Chicken skin, strawberry legs, keratosis pilaris (KP) if you want to be technical about it—the small, frustrating bumps that, according to Cleveland Clinic, 50% to 80% of teenagers and 40% of adults deal with at some point in their lives. While there’s nothing physically harmful about the condition, many people feel its impact on their self-confidence. Whether it leaves you wearing clothing with more coverage or desperately raking through online articles and hacks on how to get rid of the marks, it can be a real drag.

I’m speaking from personal experience; I don’t remember a time when I didn’t have these annoying marks on my arms and legs, or a time when I wasn’t trying to get rid of them. I’ve tested all the social media infographic suggestions, scoured dermatology websites and gone to the holy grail of skincare tips (Reddit), all to little or no avail. Whatever moisturisers I used, whatever exfoliants, I never seemed to get very far, and it didn’t help that persistent skin-picking just exacerbated the problem.

Natasha Tominski, founder of SkinHydroxy, started the brand out of frustration. Unable to find products that would treat body acne without triggering further breakouts or irritation, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Partnering with a research and development laboratory in 2021, Natasha carefully honed the formula until it was just what she wanted—and what so many people needed.

The resulting BHA body scrub is a refined product, its understated, classy packaging leaning into the trend of skincare being marketed on its scientific benefits. Its key ingredient, salicylic acid, is displayed both in name and in the chemical formula—C7H6O3—alongside the supporting actives, glycolic acid and zinc.

Further ingredients include familiar favourites like aloe vera and witch hazel, along with guava leaf, willow bark, green tea, liquorice root and date seed extract. If you’re wondering whether that combination smells good, let me reassure you: it does. Any concerns that the harsh-sounding chemicals and scientific bent will produce at best a neutral aroma are allayed as soon as you open the tube, greeted instead with a refreshing, bright scent from the natural ingredients.

The product itself is a gel-like consistency, with physical exfoliants to complement their chemical counterparts. It’s simple to use, just scrub, leave for 30 seconds and rinse. When I first used the product my skin felt smoother right away, moisturised and not irritated, as many prior attempts at exfoliation have left it. The scrub is just rough enough to feel like it’s doing something, but not overly aggressive (cough cough, walnut shell) and doesn’t leave scratches on the skin—something I’ve unfortunately seen with other body scrubs.

As with most scrubs, the grains do tend to get everywhere. Traces linger where the tube has been left, and you might notice the odd piece stuck to the shower floor, but this is practically unavoidable for a product of this type. For the most part, it’s easy to use and low maintenance.

However pleasant the product is, though, the main question is whether it has the impact it promises. After a month or so of use, once every two days as directed, the skin on my upper arms has never looked better. It might sound stupid, but over the years those tiny bumps have had an impact on how comfortable I am in t-shirts or short sleeves, and during recent heatwaves and trips abroad that hyperawareness has dissipated significantly. Although it hasn’t been as dramatic a success story on my legs, there’s still been a noticeable difference. With continued use, I’m confident that there’ll be more progress.

Although SkinHydroxy’s BHA Body Scrub isn’t cheap, when compared to facial skincare products it’s far from the most expensive product you can opt for. The tube lasts for a long time, too; I’m over a month in, and there’s still a fair amount left. I don’t know whether I’ll ever be completely rid of KP—some sources say it disappears over time, others that it’s a permanent fixture—but for now, at least, I know that there’s something I can do to ease the self-consciousness that it can provoke.

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Lucy Carter is a London-based writer with a strong interest in the arts, entertainment and culture spaces. She can generally be found spending too much time and money at food markets and coffee shops or going on long walks around the city. To read more of her work, take a look at her Substack and Muck Rack and follow her on Twitter @lucyllcarter.

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