If you’ve ever been personally victimized by blackheads that just won’t go away – no matter how much salicylic acid, pore strips, or praying you throw at them – then you’ve probably found yourself Googling Tula So Poreless Deep Exfoliating Blackhead Scrub reviews to see if this cheerful little tube is the answer. Tula promises this scrub will unclog pores without stripping by using a combo of fruit enzymes, volcanic sand, and probiotics. Sounds impressive, right? But the words “deep exfoliation” and “scrub” in the same sentence can either mean amazing skin… or instant regret, depending on the formula. Especially if you’ve got skin that flares up the second you even look at a gritty cleanser. So the big questions are:
- Is it gentle or too harsh?
- Can it actually target blackheads, or is it just surface-level smoothness?
- And does the ingredient list back up the claims, or is this just a fancy-feeling scrub with a probiotic sticker slapped on?
I’ve broken it all down for you (every ingredient, every texture detail, every red flag and glow-up moment), so you can decide if this scrub deserves a spot in your skincare routine… or if it’s just another overpriced bathroom ornament. Let’s start with what’s inside the tube.
Key Ingredients In Tula So Poreless Deep Exfoliating Blackhead Scrub: What Makes It Work?
VOLCANIC SAND + CELLULOSE ACETATE
These are the scrubby bits – the part you feel when you’re rubbing it in. And yeah, physical exfoliants can help smooth things out on the surface, but they’re not going into your pores. So no, they’re not clearing blackheads. But if you’ve got rough texture or dry flakes sitting on top of clogged skin, these can help buff that off so your other products (like actual salicylic acid) work better. Helpful? A little, but only if you use them gently. No scrubbing like you’re cleaning a pot. That’s how you end up with irritation and more breakouts. Side effects? If you scrub too hard or use it every day, you’re gonna piss off your skin. Be nice.
WILLOW BARK EXTRACT
This is the one they throw in so they can say “deep exfoliating.” Willow bark is where salicylic acid comes from, and that’s the stuff that actually unclogs pores. Real salicylic acid is oil-soluble, so it dives into your pores, breaks up the junk (oil, dead skin, all that build-up), and helps keep blackheads from forming in the first place. But here’s the thing: this scrub doesn’t contain pure salicylic acid. It has willow bark extract, which only has a tiny bit of the good stuff. Plus, this is a wash-off product. You’re rubbing it in for like 30 seconds max, and then it’s down the drain. Not exactly prime conditions for it to do its job. So does it help? Eh. Maybe a little, over time. Think of it as light maintenance, not something that’s going to clear out your nose pores overnight. Side effects? Not really at this strength. If anything, it’s gentle. Just don’t expect miracles.
Related: Why Salicylic Acid Is The Best Exfoliant For Oily Skin
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
- Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
- Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
- Red: What is this doing here?!
- Glycerin: A classic hydrating ingredient that pulls water into your skin and keeps it from feeling tight or dry after exfoliating. It helps balance out the more intense ingredients so your face doesn’t feel stripped.
- PVP: This doesn’t do anything for your skin directly. It’s here to help the texture feel smooth and uniform. Think of it as glue that keeps the formula from separating and gives it a nice consistency.
- Water (Aqua/Eau): The base of the product. Helps dissolve the other ingredients and gives the formula that creamy, spreadable feel.
- Sodium Chloride: Basically table salt. It thickens the formula and adds a bit of extra scrub power. Doesn’t treat your skin, but adds texture.
- Lactococcus Ferment Lysate: A probiotic ingredient that’s supposed to support your skin barrier and help reduce sensitivity over time. The research is still developing, but it’s becoming trendy for good reason.
- Lactobacillus/Pomegranate Fruit Ferment Extract: A mix of fermented pomegranate and friendly bacteria. The idea is that it helps calm the skin, support your microbiome, and give a little antioxidant protection too.
- Kaolin: A super absorbent clay that soaks up extra oil, which helps keep your pores from getting clogged in the first place. Great for oily or combo skin, especially around the T-zone.
