Empties are where we can get extra-honest because we have a review over the lifetime use of a product, especially for body care empties where bottles and tubs are much bigger.
It also means you’re using a product from when it’s fresh and exciting, to when you’re actually looking forward to finishing it to perhaps to buy something else as a replacement, or ditching the annoying packaging.
You only ever finish the things you actually reach for (though sometimes it’s hate-fuelled) – the rest get abandoned half-used in the shower caddy and start growing shower scum.
There are heaps more empties where these came from to stay tuned, but here’s the first batch.
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The Scrubs and Exfoliants
This is where most of my empties live, so we’ll start here.
A Super Gentle And Hydrating Body Pick: Thanks To Nature Pre-Shave Exfoliating Scrub, $18.00
A little too polite for me, personally. I like a scrub with some grit – a satisfying scratch, not too sharp though – and this one is much gentler than that.
The creamy base is lovely though and noticeably hydrating with a super easy to spread.
It’s a pre-shave scrub, so the restraint makes sense, and if you’ve got sensitive skin this is the one I’d point you to.
Just not the one for anyone chasing a proper polish. There is glycolic acid in the formula, too, which tends to work best when used consitently.
A Super Hard-Working Scrub: First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub With 10% AHA, $50.00
Now this is a scrub. Properly scratchy (some might find it too sharp), with 10% AHA doing the chemical-exfoliation work underneath.
Whoever signed off on the “safe for sensitive skin” line needs a quiet word, because this is not that – but my gosh, it works, in every way you want a KP scrub to.
KP, or keratosis pilaris, is that rough, bumpy texture a lot of us get on our arms and thighs, and this softened the look of mine more than anything else here.
It’s a huge bottle, which is great value, although by the end I was thoroughly over the peach scent.
I’d repurchase in a heartbeat in a different fragrance.
A Clay-Based Acne-Fighting Pick: Everyday by Frank Body Clearing Body Scrub With Salicylic Acid and Pumice, $15.99
Best treated as a masking moment for me (left on for 5mins if possible) – that’s how I got the most out of it.
It has a clay base and salicylic acid, with pumice particles that run a little sharp (I find that with most pumice scrubs), but they aren’t packed densely into the formula, so you can still go gently.
Read: The Only Body Care Products List You’ll Need for Head-to-Toe for Silky Skin
I noticed the biggest difference on the days I left it on for a few minutes before rinsing.
Lovely on the chest, upper back, and underarms, and it smells like the body wash from the same range.
A tiny bit messy, but that isn’t a deal breaker for me at all.
Gentle But Lovely Face Exfoliator: Daily Skincare Cellular Resurfacing Exfoliator, $27.99
Technically a face product. I used mine up on my body.
The grit sits closer to sugar than sand – fine, not sharp – and there’s a surprisingly hydrating feel to it, plus it smells nice.
I liked it below the neck, and if you’re someone who loves a face scrub, I think you’d happily take this onto the body too.
Read: The Best Face Scrubs for Acne Prone Skin I Don’t Hate – And How I Use Them Without Irritation
The Body Washes
Two finished here, both with a bit of a job to do.
Dubbed The L’Occitane Shower Oil Scent Dupe: SOMA Almond And Vanille Natural Body Wash, $18.00
The scent is a near-dupe for the L’Occitane shower oil, though the texture is its own thing.
It’s subtle rather than overpowering, with a lower foam than I’m used to.
I like these a lot – there are a few fragrance versions – but I do need to pair them with a scrub or a proper deep cleanse once a week to keep my spot-prone areas happy.
Worth a go if you’re after something new, although I’ve since wandered back to the high-foam sensitive-skin wash I usually reach for.
An Affordable Body-Acne Wash I love: Frank Body Clearing Body Wash With Salicylic Acid, $14.00
A long-term repeat for me – I’ve used this one for years.
It’s my dedicated wash for spot-prone areas and underarms, it smells fresh and clean, and the lather sticks around rather than vanishing the second it hits skin, so you can let it sit and actually work.
It also lasts ages, especially if you rotate it with another wash rather than using this dedicated head to toe.
Read: Body Acne Explained – Expert Tips, Key Ingredients, and the Best Body Washes
The Body Oil
A Rich, Yummy-Scented Body Oil: Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil, $85.00
If you love the scent, you’ll love the oil – simple as that.
This is a richer, plusher, thicker body oil, so it’s not the one if you like a weightless finish.
It’s not greasy exactly, but you’ll know it’s there.
I loved it. I only wish I’d got through it faster, because body oils turn if you leave them too long – so don’t ration the things you love.
I did notice some firmness, which surprised me (just be consistent!), though as with all body care, that’s temporary and tied to how consistently you use it.
The Deodorant
A Great Budget Pick: GEM Skin-Loving Roll-On Deodorant in Vanilla Macadamia, $3.99
It works, which is the main thing!
There’s a strong white cast and a fair bit of residue, which I don’t personally mind since my underarms are covered most of the time – but it could be a deal-breaker for some.
Of the non-medical-grade natural deodorants I’ve tried, this is one of the few that held up, and I half suspect the residue is part of why. For the price, it’s worth a try.
The sprays from the range are good too, though they leave the same white residue. Not a deal breaker for most because the scents and effectiveness balances it all out.
The Shaving Foam
Super Lush For The Shower: Thanks to Nature Shaving Foam Silky Lather With Sweet Almond Oil, $16.00
A genuine surprise, this one. It’s ultra rich and creamy – not what I expected from the packaging – and it spreads beautifully.
It did exactly what a shaving foam should, and my legs felt noticeably more hydrated afterwards, which I wasn’t anticipating.
Grab it on sale if you’re curious. I’ve liked a lot of what I’ve tried from this brand, they have heaps of staple products that are effective but basic (in a good way).
Body Care Empties: What I’d Repurchase
If you’re skimming for the verdicts, these three are my top picks which you can’t go wrong with:
- First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA, in literally any other scent because the peach is a little strong
- Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil, if you’re already sold on the smell and like something lush for winter
- My long time love, the Frank Body Clearing Body Wash With Salicylic Acid for spotty areas on the body
The Thanks To Nature shaving foam was a surprising love, grab it on sale the next time you see it if you like hydrating shaving foams.
The rest each have their person – just not always me. Body care is very personal.
In the mood for more budget-friendly body care picks? Read this review from Praise about The Ordinary’s Body Care Range.
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