Tag: Scrub

Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Advanced Vitamin C Skin Resurfacer

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Product:  Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Advanced Vitamin C Skin Resurfacer.  This used to be known as Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Peel.  (Photos of both products are shown below.)  This is a two-step fragrance-free exfoliating product.

Overall Rating: = 3+ stars3.5 Stars – Very Good.

Cost: $48.50 for 4 oz. total (2 products, 2 oz. each) ($12.13 per ounce) Price Category: Mid-range

Sold By:  Serious Skin Care; HSN; Kohl’s (limited products)

Container:  Two tubes with screw-off caps

Description:  I first became familiar with this line of products while channel surfing in the middle of the night.  Jennifer Flavin-Stallone and Cecilia Lewis were on HSN and I stopped to listen as they touted the benefits of this line.  I ordered a kit with many different products, most I didn’t care for due to fragrances, but this one was interesting.

Here is the description from the Serious Skin Care website:

“Doesn’t your skin deserve a very special beauty treatment? “C” a wonderful difference in the way your skin looks and feels with C-Extreme Results from Serious Skincare. This at-home skin resurfacing kit is a 2-part beauty treatment that helps rapidly exfoliate your skin while delivering Vitamin C.”

“What It Does: Helps skin feel incredibly soft and silky. Helps improve the appearance of mature, over-40 skin.”

The funny thing about this line of products is that when I first tried them about a decade ago the packaging looked like someone was making this stuff in their garage.  The jars and bottles were the generic plastic kind you would buy if you were making your own cosmetics and the paper labels looked like they were printed with a home computer.  Since I don’t like fancy containers anyway, this was both amusing and appealing to me.  Also, their website is a no-fuss site without a lot of information.  Recently, they have gone to fancier, more expensive packaging and they are giving you less product as a result.  Such is progress, right?

Warning:  Please do not use this product, or any physically abrasive product, if you have Rosacea without consulting your dermatologist first.

Morning Review:  This is not intended to be a daily cleanser.  This is an exfoliating product designed to be used 2-3 times per week after cleansing.  Highly sensitive skin may want to begin with once per week.  Both products are fragrance free and the scent occurs from the ingredients. Step 1 has a light generic chemical scent and step 2 has a light citrus scent.  Neither scent is offensive to me nor makes my nose run.

This product reminds me of chemistry class.  Remember when you poured vinegar or a soft drink (acids) onto a pile of baking soda (an alkali) and watched it bubble?  Such is the effect of this two-step chemical activation product.  Step 1 is gritty feeling from the baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) which is the second ingredient.  You squeeze out the off-white paste from the tube and put that all over your face.  It takes about a teaspoon of product.  You then squirt out the clear lactic acid liquid from step 2 and rub it on top of step 1.  Squirt it into the palm of your hand or it will go all over the place.  Also, you’ll need about a teaspoon of the liquid.  (For some reason I always run out of the paste before the liquid even though I try to use equal amounts.)  This product used to come with step 1 in a jar and step 2 in a squirt bottle.  That packaging made a lot more sense than this current configuration.  It is difficult to get all of the paste out of the tube and the liquid runs out too fast.

As you might expect, when these two compounds combine, they bubble up on your face and this chemical reaction exfoliates your skin.  Some people report a gentle warming sensation, others do not.  I do feel the warming sensation when I use these two products together.  The current formula is not as dramatic as when I first used the product years ago.  After gently massaging the products, rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.  As with any exfoliating product, avoid the eye area.  My skin feels baby soft after using this combo and my makeup goes on flawlessly.

Morning Rating = 4 Stars for the Product, 3 Stars for the Packaging = 3.5 Stars

Evening Review:  After several hours my skin stayed smooth and I did not have any allergic reactions.  I have used this many times without any negative side effects.

Overall Review:  I prefer chemical exfoliants to physical exfoliants, and this product is unusual as it is both a chemical and physical exfoliant.  Using this product 1-2 times per week should be fine for most people.  I would say that every other day would be too frequent.  Sensitive skin should begin with once per week.  This is not a good product to use in conjunction with a cleansing brush.  The combination would prove too severe.  As with any physical exfoliant, the key is to be gentle, and don’t rub vigorously, or you will irritate your skin.

