2020 Favourites: Skin, Beauty & Lifestyle

There’s not one favourite this year.

To me, this year was heavy on the sensorial experiences with smell and touch, smell specifically. As skincare is forever and heavily embedded in my heart, I hadn’t explored too many new products this year to popularize them as my favourites just yet. With that being said, here are the ones that stood out to me the most. To the ones that I held close to me on my quiet nights, the ones that brought me to tears in the most invigorating, beautiful way possible…

To the ones that held my hand and had my back.

The Body Scrub I've Been Using Since 2015: frank body Original Coffee Scrub

From helping me beyond exfoliation, frank body’s Original Coffee Scrub has been a staple in my body care routine since 2015.

2020-11-30_frank body Mega OG Scrub_desseydoll_2.JPG

While still embracing the skin I’m in, the main reason I fell in love with the decadent coffee scrub is how it helped diminish the look of my stretch marks, KP (Keratosis Pilaris) and discoloration so effortlessly. Full transparency, I still get frustrated. It’s annoying, even exhausting at times for no other reason than being hard on myself with my body. My body that is my home, one I should cherish, no matter the scratches, marks, bumps, but also with the seamlessness, glow and radiance that is mine.

All to say, the Original Coffee Scrub is unmatched to any other body scrubs I’ve tried and one I will forever keep in my shower. And yes, I have an emotional attachment to it. Packed with delicious Robusta Coffee Grinds and antioxidant-rich oils , the formula works wonders to help treat so many different skin concerns. (Don’t even get me started on how smooth it leaves the skin…) Let’s get down and dirty, shall we?

OG packaging for the OG scrub. I captured this in 2015!

OG packaging for the OG scrub. I captured this in 2015!

Original Coffee Scrub

My skin type: Balanced / Dry

Product details:

The Original Coffee Scrub is frank body’s best seller. Working to treat cellulite, stretch marks, breakouts and scars while exfoliating the skin, the scrub leaves the skin ever so silky soft.

Product claims:

  • Fights breakouts

  • Fades scars & marks

  • Vegan & cruelty free

  • No PEGS

  • No parabens

  • No phthalates

*This product contains nuts.

Recommended for: All skin types.

Ingredients:

— Robusta Coffee Grinds: A hero blend of coffee grinds to exfoliate while helping promote circulation at the same time.

— Cold Pressed Sweet Almond Oil: An antioxidant-rich oil that leaves the skin silky smooth while applying and rinsing off the scrub.

— Vitamin E: A powerful ingredient to help fade scars, protect the skin barrier against free radicals with healing properties all in one.

— Sea Salt: For extra exfoliation, sea salt helps slough away dead skin cells without being abrasive while also helping breakouts with anti-bacterial properties.

View the full ingredient list of the Original Coffee Scrub here.

Texture and scent:

— Texture: Gritty but not abrasive, the texture is gritty on application but smooth to the touch while emulsified with water. (S/O to the almond oil!)

— Scent: A sweet cup of coffee with a hint of orange.

How to use:

On wet skin, massage the scrub in circular motions for a few minutes from head to toe. You can massage it for longer on areas that need more attention.

Dessey tip: Leave the scrub on as a body mask for five minutes before rinsing it off!

2020-11-30_frank body Mega OG Scrub_desseydoll_3.JPG

My experience and thoughts

It just works. Like, really, really works.

The scrub has worked magic on my stretch marks, KP and discoloration between my thighs and underarms. No, you can’t get rid of stretch marks but you can definitely help reduce the redness and visibility of them. Using it consistently, I notice results in less than a months worth of time whenever I use it. It’s the most reliable scrub to obtain optimal results for basically any of my body care concerns.

I have a lot of discoloration between my thighs and underarms and to say the scrub has helped treat it is an understatement. It also really helps with bumps and texture around those areas as well as keeping them smooth and moisturized. Now that I’ve gotten laser hair removal done on my legs, underarms and Brazilian areas, the scrub helps to maintain smooth skin and help prevent any ingrowns in those areas. 98% of the KP on my legs is gone because of the laser hair removal (which, yay and 100% recommend if hair removal is your choice and you can afford to invest in it), but the formula of the scrub is great to help treat it. I still have a bunch of KP on my upper arms and it’s reduced by a good 50% because of the ingredients in it and using it consistently.

