About a month ago – possibly more – I was sent a free bottle of skincare product to try out. I have been meaning to write about it for weeks for I regularly find myself slathering it all over myself while practically composing a post in my head about much I love it.
First, some specifics:
– it’s a post-shower body scrub called Supersmooth Body Buff
– it’s made by a company called Mama Mio
– highlighted ingredients include Sweet Almond Oil, Aloe Vera and Vitamin E
Some folks pooh-pooh exfoliation. They say that it’s a ploy foisted on us by marketers just so we’re pressured (nay, GUILTED!) into buying more product. No siree. I am firmly in the pro-exfoliation camp. You can read more about exfoliation via Wikipedia, but I will mention a couple worthwhile things from the Wiki:
New skin cells are created in the skin’s lower layer, the dermis. Over time, cells migrate to the surface of the skin and become more acidic. During their 30 day journey, they die and become saturated with keratin. Keratin is important because it protects the skin from outside elements. During aging, and after menopause for women, the natural process of skin erosion becomes uneven, which gives skin a dry and rough character. Exfoliation removes the outer layer to reveal the newer skin beneath. This shedding of the outer layer unclogs pores, keeps skin clean, and helps reduce acne breakouts. Exfoliation should always be done after cleansing the skin. Exfoliation is important for men as it exposes the hair follicles, allowing a better shave. It is possible to overly exfoliate, which dries and irritates the skin. The face is the part of the body most sensitive to exfoliation. Dry skin can lead to wrinkle development.
Did you know:
- that people of non-Caucasian descent generally see better results from exfoliation, due to their faster skin production?
- the exfoliating ingredient in some big brand products are tiny particles of polyethylene, which are a hazard to marine life?
Mama Mio does not contain polyethylene. The ingredients are listed right on the back of the package. They boast “no nasties!” and their products are paraben-, petroleum-, and colorant-free. Yay!
ANYWAY, back to usage.
The tip on the back of the box recommends that the product be used on damp skin – that’s true – but it took me awhile to figure out how damp. This was tricky. If I dried myself too much the scrub didn’t go too far or spread very smoothly. Too little and it went all over the place and took forever to dry. I finally figured out that if I thoroughly dried the front of my body, but half-dried the back, I had enough dampness to make the product do what I wanted. (Does that sound too complicated? It’s not meant to be, that’s just what worked for me.)
The stuff really does leave my skin feeling smooth. And the smell! It’s the smell I love most. Maybe it’s the almond oil, I don’t know, but what I do know is that it is exactly the kind of smell that I draws me in, it’s not overpowering or cloying in any sense. It’s not synthetic, it’s just there, smelling natural without being all flowery or patchouli-like, which is a smell that infects many too many products nowadays. (Is patchouli having a revival? I hope not, because it I find it about as appealing as bug spray.)
All in all I have been quite happy using this product. The down side is that I’m going to run out soon and will have to buy some more. Wah!
Here’s their official website. For us Canadian folks it is also available at the Bay.
