The Blue Lotus body polish by DONA is from System JO. This polish comes to you in a 9.5oz jar that is does not contain parabans,petro-derivatives, and is cruelty free . For this review I have chosen to do a thorough comparison of DONA versus some other scrubs in my arsenal. Here the main focus will be on the Blue Lotus while comparing it to a Homemade Sugar Scrub I received as a gift and a store bought Victoria Secret’s Scrub. I apologize ahead of time for not using another brand sold here on Eden but this is what I had to work with. I would also like to note to those reading that this product is just one of many polishes made by DONA and does not reflect the other aphrodisiac properties that are in this line.
According to wiseGeek.com, a body polish is a procedure either preformed at a spa or in one’s own home. This is done with products such as the one I am now reviewing that helps remove dead skin from one’s body. It helps to not only make the body look better but also makes the skin softer by removing dirt and oils as well as hydrating.

At first glance the blue lotus body polish has varying mint green colors with flacks of bright blue scattered about the polish. When holding this product on my fingers for the purpose of taking pictures I found that it sticks to the skin quite easily. I held my hand horizontally and the polish on my fingers did not move an inch. I even held my hand upside down to see what would happen and found that the polish still held in place. On this note I would say the Blue Lotus is thick but lacks viscosity.
The texture of this polish is a bit grainy but not as rough as some others I’ve tried. Personally I like scrubs/polishes that have larger grains and be a bit rough on the portions of my body I'm exfoliating. It makes me feel like they’re doing a better job at sloughing off whatever dead skin might be on my body. Since this review is based on my own experiences I should warn you that the comparisons below are based on my preferences so I recommend reading them thoroughly to see what fits your needs best.
Comparison
Homemade Sugar Scrub Best
Texture
Since I absolutely love scrubs that contain thick grains or beads which I feel are best from really getting clean. The grains in this scrub are made of sugar and work well for removing dead skin and dissolving when meeting the impact of the water. This sugar is thicker and rougher than most store bought products I’ve tried which I enjoy but not all would like it feeling.
How it Feels
The sugar grains feel thick but not heavy when I hold them. They dissolve easily within the water so once hit by moisture the rough, thick sugar will become a mushy while retaining the grains.
Victoria Secret Scrub Moderate
Texture
Like the above mentioned concoction this is also a sugar scrub. Although Victoria Secret did a swell job in walking the line between too rough a grain and too soft. The sugar grains in this product are much smaller than the after mentioned. In fact, I would say this reminds me of what the above scrub is like when hit by water. It comes out of the tube like a slightly grainy paste. This is best for people who like a scrub to be a little rough when getting rid of dead skin but not so rough they would have any complaints.
How it Feels
This reminds me of a sticky paste with sugar grains in it. It’s not the best feeling in the world but not the worst either. The funny thing about this product is that it can double as a body wash since the minute the water hits this scrub it bubbles and lathers. While I enjoy this feature I don't know if serious affectionados will.
Blue Lotus Worst
Texture
The Blue Lotus differs from the other two in that the grains contained within this polish seem to primarily be rice grains. These grains are pretty weak and definitely not for me. I just don’t feel like I’m getting a true polish with the weak texture provided by the Blue Lotus. Once the rice grains spread out on the skin they do so widely making them few and far between for a true polish. When I spread this on my skin I found that the texture was far creamier than I would have like for this type of product which made it lose points in my book. I think this would work best on people who have sensitive skin and are looking for a light polish that wouldn’t be too rough.
How it Feels
Oh my gosh I really hate the way this feels and it kind of makes me never want to use it again. As you can see from the picture below if you scoop this in your hand while its dry everything will be fine as it is a mixture that feels slightly grainy with a hint of smoothness. But while this polish does turn creamy once you start spreading it out on your damp skin the moisture involved makes it borderline greasy. It feels a bit thick and reminds me of when I was taught to make tamales and we had to spread the uncooked masa. This feels like the masa which is a dough made of dried corn flour soaked in limewater which is ground. It is not a pleasant thing to touch and I'm not sure why it feels this way. I suppose the Blue Lotus will feel different to other folks but you get the picture.

At first sniff the blue lotus is not an overly powerful scent. But as you leave the tub open for a period of time the gentle scent slowly sweeps over you. This is not overpowering and not so light as to say one would need to hold the tub next to their nose in order to make out its distinct aroma. What does it smell like pre-use? While I would say the Blue Lotus predominantly reminds me of a cucumber scent there are other aromas at work here. I also detect a smell that I can only describe as something that reminds me of when you go to a spa and get lemon in your water. It’s like cucumber and fresh lemon scented water. This is a very nice touch since it reminds me of being at the spa and it’s a very soothing aroma.
Comparison
Homemade Sugar Scrub Worst
Scent Strength
Since this product was a homemade, all natural gift there are very few ingredients included in the mixture let alone unnatural fragrances. The heaviest scent one will find here is when opening the jar. At this time I usually get a whiff of sugar and what I think is canola oil so I would assume these are ingredients. I don’t know for sure as I threw away the list of what was inside the concoction before using. There is no left over aroma from this product once it has been washed off. This would be the best type of product that one with allergies could use.
Victoria Secret Scrub Best
Scent Strength
The Pure Seduction probably holds the strongest aroma of the three. It’s almost like a candy floral smell that I can’t quite describe. Suffice to say it’s sweet which I’ll blame on the fact that it’s sugar scrub. Some people probably wouldn’t enjoy such a sweet, girly smell but I like it. This scent will take to your skin and stay put for around two or three hours depending on your activities. During that time the aroma’s strength will start out noticeable from a distance and slowly evaporate as time continues. It’s not best to use this type of scrub if one is going to be around those with allergies.
Blue Lotus Moderate
Scent Strength
Once you wash your body with this DONA body polish you will find that the scent isn’t as strong while damp as it is when you open the jar to scoop some up. The faint aroma will linger on your skin after the polish has been washed off for about an hour. However this scent is not overtly strong, which may or may not be a good thing depending on your preference. The only way you will be able to make out the blue lotus’ aroma after you’ve used the polish would be to place the portion of your body where is was used in front of your nose. It’s not strong but it’s there. This is good for those of you who enjoy wearing fragrances but cannot have anything too strong due to allergies.

