celimax Heartleaf BHA Peeling Pad for skin with dark spots
Heartleaf Extract
Bha Beta Hydroxy Acid
Madecassoside
Oil Tree Leaf
GlycerinHigh
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best products for skin with dark spots.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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 decongesting pores and addressing pigmentation for your normal skin, as salicylic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid work effectively to promote skin renewal and pore cleansing.
- The inclusion of lactobionic acid and bifida ferment lysate further supports skin texture and barrier function, beneficial for maintaining overall skin health.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your exfoliant PM once a week to start, moving up to twice a week if your skin likes it. Always apply SPF during the day while using this product.
- Apply this exfoliant step right after your cleanser and toner, and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it dry. Avoid rubbing your face hard.
- Apply the product on clean, completely dry skin to make sure it works best for your pigmentation goals.
- Remember to avoid the delicate eye area and do a quick patch test before using it for the first time.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with sensitive, acne-prone, and textured skin frequently praise these pads for delivering gentle yet effective exfoliation that smoothes roughness without causing irritation. The dual-sided design allows for targeted treatment of clogged pores and dead skin cells, leaving the complexion feeling hydrated, calmer, and noticeably softer.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels noticeably smoother”
- “refined and evened out”
- “removes dead skin cells”
- “erased closed comedones”
- “softens rough patches”
Gentle for sensitive Often Mentioned
- “no irritation”
- “gentle daily exfoliation”
- “suitable for sensitive skin”
- “mild BHA formula”
- “didn't breakout”
Effective dual-sided Sometimes Noted
- “gauze side cleans pores”
- “embossed side wipes gently”
- “great for nose/chin”
- “convenient 2-in-1”
- “physical and chemical exfoliation”
Hydrating and non-sticky Sometimes Noted
- “light boost of hydration”
- “refreshing finish”
- “non-sticky residue”
- “absorbs well”
- “leaves skin moist”
Soothing and calming Sometimes Noted
- “calms redness”
- “soothing heartleaf extract”
- “relieves skin troubles”
- “invigorating feel”
- “reduced inflammation”
Can be drying Rarely Noted
- “drying if used daily”
- “skin felt tight”
- “not for dry skin”
- “need moisturizer after”
- “stripped natural oils”
Gauze side rough Rarely Noted
- “gauze side too scratchy”
- “irritating if rubbed hard”
- “texture feels abrasive”
- “too harsh for cheeks”
- “tingling sensation”
Pad moisture low Rarely Noted
- “pads could be wetter”
- “essence feels skimpy”
- “dried out quickly”
- “need two pads”
- “top pads less soaked”
Scent not preferred Rarely Noted
- “medicinal smell”
- “strong tea tree scent”
- “smells like Sprite”
- “herbal odor”
- “scent isn't my favorite”
Slightly sticky Rarely Noted
- “slightly tacky finish”
- “felt sticky initially”
- “residue left behind”
- “clashed with makeup”
- “heavy feeling”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, oliveyoung.com, stylekorean.com, yesstyle.com, celimax.us, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Celimax Heartleaf BHA Peeling Pad a great fit for skin with dark spots?
This product is a great fit because its salicylic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid help clear out pores and fade dark spots by encouraging skin renewal. Ingredients like lactobionic acid also gently improve your skin texture while keeping your skin calm and healthy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Salicylic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid make this exfoliant a great fit for skin with dark spots because they help clear pores and fade discoloration by promoting skin renewal. Lactobionic acid also supports this by improving your skin texture without causing irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
What does Heartleaf Extract do for skin with dark spots?
Heartleaf Extract helps calm skin and may reduce redness and irritation that often lead to dark spots. It is often included in products designed to soothe stressed skin and even out skin tone.
What does Bha do for skin with dark spots?
BHA helps improve dark spots left behind by breakouts and keeps skin smooth and clear. It removes dead surface skin cells and works well on different skin tones, though mild irritation may occasionally happen.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This exfoliant goes in your evening routine as a treatment step, used once a week to start. It helps clear pores and fade dark spots while keeping your skin calm, with a very low likelihood of irritation.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant with retinol by applying the exfoliant first on your treatment nights, or by using them on alternate nights to keep your skin calm and smooth. Combining active ingredients carefully helps you avoid dryness and irritation while clearing dark spots.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start using this exfoliating treatment once a week in your evening routine, and carefully use it more often if you tolerate it well and see good results. Salicylic acid helps clear out pores and fade dark spots with a very safe profile.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This exfoliant is a great fit for skin with dark spots because salicylic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid help clear out pores and promote skin renewal, which makes clogged pores and breakouts unlikely. Lactobionic acid and bifida ferment lysate also support a smooth skin texture while keeping the barrier healthy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (limonene) and drying alcohol (denatured alcohol).
What the research says
Capryloyl salicylic acid peel reduced fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation comparably to glycolic acid peel in 44 female volunteers, with no statistically significant differences between the two treatments.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021An 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, 2010Combining 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, 2019Quercetin phospholipids 1% cream significantly reduced UV-, histamine-, and chemical-induced skin erythema (-10.05%) and mean wheal diameter in 30 healthy human volunteers, showing comparable efficacy to 1% dexchlorpheniramine cream.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2016Quercetin-loaded niosomes formulated with Span60-RH40 at a 9:11 mass ratio improved quercetin solubility, photostability, sustained release, and transdermal penetration, yielding a skin retention 2.95 times higher than quercetin solution.
Molecules, 2019Optimized rutin-loaded glycerosomes formulated into a nanosunscreen gel demonstrated sustained drug release, greater skin permeation, good antioxidant activity, and better epidermal retention compared to the dermis, indicating high safety, stability, and sun protection factor values for topical administration.
Gels, 2023Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 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, 2020A 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, 2017Moisturizer 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 herbal treatments including lemon balm, olive leaf extract, propolis, and sage-rhubarb cream reduce pain, swelling, lesion size, and healing time in patients with herpes labialis compared with placebo or acyclovir.
Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 2025Topical oleuropein formulations reduced erythema, transepidermal water loss, and blood flow by approximately 22%, 35%, and 30% in healthy volunteers with UVB-induced erythema.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008An oil-in-serum formulation containing olive extract standardized in hydroxytyrosol improved skin barrier function and significantly reduced hyperpigmentation in participants with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after 45 days of application.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2026The 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, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Denatured Alcohol, Camellia Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arginine, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, C12-14 Pareth-12, Lactobionic Acid, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Glycerin, Bifida Lysate Ferment, Centella Asiatica Extract, Disodium Edta, Lactose, Oil Tree Leaf, Wheat Extract, Purslane Extract, Perilla Frutescens Extract, Panthenol, Honeysuckle Extract, Centipede Geranium Extract, Cats Claw Extract, Eupathoria Gypsy Herb Extract, Chosun Cordyceps Root Extract, Pine Pine Leaf Extract, Catnip Extract, Madecassoside, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorphenesin, Betaine, Betaine Salicylate, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Chamaecparis Obtusa Water, Sea Water, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, Limonene
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.