Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula for oily skin
Coconut Oil
Glyceryl Stearate
Butylene Glycol
Tridecyl Stearate
Silica
Low
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for oily skin; the exfoliants alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 due to the presence of silica, but the inclusion of coconut oil and caprylic/capric triglyceride poses a risk of pore clogging and exacerbating oiliness.
- While bisabolol offers some soothing benefits, the formula lacks sufficient ingredients for strong seboregulation, which is crucial for reducing oily shine.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant product as part of your PM routine once a week. Start slowly and build up frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb fully. Avoid any harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the exfoliant directly onto completely dry skin to get the best balance and results. Clean, dry skin helps the product work evenly.
- Always avoid the delicate eye area when applying. Be sure to use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily while using exfoliating acids.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 5.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is widely praised as a gentle, cream-based exfoliator suitable for daily use, particularly for those with dry or sensitive skin who need to remove flakiness without irritation. Most users love the smoothing and moisturizing effects, though a minority find the formula leaves a waxy residue or is too mild to effectively unclog pores.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “gentle enough for everyday”
- “doesn't scratch my skin”
- “buffs without irritation”
- “soft grains”
Moisturizing formula Often Mentioned
- “doesn't strip moisture”
- “feels like a lotion”
- “hydrating while scrubbing”
- “no tight feeling”
Smooths texture Often Mentioned
- “leaves face porcelain smooth”
- “polishes away roughness”
- “makeup glides on”
- “skin feels baby soft”
Good for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “no redness after use”
- “doesn't sting”
- “perfect for delicate skin”
Waxy residue Sometimes Noted
- “hard to rinse off”
- “leaves a film”
- “feels greasy afterwards”
- “residue clogged my pores”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out”
- “caused tiny bumps”
- “acne flared up”
- “too heavy for oily skin”
High price Rarely Noted
- “expensive for the size”
- “pricey for a scrub”
- “tube is too small”
- “not worth the money”
Too mild Rarely Noted
- “didn't do much”
- “barely any scrub particles”
- “not abrasive enough”
- “didn't remove blackheads”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, qvc.com, clinique.com, sephora.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream a weak match for oily skin?
This scrub is a weak match because, while silica offers some exfoliation, coconut oil and other rich ingredients pose a risk of clogging pores and making oily skin shinier. It also lacks strong oil-controlling ingredients. Oily skin needs a product that provides excellent cleansing without irritation, using effective ingredients like Niacinamide and Ceramides, BHA, and blue tansy to manage shine and refine pores safely.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a poor fit for oily skin?
Coconut oil and caprylic/capric triglyceride make this exfoliant a weak match for oily skin because they pose a risk of clogging pores and making your oily shine worse. An exfoliant for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, BHA, or blue tansy to manage oil and refine pores without adding heavy oils.
What does Coconut Oil do for oily skin?
Coconut oil is generally too heavy for oily skin and may clog pores, leading to breakouts. A product of this type needs lightweight ingredients and oil-balancing benefits to keep oily skin clear and smooth.
What does Glyceryl Stearate do for oily skin?
Glyceryl Stearate helps keep oily skin soft and smooth without feeling heavy, as it is very unlikely to cause irritation or allergic reactions. This ingredient works well to condition the skin while maintaining a very safe profile in everyday skincare products.
International Journal of Toxicology, 2007International Journal of Toxicology, 2001
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This exfoliant is a weak match for oily skin because ingredients like coconut oil may clog pores and worsen oiliness. Oily skin needs a lightweight, oil-free exfoliant with ingredients that help clear pores and control shine without heavy oils.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to be cautious when combining this exfoliant with retinol, as using them together may easily cause dryness and irritation on oily skin. If you do use them, apply your retinol first, wait for it to absorb, and limit the scrub to just once a week to help prevent overloading your skin. Oily skin of this type needs lightweight ingredients and oil-controlling elements to stay balanced and clear.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
This exfoliant is a weak match for oily skin because ingredients like coconut oil may clog pores and worsen oiliness, so an oily skin type needs lightweight exfoliants with oil-controlling ingredients. When you do use it, start just once a week to see how your skin reacts.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
Yes, this exfoliant may clog pores and cause breakouts for oily skin because it contains coconut oil and heavy triglycerides that can make oily skin feel even oilier. Oily skin of this type needs lighter ingredients and oil-balancing benefits to keep pores clear and shine-free.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Overnight virgin coconut oil application provides a skin protective effect against damage and increased TEWL from frequent alcohol-based hand sanitizer usage in 60 volunteers, resulting in a 25% increase in perceived moisture content compared to the control group.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A functional cosmetic cream containing bioactive materials from Streptomyces sp. T65 embedded in SBA-15 decreased skin roughness by 4.670% and increased skin brightness by 0.472% after 4 weeks of application, while demonstrating antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-aging, and whitening activities.
Antioxidants, 2020Film-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, 2008
Why other exfoliants fit oily skin better
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Tridecyl Stearate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate, Hexacaprate, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Coconut Oil, Caprylic, Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Sorbitol, Hexyldecyl Stearate, Bisabolol, Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate, Triethanolamine, Oleth-10 Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Stearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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