Oil-Free Acne Scrub
The Equate Oil-Free Acne Scrub is a exfoliating scrubs & peeling gel. Our analysis of its 35 ingredients (26 low-risk) rates it Excellent (94/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The Equate Oil-Free Acne Scrub is a exfoliating scrubs & peeling gel. Our analysis of its 35 ingredients (26 low-risk) rates it Excellent (94/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
|
|
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
(Cleansing, Foaming, Surfactant) |
Sulfate
|
|
|
|
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
|
|
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Acrylates Copolymer
(Adhesive, Artificial Nail Builder, Binding Agent, Film Forming, Hair Fixing, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Antistatic Agent, Binding) |
|
|
|
|
Sodium Chloride
(Bulking Agent, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Stearyl Stearate
(Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Euphorbia Cerifera Cera
(Astringent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Jojoba Esters
(Emollient, Moisturising, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
|
|
|
|
Carrageenan | |
|
|
|
C12-15 Alkyl Lactate
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract
(Astringent, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Tonic) |
|
|
|
|
Polyquaternium-7
(Antistatic Agent, Film Forming, Hair Fixing) |
|
|
|
|
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Oily Skin
|
|
|
|
Ascorbyl Palmitate
(Antioxidant, Masking) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
|
|
Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
(Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
|
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
|
|
Polyvinyl Alcohol
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Propylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioningagent Miscellaneous, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
|
Benzalkonium Chloride
(Antimicrobial Agent, Antistatic Agent, Cosmetic Biocide, Deodorant, Surfactant Suspending Agent, Preservative) |
|
|
|
|
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
|
Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate
(Uv Absorber) |
|
|
|
|
Agar
(Binding Agent, Fragrance, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Mica
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying) |
|
|
|
|
Titanium/Titanium Dioxide
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying) |
|
|
|
|
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
|
|
|
|
PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming) |
|
|
|
|
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
|
|
CI 73360
(Cosmetic Colorant) |
|
|
|
|
CI 16035
(Cosmetic Colorant) |
|
|
|
|
CI 60725
(Colorant, Cosmetic Colorant) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.
Salicylic Acid
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
From the community
Used this product? Rate it in 10 seconds
Alternatives
Other products people analyze alongside this one.