Those of you who follow me know that I am a huge fan of exfoliating and discuss the topic frequently.  Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Advanced Vitamin C Skin Resurfacer is a very good exfoliant at a mid-range price.  It definitely removes dead skin and leaves my face feeling smoother.  The scent is not offensive.  The products do not dry out my skin and my sensitive skin tolerates it well.

This product is appropriate for use by men as well as women.

This exfoliant is suitable for the following skin types: (Not for those with Rosacea)

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • All sexes;
  • Sensitive (but not Rosacea);
  • Oily;
  • Dry;
  • Consistent;
  • Combination.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 3+ stars3.5 Stars;

Evening Rating = 3+ stars3.5 Stars;

Average from Other Testers =4 stars 4 Stars;

Value Rating = 3 stars3 Stars;

Overall Rating = 3+ stars3.5 Stars – Very Good.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Advanced Vitamin C Skin Resurfacer

Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Advanced Vitamin C Skin Resurfacer Current Packaging

Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Peel

Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Peel Former Packaging

Ingredients (Step 1) C-Resurface: PEG-6, Sodium Bicarbonate, Oleth-20, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Dimethicone, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl, Butylparaben, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Yellow 5, Yellow 6.

Ingredients (Step 2) C-Potion: Water, Lactic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Linoleamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Polyquaternium-10, Propylene Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Beta Carotene, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Propylparaben.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

Olay Total Effects Deep Pore Lathering Cleansing Cloths

Product:  Olay Total Effects Deep Pore Lathering Cleansing Cloths.  This product used to be known as Olay Total Effects Age Defying Cleansing Cloths.  Today’s product is a lathering cleansing cloth that you use with water like a washcloth.

Overall Rating: 2+ stars2.5 Stars = Okay to Good

Cost: $9.89 for 30 cloths ($.33 each)  Price Category:  Inexpensive

Sold By:  Wal-mart; Walgreen’s

Container:  Either paper box (new formula) or plastic box (old formula)

Description:  These are a two-sided (textured/smooth) cleansing cloth intended to be used once and then disposed.  You add water, they lather, you scrub, you toss.  These are intended to be used as a daily facial cleanser both morning and night.  This product is not fragrance free and does contain fragrance (parfum).  The textured side is a physical exfoliant.

The company states, “Total Effects Deep Pore Lathering cloths gently cleanse, exfoliate and revive skin in one simple step. At the same time, they infuse moisturization to soften skin and enhance brightness.”  Olay further claims this product “Fights 7 Signs of Aging: 1. Cleans deep; 2. Instantly refines the appearance of pores; 3. Gently exfoliates; 4. Instantly reduces the appearance of fine lines; 5. Enhances brightness; 6. Softens skin; 7. Replenishes moisture.

Cosmetic companies are notorious for slightly altering ingredients, changing packaging and changing names of essentially the same products so they can market something new.  Since most people always want the newest, most innovative products, this keeps consumers motivated to buy.  This product has been around for many years under different names and formulations.  The new cloths are thinner and smaller than the previous cleansing cloths.

Warning:  Please do not use the textured side of these cloths, or any physically abrasive scrubbing product, if you have Rosacea without consulting your dermatologist first.

Morning Review:  When I first opened the container I could smell the perfume-type fragrance.  One of my testers described the scent as “baby powder”.  It doesn’t smell like baby powder to me.  It is a floral type of scent.  These are a thick two-layer cleansing cloth.  One side is solid and smooth and the other side has holes and is textured.  I cut one into fourths and separated the layers to show you.  (See photos below)  As soon as you get this cloth wet and begin rubbing in on your face it begins to lather like soap.  One cloth is large enough to almost wash your entire body.  I was able to wash just my face with one quarter of a cloth.  I began with the textured side on my nose.  The textured side was too rough for my sensitive skin and I only used the smooth side on my face.  I used the textured side for elbows, knees, feet, etc.  Please rub gently, not vigorously, with any exfoliating product.  Please do not rub this on your eyes.  This is not a product for removing eye makeup.  You could wash your face with this after you have removed your eye makeup.  My face did feel very clean after using this and my skin felt soft.  The fragrance was too strong for me though.

