🇩🇪Germany

Elemis Pro-Collagen Tri-Acid Peel for sensitive skin

Average

  • AverageNormal Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for sensitive skin; other products fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 for your normal skin due to mandelic acid and lactobionic acid, which promote skin renewal and smoothing, but it lacks sufficient humectant ingredients for optimal hydration.
  • The presence of glycerin and Asiatic acid provides hydration and soothing benefits that support your redness and irritation.
  • The formula is safe for your sensitive skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like Asiatic Acid and Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract.

How to apply

  • Use your exfoliant PM once a week to help with redness and irritation. Start slowly and only increase frequency if your skin feels happy and comfortable.
  • Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toner , but always before your moisturizer . This ensures the product absorbs properly into the skin.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin without rubbing . Let it absorb for a minute before moving on.
  • Since your skin is sensitive , apply the exfoliant on completely dry skin for the best tolerance. This helps prevent any extra stinging or discomfort.
  • Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area .

People Say

★4.7Overall rating based on 400+ reviews

This 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 sensitive skin?

This peel works reasonably well for your sensitive skin, though other products fit it better because it lacks enough moisture-holding ingredients. An exfoliant treatment of this type needs soothing components and rich hydrating ingredients to keep the skin calm and smooth.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for sensitive skin?

Mandelic acid and lactobionic acid help renew and smooth your skin, while glycerin and asiatic acid bring soothing moisture that calms redness and irritation. To fit sensitive skin even better, an exfoliant treatment of this type needs more extra hydrating ingredients alongside soothing components and antioxidants.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Mandelic Acid do for sensitive skin?

Mandelic acid is generally well tolerated by sensitive skin, helping to smooth roughness and improve firmness while keeping side effects low. It may also help clear acne and reduce dark spots effectively without being too harsh.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

What does Lactobionic Acid do for sensitive skin?

Lactobionic acid helps sensitive skin by keeping it calm and hydrated while gently smoothing the surface without irritation. It is very unlikely to cause redness or harm the skin barrier, making it an excellent choice for gentle daily care.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010

Where does it go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?

Use this exfoliant treatment in the evening once a week, making sure to follow with a good moisturizer since this product lacks sufficient hydrating ingredients to keep your skin comfortable.

Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?

It is best to use this exfoliant on a different night than your retinol to keep your skin calm and avoid irritation. Alternating these strong treatments helps prevent dryness and redness while still keeping your skin smooth.

How often should I use it?

You can start using this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your skin tolerates it well, you may carefully use it more often. To fit your sensitive skin better, an exfoliant needs enough hydrating ingredients to keep your skin comfortable and smooth.

Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?

This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin, though you may feel some tingling during use. Sensitive skin of this type needs extra hydrating and soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to keep it calm and comfortable.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It contains fragrance (parfum) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat and alcohol).

What the research says

  • A 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, 2017
  • Asiatic 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, 2024
  • 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, 2020
  • Chemical 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, 2019
  • Commonly 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, 2018
  • Lactobionic 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, 2010
  • Combining 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, 2019
  • An emulsion containing 10% lactobionic acid significantly reduces human skin surface pH without causing skin irritation or barrier impairment.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Topical 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, 2020
  • Moisturizer 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, 2019
  • Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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

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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How does it fit your skin?

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