Summer Lovin': Battle Of The Body Scrubs

Exfoliating is a key aspect in maintaining healthy skin but full body exfoliation is often placed low on our list of beauty priorities. During the winter months, we can hide under our many layers of clothing if we've been slack in polishing ourselves to perfection, but there's absolutely no escaping a full body beauty regime in summer.

Throwing caution to the wind, we bare more flesh when the sun is shining to avoid overheating (obviously) and in a desperate attempt to top up our Vitamin D levels. If you're pale and interesting like me, sunshine is usually an excuse to strip off and work on that much-needed Ibiza base tan. You'd never know I was half Spanish with skin like this....

In order to feel confident in a semi-naked, summer-lovin' state, I have to have soft, smooth skin. That means investing in a good body scrub to buff away those dry, flaky imperfections. With thousands of different scrubs on the shelves, it can be a difficult decision.

What if it's too harsh? What if it's too soft? What if it leaves my skin feeling really dry? What if it irritates my sensitive skin? What if it's too expensive? 

Investing time, effort and money into a beauty product that doesn't give you what you need can be really frustrating. So, on my quest to finding the perfect body scrub this summer, I've tried and tested two new organic body scrubs from Australia's favourite all-natural beauty brand, Sukin, and here's the verdict.

Sukin Renewing Body Scrub with green tea and jojoba, £12.99 (200ml)

Although I drink green tea by the gallon, this is the first beauty product I've tried than contains green tea leaves. We're all aware of the health benefits of drinking green tea but it also has great benefits when used topically as an ingredient in beauty products. Packed full of miracle-working antioxidants, green tea protects the skin from free radicals, reduces inflammation, rejuvenates skin cells and prevents premature ageing - so no wonder why beauty brands are including this potent plant in their formulations!

I'd like to buy all the green tea in the world, please.

As well as green tea leaves, the Sukin Renewing Body Scrub also contains micro jojoba beads and ground walnut shells to gently polish the surface of the skin and rose hip oil, coconut oil and aloe vera to nourish the skin during and after exfoliation. With a fresh fragrance and lovely creamy consistency, the scrub requires minimal effort and in no way feels abrasive or uncomfortable. While stimulating the senses, it delicately buffs away to reveal soft, smooth skin and is an absolute pleasure to use. My skin felt softer for up to three days so I'd recommend using the scrub twice a week for enviably soft skin that you won't ever want to cover up.

Sukin Energising Body Scrub with coffee and coconut, £12.99

As a self-confessed coconut addict and the proud owner of an ever-growing collection of coconut-infused beauty products, my initial excitement to try this scrub was off the scale. And with coffee also making a long-lasting impression on the world of beauty, I was very curious to see what effect these two super ingredients would have on my skin.

As well as being a natural exfoliant, ground coffee is heralded for tightening and brightening the skin, improving circulation and reducing the appearance of cellulite. With additional ground coconut and walnut shells for a more effective exfoliation - and coconut oil, rose hip oil and vitamin E for hydration, the Sukin Energising Body Scrub is a refreshing and indulgent way to polish and pamper your way to beautiful skin. While seducing the senses with its beautifully rich long-lasting scent, the scrub stimulates and smoothes the skin, leaving it deliciously soft with a silky sheen. Being slightly more course than the Renewing Body Scrub, I would recommend only using it once a week to avoid irritating the skin.

The Sukin Energising Body Scrub was my favourite scrub of the two and it lived up to all my expectations. I may have been initially swayed by my love of coconut beauty products but regardless, it makes your skin feel wonderful! 

The full Sukin range is available from www.sukinorganics.com and select Holland and Barrett stores.