Morning Rating: = 2 stars2 Stars

Evening Review:  After several hours my skin stayed smooth and I did not have any allergic reactions other than my runny nose due to the fragrance.  The skin on my nose became oily after using the cleansing cloth.  I think this was due to the textured side being too harsh and the lathering ingredients being too drying for my skin which caused my oily area to compensate by producing more oil.  My skin does not react favorably to any product with lathering agents.

Overall Review:  Olay Total Effects Deep Pore (Age Defying) Lathering Cleansing Cloths are a good cleansing cloth if you like a product that lathers and you don’t have any fragrance allergies.  It definitely scrubbed my pores clean and left my skin feeling smoother.  However, the textured side was too harsh for my sensitive skin and I did not tolerate the fragrance well.  I would stay away from this one if you have sensitive skin or Rosacea.

The cloths do contain some nice vitamins, but they are not going to be on your face long enough to prove beneficial and the lathering agents are going to wash them away.

Most men would not like the floral perfume in this product.  My male tester sniffed it and did not even want to try it.

These cloths are suitable for the following skin types: (Not for sensitive or those with Rosacea)

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • Women who like fragrance;
  • Oily;
  • Dry;
  • Consistent;
  • Combination.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 2 stars2 Stars;

Evening Rating = 2 stars2 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = 2 stars2 Stars;

Value Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Overall Rating = 2+ stars2.5 Stars – Okay to Good.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Olay Total Effects Deep Pore Lathering Cleansing ClothsOlay Cloth Section Both Sides

Olay Cloth Section Textured SideOlay Cloth Section Smooth Side

Olay Total Effects Age Defying Cleansing Cloths 1

Olay Total Effects Age Defying Cleansing Cloths Old Name and Photo 1

Olay Total Effects Age Defying Cleansing Cloths 2

Olay Total Effects Age Defying Cleansing Cloths Old Name and Photo 2

Current Formula Ingredients:  Water, Niacinamide*, Glycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Panthenol**, Tocopheryl Acetate***, Ascorbic Acid+, Dimethiconol, Butylene Glycol, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Polysorbate 20, Acrylates/Vinyl Isodecanoate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide, Fragrance. *Vitamin B3, **Pro-VitaminB5, ***Vitamin E, +Vitamin C.

Old Formula Ingredients: PEG 100, Sucrose Polycottonseedate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, C10 30 Cholesterol/Lanesterol Esters, Cyclodextrin, Butylene Glycol, Petrolatum, Polyethylene, PEG 14M, Tribehenin, Fragrance, Polyquaternium 10, Synthetic Beeswax, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, L Menthol.

Old Formula Ingredients: Petrolatum, PEG-100, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocoamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cyclodextrin, Butylene Glycol, PEG-14M, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Salicylic Acid, Witch Hazel Leaf Extract, Fragrance, Polyquarternium-10, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Propylparaben, Disodium-EDTA, Methylparaben, Sodium Magnesium/Diisobutylene Copolymer, Silica, BHT, Sodium Laurate.

Old Formula Ingredients: Petrolatum, Peg-100, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Cyclodextrin, Butylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Lauryl Glucoside, Peg-14M, Polyquaternium-10, Fragrance/Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol*, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium Edta, Salicylic Acid***, Sodium Ma/Diisobutylene Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate**, Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract. *Provitamin/Provitamine B5, **Vitamin/Vitamine E , ***Beta Hydroxy/Be?Ta-Hydroxy.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

 

Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub

Product:  Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub.  Today’s product is a good exfoliating scrub that won’t “break the bank”.

Overall Rating: 3+ stars3.5 Stars = Very Good

Cost: $5.35 for 5 oz. ($1.07 per ounce)  Price Category:  Inexpensive

Sold By:  Wal-mart; Walgreen’s; Retailers everywhere

Container:  Plastic tube with non-removable flip-top lid

Description:  Simple (Sensitive Skin Experts) Smoothing Facial Scrub is a fragrance-free exfoliant without any perfume, dye or harsh chemicals.  The company states, “Our Smoothing Facial Scrub gently lifts dry, dead skin cells to help your skin look brighter and more even textured, plus it’s a perfect blend of our purest possible skin loving ingredients with added vitamins.”

