The classic luxury bathroom accessory with the addition of a natural woven cotton hanging cord to allow air drying after use. Dried loofah are delivered flat for easy transportation, just put them in water and watch them spring back to shape.
What is it?
Hands up those who think Loofah's come from the sea... Loofah is in fact a vegetable which looks like a marrow. The fruits grow on vines, like runner beans, small ones can be eaten. It's the dried skeleton of the larger ones that become the husks which are so familiar in bathrooms around the world. For transportation, they are flattened and shipped whole or cut into pieces, which are then fashioned into loofah mitts or pads.
At OPAL LONDON we always uses the best quality loofah from China, where it's seeds are jealously guarded and not available for export. Good quality Chinese loofah is easily identified by its firm, close-knit texture, which gives a durable, long lasting product. Loofah is grown elsewhere in the world, but its softer, looser texture means it doesn't last as well. As a commodity crop, like coffee or sugar, loofah prices are liable to fluctuations in the market dependent on the weather and the size of the harvest.
Said to be the only beauty aid the great Helena Rubenstein would never be without, the loofah has been a staple exfoliant for many years. As the skin on the whole body renews itself over 30 days, new cells are constantly moving to the surface. However, by the time they reach the surface, they are dead, they absorb light, and give the skin a greyish palour. By removing the dead cells as they reach the surface and stimulating the blood circulation underneath, the skin will look fresher, glowing and effectively younger. This is the process known as exfoliation.
