After 10,000 years of solely wearing leggings, I wasn’t shocked to learn that my butt was in dire need of exfoliation. As comfortable as leggings are (and as much as I’d never trade them for a pair of jeans ever again), they lack in the breathability and moisture-wicking department… especially if you’re sweating a lot and leaving them on for a little too long after a workout (guilty as charged).
The results? Butt-ne. Well, sort of. The bumps you experience on your bum are actually a condition called folliculitis, which occurs when your skin experiences friction from clothing materials (like your favorite leggings or underwear). As a result, your hair follicles get clogged, thus causing inflammation. Luckily, this has an easy fix: exfoliation. “Exfoliants keep the follicle from getting clogged with extra debris,” Janelle Vega, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, previously told Well+Good. To help smooth up my butt, I started using True Botanicals Bum Scrub, and my booty has never felt so silky soft.
The skin-care brand that celebs like Olivia Wilde and Laura Dern swear by (you’ve probably seen their ads on Instagram) offers a wide variety of products that rely on natural ingredients to effectively solve problems like blemishes, wrinkles, dullness, and, yes, bumpy butts. Bum Scrub, in particular, is made with bamboo powder, coconut husk, and jojoba beads that gently slough away dead skin cells without leaving the surface aggravated or inflamed.
What makes the formula stand out is that it contains black willow bark extract, a natural form of salicylic acid that prevents skin from clogging up or breaking out. Though there’s nothing inherently wrong with synthetic salicylic acid (which is what you’ll find in most body exfoliants thanks to its powerful blemish-fighting abilities), it can be drying or too harsh for sensitive skin. The black willow bark extract offers similar results with fewer potential side effects, which is why I love it during the winter months when I know my skin is more likely to negatively react to more potent ingredients.
“This product relies heavily on the use of a derivative of salicylic acid, an ingredient that breaks down surface dead skin cells which contribute to the formation of the skin bumps. It is a very gentle product, combined with anti-inflammatory oils, and because the backside area of the body is quite sensitive, this is a decent combination to achieve improvement in the rough bumps and acne, even on sensitive skin,” New York City-based dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD, tells Well+Good.
You’re more than welcome to apply body lotion or oil after your scrub (I do!), but know that Bum Scrub is made with moringa, coffee, and safflower seed oils that leave skin deeply moisturized and supple-feeling. And if you prefer a product that doesn’t leave behind an overwhelming scent, this scrub also checks off that box (the formula is fragrance-free).
After a few days of using True Botanicals Bum Scrub (I’ll apply a quarter-sized dollop to each cheek and spend a few minutes exfoliating), the bumps on my booty completely disappeared. I typically use the exfoliator twice a week for “upkeep,” and haven’t had any run-ins with blemishes or bumpiness since I started using Bum Scrub. And while $42 isn’t exactly cheap, my jar is nowhere near finished, and I’ve been using it for a few months.
Did I just find an ass-kicking (kind of literally?) butt exfoliation solution? Why yes, yes I did.
Want to be the first to hear about the latest (and greatest) SHOP product drops, custom collections, discounts, and more? Sign up to have the intel delivered straight to your inbox.
Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.