This is not a daily cleanser.  This scrub is intended to be used in conjunction with a daily facial wash, not in place of one.  This is a physical exfoliant, which means it contains ingredients that literally rub off the dead skin cells just like sandpaper removes varnish.  Those of you who follow this blog or my former beauty newsletter know that I can’t stress enough how important exfoliating is to your skin.

Warning:  Please do not use this, or any physically abrasive scrubbing product, if you have Rosacea without consulting your dermatologist first.

Please Note:  This formula was changed a couple of years ago and no longer contains plastic microbeads.  The exfoliating ingredients are now rice powder and silica, which are much better for the environment and marine life.

Morning Review:  Due to my fragrance allergies, the first thing I do with any new product is smell it.  If I immediately sneeze or my nose starts running, I know I’m in trouble.  I flipped open the cap and this scrub definitely has an odor to it.  Since it is a fragrance-free product the scent is due to the ingredients and not added perfume.  Reviewing the contents, there are two different acrylates, which is why this scrub smells like plastic.  One of my testers described the scent as “a new plastic shower curtain”.  I have to say that description nailed the scent.

This is a white creamy cleansing scrub.  You will definitely feel the abrasive rice powder and silica.  Please rub gently, not vigorously, with any exfoliating scrub.  Please do not rub this on your eyes.  This is not a product for removing eye makeup.  You should always avoid getting any type of exfoliating product into your eyes.  A dollop the size of a blueberry would have been enough for my entire face.  I only used it on one side of my face the first time for comparison sake, and to gauge any negative reactions.  I used this day and night two days in a row.

Morning Rating:  = 3 stars3 Stars

Evening Review:  After several hours my skin stayed smooth and I did not have any allergic reactions.  The second time I put it on my entire face.  Using it twice in the same day proved to be a little too harsh for my sensitive skin.  The company recommends using this product 2-3 times per week.  I would say that every other day would be fine for most people.  This is not a good product to use in conjunction with a cleansing brush.  The combination would prove too severe.

Overall Review:  I prefer chemical exfoliants to physical exfoliants, but if you like an abrasive scrub, Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub is a good one at a very affordable price.  It definitely scrubbed my pores clean and left my skin feeling smoother.  I did not like the scent, but it was not offensive.  The scrub did not dry out my skin and my sensitive skin tolerated it well.

My male tester liked this product a lot and did not mind the plastic scent.

This scrub is suitable for the following skin types: (Not for those with Rosacea)

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • All sexes;
  • Sensitive (but not hypersensitive);
  • Oily;
  • Dry;
  • Consistent;
  • Combination.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 3 stars3 Stars;

Evening Rating = 3 stars3 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = 4 stars4 Stars;

Value Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Overall Rating = 3+ stars3.5 Stars – Very Good.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub

Ingredients:  Water, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder, Hydrated Silica, Vegetable Oil, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disodium EDTA, BHT.

Formulated Without:  Fragrance, Dye, Parabens.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment

Product:  Today we are discussing Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment.

Overall Rating = 3+ stars3.25 Stars – Good +

Cost:  $85 for 2 oz ($42.50 per ounce)  Price Category:  Expensive

Description:  ExfoliKate is another widely-reviewed beauty product that most people rave about.  This is my first review for a dedicated exfoliate rather than a daily cleanser that may or may not also have exfoliating properties.  This is intended to be used in addition to a daily cleanser once or twice a week.  This is not a daily cleansing product.

Exfoliation is an important step in any beauty regime.  Your body is constantly producing new skin cells and sloughing off the old, dead cells.  The average life of a skin cell is about a month.  Exfoliation can be accomplished in one of three manners:

  • Chemical exfoliation – A chemical substance will dissolve the outer skin cells revealing new skin beneath. These chemicals, typically lactic or fruit acids, do not contain any physical abrasives such as scrubbing granules or grains.  Depending upon the strength of the chemicals only the top layer of the epidermis will be affected, or in the case of a chemical peel from a physician, the penetration will be much deeper.
  • Physical exfoliation – An exfoliate will contain some sort of physical material that literally scratches or scrubs the dead skin cells away just as sandpaper refinishes furniture. This includes salts, scrubs, sugars, loofahs, brushes, and rough washcloths.
  • Mechanical physical exfoliation – This will be accomplished by tools that produce vibration and/or suction in combination with an abrasive element. They typically utilize diamond-dust or similar implements that remove the dead skin.  These treatments are usually performed by a dermatologist or esthetician, although there are home units that can accomplish this task and I will be reviewing one in the future.

