No matter whether you’re enjoying the southern hemisphere’s winter by snowboarding or bracing icy cold surf, the northern hemisphere’s summer of beautiful clear days in the mountains or on the lakes, or relaxing in the balmy tropics, an exfoliant is an important item in your backpack or bathroom cabinet.

Why Scrub
In your body’s natural cycle, you shed the visible layer of skin cells every 30-to-35 days, replacing the dead surface cells with a new, healthy layer.

However, as our  bodies age, skins cells become weaker and are often damaged by environmental factors such as pollution, sun, wind and dryness. Just as our skin gets damaged by the sun when we are outside, being inside with the heater or air-conditioner is just as damaging.

So when these dead cells remain on the surface, they can cause our skin to look dull and accentuate any fine lines on the face, hands and body. When we use an exfoliant or scrub, this helps to eliminate the excess dead cells from the outer layer of skin, and in the process softens smoothes and clarifies the complexion.

Choosing the Right Exfoliant
There’s a huge range of scrubs out there, but EG has called on our panel of intrepid volunteers to take on the task of trying out a variety. Remember, you skin is unique, so what suits your girlfriend or sister, may not work on you.

Even dry skin needs exfoliation, and if your skin is sensitive, there’s a good variety to choose from.

For sheer luxury you can’t go past the Linden Leaves Gold range. These totally addictive potions and lotions from New Zealand are to die for.

Rubbing the Gold Salt directly on your skin makes you feel amazing. I don’t know about gold’s medicinal properties, but the Gold Salt ($31.95) scrub which contains fine grains of pure New Zealand sea salt, infused with a gentle vanilla parfum and flecked with 23kt gold leaf was wonderful - Cleopatra herself could not have enjoyed a more luxurious exfolient. When used in conjunction with the equally decadent Gold Oil ($42.95), Gold Lotion ($30.95) and Gold Mist($32.95). My sweetheart liked its effect on my skin so much he tried to borrow it!

Instead, he made off with the OUTBACK Body Scrub. He loved the fact that it 100% handmade in Australia and chemical and preservative free. 

As the website says, “Outback body scrub has not been tested on animals; instead it has been tested on the weathered mother in law, ex-husbands, sons, daughters, stepchildren, new grandchildren and the daughter in law (all are still breathing)”.

A combination of essential oils which include lemon myrtle & Australian lime; the salt is immersed in oils rich in body nurturing vitamins and minerals which the manufacturer claims will help strengthen tissue cells, preserve the natural moisture of the skin, revitalise and remove toxins. Whatever their claims, we tested in his back and arms which were very dull and dry from neglect, surfing and kayaking and saw an immediate improvement.

“Smells good and gives a good result”, he said. He also pointed out that it needs to be shaken before use if you leave a few days in between applications as the salt will settle to the bottom of the glass jar. It’s an excellent choice if your boyfriend raids your bathroom cupboard, but make sure he brings it back!
 
If you are looking for a a scrub with a bit of an aromatherapy kick, then the delicious smelling Botanics of Australia’s Smoothing Body Scrub with desert lime and wattleseed is for you.

BOA has an intense fragrance that for me worked as well as the physical ingredients. I loved the feel of it too. My shoulders which were looking dull and feeling rough after some neglect due to wearing a thick wetsuit (and receiving a bit of a thumping during a wipeout) were immediately revived after just one application. It also worked wonders on my feet – but for best results, get someone else to rub it around your toes – bliss! At just $12.99, it’s very good value.

 
Another New Zealand firm producing a different type of scrub is Living Nature’s Manuka Honey Vitalising Exfoliant, which is so gentle you can use it on your face.  It’s great because unlike some other ‘scrub and go’ products, you have to take your time.

Ideal for enjoying while luxuriating in the bath with a glass of wine and a magazine, you’ll feel a gentle tingling sensation after you apply a thin layer to face and neck, avoiding eye and lip areas. After 15-20 minutes, rinse off with tepid water.

Definitely one that’s too good to let your boyfriend know about!

