Equate Beauty Blackhead Clearing Scrub for mature skin
Salicylic Acid
Oil-Free Formula
Jojoba Esters
Menthyl Lactate
Caution
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for mature skin; the exfoliants alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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 normal skin due to the presence of salicylic acid, which helps with mild skin renewal for wrinkles and fine lines, but it lacks sufficient humectant ingredients for optimal hydration.
- The keratolytic action of salicylic acid is suitable for decongesting pores, though it does not fully address your primary goal of reducing wrinkles and fine lines.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant product in your PM routine once a week to start, increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well. Always apply SPF the next morning to protect your skin.
- Apply this exfoliant product after cleansing and toner, but before your moisturizer. This ensures the best absorption into your skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant product into your face, avoiding any rubbing. Let it absorb for a minute before moving to the next step.
- Apply this exfoliant product on completely dry skin to get the best results. This helps your normal skin accept the product smoothly.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area while using this exfoliant product. Do a patch test before your first use and avoid mixing it with strong acids.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers frequently praise this scrub for its ability to clear blackheads, reduce breakouts, and deep-clean pores, making it a popular choice for those with oily or acne-prone skin. While highly effective for many, some users find the formula slightly harsh or note a strong scent, suggesting it may be better suited for those who are not overly sensitive.
Highlights
Affordable price Mostly Mentioned
- “Price is definitely a plus”
- “Great product, great price”
- “Under three dollars”
Effective blackhead removal Often Mentioned
- “Improved my problems with blackheads”
- “Clears blackheads”
- “Brings blackheads to surface”
Breakout control Sometimes Noted
- “Acne is gone”
- “Helps me fight breakouts”
- “Keeps oil in check”
Deep pore cleansing Sometimes Noted
- “Removes dirt and impurities”
- “Removes it all”
- “Great cleaning scrub”
Harsh on skin Sometimes Noted
- “It is a little harsh”
- “Can only use every other day”
- “Not for me”
Strong scent Sometimes Noted
- “Has a weird chemical smell”
- “Odor”
- “Smell that may not appeal”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “Clogs my pores”
- “Gave me more acne”
- “Dry out my skin”
Waxy residue Rarely Noted
- “Feeling like a film of wax”
- “Left an oily film”
- “Greasy”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, reddit.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Equate Beauty Blackhead Clearing Scrub for mature skin?
Lovi advises caution because this scrub lacks enough hydrating ingredients to properly care for mature skin. An exfoliant for this skin type needs gentle smoothing ingredients combined with rich hydrating agents to keep the skin soft and smooth.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a poor fit for mature skin?
This scrub is a poor fit for mature skin because it lacks enough moisturizing ingredients to keep dry skin feeling soft and smooth. A product of this type needs gentle exfoliants and rich hydrating agents to help smooth fine lines without causing irritation.
What does Salicylic Acid do for mature skin?
Salicylic acid helps smooth and firm mature skin by boosting collagen and elasticity while reducing roughness and wrinkles. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used correctly, but this skin type also needs extra hydrating ingredients to stay soft and plump.
What does Oil-Free Formula do for mature skin?
Oil-free formulas help keep mature skin feeling light and smooth without clogging pores, though they need added antioxidants and moisturizers to tackle fine lines and keep the skin barrier strong.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2021
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This exfoliant goes into a weekly routine for mature skin, starting at once a week and cautiously increasing if well tolerated. Because this product lacks sufficient hydrating ingredients for mature skin, an exfoliant of this type needs added moisturizing ingredients to keep the skin soft.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You should use caution when combining this scrub with retinol on mature skin, as it may cause irritation and dryness. To protect your skin, this product type needs deeply hydrating ingredients and gentle nourishing masks to maintain moisture balance.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
This exfoliant is a poor match for mature skin, so it needs extra moisture and ingredients that smooth fine lines rather than harsh scrubbing. If you still choose to use it, start just once a week to see how your skin reacts. Mature skin needs hydrating ingredients and gentle acids that smooth wrinkles without drying.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores since it has an oil-free formula, but it may cause dryness or irritation on mature skin. A product of this type needs extra moisture-attracting ingredients to keep dry skin soft and smooth.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010Topical formulations containing 3.75% glycerol and 1.25% hydrolyzed jojoba esters produced significantly lower evaporative TEWL values compared to glycerol alone at 8 and 24 hours posttreatment in human subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Salicylic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Ppg-15 Stearyl Ether, Synthetic Wax, Microcrystalline Wax, Steareth-21, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Menthyl Lactate, Jojoba Esters, Ci 77510
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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