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Equate Beauty Blackhead Clearing Scrub for oily skin

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

Equate Beauty Blackhead Clearing Scrub

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for oily skin; other exfoliants 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 acne-prone skin due to salicylic acid, which helps decongest pores, while menthyl lactate provides a cooling sensation suitable for oily skin.
  • The formula provides general cleansing benefits for oily skin, though it lacks specialized ingredients to effectively address oily shine.
  • The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.

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

★4.5Overall rating based on 200+ reviews

Users 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

How well does Equate Beauty Blackhead Clearing Scrub work for oily skin?

This scrub works moderately well for oily skin by helping to clear out pores and providing a refreshing feel, though it does not do much to control oily shine. An exfoliant for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to manage shine and keep skin healthy without causing dryness or irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily skin?

Salicylic acid helps clear out pores for oily skin, while menthyl lactate leaves a cooling feel. To truly fit oily skin best, this type of product also needs ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to manage oily shine and support skin health.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

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 Oil-Free Formula do for oily skin?

Oil-Free Formula is a poor fit for oily skin because it lacks the ingredients needed to keep pores clear and control shine. To properly care for oily skin, a product of this type needs ingredients that help reduce oil production and deep-pore cleansers that preserve the skin barrier without causing extra grease.

Cutis, 2006

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

This exfoliant goes into a weekly routine for oily skin, starting at once a week for safety. To truly control oily shine, this skin type needs oil-absorbing and oil-balancing ingredients.

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

You can use this exfoliant alongside retinol, but apply them on different days or times to prevent irritation. Using both at once may be too harsh for your skin, so alternate them and always follow with a moisturizer.

American Family Physician, 2012Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

How often should I use this exfoliant?

Start using this exfoliant once a week, and if your oily skin tolerates it well and sees good results, you may carefully use it more often. A routine like this helps clear pores and smooth skin safely.

Dermatologic Surgery, 2003Dermatologic Surgery, 2006

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

This exfoliant is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily skin because it contains salicylic acid to help clear out pores and has an oil-free formula. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients to control oily shine, oily skin also needs oil-absorbing minerals and lightweight hydrators like hyaluronic acid to stay balanced.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

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, 2024

  • The 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, 2023

  • A 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, 2020

  • Cryotherapy 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, 2010

  • Treatment 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, 2024

  • Topical 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, 2010

  • Topical 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, 2008

  • Clay 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, 2012

  • Topical 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.

  • 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

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QR code: get the Lovi app
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