🇮🇹Italy

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel for dry skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel

High

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for dry skin; a few products fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, 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 or flaky skin due to the presence of papain and pineapple fruit extract, which provide enzymatic exfoliation to smooth texture.
  • Glycerin offers humectant action for your dry skin, but the formula lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive ingredients like Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil to fully address dryness.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week, increasing slowly to twice a week if your dry skin tolerates it well. Always remember to apply SPF every morning to protect your newly smoothed skin.
  • Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but always before your rich moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute. Avoid rubbing to prevent any irritation on flaky areas.
  • Apply the product directly to dry clean skin to ensure the best possible tolerance for your dry type. This helps address flaky patches without causing extra stress.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a quick patch test before your very first use. Do not mix this with other strong acids or retinoids on the same night.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 1.9k+ reviews

This gentle, non-granular cream exfoliator is widely praised by users with sensitive and mature skin for its ability to brighten and smooth the complexion without irritation. Reviewers consistently report that the fruit enzyme formula leaves skin feeling hydrated, baby-soft, and glowing, though some users seeking a harsh scrub find it too mild. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.

Highlights

  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly Mentioned
    • “no stinging or redness”
    • “doesn't irritate at all”
    • “perfect for delicate skin”
  • Softens and smooths texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft”
    • “smooths rough patches”
    • “makeup glides on”
    • “texture is refined”
  • Pleasant tropical scent Often Mentioned
    • “smells like a holiday”
    • “lovely fruity fragrance”
    • “delicious papaya scent”
    • “spa-like aroma”
  • Hydrating and non-drying Sometimes Noted
    • “no tight feeling”
    • “leaves face moisturized”
    • “creamy and nourishing”
    • “doesn't strip skin”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “expensive for the size”
    • “pricey for a mask”
    • “tube is small”
    • “luxury splurge item”
  • Too mild/Ineffective Sometimes Noted
    • “didn't see a difference”
    • “wanted deeper exfoliation”
    • “too gentle for me”
    • “results were subtle”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “clogged my pores”
    • “caused small bumps”
    • “broke me out”
    • “skin reacted badly”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “tube feels half empty”
    • “hard to squeeze out”
    • “air in the tube”
    • “product settles significantly”

Sources: lovi.care, lookfantastic.com, dermstore.com, elemis.com, sephora.co.uk, boots.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel a great fit for dry skin?

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel is a great fit for your dry skin because it offers gentle enzymatic exfoliation with papaya and pineapple extracts to smooth flaky areas. It also has a safe formula that is unlikely to cause irritation.

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

Papain and pineapple fruit extract provide gentle enzymatic exfoliation that smooths flaky texture, while glycerin helps add moisture to dry skin. The formula is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation.

What does Papaya Enzyme do for dry skin?

Papaya Enzyme helps gently lift away dead flakes so dry skin feels smoother and softer. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used properly in your routine. For the best care on dry skin, this type of product needs to be paired with rich hydrators that lock in moisture.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008

What does Pineapple Extract do for dry skin?

Pineapple extract helps dry skin by gently sweeping away flaky, dead surface skin so your face feels much smoother and softer. This ingredient contains natural enzymes that encourage a fresher glow, though you should patch test first if your dry skin is easily irritated.

Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for dry skin?

This exfoliant goes in your evening routine once a week after cleansing and before moisturizing, though people who tolerate it well may carefully use it more often. The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry skin.

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

It is best to avoid using this exfoliant on the same night as retinol to keep your skin calm and prevent irritation. Use your retinol on alternate nights, and apply this treatment on a separate evening followed by a rich moisturizer.

How often should I use this exfoliant?

Use this exfoliant once a week to start, and if your skin feels good and tolerates it well, you may carefully use it more often. This gentle approach helps smooth your dry skin while keeping the safety profile excellent and avoiding irritation.

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

This exfoliant is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on dry skin, and it has an excellent safety profile with no harsh ingredients to cause irritation. Reviewers rarely report breakouts from using it.

Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, citronellol, geraniol, limonene, and citral). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.

    Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016

  • A 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, 2015

  • Reflux 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

  • Oral bromelain slightly reduced pain compared to controls (mean difference -0.27) and topical bromelain reduced time to complete debridement by 6.89 days, with no major health risks reported.

    Nutrition and Health, 2023

  • An upcycled pineapple leaf fibre crosspolymer forms a physical barrier that protects against environmental aggressors while providing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipollution, UV protection, hydration, and hair benefits.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026

  • A coaxial electrospun core-shell nanofiber scaffold delivering bromelain and salvianolic acid B demonstrated sustained drug release, in vitro endothelial cell migration, increased capillary formation in an in ovo assay, and in vivo efficacy for skin regeneration and wound healing.

    Biomedical Materials, 2017

  • Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021

  • Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008

  • Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2005

  • Topical application of 1% Fucus vesiculosus extract gel twice daily for five weeks significantly decreased skin thickness and improved elasticity in human cheek skin compared with controls.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002

Ingredients

Water, Propylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, C12-16 Alcohols, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Parfum, Papain, Chlorphenesin, Lactis Proteinum Milk Protein, Pineapple Fruit Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disodium Edta, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract Red Algae Extract, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract Piper Nigrum Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Citral, Mentha Arvensis Oil Leaf Mint Oil Leaf, Cuminum Cyminum Seed Oil Cumin Seed 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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 10 Oct – 16 Oct 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Italy.

How does it fit your skin?

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