Ole Henriksen Lemonade Smoothing Scrub for dry sensitive skin
Glycolic Acid
Lactic Acid
Lemon Peel Extract
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
Licorice Root ExtractLow
- LowDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for dry sensitive skin; the exfoliants alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry and flaky skin due to glycolic acid and lactic acid, which can be too harsh and drying for dry skin, even with glycerin for humectant action.
- The presence of lemon peel oil and bergamot peel oil may also increase sensitivity for your dry and sensitive skin.
How to apply
- Use your exfoliant PM once a week to help with dryness. Start ⏳3 times a week only if your sensitive skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but always before your favorite moisturizer .
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and avoid any rubbing. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before layering.
- Since your skin is reactive and sensitive, apply the exfoliant on completely dry skin for better tolerance.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.3k+ reviewsThis scrub is highly regarded for its ability to instantly polish and retexturize the skin, leaving it feeling soft, smooth, and glowing. While many users with various skin types—including those with sensitive or acne-prone skin—praise its effectiveness in clearing pores and reducing dullness, some individuals find the physical exfoliation too abrasive or potentially irritating. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Effective exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves skin soft”
- “polishes skin instantly”
- “clears out pores”
- “removes dead cells”
Instant glow Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin glowy”
- “healthy glow after”
- “brighter skin”
- “looks amazing”
Refreshing scent Often Mentioned
- “Smells so delicious”
- “zingy lemon scent”
- “refreshing and fun”
- “smells wonderful”
Convenient packaging Sometimes Noted
- “Easy to squeeze”
- “minimizes mess”
- “sturdy tube”
- “no water contamination”
Too abrasive Sometimes Noted
- “A bit too abrasive”
- “feels like sandpaper”
- “scrubbing particles harsh”
- “caused slight burning”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “Slightly burned”
- “caused a rash”
- “not for sensitive skin”
- “caused breakouts”
Product volume Rarely Noted
- “Tube comes half-empty”
- “not enough product”
Sensitizing ingredients Rarely Noted
- “Contains sensitizing ingredients”
- “fragrance-heavy”
- “not for everyone”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, olehenriksen.com, spacenk.com, ulta.com, prettyismyprofession.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is the Ole Henriksen Lemonade Smoothing Scrub a weak match for dry sensitive skin?
This scrub is a weak match because its acids can be too harsh and drying for your dry skin, and citrus oils may increase irritation. An exfoliant for dry sensitive skin needs soothing and healing ingredients along with plenty of moisturizing and softening components to prevent dryness.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycolic acid and lactic acid can be too harsh and drying for dry and sensitive skin, while lemon peel oil and bergamot peel oil may increase your sensitivity. A better fit for this skin needs plenty of soothing ingredients along with extra softening and moisture-locking ingredients to keep your skin calm and comfortable.
What does Glycolic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Glycolic acid can be too harsh for dry sensitive skin and may cause irritation, so this skin type needs gentle calming ingredients and deeply nourishing moisturizers to keep the skin barrier safe and smooth.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1995The British Journal of Dermatology, 1997
What does Lactic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Lactic acid helps hydrate dry skin, but for sensitive skin it may cause stinging and irritation unless it is formulated with soothing ingredients like colloidal oat or tangerine fruit extract to calm discomfort.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2021
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This exfoliant is a weak match for dry sensitive skin because its acids and citrus oils can easily cause irritation, dryness, and redness. A product of this type for dry sensitive skin needs gentle smoothing ingredients and soothing agents to calm the skin.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You should not use this exfoliant with retinol on dry sensitive skin, as the combination is likely to cause excessive dryness, irritation, and redness. This skin type needs gentle, hydrating ingredients and calming plant extracts instead of harsh exfoliating acids and citrus oils.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
This exfoliant is a weak match for dry sensitive skin because its acids and citrus oils may cause dryness and irritation. When your skin tolerates this type of product well, it needs gentle exfoliating acids paired with soothing, hydrating ingredients to keep your skin calm and smooth.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your dry and sensitive skin, but the strong acids and citrus oils may cause irritation or stinging. A product of this type needs gentle soothing ingredients and milder smoothing agents to keep your skin calm and smooth without extra dryness.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene, linalool, and citral).
What the research says
Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Application 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, 2020Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Sucrose, Hydrated Silica, Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate, Propanediol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, Acrylamide Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Lemon Powder Peel Powder, Lemon Fruit Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract Extrait De Canne À Sucre Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Sandalwood Extract, Lemon Peel Oil, Bergamot Peel Oil, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Coconut Acid, Sodium Riboflavin Phosphate, Dimethylhydroxy Furanone, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Isethionate, Sorbitan Oleate, Triethyl Citrate, Vanillin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
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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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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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