At $29.95, Dr Lewinn’s Liquid Loofah Mineral Body Scrub is an affordable luxury and one that was very popular with the panel*. Containing loofah and fruit derived ingredients for gentle exfoliation and Apricot and Sweet Almond Oil to nourish and moisturise, it’s great for reviving tired feet and softening hardened heels and ideal for preparation before applying self tanning lotion.

Emma who juggles two jobs, two children and a husband in between commitments as a volunteer firefighter was impressed. “Dr Lewinn’s Liquid Loofah smells fantastically minty, the consistency was lovely and it makes your skin feel really nice and smooth after use”, she said.

Her friend Leah, a serious fashionista agreed. “I thought it was fantastic as you do have to use a generous amount, although they do say this in the directions”, she said. “It is easy to apply and wash off. Unlike others I've used it doesn't leave what feels like a film over your skin; your skin feels smooth and fresh for days after”, added Leah. “I would highly recommend this product to anyone”. (In fact Leah liked it so much that she thought I should send her another tester, just so she could be sure!)

Laura, a keen scuba diver and another local volunteer firefighter is also converted. “It was lovely to use and my skin is noticeably smoother.  I used it every second day and it wasn't drying which was good”, she said. “I didn't use a loofah with it, just the product itself as it has a lot of granules in it so it exfoliated really well.  Smelt fresh too!”

Surfer, snowboarder, photographer and business dynamo Courtney was also impressed. “Dr. Lewinn's Liquid Loofah Mineral Body Scrub is awesome!  Not only did it make my skin feel 'silky smooth', but the minty aroma was so invigorating.  It made me feel totally refreshed by both the loofah and the essence.  I'm impressed!"

Liquid Loofah by Vani-T® is also a gorgeous blend with it’s own mixture of nourishing oils of jojoba, sunflower and coconut and the fragrance of pink orchid, coconut and vanilla. 

A good precursor to a fake tan application it’s also a nourishing hand and foot scrub. $29.95 “I loved that so much I told my beautician and they are now going to stock it” said surfer and gym junkie Gail. “it really gives you a fabulous quality scrub and in an oil base leaves you skin feeling refreshed and lovely and hydrated – I did not even need to moisturise afterwards!” 
 
From luxury to practicality, I’ve also discovered a great scrub for stopping my hands resembling a goat herder’s! After an intense day in the garden that included chopping down trees, cutting up branches, pruning, digging, transplanting seedlings and shovelling earth, despite gloves my hands were grimy and felt dry and sore. But a small dollop of HANDS FIRST Power Scrub & Moisturiser transformed them.

In fact they looked better than they did before I pulled on the gardening gloves. Containing tiny granules of pumice and walnut shell, the lotion felt clean and scrubbed without scratching.

A sister product to the excellent HANDS FIRST Invisible Gloves Barrier Cream, it now lives in my gardening basket next to the sunblock and gloves! The bad news it is currently only available in the UK, Europe and Saudi Arabia, so if you know anyone going to those destinations, forget the cosmetics and ask them to bring you back some of Hands First instead! At around 6.75 UK pounds, it’s great value. 

Now if you are on a budget or a down to earth EG, you can’t go past old reliable, Natio. As usual the company has a good range of quality products that won’t break the bank, do the job and make you feel and look great. ExplorerGirls with sensitive skin will find the Gentle Face Scrub ($14.50 for 100g) ideal for use on hands and the décolleté area as well. It’s one that’s good for use all year round and with a very faint fragrance, won’t compete with your perfume for attention.

Finally, if you’re feeling creative and fancy making your own click on Notebook magazine to learn how and remember you can substitute lemon if no limes are in the pantry!



*We received multiple samples so were able to distribute this product more widely than any of the other scrubs reviewed here.

ExplorerGirls.com Giveaway! Feeling like you might need a little scrub after reading our review. Don't fret we have 2  Dr Lewinn’s Liquid Loofah Mineral Body Scrub's to giveaway.

Simply enter the contest by submitting your NAME, ADDRESS, EMAIL, Contest Code: LOOFAH and ExplorerGirls VIP member name along with 25 words or less why you want to win.  Contest open world wide to EG VIP members.

Enter using the Contact form Here!

Winner's choosen July 30th, Terms and Conditions available.

www.ExplorerGirls.com /  Alison Aprhys