It keeps my
skin soft and smooth...Instant gratification. Once in a while, I indulge in a
body scrub at a spa. But I usually get a massage!
A note of
caution...The exfoliant in many body scrubs do not dissolve in water and will
leave a gritty residue on the tub or shower floor. Take care to completely rinse
out the tub or shower. Otherwise, you may scratch and dull the surface over
time.
The following
are some of the body scrub products that I have personally tried. The prices
look high, but they are less than the price of a treatment at a spa and will
last for quite a while. Prices were current at the time of writing this article.
Please check with the suppliers for current prices.
| E'SPA
Salt Scrub
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E'SPA
Relaxing Salt Scrub
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Description
• Price:
£24.50 (~$40 USD) plus s/h
• Package: 24.7
oz heavy,
squarish, clear glass jar with lid that clamps over rubber
seal
• Exfoliant: Sea Salt grains from very fine to
course
• Suspension: Blend of sweet almond, sunflower and
coconut oils.
• Directions: Stir oil and salt together thoroughly and
apply to damp skin in upward circular motion while standing in
the bath or shower. Rinse in the shower or alternatively allow
salts to completely dissolve whilst bathing.
• Aroma -Invigorating Salt Scrub: Fabulous, fresh,
energizing scent from cooling
menthol and essential oils of grapefruit, lavender and lime.
• Aroma - Relaxing Salt Scrub: Wonderful, comforting
scent from essential oils of rosemary, clove, cinnamon and bay.
• Result: Skin feels warm and smooth and very
moist. Body lotion after bath is not necessary. The scent
lingers on skin.
• To Order: Visit
E'SPA's web site to
order online. Click on Products, click on Soothing and Relaxing.
E'SPA products are also available at the boutique at The Spa at
The Mandarin Oriental, Miami
(305)-913 8288 and in New
York after it opens October, 2003
• Notes:
E'SPA is a
company started in the UK. E'SPA
products are formulated using the highest quality organically
grown plants known for their purity, potency and therapeutic
qualities. No animal testing.
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| E'SPA's
salt scrubs are my favorite. I first discovered them in Scotland at The
Spa at The Westin Turnberry Resort. I liked them so much, I bought
four 24.7 oz jars (that's over 6 pounds!) and toted them around with me
for over a week! I repeated the process when I visited the Mandarin
Oriental, Miami earlier this year. Two varieties are offered - one
for when you want to wind down and one to wake you up. I love the aromas
of both of these products both during and after the bath. I especially
like the fact that the oil is so rich I don't need a body lotion after
the bath. And, of course, my skin is left extremely soft and smooth. The
same wonderful scents are also available in candles. My only problem
with the product was due to the lid. I had difficulty with one of the
jars in getting the rubber seal to seat properly before engaging the
clamp. I left the jar on the side of the tub, the shower was run, and
water got into the jar. |
| Inara™
Enliven Babassu Sugar Rub
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Inara™
Enliven Babassu Sugar Rub
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Description
• Price:
$52.50 (15.5 oz in clay pot) or $33.00 (9.5 oz in plastic jar)
plus s/h
• Package: Attractive
clay pot handcrafted exclusively for Inara in Mexico
• Exfoliant: Course
Turbinado Sugar
• Suspension: Babassu (coconut) oil from Brazil,
soybean oil, grapefruit oil
• Directions: Massaging Babassu Sugar Rub onto wet skin
then rinsing thoroughly.
• Aroma - Enliven: Energizing blend of rose
geranium oil, mandarin oil, sage oil and rosemary leaf extract.
Also available
in Ignite (sensual sandalwood and sweet orange with a hint of
frankincense and palmarosa) and Quiet (calming frankincense and
sandalwood with notes of chamomile and sweet orange).
• Result: Skin feels smooth and soft.
• To Order: Visit
Inara's web site for
more product information. Order online at ebubbles.
• Notes:
Inara™
products use
the finest certified organic ingredients available and are made
in part or whole by women’s and indigenous cooperatives
throughout the Americas. No animal testing.
