July 6, 2026 — A consumer has reported sustaining a deep cut to their thumb from the hard plastic lid of a St. Ives Fresh Skin Scrub Apricot bottle. The incident occurred in the shower while the user attempted to dispense the product, citing ongoing difficulty in squeezing the bottle, even though it was over half full.
Product Details
Product: St. Ives Fresh Skin Scrub Apricot
Incident Overview
On June 13, 2026, a consumer was taking a shower and attempted to dispense St. Ives Fresh Skin Scrub Apricot from its bottle. Despite the bottle being over half full, the product was reportedly quite difficult to squeeze out. During this attempt, the consumer’s thumb slipped, resulting in a deep cut from the hard plastic lid of the bottle. The report indicates that the consumer had experienced trouble squeezing the product from the bottle since its initial purchase.
Safety Concerns
This incident highlights several potential safety concerns related to product packaging design and usability:
- Immediate Dangers: The primary immediate danger is the risk of lacerations or deep cuts from rigid packaging components, particularly when unusual force is applied. A deep cut can result in significant bleeding, pain, and potentially require medical attention, including stitches.
- Risk of Infection: Injuries sustained in a shower environment, especially those involving consumer product packaging, carry an increased risk of infection if the wound is not promptly and properly cleaned.
- Long-Term Risks: Depending on the depth and location of the cut, there is a potential for nerve damage, scarring, and prolonged discomfort. Repeated incidents due to difficult packaging could lead to chronic issues.
- Who Might Be Affected: Consumers of all ages could be affected, particularly those who might apply more force to dispense product due to physical limitations, impatience, or simply encountering a stiff bottle. The wet and slippery conditions of a shower can significantly exacerbate the risk of a hand slipping and making unintended contact with sharp or rigid packaging edges.
- Packaging Design: The report suggests a potential issue with the ease of dispensing the product, leading consumers to apply excessive force. If packaging design requires undue pressure, it could increase the likelihood of slippage and injury, especially when the hands are wet.
- Property Damage Potential: No property damage was reported in this incident.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who own St. Ives Fresh Skin Scrub Apricot or similar products with hard plastic lids and squeeze bottle designs should take precautions:
- Exercise Caution: Be extremely careful when dispensing products from squeeze bottles, especially in wet environments like showers.
- Avoid Excessive Force: If a product is unusually difficult to dispense, do not apply excessive force. This can lead to slippage and injury.
- Consider Alternatives: If a bottle is consistently hard to squeeze, consider transferring the product to a different, more user-friendly container if safe to do so, or discontinue use to prevent injury.
- Improve Grip: In wet conditions, consider using a towel or non-slip grip aid to improve traction when handling product packaging.
- Seek Medical Attention: If you sustain a deep cut or laceration, clean the wound thoroughly and seek immediate medical attention.
- Report Incidents: If you or someone you know has experienced a similar incident or injury, report it to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at SaferProducts.gov and directly to the manufacturer. This helps authorities and manufacturers identify potential safety trends.
Manufacturer’s Response
Evermark, the manufacturer, provided a response on July 6, 2026. The company stated that it takes consumer safety seriously and appreciates the opportunity to review the report. Evermark noted that the injury allegedly occurred during use of the product’s squeeze tube packaging, specifically involving contact with the plastic lid while in the shower.
The manufacturer’s response asserts that the packaging is designed for normal handling using moderate, controlled pressure, and suggests that the reported incident appears to involve force that may exceed typical use conditions, potentially in a wet environment. Evermark attempted to contact the reporting individual but had not received a response. The company stated it is not aware of similar incidents under normal use conditions and will continue to monitor product performance. To reduce the risk of injury, Evermark advises consumers to apply only the pressure reasonably necessary to dispense the product and use care when handling packaging in wet conditions.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process. Farzan Law is a California based Personal Injury law firm focusing on protecting the rights of those wrongfully injured.
Licensed to practice law ONLY in California.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.