Product Review: BVspa by Bon Vital Salt Scrub

Like regular pedis, body exfoliation tends to fall by the wayside when temperatures drop and we hide ourselves in multiple layers of wool and denim. However, I'd argue it's more important than ever in the colder months. A good buffing clears away dead, flaky skin and allows your moisturizer/body butter/oil of choice to better penetrate the skin, plus it can invigorate the senses and provide a much-needed moment of self-care in the midst of holiday season stress. That's why I was so psyched to see the BVspa by Bon Vital Salt Scrubs ($11.99 each at Shoppers Drug Mart) land on my beauty desk. From their scents to their naturals-heavy formulas, these body scrubs feel a lot more luxe than their humble price tag.

The main ingredient in BVspa by Bon Vital Salt Scrubs is salt, followed by emollient ingredients like safflower seed oil, shea butter, olive oil, and jojoba seed oil. Laureth-7 (a surfactant and emulsifier), tribehenin (a low-risk ingredient that helps moisturizers better penetrate the skin), synthetic beeswax, tocopheryl acetate (a form of vitamin E), a touch of fragrance, and natural essential oils round out the list. I was pleasantly surprised by how many natural and recognizable ingredients were in the formulas—usually a drugstore scrub at this price level is loaded with synthetics.

In terms of how BVspa by Bon Vital Salt Scrub performed, it had all of the traits I love in a body scrub and none of the ones I hated. The salt granules weren't too large or rough; they were concentrated enough to feel like I was really exfoliating my skin and dissolved gradually with contact and moisture. The scrub rinsed away cleanly from my skin and the bathtub. (The importance of this cannot be understated as cleaning messy body scrubs and slippery residue from the tub is a huge pet peeve of mine and usually dissuades me from using a scrub more often.) The result: smooth, lightly hydrated skin with just the lightest lingering scent of natural essential oils. Lavender & Rosemary is a calming choice for a pre-bedtime scrub, but for mornings I adore how Pink Grapefruit's citrusy notes really wake me up.

I've written extensively about body scrubs on this blog in the past, but at $11.99 for a generously sized 184 g upside-down squeeze tub, I think BVspa by Bon Vital Salt Scrub is the most affordable one I've ever featured. What else can I say? It works and delights the senses in a way I'd expect from a body scrub two or three times the price. If you're heading to your local Shoppers Drug Mart to stock up on these as stocking stuffers, be forewarned—you might be tempted to keep a tube or two for yourself.