Personally, I prefer chemical exfoliation to physical exfoliation.  Harsh scrubbing granules or grains typically irritate my sensitive skin, however they do work wonders for cleaning pores.  I also find that most people get too enthusiastic with abrasive scrubs and tend to scrub too hard which can actually damage your skin.

The reason exfoliation is so important is that any product that you put on top of your skin will not penetrate and produce effective results if you have dead skin cells on the surface.  You are wasting your money on expensive serums, moisturizers, and anti-aging products if you are not also exfoliating on a regular basis.

Morning Review:  ExfoliKate has a very strong, spicy scent.  Reviewing the ingredients I’m assuming this is due to bergamot fruit oil (found in Earl Grey tea) and cinnamomum cassia leaf (cinnamon) oil.  It is a dark army-green kind of color and is pretty gross looking.  (Who cares if it works, right?)  ExfoliKate contains both a chemical exfoliating ingredient, lactic acid, and a physical exfoliating ingredient, silica.  It definitely feels scratchy and abrasive on the back of my hand.

Due to my extremely sensitive skin I began gently with this product and only used a small amount on half of my face to test for any negative reactions before slathering it all over my entire face.  The cinnamon oil causes a slight tingling and burning sensation.  It definitely left my skin feeling smoother and my skin does not feel irritated.  I always worry if something is tingling or burning that my skin is screaming, “danger, danger”.  So far, so good.

Morning Rating =  3 stars3 Stars

Evening Review:  At the end of the day my skin did not feel tight and I did not have any allergic reactions or breakouts on the side where I used the scrub.   I decided to use it on my entire face the second time.  This cleanser effectively removes all makeup.   My makeup wipes did not find any traces of makeup.   I would avoid the eye area with this cleanser.  This should be used after your have removed your eye makeup.  I caution you…this is a not an appropriate product to use with a cleansing brush.  The combination of the two would be too harsh for any type of skin on your face.

Prior to posting this review I tried this product several more times on myself and others and no one experienced any sensitivities or negative reactions.

Overall Review:  Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment is a very good, although expensive, exfoliating scrub for almost all skin types.   Warning:  This would not be advisable if you have Rosacea.  Anyone with Rosacea should stay away from any type of abrasive products which can further irritate your already-inflamed skin.  Please note that if you have extremely thin, delicate or overly-sensitive skin, this product may be too harsh for you.  There is a gentler formula for sensitive skin that I have not tried.  The next time I purchase this product I will try the gentle formula as it may be more appropriate for my extremely sensitive skin.  Perhaps I won’t experience the mild burning with that formula.  Also, I prefer an exfoliant without any abrasive ingredients.

This scrub is suitable for both women and men.  My male tester did not find the scent offensive.  He said it reminded him of sandalwood incense.  Most men naturally exfoliate their faces every day by shaving, but they still need to exfoliate the areas they do not shave.

My testers with normal skin and dry skin really liked this and said they would buy it.

Exfolikate is suitable for the following skin types:

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • All sexes;
  • Dry;
  • Sensitive (not hypersensitive or those with Rosacea)
  • Consistent;
  • Oily;
  • Combination.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 3 stars3 Stars;

Evening Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = 4 stars4 Stars;

Value Rating = 2 stars2 Stars;

Overall Rating = 3+ stars3.25 Stars – Good +.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating TreatmentKate Somerville ExfoliKate on SkinKate Somerville ExfoliKate on Face

Ingredients:  Water/Aqua/Eau, Lactic Acid, Silica, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Pectin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit, Ceteareth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Alcohol Denat., Sorbic Acid, Cinnamal, Honey/Mel/Miel, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Eugenol, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Linalool, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Beta-Carotene, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Bromelain, Papain, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Acetic Acid, Pogostemon Cablin Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub

