Sweet Nina's aromatic sugar scrubs let you put your best foot forward

Women will go to great lengths for a good pedicure. I recently heard a report on NPR about a spa in Virginia that has tanks filled with small carp that nibble away at the dead skin on the feet of their customers. Ewwwwww! It may be effective, but I know there are more pleasant ways to exfoliate.

My favorite method is a nice, sweet-smelling sugar scrub, and my newest discovery is Sweet Nina's Revive sugar body polish with invigorating essential oils of ginger and grapefruit. Sweet Nina's scrubs use the natural exfoliating properties of grainy, raw white and brown sugar to soften the skin, while emollient oils of sweet almond and apricot kernel moisturize and protect.

The Sweet Nina's line includes three decadent body scrubs: Soothe, a calming lavender honey; Refresh, a revitalizing rosemary mint; and Revive.

These luxurious treats are created by Seattleite Gwenn Sobel, who started Sweet Nina's after leaving the stressful world of marketing and advertising about a year ago. What started as a temporary retirement to decompress has turned into a sweet new venture for Sobel, who handcrafts each batch with high-quality organic ingredients.

Sweet Nina's scrubs can be used all over the body, from elbows to knees. Sobel suggests putting a jar of the scrub next to your sink and using it on your hands as an indulgent treat. The scrubs come in a reusable glass jar with a cool bamboo spoon for scooping and retail for $48. They're available online at sweetninas.com and at Zovo Lingerie at University Village.

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