Dermalogica Liquid Peelfoliant for oily acne-prone skin
Aha
Phytic Acid
Enzymes Fruit
Tranexamic Acid
Salicylic Acid
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few products fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers high suitability for your oily skin due to the presence of salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which help with keratolytic action and seboregulation.
- The combination of glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid provides excellent exfoliation for smoothing texture and decongesting pores, addressing your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like Lactobacillus Punica Granatum Extract Fruit Ferment and Rosa Damascena Flower.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week to start, increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but before your final moisturizer step.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product directly onto clean, dry skin for the best results against breakouts.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always use a daily SPF since exfoliating makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsThis product is highly praised for its ability to transform dull, uneven skin into a smoother, more radiant complexion by effectively targeting congestion, fine lines, and rough texture. While most users experience professional-level results, those with sensitive skin should exercise caution and start with a lower frequency of use to manage potential tingling or redness.
Highlights
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “My face is smoother and I see less breakouts.”
- “Significant improvement in my skin texture.”
- “Left with the softest, smoothest baby like skin.”
- “My skin has been getting smoother.”
Visible radiant glow Often Mentioned
- “I noticed how glow-y my skin looked.”
- “Wake up with glowing skin.”
- “Healthy, radiant glow.”
- “I know I'm going to be glowing in the morning.”
Easy to use Sometimes Noted
- “Very easy to use.”
- “Easy to apply.”
- “Quick and easy to use.”
Effective pore minimizing Sometimes Noted
- “It just tightens my pores.”
- “Helps unclog pores.”
- “Minimizes the appearance of pores.”
Potential for irritation Sometimes Noted
- “A whole lot of redness and tingling.”
- “Can be irritating at first.”
- “My face was super inflamed.”
Contains fragrant oils Rarely Noted
- “Bums me out that the brand put fragrant plant oils.”
- “Bergamot and Mandarin oils are known to irritate.”
May feel ineffective Rarely Noted
- “This is a very mild peel.”
- “I do not feel any tingling.”
- “I don't see any 'glowy' results.”
Sources: lovi.care, skinsort.com, spacenk.com, nicolaloves.co.uk, skincarmanyc.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Dermalogica Liquid Peelfoliant a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Dermalogica Liquid Peelfoliant is a great fit because it contains salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which clear out pores and balance oil. The blend of acids smooths out rough skin and helps clear up breakouts and blemishes. It is also very safe and gentle for oily skin because it avoids harsh ingredients and includes soothing additions.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid and glycolic acid make this a great fit by clearing out pores and keeping oil in check, while lactic acid helps smooth out texture. Soothing ingredients like rose flower and fruit ferment help keep the skin calm and comfortable.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
What does Alpha Hydroxy Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Alpha hydroxy acid helps clear blemishes and soothe oily, acne-prone skin by gently removing dead skin cells and calming inflammation. Using this ingredient may also help improve skin texture and reduce breakouts when added to your regular routine.
What does Phytic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Phytic acid helps improve oily, acne-prone skin by reducing breakouts and fading dark spots left behind by pimples. A chemical peel containing phytic acid is unlikely to cause issues and may clear up acne quite well.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant goes in your evening routine as a treatment step, starting at once a week so your skin can adjust. You may carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant in your evening routine, but it is best to apply it on nights when you do not use retinol to help keep your skin calm and smooth.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start by using this exfoliant once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. This helps smooth your texture and clear breakouts while keeping your oily skin calm and safe from irritation.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2003Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant is a great fit for oily acne-prone skin because it uses salicylic acid and glycolic acid to clear out pores and smooth texture without causing irritation. It is very unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts, and helps reduce acne blemishes.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Oleyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020A combination of dermapen and glycolic acid peel significantly decreased acne scar grades and resulted in higher patient satisfaction compared to either monotherapy in 30 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019L-ascorbic acid 10% plus phytic acid 2% serum significantly reduced the pigmentation index of solar lentigines compared to a vehicle control in 30 healthy subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2011Chemical peels using 35% glycolic acid, 20% salicylic-10% mandelic acid, and phytic acid reduce acne scores by 70.55%, 74.14%, and 69.7% respectively, and significantly decline the postacne hyperpigmentation index in Asian patients with mild to moderate acne.
Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2019A topical facial emulsion containing 10% glycolic acid, 2% phytic acid, and a soothing complex significantly improved skin hyperpigmentation, texture, and tone homogeneity from week 4 through week 12 in American female volunteers with Fitzpatrick skin types II-VI.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010
Ingredients
Water, Lactobacillus Punica Granatum Extract Fruit Ferment, Glycolic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phytic Acid, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Propanediol, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Zanthoxylum Bungeanum Fruit Extract, Cranberry Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Bergamot Oil Fruit, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil Mandarin Orange Peel Oil, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Raspberry Ketone, Rosa Damascena Flower, Sodium Pca, Sucrose Distearate, Succinoglycan, Urea, Ceramide Np, Phytosphingosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Oleyl Alcohol, Triolein, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Oleic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Cholesterol, Trehalose, Polyquaternium-51, Maltodextrin, Ethyl Acetate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Stearic Acid, Gamma-Undecalactone
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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