Gillette Venus Skin Smoothing Exfoliant

Gillette Venus Skin Smoothing Exfoliant

Efficacy50/100IrritancyLow

Works for

Cleansing
Sodium lauroamphoacetate, Sodium myristoyl sarcosinate + 1 more
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“It gently exfoliates to remove dead skin and wash away sebum, dirt and oils on the skin's surface that can lead to trapped or ingrown hairs.”
Source: Ulta

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (sodium lauroamphoacetate, sodium myristoyl sarcosinate, sodium trideceth sulfate) 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.

Sodium lauroamphoacetateEffect: High~11–13%
Sodium myristoyl sarcosinateEffect: High~5.7–7%
Sodium trideceth sulfateEffect: High~3.5–4.2%
Exfoliation
No ingredient credited for this claim
Not delivered
What the product description says
“Venus Skin Smoothing Exfoliant”
Source: Ulta

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.

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
6 flagged ingredients
Low risk
We flag 6 ingredients with irritancy potential; the product's overall irritancy is low. The table lists each ingredient's own rating.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Acrylates copolymerUsed to stabilize product formulation, help create an even product layer over skin (for example, in sunscreen) and create a thicker product consistencyMedium~1.1–1.4%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.65–1%est.
Sodium salicylateThe salt of salicylic acid. Helps exfoliate the upper layer of the skin. Can also work to preserve cosmetic productsMedium~0.25–0.5%est.
Disodium edtaStabilizes the product formulationMedium~0.2–0.35%est.
Olea europaea fruit oilAn emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammationMedium~0.1–0.2%est.
Simmondsia chinensis seed oilSoftens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.Medium~0.15–0.25%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 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
Cocos nucifera oilAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic3/5~0.15–0.3%est.

User reviews

Would you recommend?
No community reviews yet.

Be the first — your take helps the next person decide.

Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~45–55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Sodium lauroamphoacetate~11–13%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Sodium lauroamphoacetate
Sodium myristoyl sarcosinate~5.7–7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Sodium myristoyl sarcosinate
Sodium trideceth sulfate~3.5–4.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Sodium trideceth sulfate
Hydrated silica~2.3–2.8%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Mattifying
More about Hydrated silica
Glycerin~1.8–2.2%
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
Sorbitol~1.3–1.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture

More about Sorbitol
Acrylates copolymer~1.1–1.4%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Used to stabilize product formulation, help create an even product layer over skin (for example, in sunscreen) and create a thicker product consistency

More about Acrylates copolymer
Citric acid~0.65–1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

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

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

A preservative

More about Sodium benzoate
Sodium salicylate~0.25–0.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-aging

The salt of salicylic acid. Helps exfoliate the upper layer of the skin. Can also work to preserve cosmetic products

More about Sodium salicylate
Peg-120 methyl glucose trioleate~0.7–1.05%
Formula
Disodium edta~0.2–0.35%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Stabilizes the product formulation

More about Disodium edta
Cocos nucifera oil~0.15–0.3%
Comedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic

More about Cocos nucifera oil
Olea europaea fruit oil~0.1–0.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammation

More about Olea europaea fruit oil
Simmondsia chinensis seed oil~0.15–0.25%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.

More about Simmondsia chinensis seed oil
Ingredient list view

Water, Sodium lauroamphoacetate, Sodium myristoyl sarcosinate, Sodium trideceth sulfate, Hydrated silica, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Acrylates copolymer, Citric acid, Sodium benzoate, Sodium salicylate, Peg-120 methyl glucose trioleate, Disodium edta, Cocos nucifera oil, Olea europaea fruit oil, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil

Compare prices

Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.

Amazon USPrice as of 11/10 00:24 GMT
$9.05
Buy

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

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.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
GilletteVenus Skin Smoothing ExfoliantYOUR PRODUCTOlayHydrating Facial Cleanser, Hyaluronic Acid, for Normal Skin, Fragrance-FreeAveenoCleansing Therapy Moisturizing Soothing Wash Fragrance-FreeCetaphilRestoraderm Unscented Skin Restoring Body Wash
Match—21%18%16%
Price$9.05$7.43−$1.62—$16.49+$7.44
Shared key ingredients—4 of 73 of 73 of 7
Key difference—Salicylic AcidPanthenolNiacinamide
Irritancy Low Low Low Low
Drying alcohol————
View product Shop Shop Shop

More alternatives: Face facts Ceramide Blemish Foaming CleanserAlumierMD UK Gentle Foaming Cleanser

Cheaper alternatives? See how this stacks up against similar formulas.
We compare ingredient profiles across our catalog — pick the closest match for your budget.
Open dupe finder
Gillette Venus Skin Smoothing Exfoliant
GilletteVenus Skin Smoothing Exfoliant

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.