ESPA Clarifying Skinscrub

ESPA Clarifying Skinscrub

Efficacy50/100IrritancyHigh

Works for

Cleansing
Olive oil peg-7 esters, Polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate + 3 more
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“A revitalising exfoliator to deeply cleanse, clarify and smooth, while protecting the skin’s natural moisture barrier.”
Source: Recreate Yourself

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate se, olive oil peg-7 esters, polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate, xanthan gum) and should be able to cleanse the skin gently. Still keep in mind that any cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.

Olive oil peg-7 estersEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent~2.8–3.4%
Polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearateEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together~1.8–2.2%
Cetearyl alcoholEffect: HighA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture~1.5–1.8%
Glyceryl stearate seEffect: HighUsed to stabilize the product formulations and works as an emollient~1.3–1.5%
Xanthan gumEffect: HighUsed to create a thicker product consistency~0.5–0.75%
Exfoliation
Allantoin
Not delivered
What the product description says
“A revitalising exfoliator to deeply cleanse, clarify and smooth, while protecting the skin’s natural moisture barrier.”
Source: Recreate Yourself

This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.

AllantoinEffect: Low, below effective doseHelps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated~0.2–0.35%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
7 strong irritants: Limonene, Citrus paradisi peel oil + 5 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 19 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~0.55–0.85%est.
Citrus paradisi peel oilUsed as a fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.4–0.6%est.
Lavandula angustifolia oilAn essential oil. Potential allergen and can be irritating. It has some anti-bacterial propertiesHigh~0.35–0.65%est.
LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.2–0.4%est.
Citrus limon peel oilA highly irritating fragranceHigh~0.2–0.4%est.
Eucalyptus globulus leaf oilAn essential oil that can be very irritating. Has some anti-bacterial propertiesHigh~0.2–0.4%est.
Mentha spicata flower/leaf/stem extractUsed as a fragrance and can be irritatingHigh~0.25–0.4%est.
Anthemis nobilis flower oilAn essential oil that is used as a fragrance and can be irritating. It might have some anti-oxidant effect in skinHigh~0.15–0.3%est.
Vitis vinifera seed oilA great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant propertiesMedium~9.3–11.3%est.
Olive oil peg-7 estersHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agentMedium~2.8–3.4%est.
Canola oilA plant oil that can help soften the upper layer of the skinMedium~2.2–2.7%est.
Polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearateHelps water and oil mix togetherMedium~1.8–2.2%est.
Hydrogenated coco-glyceridesHelps oil and water mix together while creating a nice finish on the skinMedium~1.1–1.3%est.
Benzoic acidA preservativeMedium~0.25–0.5%est.
Dehydroacetic acidA preservativeMedium~0.2–0.35%est.
Phytic acidAn alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), but is mostly used to stabilize product formulations in cosmeticsMedium~0.15–0.3%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~0.1–0.25%est.
Moringa oleifera seed extractHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and might have some antioxidant effectMedium~0.1–0.2%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.05%est.
Comedogenic
2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
2 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture2/5~1.5–1.8%est.
Glyceryl stearate seUsed to stabilize the product formulations and works as an emollient2/5~1.3–1.5%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~45–55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Vitis vinifera seed oil~9.3–11.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidation

A great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant properties

More about Vitis vinifera seed oil
Diatomaceous earth~4.7–5.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Diatomaceous earth
Olive oil peg-7 esters~2.8–3.4%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent

More about Olive oil peg-7 esters
Canola oil~2.2–2.7%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

A plant oil that can help soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Canola oil
Polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate~1.8–2.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together

More about Polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate
Glycerin~1.7–2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Cetearyl alcohol~1.5–1.8%
Comedogenic 2/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture

More about Cetearyl alcohol
Glyceryl stearate se~1.3–1.5%
Comedogenic 2/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

Used to stabilize the product formulations and works as an emollient

More about Glyceryl stearate se
Hydrogenated coco-glycerides~1.1–1.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps oil and water mix together while creating a nice finish on the skin

More about Hydrogenated coco-glycerides
Phenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Sodium benzoate~0.25–0.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative

More about Sodium benzoate
Limonene~0.55–0.85%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat

More about Limonene
Sclerotium gum~0.5–0.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to create gel-like formulas and stabilize emulsions

More about Sclerotium gum
Tocopherol~0.5–0.75%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-oxidationAnti-agingAnti-inflammatoryMoisturizing

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

More about Tocopherol
Xanthan gum~0.5–0.75%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Xanthan gum
Cedrus atlantica bark oil~0.45–0.65%
Formula
Citrus paradisi peel oil~0.4–0.6%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Citrus paradisi peel oil
Lavandula angustifolia oil~0.35–0.65%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An essential oil. Potential allergen and can be irritating. It has some anti-bacterial properties

More about Lavandula angustifolia oil
Pinus nigra bud/needle extract~0.35–0.65%
Formula
Helianthus annuus seed oil~0.35–0.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function

More about Helianthus annuus seed oil
Benzoic acid~0.25–0.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Benzoic acid
Linalool~0.2–0.4%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Linalool
Citrus limon peel oil~0.2–0.4%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A highly irritating fragrance

More about Citrus limon peel oil
Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil~0.2–0.4%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Antibacterial

An essential oil that can be very irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties

More about Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil
Mentha spicata flower/leaf/stem extract~0.25–0.4%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Used as a fragrance and can be irritating

More about Mentha spicata flower/leaf/stem extract
Allantoin~0.2–0.35%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-inflammatoryMoisturizingReduces irritationReduces rednessAnti-blemishExfoliation

Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated

More about Allantoin
Dehydroacetic acid~0.2–0.35%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Dehydroacetic acid
Anthemis nobilis flower oil~0.15–0.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-inflammatoryAnti-oxidation

An essential oil that is used as a fragrance and can be irritating. It might have some anti-oxidant effect in skin

More about Anthemis nobilis flower oil
Tagetes minuta flower oil~0.15–0.25%
Formula
Phytic acid~0.15–0.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), but is mostly used to stabilize product formulations in cosmetics

More about Phytic acid
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.1–0.25%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Moringa oleifera seed extract~0.1–0.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidation

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and might have some antioxidant effect

More about Moringa oleifera seed extract
Disodium phosphate~0.05–0.15%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Helps adjust the product pH and stabilize the formulation

More about Disodium phosphate
Citric acid~0.05%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH

More about Citric acid
Ingredient list view

Water, Vitis vinifera seed oil, Diatomaceous earth, Olive oil peg-7 esters, Canola oil, Polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate, Glycerin, Cetearyl alcohol, Glyceryl stearate se, Hydrogenated coco-glycerides, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium benzoate, Limonene, Sclerotium gum, Tocopherol, Xanthan gum, Cedrus atlantica bark oil, Citrus paradisi peel oil, Lavandula angustifolia oil, Pinus nigra bud/needle extract, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Benzoic acid, Linalool, Citrus limon peel oil, Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, Mentha spicata flower/leaf/stem extract, Allantoin, Dehydroacetic acid, Anthemis nobilis flower oil, Tagetes minuta flower oil, Phytic acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Moringa oleifera seed extract, Disodium phosphate, Citric acid

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🇬🇧 Lookfantastic (UK)70 ml
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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

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Price——$16.93$13.23
Shared key ingredients—3 of 106 of 106 of 10
Key difference—Salicylic AcidAdenosineAnhydroxylitol
Irritancy High Medium Medium Medium
Drying alcohol————
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As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.