Elemis Pro-Collagen Tri-Acid Peel for dry sensitive skin
Mandelic Acid
Lactobionic Acid
Asiatic Acid
Copper Pca
Sodium HyaluronateAverage
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other products 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 sensitive skin, as mandelic acid and lactobionic acid promote skin renewal and smoothing without causing irritation. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide essential hydration, though the formula lacks sufficient emollient ingredients for optimal moisture retention on dry skin.
- The product is safe for your dry and sensitive skin, as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
- While the exfoliation and hydration benefits are present, they are not fully optimized to address your specific concerns of dryness and flakiness.
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
★4.7Overall 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 Tri-Acid Peel work for dry sensitive skin?
This exfoliant treatment works moderately well for dry sensitive skin by offering gentle renewal with mandelic acid and lactobionic acid while adding basic hydration through glycerin and sodium hyaluronate. However, it lacks sufficient moisturizing ingredients to prevent moisture loss, so a product of this type needs rich nourishing components, ceramides, and barrier-supporting ingredients to properly care for dry skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Mandelic acid and lactobionic acid help smooth dry and sensitive skin without causing irritation, while glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide essential hydration. However, an exfoliant treatment for this skin type also needs rich moisturizing ingredients and barrier-supporting components to lock in moisture and prevent dryness.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
What does Mandelic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Mandelic acid is very well tolerated by sensitive skin, and it helps smooth out rough patches and improves firmness without causing too much irritation.
What does Lactobionic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Lactobionic acid helps hydrate dry sensitive skin and keeps it smooth without causing irritation or barrier damage. It draws in moisture and protects the skin barrier while being gentle enough for sensitive skin types.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine once a week after cleansing and toning, followed by a moisturizer. Because your skin is dry, this product needs added nourishing ingredients and rich hydrators to lock in moisture and fully soothe dryness and flakiness.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to avoid using this peel on the same night as retinol to help prevent excess irritation on dry, sensitive skin. Instead, use your retinol and this exfoliating treatment on alternate nights or keep the peel to a separate weekly routine.
How often should I use it?
Start by using this exfoliant treatment just once a week in the evening, and you can carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin because its acids gently remove dead surface skin without heavy oils. However, since dry skin needs rich moisture to stay smooth and calm, this type of product works best when paired with deeply nourishing, rich creams and soothing ingredients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
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, 2017An emulsion containing 10% lactobionic acid significantly reduces human skin surface pH without causing skin irritation or barrier impairment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Lactobionic 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, 2010Treatment 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, 2020Chemical 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, 2018Combining 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, 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, 2024Lactobionic acid improved skin barrier function most compared to other AHAs and BHAs when tested on an ex vivo porcine skin model, confirming significant barrier-protective effects and enabling toxicity evaluation of cosmetic ingredients.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021Topical 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, 2020Moisturizer 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 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, 2008Topical 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 dry sensitive skin better
Tocopherol succinate-loaded ethosomal gel increased skin deposition, stability, moisture, and mechanical properties in 13 human subjects compared to a control gel over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022In 50 participants with sensitive skin, a Ceramide NP C15-containing emollient improved skin barrier function with a significant reduction in transepidermal water loss and induced modest changes in skin microbiota compared to the vehicle.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2026Hydrogels containing vitamin E-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers exhibited better occlusive properties and long-lasting effects, while vitamin E-loaded nanoemulsions performed a faster skin hydration effect and were selected as more attractive for skin application.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.