- Chicory Root Extract: Sometimes used to support the skin’s natural barrier. It’s also thought to have calming and anti-inflammatory properties, though it’s more of a background player here.
- Raspberry Leaf Extract: Rich in antioxidants. Helps soothe the skin and protect it from environmental stress, but again, it’s more of a supporting ingredient.
- Silica: Adds a smooth, silky texture and helps absorb oil. It doesn’t exfoliate, but it makes the product feel nicer on the skin.
- Witch Hazel Extract: Temporarily tightens the look of pores and cuts down shine by controlling oil. Can be drying or irritating if your skin’s sensitive or already over-exfoliated.
- Bisabolol: Comes from chamomile. Helps calm the skin and reduce any redness or irritation caused by scrubbing or acids.
- Lactic Acid: This is a surface-level exfoliant that loosens dead skin so it doesn’t clog your pores. Bonus: it also hydrates, which is rare for an exfoliating acid. Unfortunately, there’s not much here, so don’t expect miracles.
- Caprylyl Glycol: A moisturizing ingredient that also helps the preservatives work better. Keeps your skin soft and the product stable.
- Hibiscus Flower Extract: Contains natural acids and antioxidants that may help with gentle exfoliation and skin brightening. Mostly here for its plant-based appeal.
- Radish Root Ferment Filtrate: A natural preservative that also gives a little conditioning boost. Keeps the product fresh without harsh chemicals.
- Ginger Root Extract: Helps reduce inflammation and may help brighten dull or tired-looking skin. It’s often used to give skin a bit more glow.
- Fragrance (Parfum): Makes the scrub smell fruity and sweet. Can be irritating if your skin doesn’t like fragrance.
- Sodium Benzoate: A preservative that keeps the product from growing mold or bacteria. Totally safe and used in a ton of skincare and even food.
- Hexylene Glycol: Helps other ingredients dissolve properly and gives the product a smooth texture. Doesn’t do much for your skin directly.
- Potassium Sorbate: Another preservative that works alongside sodium benzoate to keep the formula stable and safe to use.
- Phenoxyethanol: Very common preservative used to prevent bacterial growth. Safe in small amounts, which this formula sticks to.
- Limonene: A fragrance compound that gives a citrusy scent. Known to irritate sensitive skin, especially if it’s exposed to light or air for too long.
- Red 40 (CI 16035): Synthetic dye to make the product that pinky-peach color. Has no skincare benefit and may irritate very sensitive skin.
- Blue 1 (CI 42090): Another synthetic dye to help adjust the final color. Same deal. Just for looks, no real function.
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Texture
Very scrubby. Like, noticeably gritty. The particles are small and don’t feel sharp, but you’re definitely going to feel them working. It spreads well with a little water, and doesn’t feel greasy or creamy. This is not one of those exfoliators that doubles as a cleanser or mask. It’s a scrub through and through.
Fragrance
It smells like sweet fruit candy. Kinda fun, kinda strong. Not gross, but definitely noticeable. If you like your skincare to smell like nothing, this will probably annoy you. Doesn’t linger once you rinse it off, though.
How To Use It
Use it a couple times a week. Mot every day unless you want your skin mad at you. After washing your face with warm water, slap some on damp skin and rub it in gently with circular motions. Don’t scrub like you’re cleaning the sink. Focus on your nose, chin, wherever you get those tiny bumps. Rinse it off, moisturize, done. Also, you don’t need more than a dime-sized amount. With scrubs, less is more.
Packaging
It comes in a bright blue tube with a flip cap. That’s it. Nothing fancy, but it’s easy to use and doesn’t make a mess. You can chuck it in your gym bag or leave it in the shower and it won’t leak or get gross. No jars, no scooping, no drama.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Alright, here’s the deal: this facial scrub makes your skin feel smoother, full stop. Especially if you’ve got that rough, bumpy texture around your nose or jawline, it takes the edge off and leaves your face feeling cleaner without stripping the hell out of it. Does it clear out blackheads on its own? No. Let’s not pretend it’s doing the work of a proper BHA. But it helps your skin look less congested if you’re already using stuff like salicylic acid or retinoids and just want a physical scrub to back things up.
