St. Ives Apricot Scrub

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Contains:

Apricot (duh, lol):

• Apricots are known to contain one of the highest levels of carotenoids (think vitamin A) and super-effective antioxidants. All of this natural power might seem, well, too powerful, but they are actually quite gentle and nourishing and they help make fresher, more nourished skin beautifully possible.

Walnut Shell Powder:

• Walnut is known for its hard shell but when it’s ground; it becomes an amazingly effective, all-natural exfoliant ingredient in our scrubs. Not only are walnuts plentiful on the planet, they also help newer, healthier skin come to the surface.

Corn Kernel Meal:

• Corn Kernel Meal is actually flour ground from dried corn. It’s a soft, but gently powerful all-natural exfoliant that promotes skin cell turnover and regeneration. Cornmeal makes softer-feeling, fresher skin possible.

Claims:

Only St. Ives captures the secrets of naturally beautiful and healthy looking skin in this deep cleansing formula that gently exfoliates, removing dull skin cells to instantly reveal smooth, radiant, healthy looking skin.
Contains more than 90% naturally derived ingredients, including Swiss glacial water and Swiss botanicles.
All St. Ives formulas are dermatologist tested in Switzerland.
Promotes healthier looking, glowing skin in just 7 days.

Product is:

• Oil-free
• Non-irritating
• Dermatologist-tested
• 100% natural exfoliants
• 100% natural extracts
• Formulated without parabens and phthalates
• Made without animal ingredients
• Not tested on animals

* Avoid eye area. If product gets into eyes; rinse thoroughly. (That's because it contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate which is harmful to eyes. Also to the skin, read here >> But then again, we (as in everyone) have been using SLS included products since we were kids so...)

* St. Ives scrubs can also be used on the body.

My opinion:

Let's start at the beginning when I first bought it. Let me tell you this was my very first scrub. I just started using them not long ago. I researched the products and found St. Ives to be the best so I went ahead and got myself some apricot goodness for my face. When I first used it; I might have scrubbed a little too hard because the next day, I had bumps on my cheeks. I freaked out and blamed this on this scrub. I thought it was too harsh. Then I read that it could happen the first time. Because all the dirt and oil that may have been hidden deep down where the regular cleansers don't reach; might have come to the surface. Which was good cause that way, it could get out and be cleansed away. But I was still paranoid about it. So, for a long while it just laid on the shelf while I tried some other scrub I bought which was fine and I didn't have any problem with. But then again, I had started to scrub lightly after that first time (which means I was subconsciously aware that it was partly my fault, I might have scrubbed hard). The other scrub was too messy for my lazy self. So, at last, I decided to give St. Ives another try. So glad I did. Cause this time, it didn't cause any problems. In fact, gave me a super smooth and fresh look. Since then, I'm hooked.


Pros:

• Easy, convenient flip-top tube packaging.
• Budget-friendly
• Moisturizing. Makes skin soft and smooth.
• Cleanses & exfoliates well, reveals a healthier skin.
• I'd say it's almost unscented. I mean, the scent in totally unnoticeable if you don't sniff the tube or the product =D (And even if you do; you won't regret it cause it's just a hint of very light, sweet smell. Peachy.)
• I'd say does what it claims.

Cons:

• Though the granules are so tiny, beware of scrubbing too hard nonetheless.

Do I recommend it?

Yes, of course. If you want a glowing, smooth and soft skin.

Garnier PureActive Blackheads Uprooting Scrub

Garnier Skin Naturals PureActive Blackheads Uprooting Scrub

 

I actually was in search for the PureActive 3-in1 scrub but found this one. It says to eliminate blackheads and prevent marks from first use.

Key Ingredients:

Salicylic Acid

• An exfoliant agent. Treats acne and removes spots and blackheads. Also prevents pores from clogging up allowing room for new skin cell growth.

Menthol

• Obtained from peppermint or other mint oils.

Herbarepair

• A natural active extracted from Vaccinium myrtillus with exceptional regenerating and skin-repairing properties.

Claims:

It roots out blackheads so they are visibly reduced.
It helps peel off imperfection marks. Also prevents them from re-appearing.

It looks like this:

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My experience with it:

The first thing I noticed when I opened the tube was the smell. It's so minty (obviously) and refreshing. So pleasant. And as I squirted out the product, I compared it to toothpaste, lol.

See? Smells and even looks like a toothpaste. The same light blue gel and tiny dark blue granules inside. Well, anyway.

It's not a runny gel, it's thick. So you have to wet your face and palms before applying it.
For this product, I can't say 'a little goes a long way'. Because it doesn't. If I take a tiny amount and try to spread it; it doesn't. So, I just work it from one part to another by taking out the product in turns. So at first when I saw the size '100 g', I said, "Wow, that's good. It's going to take forever to finish it off." But nope. For one time scrubbing, you need at least 2-3 generous squirts.

So, the feeling when I apply it? You can guess, tingly. Because of the mint, of course. For me, it's good, cooling sensation. Especially when washing it off. Ooh, it feels so cold and refreshing even in this hot weather. But that's good, right? At least in summer.
But for some; (specially the ones with sensitive skin) it might feel really strong and even sting. Cause even when not putting it around my eyes, it makes them kind of sensitive and I close them.

So does it do what it claims?


I've used it thrice and each time didn't notice anything spectacular about it despite the claims. I can't say much for the blackheads because the Purederm Acne Wash Cleansing Tissues take care of them for me so I don't know if this scrub makes any difference. But the reduction in pimple marks or clogged pores? Not so much. It didn't do anything for the tiny bump/clogged pore on the bridge of my nose. It's still there. And for the cleansing purpose? Meh. Just like any other cleanser would do. Nothing special. No glowy look, no extra soft skin after using it (like I do with other scrubs I would post about later). So, it's just an okay product.
And it's 425 PKR at Naheed Super Market so it might be considered expensive for the little it does for its claims.

(Shouldn't it be around 300 PKR considered India's currency is double than our's? Cause it says 150 indian rs on the tube. Well, is Naheed charging more? I'll have to check for its price at other stores and stuff.)