Herbivore Coco Rose Body Polish: A Review

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Summer is on its way and if you’re anything like me this means the prospect of bearing more than three inches of skin at any one time.

And although I do use a body scrub through winter in an effort to keep skin less on the lizard side and more on the soft and glowy one, it’s when the weather heats up that I tend to really step up my efforts.

So I thought I’d review one of the body exfoliators I’ve been using (and enjoying) since last summer, Herbivore’s Coco Rose Body Polish

Herbivore Coco Rose Body Polish

A sugar-based scrub containing a mixture of oils and other moisturising ingredients, the result is a gritty- but not harsh- and almost fluffy texture.

The addition of essential oils and natural colourants also gives this a candy-floss-pink hue and a subtle scent.

As with all Herbivore products, this is all-natural, vegan and cruelty-free.

Housed in a glass jar (be really careful by the bath with this), it’s also recyclable (or even reusable as quite a cute plant pot/pen holder/makeup brush pot etc).

The minimalist chic this Seattle-based brand is famous for doesn’t hurt here either.

What’s in it

The main ingredients here are small sugar grains for sloughing away dead skin cells.

A common alternative to salt-based, coffee-infused or other walnut shell/pumpkin/bamboo scrubs, sugar dissolves quickly in water making it fairly gentle on skin (although there will always be some slightly sharper edges so take care if you have any cuts or sensitive skin).

Sugar is also a natural humectant, making it softening and hydrating.

But what actually is a humectant? We hear you ask. Cleveland Clinic says “Humectants hydrate your skin by: Drawing water up from your second layer of skin (dermis) to the topmost layer (epidermis); Helping you shed dead skin cells; Using the water in humid air to moisturize the epidermis.”

“Effective humectants include: Hyaluronic acid; Lactic acid; Urea; Sorbitol,” it adds.

It’s combined here with a base of organic virgin coconut oil (highly moisturising and a great source of essential fatty acids and antibacterial lauric acid), as well as two olive oil-based ingredients, and shea butter and meadowfoam seed oil to add further moisture.

The scent- a sort of true, sophisticated rose scent- is down to Moroccan rose essential oil, while the colour comes from rose clay (a mild natural clay used for cleansing skin).

Again, really sensitive skin types can find essential oils irritating so do a patch test before using.

The Full List of Ingredients

Sucrose (Sugar), Cocos Nucifera (Organic Virgin Coconut) Oil, Capric Triglycerides, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Limnanthes alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Rosa damascena (Moroccan Rose) Absolute, Rose Clay

How to Use it

Massaged over damp skin this can either be rinsed off with water- allowing the oils here to remain on the skin to moisturise- or followed by a shower gel if you really don’t like the feel of oil.

For a slightly gentler scrub, use a handful of this with water to let the sugar dissolve slightly before using.  For a harsher exfoliation, use on slightly less damp skin.

It’s also lovely massaged over dry feet pre-pedicure to get a really good scrub going (just be really careful not to slip after using!).  

Use between one and three times a week to keep skin soft without overdoing the exfoliation.

Pre-manicure, this scrub will help to get your hands glowing and ready for your new nails.  And for inspiration on some of the most stunning looks, check out our guide to the hottest ombre nail designs.

 

On the Skin

Gritty but not harsh- and quick to dissolve- this scrub gives a really lovely exfoliation that’s gentle on my skin.

After rinsing off, this leaves a sheen of nourishing oils in its wake- great for body oil fans like me who can skip the post-shower moisturising.

The result is skin that feels soft and boasts a lovely healthy glow for the rest of the day (as well as a slight rose scent on the skin).

But while not greasy, the oils here do take a while to absorb after showering, so this is better saved for days when you’re not in a huge rush to get dressed right away.

The scent and lovely pink shade- as well as that packaging- gives this a luxe feel though, turning bath or shower time into something of an at-home spa session (whoop whoop!).

The Takeaway

Overall I really like this scrub; from the scent to the luxury feel and the results.

The one downfall for me though is the price, which makes me less likely to use this often and more likely to just keep on my bathroom shelf to gaze at adoringly.

Luckily though, sugar scrubs are ridiculously easy to make from home. So for a quick dupe try mixing equal parts brown or white sugar to a base oil like sweet almond oil (adding a couple of drops of an essential oil if you’re feeling fancy).

If you do want to splurge though, or are looking for the perfect gift for a beauty addict friend, this is a lovely product that I suspect most people would enjoy.

Great for: Luxury or natural skincare fans. Dry skin types that want a gentler scrub. Gifts (because I can’t imagine anyone being unhappy to receive this).

Not-so-great for: Really sensitive skin, which might not get on with the essential oils. Also, anyone who doesn’t like the scent of rose- basically that’s pretty much what you’re getting here- or those who prefer their beauty on the budget side.

Herbivore’s Coco Rose Body Polish is £32 for 226 g, Cult Beauty UK and $36 for 8 oz/ 237 ml, Sephora US