St Ives vs Aveeno 2023 (The Definitive Guide)

While it’s fun to test new products that pop up on the market, sometimes it's best to stick with cult classics that have gained trust among their customers over the years. That’s exactly what you get with Aveeno and St. Ives – the familiarity of brands that have been around for a long time.

You can find both at practically every drug store, and best of all: they’re affordable. With the two brands offering hefty similarities between their products, you may be wondering, which one do you choose? Let's find out.

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St Ives vs Aveeno Scrub

If you haven't already been acquainted with a good facial scrub, then you won't know the glorious deep-clean feeling they provide. Affordability isn't always synonymous with quality, though, so St Ives and Aveeno have it all to prove in today's comparison.

We’ll be comparing the St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub and Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub to hopefully help you decide which one is right for your skin.

Both scrubs offer non-comedogenic formulas that won’t block pores. Aside from ingredients, the main difference between the two products is that one offers a deeper exfoliation, while the other may be more suitable for sensitive skin.

The St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub has garnered a huge following, with an unwritten loyalty among its customers. Perusing customer reviews, you will notice it's not uncommon for people to say they’ve been using it for over 20 years.

With an aggregated 4.5-star rating across multiple online retailers, the scrub clearly offers a well-appreciated exfoliation experience (and we concur).

The Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub is another popular option among its many users. The hypoallergenic scrub is supposedly gentle enough for everyday use, which is perfect for anyone with sensitive skin (or those of us prone to breakouts).

As far as effectiveness is concerned, both scrubs fit the bill. Are they Tom Ford-esque? No. But you get that deep-clean feeling all the same.

If you’re looking for a facial scrub that is gentle(r) on the skin, then we recommend the Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub.

If you need a product that has a deeper exfoliation factor, then you may want to try the St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub. Just be aware that it is more abrasive on the skin, so you may want to limit how often you use it.

St Ives vs Aveeno Body Lotion

A body lotion is essential to any skin care routine, especially during the colder months. A good lotion will help lock in moisture and keep your skin from getting dry, cracked and/or rough. Both Aveeno and St. Ives offer an assortment of body lotion options to choose from, with variations based on purpose (and fragrance).

For this article, we will be looking at Aveeno’s Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion and St. Ives Soothing Oatmeal and Shea Butter Body Lotion. Both offer dermatologically tested, non-comedogenic products that won’t clog pores or leave your skin feeling greasy. They do, however, have a few key differences.

The Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion is a great option for anyone who needs extra nourishment for their normal to dry skin. Its star ingredient, Colloidal oatmeal, is produced by finely grinding oats into a powder. The oatmeal powder is *super* moisturizing and helps prevent the skin from losing moisture.

Aveeno prides itself on working with local farmers to source and process natural ingredients into their products. The oats used in their products, including the body lotion, are 100% pure, non-GMO and food grade.

St. Ives Soothing Oatmeal and Shea Butter Body Lotion is paraben free, and uses 100% naturally sourced moisturizers, including soybean oil and plant-based glycerin.

For this lotion the main components are oatmeal and shea butter. The oatmeal is sourced from the U.S. where it’s ground into a fine powder, extracted with water and then filtered and distilled. Users seem to love its “delicious fragrance,” quick-absorbing formula and price tag.

When it comes to choosing between the two, it’s a tight race between both brands. Both body lotions are an excellent choice for anyone looking for a pick-me-up for their dry and dull skin.

While Aveeno’s body lotion is loved for its gentle formula for sensitive skin users, some say it can feel a bit oily. We recommend St. Ives Soothing Oatmeal and Shea Butter Body Lotion if you’re looking for a lightweight moisturizer that doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy.

However, if you need or prefer unscented products then you should go with Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion.

Conclusion

Aveeno and St Ives lotions are ideal for anyone searching for a rich, soothing, hydrating skincare lotion. However, deciding between the two may come down to an individual preference of fragrance vs unscented and affinity for occlusive products. Our preference lies with the Aveeno’s Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion and St. Ives Soothing Oatmeal and Shea Butter Body Lotion.

To round off our review, here are our recommendations for the alternative ranges that St Ives and Aveeno offer.

Other Aveeno Ranges

For brightening:
Try Positively Radiant

For eczema relief:
Try Eczema Therapy

For sensitive skin:
Try Calm+Restore

Other St Ives Ranges

For moisturizing:
Try Renewing Moisturizer

For acne:
Try Acne Control

For body washing:
Try Softening Body Wash

This post was written by guest author, Asymina Kantorowicz, and edited by Calum Torrington.

Work in progress

You have been reading a post that we are constantly updating. Be sure to bookmark this page, subscribe, and come back later to see additions to the definitive St Ives vs Aveeno guide!

This article was originally published on March 2nd 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on January 31st 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.