Peter Thomas Roth FIRMx Peeling Gel for oily skin
Pineapple
Pomegranate Enzymes
Cellulose
Glycerin
Sodium Hyaluronate
R-Bacillus Licheniformis Keratinase
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 oily skin due to R-Bacillus Licheniformis Keratinase and pineapple fruit extract, which aid in smoothing texture and promoting corneocyte shedding.
- While cellulose and pineapple fruit extract provide general hydration and exfoliation, these benefits are not directly targeted at controlling oily shine, which is your main goal.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant product as part of your PM routine once a week. Start slowly and build up frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb fully. Avoid any harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the exfoliant directly onto completely dry skin to get the best balance and results. Clean, dry skin helps the product work evenly.
- Always avoid the delicate eye area when applying. Be sure to use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily while using exfoliating acids.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 4.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is highly praised for its gentle, acid-free enzymatic exfoliation that effectively removes dead skin cells without causing irritation, making it ideal for sensitive, dry, and combination skin. Users consistently report that it leaves their complexion feeling baby-soft, smooth, and radiant, while helping to unclog pores and improve overall skin texture. Some users question the efficacy of the visible 'rolling' effect, suggesting it may be due to the cellulose ingredient rather than actual dead skin removal.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “exfoliates in a very gentle way without irritating my skin”
- “gentle exfoliation without the stinging or irritation”
- “gentle but super effective exfoliant”
- “not a harsh or abrasive scrub”
Leaves skin soft Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves the skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth, and radiant”
- “skin feel baby soft and smooth”
- “skin is so soft after that, I can't stop touching my face”
- “leaves your skin feeling instantly softer”
Removes dead skin Often Mentioned
- “visibly rolls the dead skin off of my face”
- “immediately feel pieces of dead skin coming off”
- “satisfying to see the dead skin come up”
- “peeled off old skin cells on my face”
Brightens complexion Sometimes Noted
- “my skin looks much more radiant and luminous”
- “left my skin glowing”
- “leaves your complexion looking moisturized and bright”
- “helping to exfoliate and brighten my skin”
Cellulose gimmick Sometimes Noted
- “Its not dead skin you see rolling off, its the cellulose they put in the product!”
- “much of its theatrical 'peeling' is cellulose roll-off rather than active resurfacing”
- “what is pulling is the product just clumping up”
- “I thot it was kinda a gimmick & was just the product rolling on my skin”
Can cause breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Made me break out.”
- “caused me to break out”
- “broke me out”
Difficult to rinse Rarely Noted
- “the little balls are difficult to get completely rinsed away afterward”
- “hard to wash off the little clumps”
- “takes a bit of effort to wash off all the cellulose pills”
High price Rarely Noted
- “price feels steep”
- “costs a touch more than single-acid toners”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, ulta.com, sephora.com, peterthomasroth.com, target.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Peter Thomas Roth FIRMx Peeling Gel work for oily skin?
This product works for your oily skin by smoothing texture, but it does not directly target excess shine. An ideal exfoliant treatment for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, ferulic acid, or zinc PCA to help control oil while keeping the face smooth and calm.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily skin?
R-Bacillus licheniformis keratinase and pineapple fruit extract make this exfoliant a fit by offering moderate smoothing and texture improvement for oily skin. To truly suit this skin type, a product of this kind needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, or ferulic acid that actively control excess oil and manage shine.
What does Pineapple Extract do for oily skin?
Pineapple extract helps balance oily skin by reducing excess sebum secretion while keeping it hydrated. It also supports a calm and smooth complexion with a very low likelihood of irritation.
What do Pomegranate Enzymes do for oily skin?
Pomegranate Enzymes help clear away dead skin and unclog pores, which keeps oily skin feeling smooth and looking fresh. This gentle action helps balance the skin and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This exfoliant treatment fits into an evening routine, starting at once a week and cautiously increasing only if your skin handles it well. It offers moderate texture smoothing, but a product for oily skin also needs ingredients that help control shine.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant alongside retinol, but apply them on different nights to keep your skin calm and avoid irritation. Because both ingredients renew the skin, alternating them helps prevent any unwanted dryness or sensitivity.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start by using this exfoliant once a week, and if your skin handles it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. It is safe for your skin with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily skin because it has a very safe profile with negligible risk of such issues. An exfoliant for oily skin needs ingredients that help control shine and manage oil while smoothing texture.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical cream loaded with 2% Ananas comosus extract significantly improved epidermal hydration up to 56.74% and reduced transepidermal water loss up to -73.19% compared to baseline in 11 healthy human volunteers over 12 weeks, outperforming the placebo control.
Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, 2016Bacterial cellulose masks incorporated with vegetable extract increased skin hydration by 76% in 75% of volunteers, while propolis extract decreased hydration by 32.6% in 80% of volunteers, demonstrating effectiveness for skincare applications.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018Bacterial cellulose membranes with and without glycerin showed good skin compatibility and no barrier disruption in human subjects compared to a negative control, with glycerin-containing membranes additionally providing a statistically significant skin moisturizing effect (p=0.044).
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2014Oral bromelain slightly reduced pain compared to controls (mean difference -0.27) and topical bromelain reduced time to complete debridement by 6.89 days, with no major health risks reported.
Nutrition and Health, 2023An upcycled pineapple leaf fibre crosspolymer forms a physical barrier that protects against environmental aggressors while providing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipollution, UV protection, hydration, and hair benefits.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026A coaxial electrospun core-shell nanofiber scaffold delivering bromelain and salvianolic acid B demonstrated sustained drug release, in vitro endothelial cell migration, increased capillary formation in an in ovo assay, and in vivo efficacy for skin regeneration and wound healing.
Biomedical Materials, 2017Nanofibrillar cellulose dressing provides efficient wound healing comparable to polylactide-based copolymer dressings at skin graft donor sites in 24 patients, with significant improvements in observer scar thickness and vascularity and skin elasticity.
Advances in Wound Care, 2020AgNP-BC exhibited over 99% reduction in Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with no cytotoxicity, allowing epidermal cell attachment and growth compared to unmodified bacterial cellulose.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 2014Cellulose acetate and soy protein hydrolysate nanofibrous dressings promote fibroblast proliferation in vitro and accelerate wound healing with reduced scar formation in vivo.
Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2018A 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, 2017The 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, 2001Topical 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, 2019Enzymatic exfoliation using the keratinase HT1 efficiently decomposed human skin keratin and exfoliated the outermost stratum corneum with less abrasiveness and no damage to the epidermal layer compared with chemical exfoliation.
Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 2025
Why other products fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Peg-32, Cellulose, Butylene Glycol, Bergamot Fruit Water, Sorbitol, R-Bacillus Licheniformis Keratinase, Pineapple Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus Punica Granatum Extract Fruit Ferment, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Algin, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Isopropyl Myristate, Sodium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Mica, Phenoxyethanol
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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