St. Ives Apricot Scrub for dry skin
Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract Apricot Fruit Extract
Juglans Regia Shell Powder
Glycolic Acid
Niacinamide
Caffeine
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other exfoliants fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry skin due to the presence of Juglans Regia Shell Powder and Glycolic Acid, which provide both physical and chemical exfoliation. Glycerin and Urea offer humectant action, but the formula lacks sufficient emollients for optimal hydration of dry or flaky skin.
- The product provides general skincare benefits like cleansing and hydration with Apricot Fruit Extract, but these are not specialized for your specific dry or flaky skin concerns.
- The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your dry skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week, increasing slowly to twice a week if your dry skin tolerates it well. Always remember to apply SPF every morning to protect your newly smoothed skin.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but always before your rich moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute. Avoid rubbing to prevent any irritation on flaky areas.
- Apply the product directly to dry clean skin to ensure the best possible tolerance for your dry type. This helps address flaky patches without causing extra stress.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a quick patch test before your very first use. Do not mix this with other strong acids or retinoids on the same night.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is frequently praised by users with normal to oily skin for its deep exfoliation and ability to leave skin feeling smooth and refreshed. However, a significant number of users, especially those with sensitive skin, report that the physical exfoliants are too abrasive, leading to redness and irritation.
Highlights
Effective exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “Buffs away dead skin”
- “leaves skin smooth”
- “deep cleans pores”
Affordable price Often Mentioned
- “Great value”
- “budget-friendly”
- “inexpensive staple”
Refreshing scent Often Mentioned
- “Smells great”
- “fresh apricot fragrance”
- “pleasant aroma”
Causes irritation Often Mentioned
- “Caused redness”
- “stinging sensation”
- “splotchy skin”
Too abrasive Often Mentioned
- “Feels like sandpaper”
- “too harsh”
- “scratches skin”
Softens skin Sometimes Noted
- “Skin feels soft”
- “healthy glow”
- “smooth texture”
Potential damage Sometimes Noted
- “Concerns about micro-tears”
- “long-term damage”
- “too rough”
Drying effect Rarely Noted
- “Left skin dry”
- “stripped moisture”
- “tight feeling”
Sources: lovi.care, stives.com, walmart.com, thingtesting.com, beautyandthecity.co.uk, lemon8-app.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does St. Ives Apricot Scrub work for dry skin?
St. Ives Apricot Scrub works for dry skin, though other products fit it better because it lacks sufficient emollients for optimal hydration. A product of this type needs essential ceramides, sodium hyaluronate, and a rich blend of hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients to keep dry or flaky skin smooth and soft.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin and urea help hydrate dry skin, but this exfoliant needs a richer blend of softening ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to properly care for flaky skin.
What does Apricot Fruit Extract do for dry skin?
Apricot Fruit Extract helps calm dry skin and keeps it smooth by fighting daily oxidative stress and irritation. It delivers beneficial antioxidants that support a healthy and soft feel.
What does Walnut Shell Powder do for dry skin?
Walnut shell powder is a harsh physical scrub that is generally too rough for dry skin because it creates tiny tears and worsens flakiness. Dry skin needs gentle, hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and mild milk cleansers to stay soft and smooth without irritation.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This exfoliant goes into a weekly routine for dry skin, starting at once a week for safety. A product of this type needs enough rich emollients and soothing hydrators to keep dry or flaky skin feeling soft and comfortable.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant with retinol by using them on separate days to help prevent irritation on dry skin. Because this scrub lacks enough softening ingredients for optimal hydration, dry or flaky skin needs rich moisturizers and skin-softening ingredients to stay smooth and comfortable.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
You can start by using this exfoliant once a week, and if your dry skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often. To properly care for dry or flaky skin, a product of this type needs rich emollients to lock in moisture and deep hydration.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on dry skin, and the formula has a good safety profile with no irritation risks. However, dry skin needs products with rich emollients to keep it smooth and deeply hydrated.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Cetearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
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, 2017Aqueous 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, 2025Kombucha-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, 2026Bitter 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, 2016Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005A topical cosmetic slimming product containing tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, caffeine, carnitine, forskolin and retinol significantly reduced body circumferences and improved skin aspect compared with placebo in 78 women over 12 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011Topical sunscreen formulations containing caffeine combined with UV filters increased in vivo anti-UVB protection by approximately 25% and showed higher SPF values compared to caffeine-free sunscreen, while being well tolerated by the skin of healthy subjects.
Frontiers in Physiology, 2019Caffeine gel combined with choline geranate showed high skin permeation capacity and superior clinical results in cellulite treatment compared to caffeine gel without ionic liquid.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2021
Why other exfoliants fit dry skin better
Phytosphingosine increased filaggrin metabolism and skin hydration in human skin by stimulating filaggrin biosynthesis and degradation leading to natural moisturizing factor formation.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycol Stearate, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg 100 Stearate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Zea Mays Meal Kernel Zea Mays Kernel, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract Apricot Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract Sunflower Extract, Primula Veris Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Arginine, Ascorbic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Caffeine, Carbomer, Ceteareth 20, Dimethicone, Disodium Edta, Glycolic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Niacinamide, Peg 12 Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Polysorbate 60, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Sorbitol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethanolamine, Urea, Dmdm Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Parfum, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.