ST. IVES APRICOT SCRUB: RENEW & FIRM $3-4 USD"Alpha-Hydroxy Complex speeds skin’s cellular renewal process to improve firmness and tone. Exclusive St.Ives® Moisturizing Complex replenishes and retains moisture for clearer, firmer looking skin." ~StIves.com
PRICE
Anything for a few bucks at most times is worthy of trying in my book, even if after trying it doesn't work. So I can't really complain when rounded up that this tube is only worth $4!
PACKAGING
Standard tube packaging. It's easy for dispensing but then you have to deal with remaining product once it nears the end. Instead of snipping the top off and transferring the product to another container to avoid exposure to the air, I just go bend crazy and give my thumbs a good near-the-end workout.
SMELL
It has a sweet creamy smell that translates to something like how an orange cream pop would taste. But not sweet in the sense of fruity. Sweet in the sense of the cream. It doesn't have me jumping off the walls in euphoria nor does it tickle the senses, but tolerable enough to get through when using the product.
PRODUCT CONSISTENCY
If you've tried St. Ives' regular Apricot Scrub, this product, although part of the same line, is slightly different. It still contains walnut shell powder, which is either why you like or dislike Apricot Scrub to begin with, but majority of the scrub is comprised of a cream-like consistency whereas regular Apricot Scrub is just purely rigid in texture. Or "sandpaper" as it's commonly compared to. Its almost like rubbing lotion on your face except for the fact that it's a scrub and contains scrub-like properties and is meant to be washed off.
When delicately worked into the face so as not to scrape the outer skin layer, the cream really soothes as the walnut shell powder exfoliates. I used to go really harsh with the regular Apricot Scrub and would literally grind my skin (oh forgive me of my ignorance), but as I've realized how loving we need to be to our skin, working St. Ives Renew & Firm Apricot Scrub ever so gently is more than enough needed pressure to accomplish proper exfoliation.
WHAT I LIKE
- Majority of the scrub is creamy. It felt really soothing and calming to the fact that the walnut shell powder can be a harsh exfoliant.
- It made my skin glowy.
- The walnut shell powder can be a bit harsh for sensitive skins. I personally don't mind the added roughness but stuck it under the 'dislike' category for those who cannot tolerate a rigid exfoliant.
Its an alright product. I do like the St. Ives Microdermabrasion Scrub more but I like the walnut shell powder for those days when I feel my skin needs a real good cleaning. I don't know how much it actually "toned and firmed" my skin but I did notice glowy results when I used it on those days my skin needed extra love. I guess you can associate the glow as my skin being toned and firmed, hah.
Should you buy it? At $4 or less, I say go for it if you're curious. But I would definitely not recommend it for those that have sensitive skin and cannot tolerate a rougher-than-most scrub. Although it not nearly as harsh by comparison to the regular Apricot Scrub, it does contain the same scrubbing properties. The Renew & Firm however is much more soothing because of it's lotiony consistency.
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18 makeovers:
I LOVE St. Ives sis! Really softens my skin, great review!
I did a post on this today too, lol!! Unlike you, though, I really disliked it - maybe it's because you tried the "renew and firm" version?
Either way, it gave me super-acne after a week! :P
I can't take it - no more Apricot scrubs!! I'm too scared after the last time I tried to give it a 2nd chance ;)
lol, yeah...like others, i've had not so great experiences with St. Ives Apricot Scrub. It was just way too rough for my liking. However, I have yet to try the one that you used, and since you stated it's a lighter version, I might just have a better experience with that one. Thanks for the info :-)
Thanks Sis Nessa! I'm such a sucker for their products. I'm still eyeballing the collagen cream that you have of theirs. *twiddles thumbs* hah.
Oh no Rae! That's definitely not good news at all. I would not like it if I had a reaction like that.
I think St. Ives is a hit or miss brand for people. Because some people really like that it's a bit rougher on the skin, whereas others just can't tolerate that much exfoliation, you know? Like my sister-in-law, she uses the regular Apricot Scrub. And when she doesn't us it, she breaks out. Weird, yah?
But if you didn't like what you tried, then I doubt it's even worth the effort to try another version. Then again, you could get curious, but I'd hate that to be the excuse that breaks you out again, you know what I mean? Hah.
What else consists of your skin care regimen? Do you have a cleanser or face scrub that you use on a regular basis?
I remember your post nilla cookie!! But at least you know that it doesn't work for you. After being a little anal about tugging and being rough with the things I use on my face, I am definitely NOT going back to the regular Apricot Scrub again.
I know you said that you don't exfoliate as often as you should, but when you do, what is it that you use?
Hi Virtuous Blue!
I can attest that the main difference I felt with this one to the regular Apricot Scrub was that this one was more creamy in texture. Almost like a lotion yet a scrub. It still has the walnut shell powder in it, but there doesn't seem to be as much mixed in as the regular scrub. The regular scrub is just like sandpaper paste! And I was using that for YEARS!!
Do you have a product you're using now for exfoliating your skin? How is it working out for you?
I like to use Philosophy's Microdelivery Peel. It's really gentle and leaves my face super soft when I'm done - like a baby's bottom! :)
I really like the name of it nilla cookie. It definitely sounds promising and I'd pick that one just based on the name. I have heard of it but actually haven't tried any Philosophy products. Is it like a cleanser in which it suds and needs rinsing or does it dry and needs to peel off? As I'm assuming "peel", lol.
Hi Mrs. Lynne,
This is actually the only Philosophy product I've ever tried. The way you use it is two-fold; it's like a cleanser with little exfoliating crystals in it and then you apply the "activation gel" which has salicyclic acid over the crystals. Leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse. What you're left is baby soft skin - I'm soo in love!
Let me know if you get to try it hon!
Oooh, activation gel sounds fun! I definitely like the sound of that. How are your pores? Does it seem to get down in there pretty well? I'm a little pore obsessed, hah.
I think it does a pretty good job, although I'm not too pore-obsessed so I'm not sure how it stacks up against others. I think the counters have single use samples you can try. That's how I tested it the first time :)
Oooh, neato! I'll definitely have to check out the samples next time I'm floating around there. Thanks love!
thanks for the review!! :D i've never gotten around to try their scrubs, simply because i have too many other scrubs lying around (bad, bad hoarder here :X). i've heard both raves and rants for this brand, and i'm actually quite curious to find out whether this works for me or not! :D
the only St. Ives product i've tried is their Cucumber and Elastin Eye Gel. it was alright for me... doesn't do much but i like how refreshing it is around the eye area, so i usually use it to wipe off residual makeup around my eyes :) what other products have you tried other than this and the microdermabrasion one?
ps: how about losing your MAC lippie cherry to the Viva Glams? you know you want them! lol! :D
Hey crazychick,
St. Ives is one of those brands that it's either a hit or miss. I really do enjoy their products and am always compelled to "just try it" when I see new things on the shelves by them.
I've nearly tried all the St. Ives face scrubs. I also use the Hydroxy Mask by them.
And you know what? Viva Glam is exactly what I'll be losing it to!! I was thinking about the same topic the other week and the first thing that popped into my head was Viva Glam! Do you have any Viva Glams in your makeup case?
i got this yesterday.
but now i'm a little skeptical about using it because i didn't realize there were other apricot scrubs.
could i still use it if i'm like 15...?
because my skin is that aged. (i think...)
i just started the whole skin care thing because i realized dry my skin was a couple of days ago
I like it ...I use it only 4 days and see a huge differences in my skin..
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