🇸🇬Singapore

St. Ives Apricot Scrub for oily skin

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

St. Ives Apricot Scrub

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

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 oily skin due to the presence of Juglans Regia Shell Powder and Glycolic Acid, which provide both physical and chemical exfoliation to help manage oily shine.
  • While ingredients like glycerin and apricot fruit extract offer general hydration and cleansing benefits, they are not specifically targeted to address the primary concern of oily shine.
  • The product is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, minimizing irritation risk.

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 1.2k+ reviews

Based 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 oily skin?

St. Ives Apricot Scrub is an average fit for oily skin, offering moderate physical and chemical exfoliation with walnut shell powder and glycolic acid to help manage oily shine. Although it has soothing chamomile to minimize irritation risk, an exfoliant for oily skin needs targeted ingredients like BHA, salicylic acid, or blue tansy to effectively control oil and refine pores.

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

This exfoliant is a moderate fit for oily skin due to Juglans Regia Shell Powder and Glycolic Acid, which help manage oily shine. A product of this type needs ingredients like BHA, Salicylic Acid, and blue tansy to effectively control oil, refine pores, and maintain skin clarity.

What does Apricot Fruit Extract do for oily skin?

Apricot Fruit Extract is generally a poor fit for oily skin because it often lacks the lightweight hydration and oil-balancing properties needed by this skin type. A product for oily skin needs ingredients that help manage excess shine without clogging pores, such as oil-free hydrators and gentle balancing agents.

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 fits into a weekly routine for oily skin, starting at once a week and used more often only if tolerated well. An average fit for oily skin like this needs ingredients that specifically target oily shine, such as oil-controlling agents and specialized acids.

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

You can use this exfoliant with retinol by using them on different days or spacing them well apart to help keep your oily skin from getting irritated. Oily skin works best with products that use chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid and soothing ingredients to manage shine without harshness.

How often should I use this exfoliant?

Start by using this exfoliant once a week, and if your oily skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often. This product is safe for your skin and helps manage oily shine, though oily skin often needs targeted oil-control ingredients and gentler exfoliation methods.

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

This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it lacks heavy, pore-blocking ingredients and includes soothing components that help minimize irritation. However, a product for this skin needs more targeted oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid to better manage shine and prevent breakouts.

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, 2017

  • 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

  • Repeated 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, 2000

  • Serial 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, 2017

  • Topical 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, 2021

  • Topical 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, 2008

  • Topical 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, 2005

  • A 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, 2011

  • Topical 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, 2019

  • Caffeine 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 oily skin better

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.

  • 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