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St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub for oily 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

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

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 Juglans Regia Shell Powder and Zea Mays Meal Kernel, which help manage excess sebum. Glycerin and Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract provide general cleansing benefits but do not directly address oily shine.
  • The physical exfoliation from the shell powder can be beneficial for oily skin, though it may not be the most targeted approach for managing shine.
  • The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh 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

★4.6Overall 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 oily skin?

This scrub is a weak match for oily skin because walnut shell powder and corn meal only offer moderate cleansing for excess oil and shine rather than directly targeting them. An exfoliant for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or BHA to properly manage oil and refine pores without irritation.

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

This exfoliant is a weak match for oily skin because its walnut shell powder and corn kernel meal offer only physical scrubbing rather than targeted oil control. An oily skin routine needs ingredients like Niacinamide, Ceramides, or BHA to properly manage shine and refine pores without causing irritation.

What does Apricot Extract do for oily skin?

Apricot Extract is unlikely to provide a good fit for oily skin because it lacks the lightweight hydration and oil-controlling properties this skin type needs. Oily skin requires ingredients that balance oil production and leave the skin feeling fresh without heavy residue.

What does Walnut Shell Powder do for oily skin?

Walnut shell powder is used in physical scrubs to buff away dead cells and excess oil, but it can be too harsh for oily skin. Because rough jagged particles may cause micro-tears and redness, oily skin needs gentle chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid or mild cleansers that clear pores without damaging the skin barrier.

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

This exfoliant is a weak match for oily skin, as it may not be the most targeted approach for managing shine. Oily skin needs a product of this type to include ingredients that help manage excess oil while keeping the skin feeling soft and smooth.

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

Using this scrub with retinol may cause too much irritation on oily skin, so it is best to alternate nights or use the scrub less often. When using both, apply your retinol at night after cleansing, and save the scrub for a separate evening to keep your skin calm and smooth. Oily skin works best with chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid or glycolic acid and gentle balancing ingredients to properly clear pores and manage shine.

How often should I use this exfoliant?

Start using this exfoliant once a week to see how your skin reacts. Oily skin needs a product of this type that uses chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid or enzyme powders to better target excess shine.

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, as it has a safe profile with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients. However, to better manage oily shine and keep skin smooth, a product of this type needs targeted oil-controlling ingredients and gentle chemical exfoliants.

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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

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, 2019

  • Combined 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, 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

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