What I like is that it doesn’t leave that tight, squeaky-clean feeling. It rinses off clean, doesn’t leave a film, and doesn’t cause flare-ups-even when my skin’s being a pain (PMS breakouts, too many actives, you name it). And yeah, it’s got fragrance, but it didn’t sting or burn like some other fruity-scented scrubs do. It’s not a miracle product, but it’s a solid add-on if you like a scrubby moment without trashing your skin barrier.
Does it leave you an even-toned complexion at least? Not really. You need something with glycolic acid for that.
✅ What I Like About About Tula So Poreless Deep Exfoliating Blackhead Scrub
- My skin felt smoother right after, like instantly. Great when your face feels rough or dull.
- Doesn’t leave you with that tight, itchy feeling after – probably because it’s got enough hydrating stuff in there to balance it out.
❌ What I Don’t Like About Tula So Poreless Deep Exfoliating Blackhead Scrub
- The pinky-blue dye situation? Unnecessary. I don’t need my skincare to look like bubblegum.
- The scent might be a lot if your skin hates fragrance. Not offensive, just… a lot.
- It’s not gonna fix blackheads on its own, no matter how often you use it.
- This deeply exfoliating scrub doesn’t go as deep. The exfoliation is only surface level.
Who Should Use It?
- If your skin gets oily or feels rough and bumpy and you like that scrubby feeling, this’ll hit the spot.
- Nice if you want a quick way to feel like your skin’s “reset” without doing a full mask.
- Not for you if your skin reacts to scent or gets mad when you exfoliate too much. This isn’t a sensitive skin product, no matter how soft the branding looks.
- Combo and oily skin types? Yeah, this will probably feel great. Helps smooth out texture, soak up a bit of oil, and makes your face feel cleaner without totally stripping it.
- Dry skin? Nah, even if you have blackheads, this isn’t for you.
- Acne-prone? Meh. It helps a bit with texture and clogged pores, but don’t expect it to clear breakouts. Use it as backup, not your main thing.
- Sensitive or rosacea-prone skin? Honestly, skip it. Between the fragrance, dyes, and the physical exfoliation, it’s not worth the risk of your skin throwing a fit.
Does Tula So Poreless Deep Exfoliating Blackhead Scrub Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| This scrub deeply exfoliates to remove dirt, debris & oil – leaving your pores feeling clean, purified & clear. | It exfoliates skin and removes dirt and debris, but it can’t do anything for pores. |
| Powerful ingredients like pink salt, volcanic sand & witch hazel. | True. Pay attention that it only says they’re powerful, not what they do. |
| Lactic acid & gentle hibiscus flower acid help dissolve dirt & unclog pores. | False. These ingredients can’t do that. |
| Probiotic extracts, raspberry leaf & pomegranate reveal smoother, softer & more balanced skin. | These ingredients can soothe skin, but don’t expect more than that. |
Price & Availability
$34 at Tula and Ulta
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
If you like a gritty exfoliator that actually leaves your skin feeling clean, this one delivers. But, my personal recommendation is to skip it. For best results, use a proper BHA (salicylic acid exfoliant). That’s the only thing that can unclog pores and has a lower risk of irritation. That said, there are many other Tula products that are worth every scent. Every brand has a dud, after all.
Ingredients: Glycerin, PVP, Aqua/Water/Eau, Cellulose Acetate, Volcanic Sand, Sodium Chloride, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Kaolin, Cichorium Intybus (Chicory) Root Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Leaf Extract, Silica, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Bisabolol, Lactic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Fragrance (Parfum), Sodium Benzoate, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Red 40 (CI 16035), Blue 1 (CI 42090)
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
