Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask for acne-prone skin
Pumpkin Enzyme
Alpha Hydroxy Acid
Aluminum Oxide
Glycerin
Ascorbic Acid
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
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-prone skin, as pumpkin enzymes and alumina work to smooth texture and promote cell turnover, while citric acid and lactic acid further aid in this process.
- The inclusion of glycerin and sunflower seed oil provides hydration and soothing benefits, making it suitable for your combination skin type.
- The formula is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and incorporating soothing components like glycerin and sunflower seed oil.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers frequently praise this mask for its exfoliating properties that result in smoother and brighter skin. The scent is also a common positive point. Some users report a stinging sensation and find it too harsh for sensitive skin.
Highlights
Instantly smooths texture Mostly Mentioned
- “Skin definitely looks squeaky clean and rejuvenated”
- “Makes my skin look so smooth and even”
- “Visibly smoother skin and tighter pores”
- “Left looking refreshed, clear, radiant”
Smells like pumpkin pie Mostly Mentioned
- “Smells of warm pumpkin pie interspersed with cinnamon”
- “Scent is delicious, like Christmas”
- “Smells exactly like pumpkin pie filling”
- “Aroma of autumn encapsulates your senses”
Brightens dull complexion Often Mentioned
- “Gives my skin a super exfoliation that makes it glow”
- “Promotes a clear, luminous complexion”
- “Skin looks more youthful and tighter”
- “Revitalizes dull, congested skin”
Clears pores and congestion Sometimes Noted
- “Draws dirt, pollution, makeup and impurities”
- “Rids the skin of blackheads and oils”
- “Pores look noticeably smaller”
- “Great for congested complexions”
Intense burning sensation Sometimes Noted
- “Felt a little concerned as mask started to feel very warm”
- “Stings a little, that's normal”
- “Tingled a little and I was only able to keep it on for 3 minutes”
- “Burning sensation doesn't really bother me”
Too harsh for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “Would not recommend to people with sensitive skin”
- “Caused irritation especially upon initial use”
- “Texture is too gritty”
- “Can be abrasive and uneven”
High price point Rarely Noted
- “A little pricey but so worth it”
- “Can seem like an investment”
- “Without the hefty price sticker”
- “Splurge at Sephora”
Strong lingering fragrance Rarely Noted
- “Fragrance is pretty strong with the pumpkin”
- “Smell is not overpowering”
- “Scent isn't giving pumpkin, it's giving sweet potato”
- “Smells entirely edible”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, peterthomasroth.com, walmart.com, lovelyskin.com, sephora.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask a great fit for acne-prone skin?
Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask is a great fit because it offers excellent exfoliation with pumpkin enzymes, alumina, and fruit acids that smooth texture and clear out pores for acne-prone skin. At the same time, glycerin and sunflower seed oil help keep your skin calm and hydrated without feeling heavy.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because pumpkin enzymes, alpha hydroxy acid, and aluminum oxide work together to smooth texture and clear out pores. At the same time, glycerin and sunflower seed oil help keep your skin feeling calm and hydrated.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2001Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does pumpkin enzyme do for acne-prone skin?
Pumpkin enzyme helps acne-prone skin by gently clearing away dead skin cells that can clog pores and lead to breakouts. This gentle exfoliation leaves your face feeling smooth and soft while keeping inflammation low.
What does alpha hydroxy acid do for acne-prone skin?
Alpha hydroxy acid helps clear acne-prone skin by gently removing dead skin cells and fighting bacteria. It improves breakouts and is generally well tolerated with a very safe profile.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant treatment goes into your weekly routine after a cleanser and cleansing mask, and before a hydrating toner and moisturizer. Lovi routines start exfoliating steps once a week, and people who tolerate them well and see good results may carefully use them more often.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to use this exfoliant on a separate day or night from your retinol to avoid irritation on acne-prone skin. Using both powerful treatments at the same time is likely to overwhelm your skin, so alternate them to keep your face calm and smooth.
How often should I use it?
You can start using this treatment once a week as part of your routine. If your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because its pumpkin enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids smooth texture and help clear away dead cells without clogging pores. While it safely encourages cell turnover, keep in mind that some reviewers mention an intense burning sensation or find the formula too harsh for sensitive skin.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol and parfum).
What the research says
Aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion resulted in mild subjective and clinical improvement, increased skin temperature, decreased sebum content, temporary increased roughness, decreased skin stiffness, increased skin compliance, and histological vascular changes in ten subjects with photodamaged skin compared to baseline measurements.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2001A 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, 2017Topical treatment with pumpkin seed oil-loaded niosomes decreased fallen hairs by 44.42% and increased the anagen to telogen ratio by 1.4-fold after 8 weeks compared to initial conditions.
Pharmaceuticals, 2022Topical application of prickly pear, pumpkin, and linseed oils significantly reduced clinical signs of acute inflammation, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress in carrageenan-treated rats compared to the normal saline-treated group.
BioMed Research International, 2020Both sodium chloride and aluminum oxide microdermabrasion altered the epidermal barrier by significantly increasing transepidermal water loss and hydration at 24 hours in eight patients.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2002Aluminum oxide microdermabrasion facial treatments in eleven volunteers resulted in clinical improvements in dyschromia, actinic changes, and fine rhytides, along with epidermal and dermal histological changes, compared to controls.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2002Aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion resulted in good to excellent clinical improvement in 41 patients with facial scarring over a mean of 9.10 treatment sessions.
Dermatologic Surgery, 1995The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Pumpkin, Alumina, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Lactobacillus Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Lactate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Bht, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Cinnamal, Parfum
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
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