Dermalogica Exfoliant Accelerator 35 for acne-prone skin
Lactic Acid
Peptides
Enzymes
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract
Carica Papaya Fruit ExtractHigh
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few products fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 excellent exfoliation for your acne and blemishes due to lactic acid and protease, which promote skin renewal and texture smoothing beneficial for combination skin.
- The inclusion of Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract and willow bark extract provides soothing benefits, further supporting your skin's needs.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and contains soothing components.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant PM once a week to start, and gradually increase if your combination skin tolerates it well. Always apply SPF the next morning to protect your clear skin.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer step. This ensures the treatment targets blemishes effectively.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin without rubbing. Let it absorb for a minute before moving to the next step.
- Apply the exfoliant on clean, dry skin to help control breakouts safely. Since your skin is not sensitive, this dry application method ensures good product absorption.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Do not mix this exfoliant with other strong acids in the same routine.
People Say
★1.0Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsThis summary is based on limited data. The product is a professional-grade chemical exfoliant designed for trained skin therapists. While it is noted for effective resurfacing and potent ingredients that accelerate cell renewal, its use is strictly limited to professionals due to a very high risk of severe irritation or injury for untrained consumers. There are also some reports of shipping and handling issues.
Highlights
Professional use only Mostly Mentioned
- “This product is for professional use only and not intended for consumer retail.”
- “Use of this product by untrained, unlicensed persons may result in extreme skin irritation.”
- “Do not leave client unattended.”
Effective resurfacing Often Mentioned
- “Delivers fast-acting resurfacing for uneven, thick, or sun-damaged skin.”
- “Helps stimulate cell renewal and cell turnover rates.”
- “Visibly refine surface tone and improve clarity.”
Potent ingredients Often Mentioned
- “Contains skin smoothing ingredients including Lactic Acid, peptides and enzymes.”
- “Low pH (3.2) concentrate in a Chamomile Extract base.”
- “Papaya enzymes and willow bark support gentle enzymatic and chemical exfoliation.”
Risk of irritation Often Mentioned
- “Slight tingling, mild itching or some temporary skin redness are normal reactions.”
- “Remove immediately if client experiences discomfort, or irritation is severe.”
- “Do not use if skin is sensitive, sunburned.”
Professional customization Sometimes Noted
- “Allows for customization of professional resurfacing.”
- “Accelerates the activity and exfoliation efficacy of select Dermalogica professional exfoliants.”
- “Can be added to professional chemical exfoliation services to enhance overall results.”
Shipping issues Rarely Noted
- “The condition in which this item arrived it was not [acceptable]!”
- “Not a good representative of brand!”
- “Package was damaged in shipment.”
Sources: lovi.care, dermalogicathebook.com, saloncentric.com, skinmedix.com, ecosmetics.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Dermalogica Exfoliant Accelerator 35 a great fit for acne-prone skin?
Dermalogica Exfoliant Accelerator 35 is a great fit because lactic acid and protease offer excellent exfoliation that renews your skin and smooths texture. Chamomilla recutita flower extract and willow bark extract help calm your skin, and the formula avoids harsh ingredients to keep your acne-prone skin safe.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant is a great fit for your acne-prone skin thanks to lactic acid and protease, which help clear blemishes and smooth your skin texture. Willow bark extract and chamomile flower extract also provide soothing benefits to keep your skin calm.
What does Lactic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Lactic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing both inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions with regular topical use. It works well to smooth and calm the skin while managing breakouts safely over time.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2002
What do Peptides do for acne-prone skin?
Peptides help calm acne-prone skin by reducing redness and soothing inflammation while supporting the skin barrier. Certain advanced peptide formulas also work to target acne-causing bacteria and help balance oil production.
Biochemical Pharmacology, 2025Bioresources and Bioprocessing, 2026
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant treatment goes in the evening routine. Lovi routines start exfoliating steps once a week, and people who tolerate them well and see good results can carefully use them more often.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant and retinol in the same routine by applying the exfoliant first and following with your retinol, but because both can dry out your skin, it is best to use them on alternate nights or watch closely for irritation. Using soothing ingredients like chamomile and willow bark helps keep your skin calm while using these active treatments.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start using this exfoliant treatment once a week in your evening routine, and carefully use it more often only if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant is a great fit for acne-prone skin because lactic acid and enzymes help clear pores and smooth texture without harsh ingredients. Willow bark extract and chamomile may also calm redness, but because it carries a high risk of irritation, it is wise to start slowly to see how your skin reacts.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Apigenin protects against UVA-induced cytotoxicity and senescence in normal human dermal fibroblasts, decreases MMP-1 expression, and when applied topically as a cream in human subjects, increases dermal density and elasticity while reducing fine wrinkle length, skin evenness, moisture content, and transepidermal water loss compared to control cream.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2016Topical chamomile oil combined with a night splint significantly improved the symptomatic and functional status of patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome compared to placebo, while electrodiagnostic parameters showed no significant changes.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2015German chamomile solution applied twice a day healed peristomal skin lesions significantly faster than once-a-day 1% hydrocortisone ointment in colostomy patients, with a mean healing time of 8.89 days versus 14.53 days.
Ostomy/wound Management, 2011Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016A fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres in aqueous gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a 41% mean reduction in GAGS score and a 40.8% mean reduction in total lesions, with 15.3% of patients experiencing mild to moderate local side effects, in 94 evaluable patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Reflux extraction of Carica papaya leaves yielded higher antioxidant capacity and superior in vitro wound-healing activities including fibroblast proliferation, cell migration, and collagen synthesis in human skin fibroblasts compared to ultrasonic-assisted extraction and agitation.
Molecules, 2020
Ingredients
Lactic Acid, Water, Glycerin, Sodium Lactate, Hydroxypropyl Phosphate Starch, Sodium Hydroxide, Galactoarabinan, Ethoxydiglycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Willow Bark Extract, Lecithin, Protease, Aminopeptidase, Bacillus Ferment, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate, Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
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
How does it fit your skin?
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