St. Ives

St. Ives Tea Tree Acne Control Spot Treatment

Name: St. Ives - Tea Tree Acne Control Spot Treatment
Brand: St. Ives

Efficacy100/100IrritancyHigh

See all ingredients

Works for

Anti-blemish

Salicylic acid, Niacinamide

Works well

What the product description says

“Tea Tree Acne Control Spot Treatment”

From product name

This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: salicylic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.

Salicylic acidHeroEffect: HighUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)2%

NiacinamideUnder-dosedIs proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production~0.3–0.55%

Exfoliation

Side benefit · Salicylic acid

Works well

This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: salicylic acid.

Salicylic acidKey activeEffect: HighUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)2%

Moisturizing

Side benefit · Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Glycerin + 7 more

Works

This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.

The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water. When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job: glycerin, polyglycerin-3.

This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: butyrospermum parkii butter, caprylic/capric triglyceride.

Caprylic/capric triglycerideKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin~6.1–7.4%

GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~2.6–3.1%

Butyrospermum parkii butterKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals~1.9–2.3%

Cetearyl alcoholKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture~1.5–1.9%

Jojoba estersKey active· EmollientEffect: HighAn emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function~0.75–1.15%

Helianthus annuus seed waxKey active· EmollientEffect: HighHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and support skin's barrier function while creating a thicker product consistency~0.55–0.8%

Polyglycerin-3Key active· HumectantEffect: HighHelps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.2–0.4%

Butylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowUsed to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin~0.1–0.15%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy

3 strong irritants: Menthol, Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract + 1 more — patch-test recommended

High risk

We flagged 10 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Salicylic acidUsed for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)High2%

Menthol—High~0.6–0.95%est.

Acacia decurrens flower waxUsed as a fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.2–0.4%est.

Tasmannia lanceolata fruit/leaf extract—High~0.15–0.3%est.

Hamamelis virginiana leaf extractA plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.15%est.

Melaleuca alternifolia flower/leaf/stem extractA tea tree extract. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.15%est.

Caprylic/capric triglycerideA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerinMedium~6.1–7.4%est.

Steareth-2Helps oil and water mix togetherMedium~3.1–3.8%est.

Steareth-21Helps oil and water mix togetherMedium~1.2–1.5%est.

Jojoba estersAn emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier functionMedium~0.75–1.15%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

Butyrospermum parkii butterA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals3/5~1.9–2.3%est.

Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture2/5~1.5–1.9%est.

Alternatives

The closest match we found

Skinfix Acne+ 2% BHA Spot Treatment

Closest match87% match

$30.00

View all alternatives

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Salicylic acid2%

Hero · Anti-blemishIrritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

Anti-inflammatoryAnti-blemishExfoliationAntibacterialEvens skin tone

Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)

More about Salicylic acid

Water~45–55%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Plain old water

More about Water

Cellulose~9.7–11.8%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Mattifying

Can be used to help absorb oil as well as add volume and imporve texture of products.

More about Cellulose

Caprylic/capric triglyceride~6.1–7.4%

Key activeIrritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin

More about Caprylic/capric triglyceride

Steareth-2~3.1–3.8%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Steareth-2

Glycerin~2.6–3.1%

Key active

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

Magnesium aluminum silicate~2–2.4%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Anti-aging

Might be helpful in restoring skin barrier function and, when combined with zinc carbonate and malonic acid, reducing fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating elastin production. Also helps stabilize the product formulation

More about Magnesium aluminum silicate

Butyrospermum parkii butter~1.9–2.3%

Key activeComedogenic 3/5

Irritation risk: Low
Comedogenicity: 3/5

Works for

MoisturizingAnti-agingAnti-oxidation

A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals

More about Butyrospermum parkii butter

Cetearyl alcohol~1.5–1.9%

Key activeComedogenic 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

Steareth-21~1.2–1.5%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Steareth-21

Phenoxyethanol~0.5–1%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol

Jojoba esters~0.75–1.15%

Key activeIrritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

An emollient made of jojoba oil. Helps soften the skin and support its barrier function

More about Jojoba esters

Menthol~0.6–0.95%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

More about Menthol

Xanthan gum~0.55–0.8%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Xanthan gum

Helianthus annuus seed wax~0.55–0.8%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and support skin's barrier function while creating a thicker product consistency

More about Helianthus annuus seed wax

Sodium phytate~0.35–0.65%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Used to stabilize product formulations

More about Sodium phytate

Niacinamide~0.3–0.55%

Under-dosed

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Anti-agingEvens skin toneMoisturizingAnti-blemishReduces irritationAntibacterialReduces rednessAnti-inflammatory

Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production

More about Niacinamide

Polyglycerin-3~0.2–0.4%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

Helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Polyglycerin-3

Acacia decurrens flower wax~0.2–0.4%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Used as a fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Acacia decurrens flower wax

Tasmannia lanceolata fruit/leaf extract~0.15–0.3%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

More about Tasmannia lanceolata fruit/leaf extract

Butylene glycol~0.1–0.15%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Butylene glycol

Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract~0.1–0.15%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

Anti-inflammatory

A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating

More about Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract

Melaleuca alternifolia flower/leaf/stem extract~0.05–0.15%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A tea tree extract. Can be irritating

More about Melaleuca alternifolia flower/leaf/stem extract

Ingredient list view

Salicylic acid, Water, Cellulose, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Steareth-2, Glycerin, Magnesium aluminum silicate, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Cetearyl alcohol, Steareth-21, Phenoxyethanol, Jojoba esters, Menthol, Xanthan gum, Helianthus annuus seed wax, Sodium phytate, Niacinamide, Polyglycerin-3, Acacia decurrens flower wax, Tasmannia lanceolata fruit/leaf extract, Butylene glycol, Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract, Melaleuca alternifolia flower/leaf/stem extract

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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.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
	St. IvesTea Tree Acne Control Spot TreatmentYOUR PRODUCT	SkinfixAcne+ 2% BHA Spot Treatment	Kiehl'sTruly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid	AESTURATheracne 365 Spot Treatment
Match	—	87%	82%	80%
Price	—	$30.00	$27.10	$14.08
Shared key ingredients	—	4 of 8	3 of 8	3 of 8
Key difference	—	Azelaic Acid	Gluconolactone	Cyclopentasiloxane
Irritancy	High	Low	Low	Medium
Drying alcohol	—	—	—	Contains drying alcohol
	View product	Shop	Shop	Shop

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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 12 studies and safety reviews.

St. IvesTea Tree Acne Control Spot Treatment

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