St ives Apricot scrub dermatologist reviews

It doesn't get much better than patting your face dry and feeling the smooth, baby-butt skin after you exfoliate. That's the magic of a good face scrub. Sure, there are other ways to exfoliate your skin, like enzymes and acids. but the manual kind is the OG for sloughing off dead skin and unclogging pores. These formulas usually have a gritty texture, and it's that grit that deep-cleans skin. The trouble is, though, that they can work a little too well—which is why St. Ives Apricot Fresh Skin Scrub, a cult-favorite formula, faced a lawsuit back in 2017.

While the St. Ives Apricot Scrub lawsuit was tossed out of court in December 2018 (more on that below), it's come back into the spotlight because of Kylie Jenner, of all people. Jenner recently revealed she's expanding her Kylie Cosmetics empire with a new skin care line called Kylie Skin. One of the products that will be launching with the collection on May 22? A face scrub that uses crushed walnut shells to exfoliate, much in the same way that St. Ives' Apricot Scrub used them.

Why did the St. Ives lawsuit happen?

The plaintiffs in the St. Ives lawsuit claimed two things: that the crushed walnut powder creates microscopic tears in your skin, exposing it to infections and irritation, and that its label's claim of being noncomedogenic (i.e., it doesn't clog pores) was not correct. “Unfortunately for consumers, use of St. Ives as a facial exfoliant leads to long-term skin damage that greatly outweighs any potential benefits the product may provide,” read the statement.

Crushed walnut powder sounds like it would be harmless—after all, it's just powder. But as NYC dermatologist Howard Sobel, M.D., explains, "The smaller the particles, the stronger the exfoliation." As for the accusation that it's not noncomedogenic, that isn't the case. "To be labeled as noncomedogenic, you need to pass tests to prove it," says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC. So if a product says it's noncomedogenic on the packaging, that means it really is.

Still, this lawsuit was a big deal, because to say the St. Ives scrub is a cult favorite is an understatement. Gigi Hadid swears by it, and writers here at Glamour have used the stuff since high school. And it's super affordable, which is why we included it on our list of the best beauty products under $10 back in 2013. That said, over the years it's also faced a lot of backlash. Over on Reddit's r/SkincareAddiction subreddit, users have shared stories about how it's caused them inflammation, redness, and breakouts.

Why did the St. Ives lawsuit get thrown out of court?

In response to the class action lawsuit, Unilever, the parent company for St. Ives, filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that there was no proof the Apricot Scrub was a safety hazard or defective, or that it cause the alleged damage to users' skin. A U.S. District Court judge agreed, dismissed the lawsuit, and also concluded that plaintiffs failed to prove that the "Dermatologist Tested" claims were misleading because the phrase doesn't imply that it's derm-approved, rather it just means derms have tested the scrub.

Should you use an exfoliator with ground shell particles?

It's worth noting that the scrub has been around since the dinosaurs. Clearly people continue to use it—and you'd think that if they noticed any burning or uncomfortable reactions, they'd stop. Consumers either love it or hate it, which isn't all that surprising when you consider that not all skin is created equal. "Even though your mom used it, your grandma used it, or your best friend uses it, your skin is uniquely yours and can react differently," says dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, M.D., of the Schweiger Dermatology Group in NYC. Some of us could use it and be totally fine, while enjoying brighter, smoother skin too. Those most at risk for adverse side effects are people with sensitive skin or more serious issues like eczema or rosacea, since any physical scrub can do a number on them, says Dr. Nazarian. In that case, don't even look at the St. Ives Apricot Scrub, and copy Gigi Hadid's glittery makeup instead.

  • Health


January 23, 2019|72,698 Views

St ives apricot scrub is America’s top facial scrub brand may be a staple in your shower caddy. It is used to clean, smooth, and illuminate skin which contains 100% natural exfoliants (like walnut shell powder) and apricot fruit extract leaving skin feeling super soft and smooth. But is apricot scrub good for the skin?

Unfortunately for consumers, use of St. Ives as a facial exfoliant leads to long-term skin damage that greatly outweighs any potential benefits the product may provide. St. Ives’ primary exfoliating ingredient is crushed walnut shell, which has jagged edges that cause micro-tears in the skin when used in a scrub.

It is extremely rough, perhaps too rough. Dermatologists disagree on how beneficial scrubs are generally, but St. Ives is intense even among scrubs, with chunks of walnut harder than your average (water-polluting) plastic micro bead. The problem [with scrubs] is that with over-zealous or too often use, they can irritate and cause more inflammation when you use it on active acne it can sometimes cause discoloration or scarring as you may traumatize already tender, inflamed acneic skin.”

A class action lawsuit recently filed claims that the popular scrub can damage skin and “is unfit to be sold or used as a facial scrub.

Kaylee Browning and Sarah Basile filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in central California against Unilever, the parent company of St. Ives. According to Top Class Actions, the plaintiffs claim the crushed walnut shells in the scrub can damage skin, and they balk at the use of “dermatologist tested” on the label. They allege that no dermatologist would recommend the scrub and believe the company should disclose that the scrub can cause microscopic tearing of the skin. They’re seeking $5 million.

In several stories about the lawsuit, Unilever declined to comment on the case and gave the same statement: “We can say that for over 30 years, consumers have loved and trusted the St. Ives brand to refresh and revitalize their skin. We are proud to be America’s top facial scrub brand and stand by our dermatologist tested formula.”

About the Writer

St ives Apricot scrub dermatologist reviews

Ladan Abdi, Staff Writer

Ladan Abdi is a sophomore in her first year of Journalism as a staff writer. She very much enjoys writing and biking. She also likes to draw but not so...

Ives claims consumers have been highly satisfied with their exfoliant products for more than 30 years, and these products are dermatologist tested and approved. The truth is that pros and cons exist for all mechanical exfoliants, not just St. Ives products. Should You Choose Exfoliants?

Is it safe to use St Ives Apricot Scrub everyday?

Is It Good To Use A Face Scrub Daily? Absolutely, just as long as you use a gentle one. If we sound like a broken record, it's because we care about your skin and don't want you to do anything to harm it. Trust us, you and your glowing complexion will thank us.

Is St Ives Apricot Scrub good for acne?

The scrub is non comedogenic that means it will not clog pores and cause breakouts especially for acne prone skin people. But well, I honestly didn't felt any reduction on my acne active as well as non active. So it basically did not work on my acne as such. But otherwise, it is a really good face scrub.

Does St Ives Apricot Scrub cause breakouts?

Ives's scrub is so harsh, it leads to “long-term skin damage… [its] jagged edges… cause micro-tears in the skin when used in a scrub. While this damage may not be immediately noticeable to the naked eye, it nonetheless leads to acne, infection and wrinkles.