Apricot Scrub

I have many clients that are using Apricot scrub and I need to know why they should try other products. I know that the walnut shells cause tiny rips on the surface of the skin. Is there any other things that anybody can offer me on this product?

Thank you.

Most people buy apricot scrub from pharmacies, so you can just go with difference in quality mass market vs. professional grade products. Mass market 3% of active ingredients and a lot of fillers, preservatives and another heavy stuff... Prof. grade a high % of active ingredients, which more safe and professional designed to bring out visible results. Don't forget to mention that over exfoliation with physical exfoliants like apricot etc can cost skin irritation and even more serious problems like dermatitis, because irritated and broken skin is free invitation for bacteria to get in and cause inflammation...
Go with - "if you want to be safe use prof. grade products in case when you don't know what else to say....

Thank You so much, you certainly helped me touch base on this topic....

it can also overstimulate oil glands, ive always been told apricot scrub was a big no no

Me as well, I've heard no about that product. I used it though when I was in high school, it seems that alot of the teen crowd use it just because they are miss informed. The harder you scrub and more often the better, that's why I used it. I had grade 2 acne and I was really desperate for improvements. I found that it actually caused more acne and inflammation and stopped using the stuff within a couple days. I prolly didn't help but that's my experience with that product.

ya it can actually scrach the skin accutane is best for 1,2,3 grade acne

Accutane? Oh my God... It's LAST choice - if nothing else working. It has so many side effect that better take same amound if poison everyday. Plus if it's doesn't work there nothing after that you can do.

You are right, the apricot scrub has chopped up walnuts cutting up the skin and getting lodged in the pores. A few options are using an enzyme mask or a scrub with a well rounded bead.

Apricot scrub uses crushed APRICOT pits (not walnut shells) as the exfoliant -- thus the name: APRICOT SCRUB.
The reason that it is not to be recommended to anyone, regardless of skin type or condition, is that the crushed pits microscopically tear the skin.

Geez, I have been using this product for YEARS!

Everyone always tells me how nice my skin looks and how young I look for my age.
I even use a alpha-hydroxy lotion right after.
Maybe my skin is just thicker than most?

I have never had any problems with this product. In fact, I couldn't do without it!

This product MICROSCOPICALLY tears the skin -- that means you CANNOT SEE the damage that is being done! You may be too young to see the damage NOW, but it will eventually show. It's OK to use a scrub, in face it is recommended that you do, but choose one which doesn't use ground up pits! Try something with Jojoba bead, or something else that it entirely spherical. You'll be glad later on that you did. And a scrub should only be used no more than 3 times a week.

Hmm, I see your point.
Is there any on the market that you recommend?

Now I'm worried!

MD Formulations and PCA both have scrubbs with spherical beads. I prefer the PCA Gentle Exfoliant.

Hi everyone, just discovered this forum. Can't tell how active it is, as the dates of posts are not listed..

I would hope everyone will stop using this on their face now!!! If your clients really enjoy that deep scrubbing feeling, recommend that they put sugar in their daily cleanser maybe once or twice a week. Sugar is naturally round and as much as they scrub, it will not cause any harm to the skin and they will get the feeling they are looking for. Your clients will be happy because sugar is cheap and maybe they will be able to spend a little bit of money on something better for their face rather then apricot scrub!!!

You are not the only one with clients that use the apricot scrub! I have found out that a lot of people use it, and it's too harsh on the skin. I have mentioned it to cleints and they have either bought an exfoliant that I sell or have purchased something over the counter that they can afford.

Oh my...stop having them use Apricot Scrub its the worst. As everyone else has mentioned all the damage it causes on your skin. I use an amazing product called CRYSTAL BALL from Beauty Society (formerly known as Intuit Beauty) This product is made with volcanic microcrystals, green tea extract, chamomile, licorice and an array of exotic oils. If you care for any samples or would like to order any, please contact me or see my website.

Anna
www.aritten.intuitbeautydiva.com
alritten@yahoo.com
612-272-7657

I was told from the time I became an esthetican that St.Ives Apricot Scrub is for your feet not your face! However, I started to practice and learned that so much of the public use it. So I decided to do a little reasearch. There are no Apricots in it. It must have been an original formula that did. St. Ives must have realized this and changed their formula. Because if you read the back it has corn kernal meal (Same as Dermalogica's Scrub). Corn kernal meal is your grit/scrub. And apricot extract keeps customers believing it is the natural scrub of an apricot. I would never put the stuff on my face. Esthetician have to work with their client and if they like it, just make sure it's not damanging their skin. A woods lamp can see if it is. Some skins can take it (but not for long). Don't run your client off. Work with them. Find out when their getting close to the end of the bottle and then turn them on to something better.

I actually think the walnut pits in it are what impale the skin and cause tiny abrasions which will leave the skin open to infection and scarring. It is best to advice your clients not to use this product on their face and if they aren't able to stop using it then they should know that it causes these effects. And any time they exfoliate they should never scrub too hard and only once a week. I honestly know that there are so many other great products out there that provide great results. It is all about educating your clients, they should trust us and our opinions.

I use to use this product a long time ago and have learned recently that Under a microscope this exfoliant looks like broken shards of glass and can do much harm to the face. For an everyday gentle facial scrub I would sugest Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant or if you prefer an granular feel Dermalogia's skin prep scrub is good as well I like the daily microfoliant for my face.

Sugar is not spherical, it's crystal-like. It's recommended for body scrubs, NOT face scrubs. See picture in link for sugar shape... www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/candy/sugar.html.

I think you guys are full of crap and just want to make more money selling "professional" products that work the same or WORSE than inexpensive things like apricot scrub. I have been using it for years and it keeps my skin smooth, firm, and acne free. When I stop using it, my skin starts to look dull and dingy and I break out. There may be more "gentle" exfoliants that are better to use, but I really do not believe the scrub will hurt you unless you are rubbing it in with sandpaper! Even if nut-shell scrubs cause these oh so terrifying "microscopic tears"...so what? Skin heals! I only wish the skin on the rest of my body looked as good as the skin on my face!

Sara in Deerfield
Thanks! My instructor had told me that sugar was round and now that I have done some research, you are right, it is not!! Thanks for informing me, I appreciate it!!

Lets see your face in 20 years!

You are right, go ahead and keep using what you want. And don't about aging either, over the counter products work magic on dull lifeless skin. All estheticians are full of crap-

abi in Denver, Colorado said: You are right, go ahead and keep using what you want. And don't about aging either, over the counter products work magic on dull lifeless skin. All estheticians are full of crap-

If you're not an esty, who are you talking about when you said you "have many clients that are using Apricot scrub?"

abi in Denver, Colorado said: I have many clients that are using Apricot scrub and I need to know why they should try other products. I know that the walnut shells cause tiny rips on the surface of the skin. Is there any other things that anybody can offer me on this product?

Thank you.

I appreciate your concern. While I have not had good results using Apricot Scrub on my face, I find that using it on my feet, followed by a rinse, towel, and Aspercreme, helps me sleep after a long day's work on my feet. I highly recommend it for that purpose. Please try it before you knock it.

abi in Denver, Colorado said: All estheticians are full of crap-

Wow abi,
I'm an esthetician. I guess you're saying that I am full of crap. Would you like to compare knowledge?

Consider this:

I am an esthetician.
There are points that you may find that I agree with you.
If I am full of crap, then wouldn't agreeing with you make you full of crap as well?

This board is so NEGATIVE and mean-spirited. Obviously you non-professionals are not here to learn about proper sking care from licensed professionals. So, in all sincerity, I wish you the best of luck with your skin; as for me, I won't be returning to this board. Ever.