The Body Shop Mango Sugar Body Scrub Review: Is It Worth The Hype?

The Archive Update

I was scrolling through my past beauty reviews and stumbled on this post. I have to laugh looking back, because reviewing a bright, tropical mango body scrub in the middle of winter feels a bit backward! But as someone who struggles with major dry skin when the temperature drops, a heavy duty sugar scrub is an absolute must-have.

I’ve left my original, honest review intact below, including my thoughts on why sugar scrubs completely beat cream ones, and my real frustration over how fast this pricey tub ran out.

I will admit right off the bat: this seems like a slightly weird product to review at this time of year, considering the scent absolutely screams peak summer!

Unfortunately, The Body Shop doesn’t actually do many traditional sugar scrubs. In fact, they usually only have three main scents to pick from in this formula (Mango, Shea and Coconut), which isn’t the best variety. However, sugar scrubs are by far my absolute favourite type of body exfoliant. I feel like they really make a noticeable difference to the texture of my skin, whereas standard cream based scrubs can feel a little bit too gentle to do any real heavy lifting.

If you’ve been eyeing up this tropical treat, here is my completely honest The Body Shop Mango Sugar Body Scrub review!

What is it?

The Mango Body Scrub is a gritty, satisfying exfoliant formulated with Community Fair Trade mango seed oil sourced from India. It features a dense sugar particle texture designed to be swept across the body to completely remove dead skin cells. It sounds a little bit grim when you put it like that, but trust me, it works incredibly well!

The Scent: A Tropical Escape

As I mentioned, there is a real lack of choice when it comes to scents because the vast majority of The Body Shop’s scrubs are cream based. If you want the sugar formula, it’s a straight choice between warm Coconut, Shea or fruity Mango.

This was actually my first time trying anything from their Mango range, and I have completely fallen for the scent! It is absolutely perfect for the summer months because it is so intensely sweet, vibrant, and fruity. If you naturally prefer tropical, juicy scents over florals, you will absolutely love this.

The Gritty Sugar Texture

Even though a bright mango fragrance might not feel like the most natural fit for a cosy winter routine, the actual texture of this product is exactly what dry skin needs during the colder months.

Because it’s a proper sugar scrub, it is brilliant for buffing away flaky patches. I wouldn’t say this is the absolute harshest, most abrasive scrub I’ve ever used in my life, but it’s certainly not ultra gentle either. It sits right in that satisfying middle ground. If you prefer a very mild, soft exfoliation, the brand’s cream scrubs are definitely the ones to go for instead.

How to Use It

The directions are simple: just massage a handful into wet skin using circular motions while in the shower, and then rinse it off.

Personally, I tend to reach for this once a week or less. You definitely don’t want to over exfoliate and irritate your skin! I also find it’s always best to follow up with a good body butter or moisturiser as soon as you get out of the shower, just to properly seal in the hydration and protect your freshly buffed skin.

Does it Actually Work?

Yes, this really works! It does an amazing job of clearing away dry skin, and it is brilliant because it rinses away cleanly without leaving any greasy, heavy residue behind on your skin. It smells incredible, fills the whole bathroom with a juicy aroma, and leaves your skin feeling incredibly soft, which is exactly what we want from a high quality scrub.

The Price & The Catch

The Body Shop offers this scrub in two different sizes:

• 50ml (Travel Size): £7

• 250ml (Full Size): £19.50

I picked up the full sized 250ml tub, and this is where my main criticism comes in: it runs out incredibly quickly.

Considering I bought this tub in mid August and it is already nearly empty, it really didn’t last very long at all. For £19.50 a jar, you don’t get a huge amount of longevity out of it if you use it regularly, which isn’t the best sign for your wallet.

The Final Verdict

Overall, this is a genuinely great scrub that delivers lovely, silky results, and I will definitely be repurchasing it in the future when I want to treat myself to a pamper night.

Let’s Chat in the Comments!

Do you prefer satisfying, gritty sugar scrubs like this one, or do you lean toward gentle cream alternatives? What is your all time favourite scent from The Body Shop? 

Thank you so much for reading!