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| This
scrub is great for when you don't want to use salt - like right after
shaving your legs. The course sugar does a great job of exfoliating. The
sugar is suspended in oil that has a very thick, waxy texture to it. The
background story of the babassu oil is interesting: For
centuries, the babassu palm trees have provided sustenance and healing
to the people of Brazil. The Inara™ brand from Wild Earth supports the
efforts of women and their families in the remote state of Maranhão,
deep in northeastern Brazil. Inara™
employs a FAIR
TRADE policy by working with women's cooperatives to purchase babassu
oil, insuring a living wage for the indigenous people involved. Each
purchase helps support the livelihood of families in this Amazon region. |
| Jurlique
Tea Tree Body Exfoliating Gel
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Jurlique
Tea Tree Body Exfoliating Gel
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Description
• Price:
$26.00 Special
offer: Free shipping on orders over $100 (for shipping within
the United States).
• Package: plastic
bottle
• Exfoliant: Apricot Shells
• Suspension: Water, herbal extract mixture (Equisetum,
lavender, rosemary, calendula, whitch hazel, grape seed, green
tea, turmeric, glycerine, avocado oil, glyceryl cocoate from
coconut oil, soy protein, carrot oil extract, xanthan gum, tea
tree oil, citrus seed extract, lactic acid, vitamin A, C, E).
• Directions: Squeeze a small amount onto your hand,
body brush or loofah. Add a bit of water and gently rub onto the
skin. Rinse well under running water.
• Aroma - A bit medicinal because of the tea tree
oil.
• Result: Skin feels smooth and soft.
• To Order: Visit
Jurlique's web site to order
online.
• Notes:
Jurlique is a company started in Australia, a location chosen
for its clean, unpolluted environment in which to grow nature's
potent herbs and flowers. Jurlique's skin and inner health care
range is based on natural, plant-based ingredients.
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| I
first experienced
this product in Quintessence,
A Day Spa in Atlanta and later at Barnsley
Gardens in Adairsville, Georgia. The product works well and leaves
the skin quite soft. Jurlique recommends following the scrub with Body
Care Lotion, Body Care Oil or Hand & Body Lotion for optimal
results. My only problem with the product was with the packaging. The
flip top got clogged with bits of apricot shells and would not close.
Better to just screw the top off and on. |
| Spa
Esmeralda Desert Sage European Butter Scrub
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Spa Esmeralda Desert Sage European Butter Scrub
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Description
• Price:
The Body Deli offers Butter Scrubs in 8 varieties in three
sizes: 12oz / $16.00; 24oz / $24.00; 48oz / $44.00
• Package: Blue
glass jar
• Exfoliant: Extra-fine Grain European Sea Salt
• Suspension: Shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter,
kukui nut butter, jojoba, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, calendula,
lecithin, rose hips, evening primrose, comfrey, grapefruit seed
extract, benzoin, rosemary oil extract, carrot seed, chamomile
and pure essential oil.
• Directions: Rub it on, rinse it off.
• Aroma - Rich sage and cocoa.
• Result: Skin feels smooth and soft.
• To Order: Contact Spa
Esmeralda to order. Other varieties of butter scrubs are
available at The Body Deli
• Notes:
The Desert Sage European Butter Scrub was made for Spa Esmeralda
by The Body Deli. Everything they manufacture is all natural and
hand made by their master cosmetic chefs to create the
finest and purest bath, body and facial products found anywhere
in the world.
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| This is
a very thick product. The consistency reminds me of wet sand. It does a
great job of exfoliating and I am sure it is great for the skin with the
vitamin E and C, calendula, etc. However, I always feel like I need to
apply a moisturizer to my skin after using this product. |
| Health
Spa Napa Valley Grape Seed Crush
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Spa Napa Valley Grape Seed Crush
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Description
• Price:
$30 for 5 oz. plus s/h
• Package: Plastic
Bottle
• Exfoliant: Crushed grape seeds
• Suspension: none
• Directions: Mix with water or your favorite bath gel
to create an exfoliant.
• Aroma - Slightly sour.
• Result: Skin feels smooth and soft.
• To Order: Order online at the Health
Spa Napa Valley Spa Shop.
• Notes:
It's just crushed grape seeds.
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| This product
is made from 100% pure Napa Valley red wine grape seeds. In order to use
it as an exfoliant, you have to mix it with water or bath gel. It does
the job but is a bit messy. |
More
Body Scrubs from the Spas Guide
Read
ArizonaSpaGirls' Lisa Kasanicky's Body Scrub Suggestions
Photos copyright 2003, Julie
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