St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub for oily acne-prone skin
Apricot Extracts
Juglans Regia Shell Powder
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Glycerin
Exfoliants
Low
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for oily acne-prone skin; the exfoliants alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 and acne concerns due to Juglans Regia Shell Powder and Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, but these physical exfoliants may be too harsh and potentially worsen existing acne and oiliness.
- Zea Mays Meal Kernel provides additional physical exfoliation, but the formula lacks sufficient sebum-regulating ingredients to fully address your oily skin.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week to start, increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but before your final moisturizer step.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product directly onto clean, dry skin for the best results against breakouts.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always use a daily SPF since exfoliating makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 20.0k+ reviewsThis 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 Apricot Scrub a weak match for oily acne-prone skin?
St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub is a weak match because its physical scrubs may be too harsh and can make breakouts and oiliness worse. An exfoliant for oily acne-prone skin needs safe, gentle ingredients like BHA, Niacinamide, and Ceramides that clear pores and calm breakouts without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Prunus Armeniaca Fruit Extract, and Zea Mays Meal Kernel make this exfoliant a poor fit because their physical scrubbing may be too harsh and can worsen breakouts and oiliness. An exfoliant for this skin needs to be safe with no risk of irritation, effectively clear acne using ingredients like BHA and blue tansy, and include soothing helpers like Niacinamide and Ceramides to balance oil without stripping the skin.
What does Apricot Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Apricot Extract helps calm oily, acne-prone skin by reducing irritation and managing oxidative stress. It is unlikely to cause irritation and works to keep your face feeling balanced.
What does Walnut Shell Powder do for oily acne-prone skin?
Walnut shell powder is a physical scrub that helps remove dead skin and excess oil, but it is often too harsh for oily acne-prone skin. Because sharp particles may cause microscopic tears and inflammation, this skin type needs gentle chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid to clear pores safely without irritation.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This physical scrub may be too harsh and is unlikely to be a good fit for oily acne-prone skin, as it can potentially worsen oiliness and breakouts. Oily acne-prone skin needs gentle chemical exfoliants like acids and oil-controlling ingredients that clear pores without irritation.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to avoid using this physical scrub with retinol, as harsh physical exfoliants may irritate your oily skin and worsen breakouts. Oily acne-prone skin needs gentle chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid or soothing enzyme powders instead.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
This exfoliant is a weak match for your oily acne-prone skin because its physical scrubs may be too harsh and potentially worsen breakouts and oiliness. Oily acne-prone skin needs gentle chemical exfoliants like acids or enzyme powders used once a week to clear pores safely without irritation.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
Yes, this scrub may worsen breakouts because its walnut shell powder and fruit extracts can be too harsh and irritating for oily acne-prone skin. To safely care for this skin type, an exfoliant needs gentle chemical ingredients like salicylic acid instead of rough physical scrubs.
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, 2016Kombucha-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, 2026The 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, 2003A 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, 2017The 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, 2020Ten 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 acne-prone skin better
Chemical peels with 30% supramolecular salicylic acid effectively treated acne and reduced facial sebum secretion while improving skin hydration and barrier function in 25 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022A 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, 2019Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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