Kylie Jenner’s Upcoming Skincare Line Has Already Drawn Criticism

Abrasive exfoliants are apparently immune to the Kardashian-Jenner golden touch. 

It was less than a week ago when Kylie Jenner announced her upcoming skincare line aptly dubbed Kylie Skin. The 21-year-old “self-made” billionaire announced the venture via social media, revealing a range of products that included face wash, serum, eye cream, and a moisturizer—pretty much everything Kylie fans could ever want in a skincare line … with the exception of one offering: the Walnut Face Scrub.

“It’s really gentle. It is gentle enough to use every day,” Kylie said about the scrub. “I recommend two or three times a week. That’s how much I use it. Some walnut scrubs are kind of harsh on the skin. This isn’t too abrasive. It really leaves my face feeling super baby soft.”

Despite Kylie’s claims about the scrub’s effectiveness, fans were quick to blast the beauty mogul for incorporating such a controversial product. You may be asking: What’s so damn controversial about it? Well, according to several skincare experts, this type of scrub has been known to cause a range of issues with both short- and long-term effects.

“Using a harsh mechanical or physical exfoliant such as a walnut based scrub is often too abrasive,” Dr. Marla Diakow, a New York-based dermatologist, told Mashable. “These products can literally rip up the skin by causing micro-tears in the upper layers of the epidermis, leading to inflammation, weakening the skin’s protective barrier, and potentially causing textural and pigmentation issues.”

Twitter users also pointed out that the product seemed similar to St. Ives Apricot Scrub, which was the subject of a 2017 lawsuit. The plaintiffs claimed the scrub’s walnut powder caused microscopic tears in their skin, making it vulnerable to infections and irritation. The suit was dismissed the following year.