Rub dub dub, and my skin is soft: the Tocca Stella body scrub earned a rare rave from me, gentle on dry skin, rich without being heavy, and scented like Italian blood orange.
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I absolutely LOVE the Tocca body scrub in their amazing Stella scent. I’ve tried a zillion scrubs and this one has the best consistency by far. Exfoliating without being scratchy. Uber-moisturizing without being greasy or heavy. The Italian blood orange fragrance is amazing – fresh and lively – and the scent lasts and lasts.
The Tocca Stella body scrub (Esfoliante da Corpo ) uses crushed olive granules to delicately exfoliate dry skin. It’s also rich in natural oils including Italian olive oil, safflower oil and grape seed oil.
I used this scrub before flying cross-country and it worked wonders at helping me stay fresh and moisturized all day. I use this scrub at least once a week and the results are incredible. A must have product!
Why scrubs often disappoint
I have tried a zillion scrubs. Many are too scratchy, and many leave a greasy film that makes you feel you need a second shower. The consistency is what separates a keeper from a jar that sits under the sink.
Good ones strike a balance. They exfoliate without scraping and moisturize without making the tub slippery.
A scrub should feel like a treat, not a punishment. Salt and sugar can be rough on sensitive skin, and some scrubs contain so much oil that the shower floor becomes hazardous. I judge them by how my skin feels an hour later.
Light exfoliation clears away dull surface cells so moisturizer can do its job. People ask how often to do it. Once a week is where I land, but listen to your own skin.
Many of us stand in the shower and scrub too hard, then wonder why our skin is red. Gentle pressure with a good scrub does the job, and that is what rub dub dub should mean.
Rub dub dub is a nursery rhyme, but in my bathroom it is a weekly appointment.
Rub dub dub: how the scrub feels
This scrub uses crushed olive granules, which are fine enough to buff dry skin without being harsh. It is also rich in natural oils, including Italian olive oil, safflower oil and grape seed oil. If you want the background on why oils like these are used in skin care, the Wikipedia page on olive oil is a decent primer.
I use it once a week and the results are incredible. Skin feels smooth, and it holds moisture through the day.
The Italian words on the label, Esfoliante da Corpo, read as body exfoliant. Crushed olive granules feel soft rather than sharp, almost like fine sand.
For a proper rub dub dub, use the scrub on damp skin, massage in small circles for a minute, then rinse. Skip your face and any irritated skin. Pat dry and add lotion if you like.
Natural oils do the moisturizing. Olive, safflower and grape seed oils soften skin as you rinse, which is why the finish never feels tight. Be careful stepping out of the tub, though, since oils can make the floor slick.
Rub dub dub for a minute, no more, and your skin will tell you if it is enough.
The scent
The Italian blood orange is fresh and lively, and it lasts. It does not fade away after you towel off. That is unusual for a bath product.
Fresh orange is also friendly to nearly everyone. If a family shares a bathroom, this is a scent that won’t start an argument.
Blood orange smells brighter and a touch more berry-like than ordinary orange. In a body product it reads as clean and energetic, a good partner for a morning shower.
It also plays well with other scents in the house. You will not fight with the candle on the bathroom shelf, especially if you burn something citrusy.
Fresh orange smells different in a candle than in a scrub, and this one has a juicy zest that fades gently rather than overpowering you.
Rub dub dub, the scent says: fresh, bright and in no hurry to leave.
A flight tip and a fair disclaimer
I used the scrub before flying cross-country, and it helped me stay fresh and moisturized all day. Plane air is dry, so I now do this before any long trip.
Yes, we sell this product, and I said so at the time. Most of my posts are analytical, but this one is pure passion. If you like the idea, our fresh orange candles post is a natural next stop, and the Mother’s Day gift ideas list includes other body treats.
This scrub is also the kind of gift people do not buy for themselves. Pair it with a fluffy towel for a bridal shower or a thank-you.
That disclaimer matters to me. We sell the product, so I tell you so, and then I tell you what I honestly think. It is the only way a shop blog earns trust.
If your skin is sensitive, test a small area first and stop if it stings. Soft skin is a small luxury, and I will take it before a long flight, a meeting or a dinner party.
Header photos aside, the real review is how my skin feels, and it feels great every time. I would buy it again without any hesitation.
Rub dub dub is also my packing rule before a long trip. Scrub the night before, moisturize in the morning.
Rub dub dub, and a small treat becomes a ritual.
I will keep coming back to rub dub dub, and I suspect you will too.
If rub dub dub caught your eye, share this post with a friend.
Header photo: Elliott Brown, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
