In today's day and age of beauty, it seems that more and more brands are constantly trying to do it all. Companies are launching entire new collections left and right, to the point where it's almost overwhelming. Not only can I not keep up, but I also start to seriously question whether or not everything we're seeing is up to the same standards of previous launches.
That being said, to be introduced to a brand that does one thing, but that does it so well, is an entirely refreshing change of pace. That brand, my lovely readers, is called SimplyScrub. As their name so clearly suggests, SimplyScrub is all about delivering you quality, 100% organic body scrubs that won't cost you an arm and a leg. They have four delicious formulas to choose from, each with a slightly different flair, but all providing the same intensely hydrating, skin smoothing benefits. They ever so graciously sent me all four scents to try and review for you all (two in full sized jars, and two in samples) and I'm finally ready to report back on how they turned out!
If you've ever taken a peek at the labels on your average skincare product and read through the list of ingredients, odds are you'll come across many things you can't pronounce and even fewer things you can identify and understand the benefits of. These scrubs, however, read more like a recipe than they do like your average bath and body product. Inside each jar you'll find things like brown sugar, coconut oil, cacao nibs, and real ground coffee beans. Everything is 100% organic and 100% pronounceable, which gives me that extra bit of confidence that I actually know and understand what the heck I'm putting on my body.
All Simply Scrub products are proudly cruelty-free. The rose and soursop scrubs are also vegan, while the chocolate and coffee varieties are not (as they contain honeycomb).
Even though you're getting quality organic ingredients in every SimplyScrub product (that are handmade, might I add), they're actually very reasonably priced. You can purchase each variety in either a 3.5 oz jar for anywhere between $13-$16, or a 9 oz bag for $28-$36. It might be worthwhile to buy the jars if you want to sample the different scents, but the bags are definitely the more economical way to go once you find your favorite.
Another really great feature of these scrubs is that they actually double as a body moisturizer. Because each formula is jam packed with nourishing butters and oils, there's no need to whip out a lotion after you step out of the shower. Just make sure that after you give yourself a good scrub down you let the product sit on your skin for 2-3 minutes so all of the moisturizing ingredients can fully absorb and work their magic. It'll also leave your skin with a light fragrance, which, considering how absolutely yummy each of this scrubs smell, is a total win in my book.
Really, the only downside to these scrubs is that they all smell so amazing it's difficult to choose one! Fortunately, now having tried them all, I can hopefully help you narrow things down. Let me give you a quick rundown of the four different varieties and what my experience with each has been.
First you have the Chocolate Scrub, which was the one that originally caught my attention. I mean, let's be serious. If you're as much of a chocolate lover as I am, why would you not want to slather yourself down in something that legit smells like brownie batter? While you definitely get a decent amount of exfoliation out of this scrub between the cacao nibs and the brown sugar, it also is by far the most messy. It leaves behind a slightly chocolately residue that you really have to work at to rinse off. Don't get me wrong, it leaves your skin feeling gloriously smooth and it smells incredible, but I actually found myself preferring some of the other varieties for this reason.
Ingredients: Cacao Nibs, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Brown Sugar, Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil, Honeycomb, Vitamin E
Now, Soursop was probably the ingredient I was least familiar with, so I think this was the scrub I originally gave the least attention to. However, its quickly become my true favorite! Soursop is a spiky green tropical plant packed full of vitamins that can soothe and relieve a number of skin conditions. It has a bright, almost citrusy scent that gives me those summertime, lime popsicle kind of vibes. The Soursop Scrub has an excellent balance of exfoliation and hydration, and also has the added benefits of containing tea tree oil and green tea, which help to fight off acne causing bacteria. If you suffer from congestion and texture on your skin, this scrub will probably be a great choice for you!
Ingredients: Soursop Leaves, Dead Sea Mineral Salt, Brown Sugar, Mint Leaves, Green Tea, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E, Tea Tree Oil
What's more luxurious in skincare than fresh rose petals? If you're looking for a gentle, yet very spa like experience, the Rose Scrub will probably be right up your alley. Now, I think rose gets a bad rep in skincare because brands often pack their products full of artificial rose fragrances. This, however, has a very true, fresh cut rose kind of scent as the first ingredient is actual rose bud petals. I would say that this is the least "scrubby" of all the formulas, and will pack more hydration than exfoliation. However, it's still a really lovely product and makes me feel like I'm really pampering myself every time I use it.
Ingredients: Rose Buds Petals, Avocado Oil, Brown Sugar, Sweet Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, Tea Tree Oil
And last, but certainly not least, if you're looking for a nice morning pick-me-up, the Coffee Scrub is an excellent option. Ground coffee beans are excellent exfoliators, so this one will leave your skin feeling super smooth and smelling like your daily cup o' joe. This formula also has bacteria busting tea tree oil, as well as honeycomb and shea butter to really lock in your skin's essential moisture.
Ingredients: Coffee Beans, Coconut Oil, Dead Sea Mineral Salt, Tea Tree Oil, Brown Sugar, Jojoba Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Vitamin E Oil, Shea Butter, Honeycomb
Still feeling conflicted as to which scrub to splurge on? Simply scrub has two different gift sets containing three full sized jars that you can opt for instead! Gift Set 1 contains the Rose, Soursop, and Chocolate varieties, while Gift Set 2 has the Coffee, Chocolate, and Soursop.
So, one little practical tip/word of warning if you've never used a scrub like this before. While they work wonders for your body, they can be a bit more troublesome for your shower. The little particles can get everywhere when you rinse, and the oils will definitely slick up your shower floor. Yes, this does require maybe a bit more shower maintenance than you're currently used to, but it's a small sacrifice for the body benefits you get out of using this kind of product.
All in all I am really happy that SimplyScrub reached out to me and put themselves on my radar! I definitely see myself repurchasing these scrubs once my current stock runs out, and would highly recommend checking them out. I love supporting smaller brands that product really high quality, natural products like this one, and wish them continued success in the future!
Which scrub is calling your name?
*These products were sent to me complimentary for testing and review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.
