Buddy Scrub Charcoal review

Buddy Scrub's packaging says it is "your friend with benefits" but I'm not feeling the love. Not hating exactly either, just...neutral and lukewarm. I was sent the Buddy Scrub with activated charcoal to trial. First it was going to exfoliate my skin with sea salt and sugar. I was expecting my skin to feel smoother afterwards but didn't notice much difference. Likewise with the supposed wonders to my skin after nourishing with activated charcoal and coconut oil. While the product was a bit moist, there didn't seem to be any obvious oil so I'm not sure where that and the jojoba and grape seed oil were. In the pack there's a slight peppermint musty smell but I couldn't smell anything once it was on in the shower. I had thought perhaps the charcoal would leave a mess in the shower but the consistency is like sugar and washes away easily. I think it could work as a hand scrub after gardening but really didn't see that the claims made on the packaging were true or noticed any difference on my body. Having said that, it isn't unpleasant but I'd rather use a product that did make a difference.

First impression: I liked the simple colours used in the packaging and the personal way the text "talks" to you. Although, it does feel rather like a rip-off Frank scrub type of instructions. Most scrubs now have the sexy way of explaining how to use it and it isn't very original any more.

I really liked how it comes in a resealable pouch so you can ensure no water will get inside it. As it says not to get any water in it, it is very easy to just pour it into your hands.

It doesn't have a very strong smell which I enjoyed as it felt fresh and not laden with chemicals and perfumes.

I was worried about being left with black marks all over my skin which has happened before with a previous scrub but to my relief it washed away perfectly.

It is very grainy which feels amazing when I am rubbing it on my skin. I used it all over (except for my face as I have very sensitive skin) and gradually the big grains in it melted leaving my skin deliciously soft. It felt very refreshing and had a slight minty tingle. I felt very clean and soft.

I would definitely use this again. My skin felt hydrated and moisturized - especially after putting on my favorite moisturizer.

I used this scrub last night as i wanted to apply my weekly fake tan and needed to exfoliate before i started. I hopped in the shower and took a few handfuls of the buddy scrub and got to work. It was quite crumbly and hard to get to stick on the skin. So to start with I wasted quite a bit down the shower drain. However the scrub that did stay on my skin worked wonders. I always struggle to remove all my old fake tan off no matter how hard i scrub, I've tried various other body scrubs and even lemon and baking soda. This buddy scrub was definitely the winner there. It removed it with a lot less effort too. When i had finished my skin felt smooth and nourished. You get that slight tingly refreshed feeling from the Pepperment which i quite like. I would definitely repurchase for a great tan removal product and general exfoliator. The only reason it didn't get 5 out of 5 is due to the crumbliness which can make it hard to apply. There was a generous amount in the packet so i think its a reasonable price for the amount you get. It comes in a sturdy resealable bag.

I really wanted to like this Buddy Charcoal Scrub, as I've had awesome experiences with similar scrubs in the past, but unfortunately this one just did not make the cut for me!

The idea is great - charcoal, sea salt and sugar to exfoliate and nourish skin. The packaging is practical, and the labelling is quirky with its sexy-conversational style. But the product itself simply wasn't that nice.

The scrub is black, as it's charcoal-based, and does feel good on the skin, leaving it soft. However, it makes a total mess of your shower, and also I found it leaves big grey blotches on the skin! Not great. I had to remove these blotches using a loofah and body wash after washing off the scrub. Also, the smell of this product wasn't very pleasant - quite strong, and I just couldn't get past the fireplace-esque scent. Some people would probably love this product, but sadly I'm just not one of them.