St Ives Olive Scrub

Above left to right: St Ives Olive Cleanser and St Ives Olive Scrub

I have been using this scrub since the beginning of September twice a week, following my use of the St Ives Olive Cleanser. Previously I was using St Ives Apricot Scrub for Normal/Combination skin and switching back and worth with St Ives Apricot Scrub for Blemish Prone skin. I have always liked the original apricot scrub because I love exfoliator with beads in it and I liked how clean and soft my skin feels after exfoliating. I never find the apricot scrub too harsh on my skin, like many other people.

I starting using this to compliment my use of the olive cleanser and I like this olive product a lot better than the oliver cleanser too! This scrub feels very luxurious on my skin. It is creamy and buttery without feeling greasy. Also this foams slightly and glides on smoothly on my skin without having to scrub hard. My skin always feel very soft and moisturized after every use. I only use about a quarter size drop every time. It is much creamier than the apricot scrub with less exfoliating beads. It has about half the amount of beads in every quarter size drop compared to the apricot scrub. The olive scrub’s beads feels softer and less sharp and ragged compared to the apricot scrub. Those who find the apricot scrub too harsh for their skin should give the olive scrub a try because it is much creamier and gentler. However, those who like exfoliators with lots of beads in it may find this unsatisfying and subconsciously think that it doesn’t clean as well. At first I did prefer a scrub with more beads but now I am used to it. I find that it exfoliate and cleans my skin just as well. It doesn’t smell like olives or oil at all, but has a slight floral scent to it. I will definitely repurchase this when I run out and I will be alternating this with my MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator. This scrub costs $7.49 CAD at my local Pharmasave and occasionally it goes on sale. The tube is 2oo mL and should last me about 4-5 months with me using this 1-2 times a week.

St Ives Olive Cleanser

Above left to right: St Ives Olive Cleanser and St Ives Olive Scrub

I started using this in September and I have been meaning to try this new line from St Ives since it came out last year, but it was extremely hard to find. When I stumbled upon this at my local Pharmasave and it was at an affordable $7.49 before tax, I decided to try it. There are many beneficial claims to olive oil products, these include: moisturizing; regaining natural oil balance in the skin; softening of skin; the antioxidant properties protect the skin from environmental damage; and it is a great source of vitamin E. With that being said and my skin is so dry then, I have nothing to loose to give it a try .

This cleanser comes in a pump bottle and it is see through, which I like because the pump reduces contamination and messiness and I can see how much product is left in the transparent bottle. I thought this would smell like olive oil but it has nice pleasant light floral scent to it. It is a gel soap cleanser that feels very soft and mild on my skin. Just as I expect from any gel cleanser, it glides on smoothly and gently. The soap is also low sudsing. After about 1.5 months of use, I don’t find this particularly moisturizing, in fact, I find it occasionally drying at night. In general, I find most soap based cleansers a bit drying on me, even if it is mild and low foaming. I don’t mind cleansers that foam but I just prefer that it has no sodium laureth sulphate in it because these cleansers feel drying on my face. However, despite the slight dehydration from this cleanser, I find that it removes makeup really well and it leaves my skin very clean.

When I use a toner afterwards, I find very little makeup residue leftover. It removes some waterproof makeup easily and readily. On a few occasions I purposely did not use makeup remover and I find that it removed my Urban Decay 24/7 liner and my lighter colour eyeshadows easily and cleanily in one swipe. However, with waterproof mascara and any dark and highly pigmented makeup, I would still need to use an eye makeup remover

In general, I like this cleanser because I like the gel texture on my face and it is an excellent makeup remover. It even cleanses better than the St Ives Apricot Cleanser and I really like that one because I have used it for years. Those who hate the micro beads in the Apricot cleanser may want to give the olive cleanser a try because it is gentler and has no beads. The only thing I hate about the olive cleanser is that it is little dehydrating. After 1.5 months of use I am just about half way through a 200 mL bottle and I estimate that one bottle can last about 3-4 months of use with me using this 2 times a day.  Being that it cost just $8.38 with both taxes and it would last me about 1/4 of a year, it is a pretty good deal. I am not sure if I would buy this again if I run out because I would definitely like this cleanser more if it is a cream. I just find cream cleansers more luxurious and moisturizing.

I have also used the St Ives Olive Scrub with this twice a week. Stay tuned for the review!