The Body Deli: Fresh, Organic Skincare Crafted in Greater Palm Springs
As part of our "Love Local" series, we spotlight shops, restaurants, spas, attractions, and businesses that define Greater Palm Springs' unique personality—the stories that capture our destination's special experiences and win our hearts. To know them is to love them.
What does "Love Local" mean to you?
"There are so many different aspects of love in Greater Palm Springs. I love waking up and seeing the mountains and palm trees. I love the energy that’s inspired by the landscape... And I love supporting all the local businesses here."
For Ashley Skarin, owner of The Body Deli in Palm Desert, creating skincare comes naturally. "I made my first soap experiments when I was around 13 years old," she says. "It was for a science fair project, testing out which blends of oils made the hardest bar of soap."
Now, this second-generation cosmetic chef helps run her family’s business, which has crafted small-batch body, hair, and skincare products in the heart of Greater Palm Springs for over 20 years. It all began when Skarin’s mother, a co-founder, sought a solution for a persistent skin issue. After discovering potential side effects from synthetic fragrances, dyes, and preservatives, they created their own healing products.
"It worked, and it just kept growing from there," Skarin says, likening their business to a juice bar—for your skin.
The Body Deli started in the kitchen (hence the "deli" name) and pioneered the "raw beauty" industry. They use organic superfoods like blueberries, kale, cantaloupe, pink grapefruit, and carrots to infuse products with pure, powerful micronutrients that nourish and transform skin.
"What’s unique about The Body Deli is that everything is really fresh," Skarin explains. "Most store-bought products are made a year or two earlier, shipped in bulk, and stored in hot warehouses, requiring heavy preservatives."
In contrast, The Body Deli’s cleansers, scrubs, serums, lotions, and more are made daily in small batches without preservatives. Some, like the Cucumber Juice Elixir, even require refrigeration.
"It’s more like grocery shopping than typical skincare," she adds. "Use it while it’s fresh and alive—you can smell and feel the quality."
Though she juggles many roles, you’ll often find Skarin at the counter with her husband, Augusto, assisting customers. "We help lots of locals," she says, "but visitors from out of state often fall in love with our products."
Her top recommendation for guests? The Palm Springs Spa Collection, designed to capture the desert vibe with locally grown citrus and dates—packed with antioxidants for skin and snacking.
They’ve also launched a Pure Therapeutic Essential Oil Collection with sustainable plant extracts and a pandemic-era hand sanitizer using organic alcohol and oils like lavender, lemongrass, and mint. "We gifted it with purchases and donated to local hospitals and the sheriff’s department," she says. "A small way to support health and community."
The Body Deli
73910 Highway 111, Suite B & 73560 El Paseo, Suite B, Palm Desert, CA
760-340-3731 & 760-836-9106
