Mango Face & Body Scrub, 300 ml

A face and body scrub sold under the Starky name. The front of the jar calls it a scrub cream and a face and body scrub, names mango extract in Arabic, and gives the size, 300 ml. Through the clear jar you can see an orange scrub with small grains and dark specks. It has a yellow screw lid and a cream-coloured label with the Starky name in blue, the product name in orange-brown script and a drawing of a mango with a leaf, a slice and a half cut into cubes. The front of the jar lists no ingredients, so it does not say what the grains are made of.

What it is for, in the words on the jar: "deep cleansing", "whitening skin", "clean dead skin", "reduce wrinkles", "reduce spots" and "anti-acne", "for all skin types", and "99% natural" in large figures, with a round "dermatologically tested" stamp. These are the maker's claims. In plain terms, it is a scrub: its grains lift away dead, dry skin, so skin feels smoother and softer. It is a cosmetic: it works on how skin looks and feels. It does not change your natural skin colour, and it does not treat acne.

Use it in the shower, on wet skin. Take a small amount with dry fingers, massage it over the body in gentle circles for about a minute, then rinse with warm water. Give rough elbows, knees and heels a little longer. Two or three times a week is enough for the body. On the face, use less, press lightly, keep well away from the eyes, and use it once or twice a week at most. Pat the skin dry and follow with your usual lotion or cream.

The difference from an unlabelled jar in a bazaar is what you can see for yourself: a brand name and a printed label with the name and size on the front. It reaches you unopened, at the price on this page, with nothing to haggle over.

It is for external use only. Try a little on the inner arm first and wait a day before using it more widely. Do not use it on broken, irritated or sunburnt skin, or straight after shaving or waxing, and do not scrub hard: pressing harder does not help. Mango belongs to the same plant family as cashews and pistachios, so if you are allergic to mango, cashews or pistachios, do not use it. The front of the jar lists no ingredients, so if you have other allergies, read the full label on the jar before you use it. If it gets into the eyes, rinse them with plenty of clean water. It is not a sunscreen and has no SPF. Keep it away from small children.

Close the lid after each use and keep the jar out of direct sun and heat. Keep water out of the jar: take the scrub with dry fingers before you step under the water. A scrub counts as a liquid at airport security. At 300 ml it is over the 100 ml cabin limit, so it cannot fly in hand luggage: pack it in checked baggage, with the lid screwed down tight and the jar sealed in a zip bag.

Who it suits: anyone who likes a scrub in the shower for dry, rough skin on the body, elbows, knees and heels, and who wants one jar for face and body. Skip it if you are allergic to mango, cashews or pistachios, or your skin is very sensitive.