How do I choose a face scrub?

Here’s the thing: There are a slew of face wash and scrubs to choose from out there in this great big world of beauty. Why? Because there are many types of skin! Maybe you’ve already identified the characteristics of the skin you’re in (definitely humble brag-worthy), and maybe not (no worries, you’re still good). Either way, we’re here to help you. Ahead, the best scrub and face wash for all skin types.

The Best Face Wash for Acne Prone Skin

Dreaded acne breakouts happen when hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. This can lead to whiteheads, blackheads or pimples that pop up on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders.

Try: St. Ives Acne Control Apricot Scrub

We added salicylic acid to our signature apricot scrub to help reduce breakouts and prevent acne. Crushed walnut shell powder leaves pores fresher than fresh for beautifully glowing skin. As for the apricots, they come from either sunny California or North Africa—and we always pick the juiciest ones to get the fragrant extracts and kernel oils we want.

The Best Face Scrub For Dry Skin

Sometimes after washing, extremely dry skin can feel tight and even sore. If that’s the case, you know you need a cleanser rich in hydrating nutrients.

Try: St. Ives Avocado and Honey

We don’t just love to put avocado on our toast, we love to put it in our products! The extract from buttery avocados (ours come from Kenya and Israel, BTW) is famous for its moisturizing properties and honey is known to nourish. Made with 100% natural exfoliants, this delectable face scrub for dry skin smoothes away dryness to reveal soft, even skin.

The Best Face Scrub for Blackheads

Clogged pores can lead to blackheads (see above!), but what you may not know is that when the dead skin cells in the open pore react with oxygen in the air, they turn black, hence the name. Creepy and cool at the same time, huh?

Try: St. Ives Blackhead Clearing Green Tea Scrub

Salicylic acid packs a punch in this dermatologist-tested, blackhead-tackling green tea face scrub that unclogs pores and calms redness for glowing, bump-free skin.

Bet you didn’t know green tea has tons of benefits. Our green tea comes from China, where we process them the very, very old-fashioned way. They say anything worth doing takes time—it’s why we use the same methods that have been used throughout the last couple millennia!

The Best Face Scrub for Sensitive Skin

Dry, rough patches? Check. Itchiness? Double check. Frequent rashes and tiny red bumps. Yup! Then you likely have the signs and symptoms of sensitive skin, which means you’ll want to take extra special care because you ain’t got time for flare-ups.

Try: Gentle Smoothing Oatmeal Scrub & Mask

One part scrub, one part mask. Walnut shell powder gently buffs away dull skin when used as a face scrub. The calming properties of oatmeal and honey-inspired us to craft a scrub that can also be used as a face mask. Voilà, a 2-in-1 treat for your skin.

Oh, and outside of morning hunger, oatmeal is fantastic for soothing skin. After finely milling and grounding good ol’ American oats, we soak the powder in water and filter the extract for use.

The Best Face Wash for Combination Skin

Part oily, part dry…it’s quite a common combo. The oily skin is in most likely what’s called the T-zone area (forehead, nose, chin) while the drier area is on the cheeks. A cleanser that can perform that balancing act is going to be your best bet.

Try: St. Ives Radiant Skin, Pink Lemon and Mandarin

Infused with pink lemon (yes, they exist!) and mandarin peel extracts, this citrusy face scrub smoothes away rough skin and evens out skin tone for positively glowing skin.