St. Ives BHA Exfoliant for oily skin
Salicylic Acid
Bambusa Vulgaris Powder
Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few products fit it even 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, as salicylic acid and bambusa vulgaris powder work to clear pores and control shine. Camellia sinensis leaf extract also provides antioxidant benefits, complementing your skin's needs.
- The formulation is highly suitable for oily skin due to the keratolytic action of salicylic acid and the antioxidant properties of green tea extract.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh or prohibited ingredients.
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
★4.3Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsUsers generally praise this liquid exfoliant for being surprisingly gentle and non-drying compared to the brand's famous scrubs, making it a favorite for those with sensitive but oily skin. While many report smoother texture and clearer pores after consistent use, a minority find the formula too mild to treat stubborn acne or experienced initial skin purging.
Highlights
Gentle and non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “gentle on sensitive skin”
- “no stinging sensation”
- “didn't strip my skin”
- “safe for daily use”
Smoother skin texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels softer”
- “removed dead skin patches”
- “face looks less dull”
- “makeup applies better”
Effective pore control Sometimes Noted
- “cleared my blackheads”
- “pores appear smaller”
- “reduced sebaceous filaments”
- “helped with oiliness”
Fragrance-free formula Sometimes Noted
- “love that it's unscented”
- “no overwhelming smell”
- “great for sensory issues”
- “doesn't smell like chemicals”
Slow or mild results Sometimes Noted
- “didn't see a difference”
- “too gentle for deep acne”
- “took weeks to work”
- “wanted stronger exfoliation”
Drying for dry areas Rarely Noted
- “skin felt tight”
- “caused flaking around nose”
- “dried out my cheeks”
- “need heavy moisturizer after”
Initial breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused small whiteheads”
- “broke me out at first”
- “worsened acne initially”
- “skin purged for a week”
Rare sensitivity Rarely Noted
- “redness after application”
- “slight burning sensation”
- “irritated my barrier”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, tryandreview.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes St. Ives BHA Exfoliant a great fit for oily skin?
St. Ives BHA Exfoliant is a great fit for oily skin because salicylic acid and bamboo extract work to clear pores and control shine. Green tea extract also provides helpful antioxidants that complement your skin's needs without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily skin?
Salicylic acid and bamboo powder make this exfoliant a great fit by clearing pores and controlling shine on oily skin. Green tea extract adds helpful antioxidant benefits to complement your skin needs.
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?
Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
What does Bamboo Powder do for oily skin?
Bamboo powder helps oily skin by absorbing excess oil to keep your face looking fresh and matte. It is unlikely to cause irritation and works well to reduce shine throughout the day.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This exfoliant goes in your evening routine, starting at once a week and slowly increasing if your skin tolerates it well. Salicylic acid and bamboo powder help clear pores and control shine, while green tea extract provides helpful antioxidants.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant and retinol in the same week, but it is best to use them on different nights to keep your skin calm and avoid irritation. Apply this treatment on your scheduled treatment nights after cleansing and toning, and leave your retinol for a separate night.
How often should I use it?
Start using this treatment once a week in your evening routine, and carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results. It offers moderate exfoliation that helps clear pores and control shine on your oily skin.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores and has a low likelihood of causing initial breakouts for oily skin, as it uses salicylic acid and bamboo extract to help clear pores and control shine. Salicylic acid works by diving deep into pores to dissolve trapped oil and dead skin cells, which generally prevents congestion.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2024Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009The 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, 2010Ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions of Bambusa vulgaris leaves accelerate cutaneous wound healing and inhibit carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats.
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 2016Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Topical application of green tea extract encapsulated chitosan microparticles improved skin elasticity, melanin index, and facial wrinkles compared to a placebo in female volunteers without causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Bambusa Vulgaris Powder, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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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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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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