Product:  St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub

Overall Rating = 1+ stars1.875 Stars – Terrible to Just Okay

Cost:   $4.79 for 6 oz. (.80 per ounce)  Price Category:  Inexpensive

Sold By:  Walgreen’s and major retailers everywhere

Container:  Flip-top plastic tube

Description:  This is an Allure magazine Best of Beauty Award Winner.  (I have no idea why.)  This is described as “THE multi award winning apricot scrub that deeply exfoliates for clean, smooth and glowing skin, from America’s No. 1 scrub brand*.  (*Based on 52 week unit sales ending 7.30.16)”

Morning Review:  The first thing that hit me when I opened the cap was the scent.  The St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub has a strong fruity, sweet and flowery smell.  My nose immediately started running.  I wet my face and massaged the grainy cream onto my skin.  The crushed walnuts were very abrasive feeling and were much too harsh for my sensitive skin.  My face felt irritated.  This will definitely provide deep exfoliation if you have clogged pores.  Even after rinsing I could still smell the strong perfume.

Warning:  Please do not use this or any abrasive cleanser if you have Rosacea.  Please consult with your dermatologist before using any exfoliating product.

Morning Rating =  1 star1 Star

Evening Review:  At the end of the day my skin still felt slightly irritated.   I used very little product the second time with more water to try and achieve a gentler cleansing experience.  This cleanser effectively removes all face makeup.   My makeup wipes did not find any traces of makeup except for eye makeup.   You cannot get this product near your eyes.  (Crushed walnuts in your eyes would not be a good thing.)  You will need to use a separate cleanser to remove your eye makeup.  This is definitely not a good cleanser to use with a cleansing brush.  That would be too harsh and irritating for any kind of skin.

My tester with normal skin who likes perfumes said it was okay and it didn’t seem too rough for her.  My male tester said, “It stunk so much I didn’t want that on my face” and he didn’t want to try it.

Overall Review:  I would not put this on my face again, nor would I recommend it to clients.  I feel that harsh abrasive products are unnecessary and can cause damage to your skin.  I would only use this on the heels of my feet or areas with thicker skin that are not easily damaged.  It is effective to exfoliate rough, dead, calloused or dry skin on areas such as feet, elbows or knees.  Also, I would not mind the heavy scent so much on my feet, but I do not want that near my nose or eyes.  This may appeal to you if you like smelling like a bowl of fruit salad.

This is not a very good cleanser unless you are just looking for something that will deep clean, exfoliate and scrub your skin; your skin is not easily irritated; and you like heavy perfumes.  Definitely stay away from this one if you have fragrance allergies and/or sensitive, delicate skin.

St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub is suitable for the following skin types:

  • Consistent, Combination or Oily skin with no sensitivities to fragrance  or harsh ingredients
  • NOT for Sensitive skin or anyone with Rosacea
  • NOT for those with fragrance allergies

RATINGS REPORT: 

Morning Rating = 1 star1 Star;

Evening Rating = 1 star1 Star;

Average from Other Testers = 1+ stars1.5 Stars;

Value Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Overall Rating = 1+ stars1.875 Stars – Terrible to Just Okay.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Please note that the Walgreen’s website has a photograph of the old formula from 2013 and shows the ingredients from the old formula.  I have posted photos of the old formula and the new formula.  I have also included both lists of ingredients.  This review is for the new formula.  I have noted when reading reviews from other sites that many people that used the old and new formulas are not happy with the new formula.

St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub 2016

St Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub New Formula 2016

St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub 2013

St Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub Old Formula 2013

 Ingredients New 2016 Formula (from St. Ives’ website):  Water (Aqua, Eau), Juglans Regia (Walnut) Shell Powder, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Zea Mays (Corn) Kernel Meal, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Acetate, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Polysorbate 60, Ceteareth-20, Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Fragrance (Parfum), PPG-2 Methyl Ether, Phenethyl Alcohol, Limonene, Linalool, Methylisothiazolinone, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Extract.

Ingredients Old 2013 Formula (from Walgreen’s website):  Water, Juglans Regia (Walnut) Shell Powder, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Zea Mays (Corn) Kernel Meal, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Peg-100 Stearate, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Extract, Cetyl Acetate, Polysorbate 60, Ceteareth-20, Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol, Carbomer, PPG-2 Methyl Ether, Phenethyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance, Titanium dioxide.

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