ISDIN Essential Scrub Exfoliating Cleansing Gel 100 g

When should you use this facial exfoliating gel?

ISDIN Essential Scrub is an exfoliating cleanser from the Isdinceutics line with a gel texture that transforms into a light foam upon contact with water. Its cleansing base combines two gentle plant-based surfactants—coco-glucoside and decyl glucoside—derived from sugar and fatty alcohols. It is infused with fine particles derived from Mediterranean olive pits, which provide mechanical exfoliation. The formula also contains glycerin, saccharide isomerate—a complex of plant sugars that locks in moisture on the skin’s surface—as well as extracts of clary sage and lavender flower.

The skin’s surface is constantly renewing itself: the oldest cells in the stratum corneum gradually shed, but this shedding often slows down on oily or thick skin, where they accumulate along with sebum. When massaged in, the olive particles loosen these cells while the cleansing base cleanses: the gel cleanses and exfoliates the skin daily and removes dead cells that dull the complexion. It complements facial scrubs and exfoliants, with the advantage of replacing your usual cleanser rather than being added to your routine.

Dead skin cells mixed with sebum also lodge at the entrance to the pores, making them appear more prominent. By clearing them out, the gel helps reduce the appearance of pores. In a four-week study involving 30 people aged 18 to 45 with combination to oily skin, using the product once daily, clogged pores decreased by 98% and blemishes by 28%.

Essential Scrub is designed for combination to oily skin with an uneven texture, a dull complexion, or skin prone to blackheads. It can be used alone as a morning or evening cleanser, or as the second step in a double-cleansing routine after using a makeup-removing oil. After rinsing, the skin feels soft and radiant, ready for subsequent skincare steps.

The gel cleanses the face, but it should be kept away from the eye area, leaving the removal of makeup from the eyelids and lashes to another product. For this, we recommend Isdin’s 4-in-1 micellar water, which removes makeup from the face and eyes without rinsing. Used before exfoliation, it removes mascara and eyeshadow: all that’s left for the gel to do is cleanse and exfoliate the rest of the face, without ever coming into contact with the eyes.

How do you apply this exfoliating cleanser?

Directions for Use

Take a coin-sized amount of product and apply it to your face in circular motions, with your eyes closed, until it turns into a light foam. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry with a towel. Use daily, in the morning or evening.

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Precautions

• For external use only on the adult face. Do not swallow.
• Avoid direct contact with the eyes and mucous membranes. In case of contact with the eyes, rinse thoroughly with cold water.
• Massage gently without applying pressure: vigorous rubbing does not exfoliate more effectively and may irritate the skin.
• Do not use on broken, irritated, or sunburned skin, or on inflamed or painful blemishes, as rubbing may aggravate them.
• After a recent dermatological procedure (chemical peel, laser treatment, microdermabrasion) or during a treatment that weakens the skin, consult your practitioner before resuming use of an exfoliant.
• Do not use if you have a known allergy to any of the ingredients. The formula contains fragrance as well as extracts of clary sage and lavender flower, which may cause a reaction in sensitized individuals.
• Discontinue use if redness, warmth, or tightness persists after rinsing.
• Close the tube tightly after use; store away from heat and light. Keep out of reach of children.

What are the ingredients in this olive-pit scrub?

Ingredients

Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Olea Europaea (Olive) Seed Powder, Saccharide Isomerate, Parfum (Fragrance), Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Hexamethylindanopyran, Tetramethyl Acetyloctahydronaphthalenes, Silica, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, CI 19140 (Yellow 5).

Product Details

100 g tube.

Our expert tips on Essential Scrub for clear, smooth skin

Daily exfoliation often raises concerns at the counter. It’s a good instinct: frequency depends more on how you massage the product than on the number of days. This gel is designed to replace your cleanser, provided you let the particles do their work by rolling them between your fingertips without applying pressure. If your skin feels warm or becomes red a few minutes after rinsing, it’s a sign that you’re applying too much pressure or scrubbing for too long: in that case, reduce use to every other day rather than stopping the product altogether.

Exfoliation isn’t a cure-all. It clears the surface, but oily skin that lacks moisture will continue to shine: a light moisturizer is still essential after rinsing, especially in the morning. Deeply embedded blackheads, on the other hand, require several weeks of consistent use before they fade.

FAQ

Should I apply ISDIN Essential Scrub to dry or wet skin?

Both are possible. On a damp face, the gel lathers quickly and the exfoliation remains gentle. When applied to dry skin, it retains its texture longer and the particles work more effectively: this option is suitable for thicker skin that tolerates exfoliation well, but less so for skin that reddens easily.

Can I use ISDIN Essential Scrub if I apply a retinoid at night?

Yes. Retinoids accelerate cell turnover and often cause small flakes of dead skin to shed. Using the gel in the morning helps gently remove these flakes, while the retinoid is reserved for use in the evening.

Can I use ISDIN Essential Scrub with an acid-based serum like Salicylic Renewal or Glicoisdin?

Yes, you can use them together. The gel, which is rinsed off, prepares the skin; the acid serum is then applied to a completely dry face. When introducing a new chemical exfoliant, space out mechanical exfoliation during the first few weeks to assess your skin’s tolerance.