Skin Care Reviews: St. Ives Apricot Scrub
Rated: 2.5 out of 10
by BestAcneTreatments.org
St. Ives Apricot Scrub blemish and blackhead control is a cheap, over-the-counter acne cream that has been around for decades. It has a good reputation as an acne treating product that genuinely works, and is very affordable. We decided to put St. Ives famous Apricot Scrub to the test, so we went to the corner store and stocked up on enough facial scrub for the entire office to try out in their showers and bathrooms for the next three weeks.
Apricot Scrub Ingredients
The Apricot Scrub is an oil-free facial exfoliant with "100% natural exfoliants and natural extracts." The product's ingredients include the following:
- 2% Salicylic Acid
- Apricot
- Corn Kernel Meal
- Ground Walnut Shell
St. Ives: Pros & Cons
At first whiff, St. Ives smells pretty good, except for the minor medicinal tinge from the salicylic acid component. It has a rough, grainy texture from the walnut shell, which does make your face feel nice and smooth when you hop out of the shower. Unfortunately, this feeling fades fast an hour or so down the road. Some of our testers also complained about the packaging itself, complaining about how the cap festers mold in the shower or the case itself cracks – after only a few weeks! Tsk, tsk.
Note: Not for Dry Skin Types!
While St. Ives is a sure bet for acne caused by very oily skin, this scrub can be very harsh on other skin types by drying out the moisture from your skin. We do not recommend using this problem more than once or twice a week to avoid dryness. Tip: add a moisturizer to your daily cleansing routine to prevent dryness and maintain smooth skin.
St. Ives: The Bottom Line
For only $3 a pop, you certainly get what you pay for with St. Ives Apricot Scrub. The natural exfoliation is nice, but the smooth feeling after use is short-lived. Our testers also reported that acne-causing oil buildup nearly doubled once they stopped using St. Ives. On the plus side, St. Ives Apricot Scrub is cheap and readily available at any local drugstore.
The bottom line? St. Ives definitely shouldn't be your primary acne treatment, but would nonetheless be a good product to compliment your main acne moisturizer or skin cream.
