It might be time to embrace a new way to cleanse: the Smoosh Body Scrubber. This innovative product, created by the same good folks who make Leaf razors, combines a silicone scrubber with an embedded bar of natural soap for a more effective and less wasteful shower experience. Are you concerned about flimsy loofahs that might harbor bacteria? Do you feel like you’re constantly throwing away plastic bottles of body wash? I’ve been using it for a while now, and here’s what I’ve discovered.
What is the Smoosh?
The Smoosh Body Scrubber is an interesting product designed for 2-in-1 body cleansing. It’s a silicone scrubber that holds a bar of soap inside. This design allows you to lather, exfoliate, and massage your skin simultaneously. It has 1,114 silicone “fingers” that provide a gentle but effective scrubbing action.
How Does It Work?
The Smoosh is designed to be easy to use. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:
- A bar of Smoosh soap is embedded into the center of the silicone scrubber. The scrubber has a unique design that holds the bar of soap securely.
- An adjustment knob on the back of the scrubber allows you to control how much of the soap is exposed, extending the life of the bar.
- As you move the scrubber over your body, the soap lathers, and the silicone fingers exfoliate your skin.
- The scrubber has nodules around the soap that aid in lathering and provide a gentle massage.
- For those hard-to-reach areas like the back there is an optional clip-on handle to the scrubber.
This design is meant to offer a more efficient clean than using just your hands, a washcloth or a standard loofah, and with less waste than plastic bottles.
My Experience With Smoosh
[Note: I purchased a Smoosh set including scrubber, soaps, and extension handle. The opinions expressed here are mine and have not been reviewed or approved by Smoosh. Links are not affiliate.]
Inserting soap into the Smoosh, adjusting the soap “depth,” and using it is straightforward.
I use Smoosh in the shower. Smoosh is agreeably large for me: I find it quite easy to hold (unlike many small format soap pucks!) and use.
The lather in my first few uses of Smoosh were a bit disappointing: it just didn’t build lather very well. At first I thought it might be a ‘skin’ on the soap puck (a thin dehydrated layer I sometimes encounter with shave soaps; works fine after it has been scraped off after a few uses) but the lack of good lather persisted. I reached out to Adam at Leaf asking about it and he suggested priming the Smoosh by “revving the engine.” Basically, getting everything wet then running a hand over the face of the Smoosh and giving it a few scrubs. That starts distributing the soap across the silicone rubber fingers and gets things going. Here’s a little video Smoosh put on their Instagram feed showing something like this.
Taking that advice made a marked improvement in lather and performance of my Smoosh.
Exfoliation with Smoosh is fairly gentle-feeling to me. If those nylon mesh scrubby things from the mega-mart feel too firm and more aggressive to you, Smoosh will be a welcome relief.
I got the optional handle for use on my back and other difficult-to-reach places. It’s about 13 inches long and clips into and out of the Smoosh easily but securely. I find it’s convenient and surprisingly well-balanced.
What Makes the Smoosh Stand Out?
Several features make the Smoosh stand out from traditional bathing products for me:
- Exfoliation: The silicone fingers provide a gentle exfoliation, leaving skin feeling smoother and refreshed. Many users, including those with sensitive skin conditions like keratosis pilaris, find the exfoliation beneficial.
- No More Slippery Soap: The embedded bar design eliminates the struggle of a slippery soap bar, and makes it easier to “grab and go.”
- Hygiene: The silicone material is easy to clean, and it doesn’t encourage bacterial growth like some traditional loofahs or poufs. This can make the Smoosh a more hygienic option.
- Less Waste: By using a bar soap instead of bottled body wash, the Smoosh helps eliminate the waste associated with plastic bottles.
- Silicone: The scrubber is made from BPA- and latex-free, food-safe silicone.
- Recycled Plastics: Post-consumer recycled plastics (PP and ABS) are used in the construction of the scrubber.
The Soap
Smoosh soap bars are made using a cold-process method. The bars come in various scents. The soaps are made with saponified oils, shea butter, cocoa butter, fragrance, and various other natural ingredients depending on the scent.
Smoosh soaps are designed in a special shape to fit inside the scrubber and allow for stacking so no soap slivers go to waste.
I see no reason why you could not use another soap in the Smoosh handle as long as the puck was approximately the same size.
Final Thoughts
The Smoosh Body Scrubber is an interesting product that offers a fresh approach to showering. It’s easy to use, provides great exfoliation, and helps reduce plastic waste. The company’s focus on natural ingredients and unique scents makes it a pleasure to use. If you’re ready to change up your shower routine, I recommend giving the Smoosh a try.
Have you tried the Smoosh Body Scrubber? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
