Tephra is a creamy face and body scrub made with fine Icelandic volcanic sand. It gently lifts away dull, dead surface skin, then leaves what is underneath soft and bright.
We are new, so there are no reviews to show yet. We would rather earn them than invent them. What we can show you is the formula and the science, further down the page.
Your skin sheds dead cells from its top layer on its own, but that slows with age and can leave a build-up that looks dull and feels rough. Tephra clears it without stripping your skin, because the exfoliant sits in a soft, creamy base.
01 · The exfoliant
Fine volcanic sand
Iceland's volcanic sand is a hard, inert mineral grit. Milled fine, it works by touch, loosening and sweeping away dead cells on the surface as you massage it in. Kaolin clay in the base helps lift away everyday grime at the same time.
02 · The base
Creamy and conditioning
The grit sits in a rich, creamy base with sunflower seed oil, glycerin and vitamin E, plus Nordic berry extracts of cloudberry, blueberry and raspberry. A small amount of lactic acid helps, but the feel is soft rather than sharp.
03 · The result
Smoother and brighter
Clearing that surface layer is what makes skin feel softer and look brighter, on the face and on rougher spots like elbows and knees. It suits all skin types. Use it two to three times a week.
Where it comes from
Earth's oldest exfoliant
On the south coast of Iceland, lava meets the cold Atlantic and shatters into fine black sand. People have used mineral grit to clean and smooth skin for a very long time, long before anyone called it skincare.
We took that idea and made it kind. The sand is milled fine, then folded into a creamy base with conditioning oils and a fresh, green scent of cucumber, lemon and cut grass. It does its job without leaving skin tight.
Fire made the sand. Time made it fine. You just have to wash with it.
What to expect
Honest about what a scrub can do
A scrub works on the surface of your skin. Here is what that means in practice, without overselling it.
Smoother texture
Skin feels softer straight after rinsing, because the rough surface layer is gone.
Brighter look
Dull build-up scatters light. Clearing it helps fresher skin underneath catch it instead.
Kind to skin
A creamy, conditioning base means it suits all skin types and does not leave skin stripped.
Face and body
One jar, two jobs. Useful before and after shaving, and on rough elbows and knees.
New brand, established approach
We have no reviews yet. The method does.
Tephra has only just launched, so we are not going to show you a star rating we have not earned. Instead, here is the track record of the approach itself: volcanic sand as a gentle physical exfoliant.
★★★★★
A proven hero format
Volcanic-sand scrubs are a flagship product at major skincare brands, including Fenty Skin and Patrick's. The ingredient is well established for polishing and smoothing skin, not a novelty.
Comparable products, not Tephra's own reviews
★★★★★
Tested in the category
Fenty Skin reports a two-week clinical study on 50 people for its volcanic-sand scrub, with skin looking smoother in texture and pores less visible after use. We mention it to show the format has been measured, not to claim their results as ours.
Source: Fenty Skin product information
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Tephra No.1 Face & Body Scrub
170 ml · 5.75 fl oz · all skin types · use 2–3× a week
/ Creamy scrub with fine Icelandic volcanic sand
/ Conditioning oils and Nordic berry extracts, so skin is not stripped
For most skin types, two to three times a week is ideal. If your skin is very sensitive, once a week may be enough. Going harder than that can leave skin red and sore, so there is nothing to gain from overdoing it.
Yes, that is the point of it. It is gentle enough for the face and effective enough for body areas like elbows, knees and legs. Be a little lighter on the face and use a touch less.
It can. Regular exfoliation helps keep the surface clear, which is part of why a scrub makes a useful pre and post shave step. Use it on dry or damp skin before shaving, and give freshly shaved skin a day before scrubbing again.
It should not. The sand is milled fine and sits in a creamy, conditioning base, so it feels soft rather than gritty. Keep the pressure light and patch test on your inner arm first if you are unsure.
It is made for all skin types, and many people with sensitive skin get on with it used once a week. Everyone is different, so patch test first, keep it gentle, and avoid broken or sunburnt skin.
Thirty days. If it does not suit your skin, contact us and send it back for a refund, even if the jar is open.
UK & Europe delivery
Made to order, then shipped to you. Free over £40, with a tracked option at checkout.
Real help
Questions about your skin or your order? Email hello@tephra.health and a person will reply.
Secure checkout
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