Generally, on this blog, we talk about facial products, and while the skin on our face is often the hardest to cover up when it has flare-ups or breakouts – it is not the only part of our body that we often have concerns about. So, today I wanted to share the body scrub that I’ve been using during the wintertime. 

But before we get into this body scrub (or body scrubs in general), welcome back!! We hope that the new year has brought you new opportunities to explore new and old passions. That being said to those that are new, my name is Thandiwe-Kesi. And I am (and have always been) into skincare because of my skin journey. So much so that I co-founded Skinterest. At Skinterest, we are all in when it comes to our skin. As a digital health startup, we are committed to improving health outcomes for underserved communities with various skin conditions. So, we developed an app to support those on a journey to healthier skin. Be sure to sign up and pre-order our app to get exclusive access to blogs, products, discounts, and much more.

Alright, back to body scrubs. What are they, and how do they benefit the skin? 

Body scrubs are often used to remove dead skin cells from the outermost layer of your skin by using an abrasive ingredient like salt or sugar. When you use a body scrub after bathing with soap or a shower gel, you can expect to have softer or more “vibrant skin”. 

But how exactly do body scrubs benefit the skin? Aside from making your skin smoother, using a body scrub will allow the skin to absorb a moisturizer better and help to prevent ingrown hairs.  

So which one have I been using? The Kopari: Coconut Crush Scrub ($39)

Kopari describes their Coconut Crush Scrub as a body and butt softening scrub that uses earth-friendly exfoliants – brown sugar with Tahitian coconut shells. This is probably because one of the main ingredients is 100% pure, organic, unrefined coconut oil – an occlusive emollient that rests on top of the skin, locking in moisture. And I can admit it softens the skin, provides moisture and smells really good.

So, how do I personally use this product? A little goes a long way, and this product goes on right after I use my soap or shower gel while my skin is still wet. I gently glide this product across my body and rinse. Afterward, I follow up with a moisturizing lotion (Eucerin). I don’t use the Kopari Coconut Crush Scrub every day, but I have been using it one to two times a week for the past 4 weeks. I haven’t really run into any downsides of this product that are deal breakers for me. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any. 

For example, this product can make the floor of your bathtub or shower incredibly slippery, and because one of the main ingredients is coconut oil that means there’s a chance it can clog your drain. And while I haven’t experienced this scrub staining my bathroom tub, the coconut shells can stay behind after using it. 

If you have any allergies or reactions in the past to coconut oil, castor oil, shea butter, or aloe vera, patch test this product before putting it all over your beautiful skin.

Additionally, if you are prone to back acne or flare-ups or have sensitive skin, a thickening agent/moisturizer used in this product is Isopropyl Palmitate, a palm oil derivate. This specific ingredient is comedogenic. This means that products containing this ingredient can clog pores or cause flare-ups. So, there is a chance that if you have sensitive skin, this product can do the opposite of what it touts – which is a softened body and butt?

Ingredients: Sucrose, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Isopropyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Shell Powder, Silica, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Jojoba Esters, Acacia Decurrens (Mimosa) Flower Cera, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Cera, Polyglycerin-3, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Fragrance (Parfum).

Would I purchase it again?

Maybe. While this product does smooth the skin and smell really good – I’m not sure if I would purchase this product again. While it does make me feel like I’m at the spa – the price point is on the higher end, and there’s a chance it can clog your pores or clog your drain. I haven’t experienced this yet, and my fingers are crossed that I won’t since I enjoy this product so far. But I’ll keep you posted if I do.

Thanks for reading! Talk to you soon.

XOXO, Thandi

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