St Ives Matcha Green Tea & Ginger Cleansing Stick
The St Ives Matcha Green Tea & Ginger Cleansing Stick is a travel-friendly, solid cleanser designed to provide a deep, refreshing wash with a 'detox' feel. This innovative stick format features 100% natural matcha green tea and ginger, aimed at revitalizing the skin and providing antioxidant protection. The formula is built on a base of Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Glycerin, ensuring a creamy lather that removes daily impurities without leaving the face feeling stripped of moisture. While the matcha and ginger extracts offer a soothing scent and revitalizing feel, the formula also incorporates rich emollients like coconut oil and sweet almond oil to maintain the skin's lipid barrier. The texture is smooth and glides easily over damp skin, transforming into a light foam when massaged. However, while the stick format is highly convenient for on-the-go lifestyles, the heavy reliance on solid oils and fatty acids to maintain its structure creates a unique profile that may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those struggling with congestion.
Our Analysis
Our analysis flags the St Ives Matcha Green Tea & Ginger Cleansing Stick as HIGH risk for acne-prone skin. The primary concern is Coconut Oil, which carries a comedogenic rating of 4 due to its high Lauric Acid content, which can easily solidify within the pores. Furthermore, the inclusion of Myristic Acid and Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil increases the likelihood of congestion and breakouts, especially for those with oily skin. While the formula contains beneficial antioxidants, the presence of these highly occlusive ingredients makes it a risky choice for anyone prone to comedones or cystic acne.
Skin Type Recommendations
This cleansing stick is best suited for very dry, non-acne-prone skin types that require an emollient-rich wash. We strongly recommend avoiding this product if you have oily, combination, or acne-prone skin, as the high concentration of coconut oil and saturated fatty acids is likely to trigger significant pore blockages.
Flagged Ingredients
High Lauric Acid content solidifies inside the pore.
Saturated fatty acid that can be problematic for oily skin.
Trans-fat texture can be occlusive.
Waxy fatty alcohol; low risk but can add heaviness.
Rich in Oleic acid; nourishing for dry skin but potentially occlusive for oily skin.
Want Deeper Analysis?
Run our MACR (Multi-Axis Comedogenic Risk) analysis to get a comprehensive 5-axis risk assessment. This AI-powered analysis evaluates ingredients for Plugging Risk, Barrier Damage, Fungal Acne Risk, Oxidation Risk, and real-world User Reports — giving you personalized scores for your skin type.
