SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub for oily acne-prone skin
Hydrated Silica
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Glycerin
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Tocopheryl Acetate
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other exfoliants fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your oily skin and acne, blemishes, and breakouts due to Hydrated Silica, while Glycerin helps maintain hydration.
- The formula is highly suitable for oily skin, managing excess sebum effectively.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing agents like Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder and Tocopheryl Acetate.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week to start, increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but before your final moisturizer step.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product directly onto clean, dry skin for the best results against breakouts.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always use a daily SPF since exfoliating makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this scrub for its ability to smooth skin texture and decongest pores without causing irritation or dryness, making it a favorite for sensitive and dry skin types. The vast majority find it leaves skin polished and hydrated, though a small minority feels it is too gentle for deep exfoliation or dislikes the slight residue it can leave behind.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “Perfect balance of gentle and effective”
- “smooths without feeling scratchy”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
Smooths texture Often Mentioned
- “Face feels so smooth”
- “polishes away dullness”
- “leaves skin looking refined”
Good for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “My sensitive skin tolerates this”
- “no irritation”
- “gentle option for sensitive skin”
Non-drying formula Sometimes Noted
- “Not stripped or tight”
- “leaves skin soft and hydrated”
- “moisturizing gel texture”
Improves absorption Rarely Noted
- “Serums absorb much better”
- “makes everything else apply better”
- “allows skin to absorb product”
High price Rarely Noted
- “Cheaper alternatives exist”
- “expensive for a scrub”
- “pricey but worth it”
Rare irritation Rarely Noted
- “Face on fire”
- “burned for an hour”
- “caused redness”
Too gentle Rarely Noted
- “Expected more oomph”
- “too gentle”
- “not scrubby enough”
Waxy residue Rarely Noted
- “Leaves a residue that feels waxy”
- “film on skin”
- “don't feel clean after”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, bluemercury.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub work for oily acne-prone skin?
SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub offers moderate exfoliation for your oily skin and blemishes using hydrated silica, while glycerin helps maintain hydration and aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder provides soothing benefits. To work best for oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs powerful ingredients that effectively address acne, gentle surfactants that cleanse without stripping the skin, and pore-refining agents like BHA or soothing elements like niacinamide and ceramides.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Hydrated Silica gives your oily skin moderate exfoliation for acne, blemishes, and breakouts, while Glycerin helps keep the skin hydrated and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder and Tocopheryl Acetate soothe it. To fit oily acne-prone skin even better, an exfoliant of this type needs powerful ingredients that effectively address acne and blemishes, gentle surfactants, skin-beneficial extracts like Niacinamide and Ceramides, and pore-refining ingredients like BHA and blue tansy.
What does Hydrated Silica do for oily acne-prone skin?
Hydrated silica helps absorb excess oil and remove dead skin cells to keep pores clear and skin smooth. It is commonly used in products for oily, acne-prone skin to reduce shine and prevent breakouts.
What does Aloe Vera do for oily acne-prone skin?
Aloe vera helps calm oily, acne-prone skin by reducing redness, bumps, and breakouts while keeping the skin smooth. This plant-based ingredient also supports clearer skin and helps improve overall skin texture.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant goes in your weekly routine as an occasional step, starting once a week and used more often if your skin tolerates it well. Oily acne-prone skin of average fit with this product needs a formula with soothing ingredients and gentle physical or chemical exfoliants that clear excess oil without causing irritation.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant with retinol by using them on separate days to keep your skin calm and avoid irritation. Oily acne-prone skin needs gentle chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid or soothing enzyme powders rather than physical scrubs when pairing with strong treatments like retinol.
How often should I use it?
Start by using this scrub once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well without irritation, you may carefully use it a bit more often. This product type needs gentle physical or chemical scrub ingredients like silica or mild acids along with soothing agents to clear pores while keeping your skin calm.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This scrub is unlikely to cause clogged pores or breakouts on oily skin, as it has a very safe formula with soothing ingredients like aloe and vitamin E that help prevent irritation. Oily acne-prone skin often does better with a chemical exfoliant containing salicylic acid or glycolic acid to thoroughly clear out pores.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Film-forming formulations containing porous silica achieved skin permeation rates comparable to immediate release formulations while confirming prolonged drug availability and causing no skin irritation in healthy volunteers.
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2017Topical treatment with silica mud and microalgae extracts from the Blue Lagoon improved skin barrier function by inducing epidermal gene expression and reducing transepidermal water loss in healthy humans, while preventing skin aging markers in vitro.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Flower-like mesoporous silica nanoparticles exhibited a significantly superior oil-absorption capacity, including a 226.3% increase in adsorbing large-molecular-weight PDMS-15000 w, compared to conventional mesoporous silica nanoparticles.
RSC Advances, 2026A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Carbomer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Edta, Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Laureth Sulfate Sles, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethanolamine, Chlorphenesin, Water
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.