Since buying it in 2015, I still love it just as much to this day.

Does a little go a long way? Eh, I mean, kind of? I use it on my whole body so I use a chunk. frank recommends a handful or two for every use every two to three days. I like using it once a week, but if I’m struggling with a specific concern more intensely one week I’ll use it twice. A 7.05 oz bag can last me a couple of months.

Packaging + user experience

My onnnnnly “eeeek” thing I have to say about this scrub is the user experience in the cleanup aspect. It gets the shower dirty but it’s worth every freaking coffee grind I have to splash and clean off my tub.

2020-11-30_frank body Mega OG Scrub_desseydoll_1.JPG
2020-11-30_frank body Mega OG Scrub_desseydoll_4.JPG

Overview

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Price: $16.95 USD / $16.95 CAD for 200g / 7.05 oz

BUT, SURPRISE! frank recently released a limited edition Mega Original Coffee Scrub made up of 600g / 21.16 oz of goodness for $39.95 USD / $39.95 CAD that you can purchase right here. (You’re also saving 20% — Score!)

Do I think it’s worth $16.95 CAD? Absolutely. I think it’s fairly priced for the quantity. But it’s the results, for me.

Please keep in mind that I’m in Canada which means I review my products with a Canadian price tag / conversion in mind.

Would I repurchase? 100 times over and over again.

Available for purchase:

frank body

Have you tried the Original Coffee Scrub yet? Let’s bring the conversation over to @desseydoll and in the comments below!

Disclaimer: I’ve been purchasing the Original Coffee Scrub for years and also have received some in PR.

2019 Skincare Favourites: Face, Hair and Body

Welcoming you into a deep part of my shelf, here are my 2019 skincare favourites. Just like last year, here’s to the ones that I craved for on my drives home, dreamt of on my late nights, healed me from within out and allowed me to experience not only a physical fulfillment, but a sensory, eye-catching, tasteful experience to indulge in. I experienced many, but these ones have lingered and comforted me in many different ways.

2019 Favourite Product of the Year

THE BODY WASH by NÉCESSAIRE

It’s no surprise how deep my love runs for these body washes. What made these the favourite of the year? My surgery. In September, I got my breast reduction surgery. It was an extremely emotional journey, mentally and physically. For the first time, I actually saw my own body. I felt it. I also inevitably had to wash it. Nécessaire’s Fragrance Free Body Wash was on my side. I’d be lying if I told you typing this isn’t prompting tears. Invigorating in every sense of the word, the washes are luxurious, effective and oh-so comforting. From the formulation to the lather, the wash is so clean and effective. (Also great for my tattoos!) Emotional attachment to a material item isn’t negative, and when it holds something very deep to your heart, you embrace it. These washes were part of one of the most precious moments in my life, and I’ll never be without them. So cheers to The Body Wash, I’ll be seeing you tonight. Read my Nécessaire brand review here.

Polaroid captured by Koe-San, Silent Letter Project

Polaroid captured by Koe-San, Silent Letter Project

Before going into the rest of my favourites, I’d like to dedicate a second-favourite of the year that I hold close to me…

KYLIE SKIN

Between her products and the body washes, this year was filled with favourites for me and I couldn't leave these in my review without putting them on a pedestal. From the Foaming Face Wash, Vanilla Milk Toner to Face Moisturizer, I’ve completely and utterly fallen in love with each product. When I had first tried them, I didn’t know what to expect. Months upon months of testing them daily, I’m enamoured and have completely fallen harder than I thought. Read my Kylie Skin review here.

2019 Favourites_desseydoll_3.jpg
2019 Favourites_desseydoll_5.jpg
Polaroid captured by Koe-San, Silent Letter Project

Polaroid captured by Koe-San, Silent Letter Project

2019 Favourites_desseydoll_2.jpg
2019 Favourites_desseydoll_7.jpg