🇫🇷France

St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub for combination skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub
  • Apricot Extracts
  • Juglans Regia Shell Powder
  • Cocamidopropyl Betaine
  • Glycerin
  • Exfoliants

Low

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A weak match for combination skin; the exfoliants alongside fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 combination skin due to Juglans Regia Shell Powder, but lacks sufficient hydrating ingredients to fully address drier areas.
  • The product provides general cleansing benefits from Glycerin and Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, which are irrelevant for your oily shine concerns.
  • The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this exfoliant product in your PM routine starting once a week, then increase frequency carefully if your skin feels fine.
  • Apply this exfoliant step after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and wait a minute before layering.
  • Apply the exfoliant to clean, dry skin to help control your oily shine comfortably.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 20.0k+ reviews

This product is widely adored for its affordability and ability to deliver extremely smooth, glowing skin through deep physical exfoliation, making it a staple for those with oily or non-sensitive skin. A significant minority of users and dermatologists warn against its coarse walnut shell powder, citing it as too abrasive and a cause of irritation or micro-tears, particularly for those with sensitive or acne-prone conditions. The summary is based on a very large amount of data and this should definitely be taken into account.

Highlights

  • Effective exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
    • “leaves skin baby soft”
    • “gets rid of all dead skin”
    • “best deep clean ever”
    • “texture feels polished”
  • Unbeatable value Often Mentioned
    • “great bang for your buck”
    • “lasts forever”
    • “so affordable”
    • “cheap but effective”
  • Too harsh Often Mentioned
    • “feels like glass shards”
    • “scratched my face”
    • “way too rough”
    • “damaged my skin barrier”
  • Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
    • “smells fresh and fruity”
    • “nostalgic apricot scent”
    • “love the smell”
    • “refreshing fragrance”
  • Reduces breakouts Sometimes Noted
    • “clears up my acne”
    • “keeps oil at bay”
    • “helps with blackheads”
    • “pores look smaller”
  • Causes irritation Sometimes Noted
    • “face turned bright red”
    • “left my skin raw”
    • “burning sensation”
    • “caused a rash”
  • Difficult to rinse Rarely Noted
    • “found grains in hairline”
    • “hard to wash off”
    • “residue left behind”
    • “messy to rinse”
  • Drying effect Rarely Noted
    • “skin felt tight and dry”
    • “stripped all moisture”
    • “made my face flaky”
    • “over-drying”

Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, iherb.com, influenster.com, productreview.com.au, and more

Questions and answers

Why is St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub a weak match for combination skin?

This scrub is a weak match for combination skin because it offers moderate exfoliation from walnut shell powder but lacks enough hydrating ingredients to properly care for drier areas. It also provides general cleansing benefits that do not help with oily shine concerns. An exfoliant for this skin needs soothing and nourishing ingredients that provide excellent hydration and support the moisture barrier for both oily and dry areas.

Which ingredients make this exfoliant a poor fit for combination skin?

This exfoliant is a weak match for your combination skin because it uses Juglans Regia Shell Powder for scrubbing while lacking enough hydrating ingredients to keep your drier areas soft and comfortable. A good exfoliant for this skin type needs soothing, nourishing ingredients like plant oils and squalane to keep both oily and dry areas balanced.

What does Apricot Extract do for combination skin?

Apricot Extract helps keep combination skin calm and protected with antioxidants while supporting a smooth, balanced feel. Plant extracts of this type generally aid in reducing redness and improving overall skin comfort for mixed skin types.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026Molecules, 2025

What does Walnut Shell Powder do for combination skin?

Walnut shell powder is a mechanical exfoliant that may help smooth rough patches and reduce dullness on combination skin. However, because it can sometimes be too harsh and cause micro-tears, it is generally recommended to use it gently and infrequently to avoid irritation. For a better fit, combination skin often needs a gentler chemical exfoliant like salicylic acid or lactic acid to clear pores without scrubbing.

Dermatologic Surgery, 2006

Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This exfoliant is a weak match for combination skin, and this skin type needs products that provide balanced hydration for dry zones alongside gentle exfoliation without leaving an oily shine.

Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?

This exfoliant is a weak match for combination skin because it lacks sufficient hydrating ingredients to fully address drier areas. Combination skin needs gentle exfoliants and rich hydrating ingredients to balance oily shine and dry patches.

How often should I use this exfoliant?

This exfoliant is a weak match for your combination skin because it lacks enough hydrating ingredients to help your drier areas. Lovi routines start exfoliating products like this once a week, and people who tolerate them well and see good results may carefully use them more often.

Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This scrub is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on combination skin, but it may leave drier areas feeling a bit parched because it lacks enough hydrating ingredients. A product of this type needs extra moisture-boosting ingredients like glycerin to properly care for combination skin.

Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, and linalool). Cetyl alcohol and cetearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • Aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts from Malus domestica, Prunus armeniaca, and Prunus cerasus exhibited antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities, increased skin cell viability by up to 35% at lower doses, and reduced viability by up to 70% at higher doses in vitro.

    Molecules, 2025

  • Kombucha-mediated fermentation of apple, apricot, and cherry leaf agro-waste extracts increased phenolic content and enhanced antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ageing properties while reducing oxidative stress in skin cells without cytotoxicity compared to unfermented extracts.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026

  • Bitter apricot essential oil inhibited human HaCaT keratinocyte growth with an IC50 of 142.45 ug/ml by inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through death receptor, mitochondrial, and NF-kB pathways.

    International Immunopharmacology, 2016

  • The 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, 2003

  • 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, 2017

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

Ingredients

Water, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Glycerin, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, Zea Mays Meal Kernel, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium Edta, Yellow 5 Ci 19140, Ci 16035, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Limonene, Linalool

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play