Dermalogica Exfoliant Accelerator 35 for dry skin
Lactic Acid
Peptides
Enzymes
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract
Carica Papaya Fruit ExtractHigh
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for dry skin; a few products fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023
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
- Highly suitable for your dry skin due to the presence of glycerin and galactoarabinan with humectant action, alongside lactic acid for desquamation regulation.
- Offers excellent exfoliation for dry or flaky skin due to the presence of lactic acid and papain in concentrations that promote skin renewal and smoothing.
- 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
★1.0Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsThis summary is based on limited data. The product is a professional-grade chemical exfoliant designed for trained skin therapists. While it is noted for effective resurfacing and potent ingredients that accelerate cell renewal, its use is strictly limited to professionals due to a very high risk of severe irritation or injury for untrained consumers. There are also some reports of shipping and handling issues.
Highlights
Professional use only Mostly Mentioned
- “This product is for professional use only and not intended for consumer retail.”
- “Use of this product by untrained, unlicensed persons may result in extreme skin irritation.”
- “Do not leave client unattended.”
Effective resurfacing Often Mentioned
- “Delivers fast-acting resurfacing for uneven, thick, or sun-damaged skin.”
- “Helps stimulate cell renewal and cell turnover rates.”
- “Visibly refine surface tone and improve clarity.”
Potent ingredients Often Mentioned
- “Contains skin smoothing ingredients including Lactic Acid, peptides and enzymes.”
- “Low pH (3.2) concentrate in a Chamomile Extract base.”
- “Papaya enzymes and willow bark support gentle enzymatic and chemical exfoliation.”
Risk of irritation Often Mentioned
- “Slight tingling, mild itching or some temporary skin redness are normal reactions.”
- “Remove immediately if client experiences discomfort, or irritation is severe.”
- “Do not use if skin is sensitive, sunburned.”
Professional customization Sometimes Noted
- “Allows for customization of professional resurfacing.”
- “Accelerates the activity and exfoliation efficacy of select Dermalogica professional exfoliants.”
- “Can be added to professional chemical exfoliation services to enhance overall results.”
Shipping issues Rarely Noted
- “The condition in which this item arrived it was not [acceptable]!”
- “Not a good representative of brand!”
- “Package was damaged in shipment.”
Sources: lovi.care, dermalogicathebook.com, saloncentric.com, skinmedix.com, ecosmetics.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Dermalogica Exfoliant Accelerator 35 a great fit for dry skin?
This exfoliant treatment is a great fit for dry skin because it draws in moisture with glycerin and galactoarabinan, while smoothing away flakes using lactic acid and papaya enzymes. It is unlikely to cause irritation and has a very safe profile since it lacks harsh ingredients.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for dry skin?
This exfoliant is a great fit for dry skin because it contains glycerin to hold in moisture and lactic acid along with enzymes to smooth away dry, flaky spots. It is very gentle on dry skin because it avoids harsh ingredients that can cause irritation.
What does Lactic Acid do for dry skin?
Lactic acid helps relieve dry skin by drawing in moisture and strengthening the skin's barrier so it stays soft and smooth. This ingredient gently sheds dead cells and supports natural moisturizing factors, making it very useful for improving rough or flaky areas.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2025Skin Research and Technology, 2013
What do Peptides do for dry skin?
Peptides help dry skin by supporting skin barrier health and improving moisture retention. Regular use may also enhance skin firmness and smooth out the texture of dry skin over time.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This exfoliant treatment goes into your evening routine once a week. You may carefully use it more often if your dry skin tolerates it well and sees good results.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant with retinol by applying them on different nights to keep your dry skin safe from irritation. Using them on separate days helps prevent dryness while still letting you smooth and renew your skin.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start using this exfoliant once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin tolerates it well and sees good results, you may carefully use it more often. It is unlikely to cause irritation for your dry skin.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This exfoliant is a great fit for dry skin and is unlikely to cause irritation because it leaves out harsh ingredients and includes soothing chamomile. It helps smooth flaky skin using lactic acid and papaya enzymes, while glycerin helps keep your skin hydrated.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying 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, 2017Incorporating 1, 2, and 5 percent papain into starch- and carboxymethyl cellulose-based films preserved proteolytic and skin exfoliation activity while improving mechanical properties and water solubility compared to control films, with immobilized enzyme maintaining stability for up to 90 days.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023A 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, 2015Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Apigenin protects against UVA-induced cytotoxicity and senescence in normal human dermal fibroblasts, decreases MMP-1 expression, and when applied topically as a cream in human subjects, increases dermal density and elasticity while reducing fine wrinkle length, skin evenness, moisture content, and transepidermal water loss compared to control cream.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2016Topical chamomile oil combined with a night splint significantly improved the symptomatic and functional status of patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome compared to placebo, while electrodiagnostic parameters showed no significant changes.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2015German chamomile solution applied twice a day healed peristomal skin lesions significantly faster than once-a-day 1% hydrocortisone ointment in colostomy patients, with a mean healing time of 8.89 days versus 14.53 days.
Ostomy/wound Management, 2011Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016Reflux 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, 2020Carica papaya leaf extracts obtained via supercritical fluid and conventional methods demonstrated antioxidant and cytoprotective effects on skin fibroblasts against oxidative stress, driven by their respective lipophilic and hydrophilic constituents.
Molecules, 2021
Ingredients
Lactic Acid, Water, Glycerin, Sodium Lactate, Hydroxypropyl Phosphate Starch, Sodium Hydroxide, Galactoarabinan, Ethoxydiglycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Willow Bark Extract, Lecithin, Protease, Aminopeptidase, Bacillus Ferment, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate, Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor 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.
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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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