St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub
Why this score
Concern49 / 55
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine: watch if sensitive
How much genuine, cited concern the ingredients carry, weighted by how much of each is likely present and whether the product stays on or rinses off.
Transparency20 / 20
- No hidden fragrance blend.
Whether the full ingredient list, and any fragrance, are actually disclosed.
Formulation restraint18 / 25
- 2 known irritant or fragrance-allergen ingredients: Walnut Shell Powder, Cocamidopropyl Betaine.
Needless irritant or allergen load for the product type. A clean, purposeful formula scores well without any "free-from" theater.
Reviewed by PlainBody Editorial · Updated July 2026
What’s inside
WaterGenerally safe
The base most products are built on. It carries the other ingredients and has no safety concern.
Full ingredient details →Walnut Shell PowderWatch if sensitive
A ground-nutshell physical exfoliant whose jagged, irregular particle edges can create tiny skin abrasions if scrubbed hard or too often, more a technique issue than a toxicity one. Dermatology commentary has pointed to this shape (versus rounder synthetic or sugar granules) as the reason some users report micro-tears with vigorous use.
Full ingredient details →Glyceryl StearateGenerally safe
A common emulsifier and texture-softener made from glycerin and stearic acid. CIR review of this class found no evidence of reproductive, carcinogenic, sensitizing, or phototoxic effects in the studies examined.
Full ingredient details →GlycerinGenerally safe
A humectant that draws water into the skin. One of the best-studied, best-tolerated ingredients in personal care.
Full ingredient details →Cocamidopropyl BetaineWatch if sensitive
A coconut-derived amphoteric surfactant used to boost foam and mildness in cleansers and shampoos. CIR has reviewed it as safe as used, but it is one of the more established contact-allergy triggers in personal care, usually traced to manufacturing impurities such as amidoamine and dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA) rather than the betaine itself. People with a history of eyelid or scalp dermatitis are more likely to react.
Full ingredient details →Cetearyl AlcoholCommonly feared, low concern
A blend of cetyl and stearyl fatty alcohols used to thicken lotions and soften skin. It is chemically unrelated to drying alcohols like ethanol, and the CIR expert panel has found fatty alcohols safe as used in cosmetics.
Full ingredient details →Cetyl AlcoholCommonly feared, low concern
A fatty alcohol used to soften skin and stabilize creams. Despite the name, it does not dry the skin.
Full ingredient details →Below the 1% line
CarbomerGenerally safe
Carbomer is a synthetic polymer used purely to thicken and stabilize gels and lotions, with negligible skin penetration due to its large molecular size. Safety reviews have found low toxicity and minimal irritation potential even in leave-on use.
Full ingredient details →FragranceWatch if sensitive
An undisclosed scent blend that can contain dozens of components. The single most common cause of cosmetic contact allergy, and the blend is not itemized, so you cannot see what is in it.
Full ingredient details →LimoneneWatch if sensitive
A citrus-scented fragrance component. Fine for most, but it oxidizes over time into a known contact allergen, so it must be labelled in the EU.
Full ingredient details →LinaloolWatch if sensitive
A floral fragrance component and one of the EU-labelled fragrance allergens. Usually fine, worth watching if you react to scented products.
Full ingredient details →MethylisothiazolinoneRestricted
A preservative that caused a wave of contact allergy in the 2010s. The EU banned it from leave-on products and tightly limits it in rinse-off ones. A genuine concern, not a myth.
Full ingredient details →Titanium DioxideCommonly feared, low concern
A mineral UV filter and white pigment used in sunscreens and makeup. It sits on the skin surface rather than being absorbed, and major regulators consider it safe for topical cosmetic use.
Full ingredient details →Lower-concern alternatives
Same category, higher PlainScore.
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Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. Concern ratings are evidence-graded and cited on each ingredient page. See how we score.