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Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing PHA Exfoliator for sensitive skin

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

Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing PHA Exfoliator

High

  • HighNormal Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for sensitive skin; a few products fit it even 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 redness and irritation, as gluconolactone gently smooths texture and supports your skin barrier function without causing irritation, making it highly suitable for your normal skin type.
  • Allantoin and oat kernel oil further soothe and calm the skin, enhancing the product's benefits for your specific concerns.
  • The formulation is safe for your sensitive skin, avoiding harsh ingredients and incorporating soothing components.

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

★4.6Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this chemical exfoliator is highly recommended for sensitive skin, effectively smoothing texture without causing irritation. Users frequently report that the formula leaves skin feeling hydrated and soft. Some users note a chemical scent and find the thin consistency difficult to manage with the current packaging.

Highlights

  • Extremely gentle Mostly Mentioned
    • “No redness after use”
    • “Doesn't irritate or cause dryness”
    • “Great for my reactive sensitive skin”
  • Smooths texture Often Mentioned
    • “Face is so soft after using”
    • “Smooths texture without irritation”
    • “Makeup went on so smooth”
  • Poor packaging Often Mentioned
    • “Way too runny for the tube”
    • “Makes a huge mess”
    • “Needs a pump bottle”
  • Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
    • “No overpowering perfume smell”
    • “Great for fragrance allergies”
    • “Love that it's fragrance-free”
  • Non-drying Sometimes Noted
    • “Leaves skin moisturized and hydrated”
    • “Doesn't dry my skin out”
    • “Face feels like velvet”
  • Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
    • “Smells like plastic”
    • “Has a rancid smell”
    • “Worst smelling product”
  • Oily residue Rarely Noted
    • “Feels like cheap sunscreen”
    • “Left an oily film”
    • “Hard to rinse clean”
  • Too gentle Rarely Noted
    • “Didn't exfoliate enough”
    • “Too gentle for my needs”
    • “Didn't see a difference”

Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, walmart.com, aveeno.com, target.com, ulta.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes the Aveeno Nourishing PHA Exfoliator a great fit for sensitive skin?

This exfoliator is a great fit because it uses a gentle acid that smooths texture without irritation, helping keep your skin calm. Ingredients like oat kernel oil and allantoin further soothe redness, while sunflower seed oil helps protect your skin barrier.

Cutis, 2004

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

This exfoliant is a great fit because gluconolactone gently smooths texture without causing irritation, while allantoin and oat kernel oil help soothe and calm sensitive skin.

Cutis, 2004

What does Polyhydroxy Acid do for sensitive skin?

Polyhydroxy Acid helps smooth and soften sensitive skin while keeping irritation very low because it is extremely gentle and well tolerated. It provides anti-aging benefits similar to stronger acids while helping maintain your skin barrier without stinging.

Cutis, 2004Cutis, 2004

What does Avena Sativa Kernel Oil do for sensitive skin?

Avena Sativa Kernel Oil helps calm and comfort sensitive skin by supporting the skin barrier and reducing dryness. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may soothe red or itchy areas.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2016Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015

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

This exfoliant goes in your evening routine, placed after your toner and before your moisturizer. It is best to start using it just once a week to see how your skin responds, as this gentle approach helps smooth your texture without causing irritation.

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

You can use this exfoliant in your evening routine, but it is best to alternate nights with your retinol to avoid irritation on sensitive skin. Using gentle exfoliating acids alongside soothing ingredients like oat kernel oil and allantoin helps keep your skin calm while smoothing texture.

Cutis, 2004

How often should I use this exfoliant?

Start by using this exfoliant treatment once a week in the evening, and carefully increase the frequency only if your skin handles it well and shows good results. Gluconolactone provides gentle exfoliation while allantoin and oat kernel oil help calm the skin.

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

This exfoliant is a great fit because its polyhydroxy acid gently smooths texture without causing irritation, making it very unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on sensitive skin. Allantoin and oat kernel oil further soothe your skin while you use it.

Cutis, 2004

Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A polyhydroxy acid skin care regimen provided antiaging benefits comparable to an alpha-hydroxyacid regimen while demonstrating enhanced mildness and better tolerance in subjects.

    Cutis, 2004

  • Combining 10% gluconolactone chemical peeling with oxybrasion or microneedle mesotherapy increased skin hydration and decreased sebum, pH, and TEWL in twenty-one Caucasian women, with no significant differences between the two methods.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2023

  • A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.

    Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020

  • 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

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

  • Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.

    Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016

  • An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.

    Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018

  • Prophylactic application of a topical scar gel containing Allium cepae extract, allantoin, and heparin significantly improves patient-assessed scar color, stiffness, and irregularity compared to no treatment in women following a cesarean section.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014

Ingredients

Water, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Sorbitol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil Oat Kernel Oil, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Sodium Citrate, P-Anisic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Allantoin

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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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play