Burst Of Happyness : Sugar Scrubs

A high-sugar diet won't do your skin many favors, but incorporating it into your topical beauty routine can deliver some pretty sweet results
 
Salt and sugar scrubs are one of easiest treatments that truly deliver. Not only is slathering sugar and oil seeped in aromatic oils all over your body wickedly pleasant, but the exfoliating factor leaves the skin refreshed, vibrant, and as soft as a certain anatomical part of an infant.

Sugar is full of glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that is crucial for maintaining healthy skin and is usually a key ingredient in products. The natural glycolic acid in sugar not only helps condition and moisturize skin, but protect it from toxins (1)
BOH offers two body scrubs variants (A) A Wash To Remember & (B) Be Good To Your Skin.

Both the scrubs are vegan, natural sugar scrubs without preservatives or detergents.

I will be reviewing both the scrubs here as they are pretty similar in their ingredient list. The alphabet (A and B) in the bracket indicates the scrub to which the ingredient belongs.

ABOUT THE BRAND

Learn more about Burst Of Happyness HERE! 

KEY INGREDIENTS & THEIR BENEFITS

• (A & B) Saponified Oils of Palmolein, Coconut, Olive, Sunflower: A.K.A. BOH's in house soap blend that balances the scrubs cleansing, moisturizing and nourishing abilities. 

• (A & B) Brown Sugar (Turbinado & Demerera):  Raw sugar (also known as turbinado sugar) is more naturally coarse, and has better texture for exfoliating, so is usually reserved for the body while demerera sugar is better ideal for sensitive skin because it's the softest (2). A natural humectant, which means that it can draw moisture out of the environment and can hydrate the skin making it ideal for dry skin conditions (2). Brown Sugar also dissolves easily in water making it easy to rinse off, and therefore does not leave any residue preventing pore clogging which could lead to acne (2).

• (A) Almond Oil: Helps in repairing, rejuvenating, as well as revitalizing damaged skin ensuring it is left feeling relaxed and looking great (3).

• (B) Avocado Oil: One of the more deeply penetrating oils, it helps to fix moisture into the skin. This makes it great for dealing with dehydrated skin as well as softening rough skin. Non-greasy and non comedogenic, it helps treat inflammatory skin conditions like blemishes and eczema (4).

• (A & B) Grapeseed Oil: Very light, it is easily absorbed by the skin does not leave any oil residue. High In vitamin E, grapeseed oil also helps to stimulate skin tissues regeneration (5).

• (A & B) Cocoa Butter: Acts as a protective moisture sealant (6).

• (A) Mango Butter: Provides emollient benefits while enhancing skin elasticity, regenerate skin cells and to help heal wounds. (7)

• (B) Kokum Butter: Composed of beneficial compounds that help regenerate skin cells (7).  

The scrubs come in a tub packaging which makes it easy to scoop it out. Since they are preservative free, it is recommended to use it up within 3 months of opening the seal. So, I scoop whatever is required with a wooden spoon into a bowl before use. I use this scrub 2-3 times a week and the tub lasts me approximately for over a month.

The consistency of the scrub will depend on the temperature; the steam from a hot shower should soften up the scrub, but it may take a little longer in the winter or be more "melty" in the summer. If you are concerned about oil building up on the floor of your shower, use the scrub at the start of your shower and shampoo last – the suds should take care of any oily residue. 

The scrub itself isn't abrasive but doesn't glide on easily and does fall to the floor. To avoid wastage here is what I do: I take a small quantity of the scrub in the middle of my palm and massage in circular motion into my body, feet up. I do not recommend adding water to the scrub as it will dissolve the sugar and defeat the exfoliating purpose. 

The scrub gently exfoliates the skin, sloughing off dead skin cells and rubbing away hard and flaky skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth. The soap base gently cleanses while the oily base moisturizes and soothes the skin as it is scrubbed.

The experience is definitely invigorating and leaves a oily residue on the skin. Since I have dry skin, by the time I am out of the shower, my skin feels quenched and moisturized.  While normal/oily skin type individuals wouldn't require any additional moisturizer, I do prefer to moisturize my skin. The fragrances from the essential oils are not overpowering and do not linger after the shower. Be Good To Your Skin, has a peppermint/spearmint scent while A Wash To Remember has a grapefruit"y" scent.

 

These scrubs would work wonderfully both in the summer and winter months!

Burst Of Happyness : Rose Crush Deodorant

Two of my biggest pet peeves (among several others) are body odour and bad breath and one of my biggest weakness are natural rose scented products. So when I came across this Rose Crush Cream deodorant in Ankita’s blog (Corallista), who by the way has created this fragrance blend for Burst of Happyness, I decided to give it a shot.

The product comes in a tiny glass pot with a screw on top. As with every Burst Of Happyness product, this deo too is vegan, free of artificial colours, synthetic fragrances and preservatives.  

First things first: the main difference between a deodorant and anti-perspirant.

Deodorant basically prevents unwanted odours by masking the smell caused by bacterial breakdown of sweat (1). Antiperspirant’s on the other hand, prevent the body from producing sweat by blocking the pores (1).

ABOUT THE BRAND

Learn more about Burst Of Happyness HERE!  

KEY INGREDIENTS & THEIR BENEFITS

• Baking Soda: Natural deodorizing qualities.

• Arrowroot flour: Not only helps to serve as a thickener in a deodorant, but it also has the power to help draw out toxins (2).

• Cocoa Butter: A rich and creamy natural moisturizer, cocoa butter is a fat, that will “melt” when applied to the skin providing incredible moisturizing (2). It also has an unusually high amount of antioxidants (2).

• Kokum Butter: Rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin e, and is non-comedogenic (it won’t clog your pores) (2). Kokum butter is composed of beneficial compounds that help regenerate skin cells (3).

• Sunflower oil: Good moisturizier and absorbs into the skin quickly (4).

"There is something so beautiful, feminine and classic about the rose scent. And patchouli lends a lovely warmth and earthiness to its floral element. The herbaceous note of the patchouli tempers down the heavy sweetness of the rose but doesn't take away from its delicate nature. The combination of the two is magical to me and this deodorant has now become a staple in my daily routine!”

Ankita couldn't have described the fragrance better. The delicate accords of rose & patchouli fill your senses upon first opening the product.

The deodorant has a solid creamy/flaxy texture (combination of Cocoa/Kokum butters respectively) and due to the lack of synthetic emulsifiers, the product's consistency varies with temperature. Due to the cold Canadian winters, my rose crush deo is crumbly almost to the point where I have to scrape it out of the container. However upon skin contact, it melts and glides on easily, thanks to all the amazing butters in it. 

The product does what it claims, prevents unwanted odours. The fragrance is a long lasting one for sure and lasts me for a while (overnight) when I am sedentary. 

Unfortunately, this deodorant did not work for me. I used this product with no issues for over 2 months, but all of a sudden, I developed a nasty reaction to the sodium bicarbonate in it. My pits discolored (which could be due to the skin's pH balance being disturbed by the active ingredient, sodium bicarbonate) and I am having to regularly exfoliate it at least twice a day with a d-tan scrub to lighten it. Though I do believe it is a temporary condition, it isn't aesthetically appealing and has been a rather discouraging experience. 

I am also not a fan of the product’s old packaging as well. The narrow bottle neck opening makes it difficult to scrape out the deodorant when it hardens. I would have much rather preferred the metal container packaging. 

A great concept which sadly did not work for me :(