Blue Lotus washes off fairly easily and should not be a problem for anyone in this regard. This product is thick but not so thick that you would have trouble with it clumping up. If anything I would say the creaminess of the product absorbs into the skin rather well once it has been spread. The rice grains become a thing of the past as they wash away. Since these grains are not large or thick they will not be a form of rice that would clump together and make any problems for your drains. They will just dissolve into the water and wash away. This product is not meant for use outside of the shower and I would not recommend using this anywhere else. On the off chance that you do, however, and some of the Blue Lotus were to fall on a countertop or some fabric I don’t see why it wouldn’t wash off without any trouble.
Comparison
Homemade Sugar Scrub Best
How Does it Leave Your Skin
Due to the fact that this scrub has very little ingredients and from the smell oil and sugar are definitely two of the main factors I find that this leaves my skin in the best shape after. After the sugar grains get rid of whatever dead skin might be on my body this is not so oily that I feel anything but hydrated once it is washed off my body. Out of all of the scrubs/polishes this makes my skin feel most luxurious after, like my skin is made of silk.
Victoria Secret Scrub Worst
How Does it Leave Your Skin
Like I stated previously, once this scrub is hit by water it becomes similar to a body wash. In that respect it’s good for lathering and rinsing my body but doesn’t leave my skin feeling silky smooth. Because of this I’m not sure how much hydrating actually occurs when I use this product.
Blue Lotus Moderate
How Does it Leave Your Skin
The Blue Lostus polish is the middle ground. My skin isn’t so luxurious that it feels silky nor is it so bad there’s no effect at all. Since the creamy portion of the polish absorbs into the skin so well it works as a moisturizer that replenishes the skin. After using the Blue Lotus my skin didn’t feel like silk but it did feel as smooth as a baby’s bottom which is also pretty nice. Also I have found that the moisturizing properties of this DONA product last quite awhile. Several hours after using the Blue Lotus my skin still felt as soft as when I stepped out of the shower. To this I say kudos to DONA a job well done in this department.

Packaging for this product is fairly discreet and definitely travel friendly. The Blue Lotus comes in a clear plastic jar with a black lid. Around the jar is a hazel colored sticker that contains what I would think is supposed to be a pattern akin to lace detail. On the front is the name of the product along with DONA's name and the System JO brand. There is a section labeling that the product is cruelty free and all the other lovely extras I mentioned in the Use section with little circles that have pictures representing what it doesn't have crossed out. On the back lays the ingredient list as well as directions on how to use the Blue Lotus in several different languages. This form of packaging is best for a product as thick as this one since it would be difficult to use a pump or pour the Blue Lotus.

Ingredients
Sodium Chloride, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Oil, Glycine Soja Wax, Isopropyl Myristate, Modified Corn Starch, Sodium Lauryl Sarcosinate, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed, Laminaria Digitata (Algae), Passiflora Edulis (Passion Fruit), Oriza Sativa, Rice, Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu), Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Oils, Luffa Cylindrica, Nymphaea Caerulea (Blue Lotus) Flower, Fragrance

I’ll admit, when the Dona body polishes were introduced to Eden a third scrub open in my bathroom seemed like a bit of overkill to me, especially given the limited space I share with my roommates. But I heard so many great things about the other polishes in the DONA line that I couldn’t help myself. I chose the Blue Lotus based on the way the scent was described in the forums and told myself since the other scent received such great reviews this would be of the same quality. Upon receiving the scrub I wasn’t disappointed by the quantity provided for the price or Blue Lotus' lovely aroma. It wasn’t until I tried this polish out that I found it lacking compared to my other scrubs. If one takes into consideration the comparisons above the Blue Lotus is definitely second to the homemade brand. But due to my own preferences it's the one I’m least likely to use. My preferences lay with a heartier scrub that's less creamy. With this in mind I’ll probably keep this product in my ‘emergency’ stash in case I ever need a back up but it's since been removed from my bathroom shelf with the others.
I would like to note that the Blue Lotus does not reflect the quality of all the other DONA body polishes so please read the reviews on all the various aphrodisiac properties their named after before making a choice. This product is best for those who have sensitive skin and prefer a lighter exfoliating property against their skin. As for the aroma while the Blue Lotus' cucumber-y scent does not intensify and only leaves a hint of aroma after being washed off some might enjoy this. It will work well for those who do not enjoy strong fragrances or that know someone with harsh allergies. All in all it’s not for me but I’m sure it is perfect for others.