Elemis Pro-Collagen Tri-Acid Peel for oily acne-prone skin
Mandelic Acid
Lactobionic Acid
Asiatic Acid
Copper Pca
Sodium HyaluronateAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other products fit it 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 moderate exfoliation suitable for oily skin due to mandelic acid and lactobionic acid, which help to unclog pores and promote skin renewal.
- While the formula provides general skincare benefits like hydration and cleansing, its primary focus is not on directly addressing your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like Asiatic Acid and Copper PCA.
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 400+ reviewsThis product is highly praised for rejuvenating dull, aging, and textured skin. Users consistently report a brighter, smoother, and more even-toned complexion with a noticeable reduction in fine lines and pores. It is generally gentle on the skin, though some users experience slight tingling. A common drawback mentioned is the high price point.
Highlights
Improves texture Mostly Mentioned
- “my skin looked noticeably smoother”
- “significant improvement in my skin's texture”
- “leaving me with beautiful smooth skin”
- “immediate smoothness”
Brightens skin Often Mentioned
- “my skin looked immediately brighter”
- “The glow it gives is unreal!”
- “brightened up my complexion”
- “complexion looks visibly brighter”
Expensive product Often Mentioned
- “too pricey at £70”
- “I agree too priceyyyyy!!”
- “While on the pricier side”
- “There are lots of more affordable alternatives”
Gentle formula Sometimes Noted
- “gentle and non-irritating, even for sensitive skin”
- “The peel is gentle but so effective”
- “hesitant to use this as have quite sensitive skin... No problems at all”
- “without the harshness of traditional AHAs”
Reduces lines Sometimes Noted
- “helps reduce the appearance of fine lines”
- “dramatically reduced the appearance of fine lines”
- “softens the look of fine lines”
Causes tingling Sometimes Noted
- “slight tingling and a brief flush after rinsing”
- “My face is still slightly tingling an hour later”
- “yes, it tingles for a wee while”
- “A slight tingling sensation and redness may occur”
Underwhelming results Rarely Noted
- “It's just ok... just doesn't do what I want it too”
- “no obvious signs of performance”
- “It can be harsh for others”
Sources: lovi.care, elemis.com, johnlewis.com, boots.com, macys.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Elemis Pro-Collagen Tri-Acid Peel work for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant treatment works reasonably well for oily skin by unclogging pores and clearing dead skin cells, but it does not directly target breakouts and blemishes. While it is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, oily acne-prone skin needs products that contain active ingredients specifically proven to treat acne, control excess oil, and reduce blemishes without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2024
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Mandelic acid and lactobionic acid help unclog pores and clear away dead skin, while asiatic acid and copper PCA calm your skin. For this skin type, a product needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, benzoyl peroxide, or vitamin C to directly tackle acne and excess oil without irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2024
What does Mandelic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Mandelic acid helps clear breakouts and manage oil on acne-prone skin with a lower chance of irritation than many other acids. It gently removes dead skin cells to keep pores clean and smooth.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Lactobionic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Lactobionic acid helps calm and smooth oily, acne-prone skin while gently exfoliating without irritation or breaking down the skin barrier. Because it is very gentle and deeply hydrating, it works best when paired with ingredients that control excess oil and clear pores.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, starting at once a week because it helps clear pores and smooth your skin with acids. Oily acne-prone skin often needs products that directly target blemishes and breakouts with specialized active ingredients.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant in your routine, but apply it on nights when you do not use retinol to help prevent irritation. Using strong acids and retinol at the same time is more likely to make your skin dry and red.
How often should I use it?
You can start using this exfoliant treatment once a week in your evening routine, and carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well and sees good results.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores because it has mandelic acid and lactobionic acid to help clear them, but it may cause mild tingling when you use it. Because its main focus is not directly on treating blemishes, oily and acne-prone skin needs ingredients that actively fight breakouts and soothe redness.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2024
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat and alcohol).
What the research says
Treatment with 45% mandelic acid peel showed nearly equal overall efficacy as 30% salicylic acid peel in patients with mild-to-moderate facial acne vulgaris, but with fewer adverse effects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Combining a 20% lactobionic acid peel with aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion increases skin hydration, improves elasticity, and decreases transepidermal water loss in 20 Caucasian females compared to lactobionic acid peel alone.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Asiatic acid-loaded solid lipid microparticles stabilized with poloxamer-188 reduced porphyrin intensity, enhanced skin barriers, and improved skin hydration and brightness in fifteen participants with mild-to-moderate acne.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2024Chemical 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, 2019Commonly used chemical peels showed no significant differences in effectiveness for acne vulgaris in most comparisons, though combined salicylic and mandelic acid peeling was superior to glycolic acid and glycolic acid was superior to placebo, based on twelve randomized controlled trials.
BMJ Open, 2018Treatment with 30% lactic acid peel showed a significantly greater reduction in pigmentation and higher patient satisfaction compared to 30% mandelic acid peel in patients with periorbital melanosis.
Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 2025Lactobionic acid produced better skin performance with a lack of skin irritation and barrier impairment compared to glycolic acid in 77 healthy volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010An emulsion containing 10% lactobionic acid significantly reduces human skin surface pH without causing skin irritation or barrier impairment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Carboxytherapy alone and combined with lactobionic acid, ferulic acid, and ascorbic acid significantly reduced vascular dark circles and combined pigmentation in the tear trough and lower eyelid of 39 Caucasian participants.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2024Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019
Why other products fit oily acne-prone skin better
Adapalene 0.1%-benzoyl peroxide 2.5% fixed-dose combination gel provided significantly greater, synergistic efficacy and a faster onset of action compared with the vehicle, adapalene monotherapy, and benzoyl peroxide monotherapy in patients with acne vulgaris.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2009Topical benzoyl peroxide 5% gel treatment improved acne severity, sebum, stratum corneum hydration, and transepidermal water loss, while significantly reducing microbial diversity and the prevalence of Cutibacterium in 33 patients with acne vulgaris.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Ingredients
Water, Mandelic Acid, Glycerin, Lactobionic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Alcohol Denat, Xanthan Gum, Parfum, Disodium Edta, Asiatic Acid, Copper Pca, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Acacia Decurrens Flower Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Rhizobian Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorphenesin, Alcohol
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
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
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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