ZO Skin Health Enzymatic Peel for oily skin
Glycolic Acid
Bromelain
Papain
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil
Brassica Oleracea Italica ExtractAverage
- 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 glycolic acid and papain, which help smooth texture and manage oiliness. Bromelain also supports exfoliation, providing general skincare benefits that are supportive for oily shine.
- The formula is highly suitable for oily skin, with ingredients like glycolic acid and bromelain offering keratolytic action and exfoliation to address excess oil.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or 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
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is highly praised for its ability to gently exfoliate, leaving skin feeling smoother, brighter, and more radiant without significant downtime. Users frequently report that it effectively addresses dullness, rough texture, and minor sun damage, making it a popular choice for maintaining skin health between professional treatments.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “Skin feels amazingly soft”
- “noticeably smoother”
- “promotes smoother texture”
Brighter complexion Often Mentioned
- “Look renewed”
- “brighter appearance”
- “skin glow”
Easy to use Sometimes Noted
- “Amazing and so simple”
- “perfect at-home treat”
- “simple application”
No visible peeling Sometimes Noted
- “No obvious peeling”
- “minimal downtime”
- “no shedding”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “Expensive”
- “investment”
- “premium cost”
Requires consistency Sometimes Noted
- “Takes time to see results”
- “needs regular use”
Sun sensitivity Rarely Noted
- “Increases sun sensitivity”
- “must use sunscreen”
Sources: lovi.care, zoskinhealth.com, leboskincare.com, myfacedr.com, dermstreet.com, aptmedicalaesthetics.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does ZO Enzymatic Peel work for oily skin?
This peel works moderately well for oily skin, helping smooth texture and manage oiliness through glycolic acid and papain. An exfoliant of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide to control sebum and soothe skin, alongside soothing extracts and barrier-supporting hydrators.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily skin?
Glycolic acid, bromelain, and papain make this exfoliant a good fit for oily skin by offering moderate exfoliation that helps smooth texture and manage oiliness. To fit oily skin even better, an exfoliant of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide to control sebum, along with soothing extracts and lightweight hydrators to keep skin comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015
What does Glycolic Acid do for oily skin?
Glycolic acid helps clear away dead skin and excess oil for a smooth, clean feel. It gently removes buildup from the surface, which keeps pores clear and skin looking fresh.
Molecules, 2023Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2011
What does Bromelain do for oily skin?
Bromelain is not typically used to treat oily skin, as it is an enzyme mainly known for breaking down dead tissue and helping with wounds. Oily skin generally needs ingredients that balance oil production and keep pores clear, such as plant extracts that regulate sebum.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This exfoliant treatment goes in the evening routine. For oily skin, an exfoliant of this type needs balancing ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide to better manage excess oil and shine.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant with retinol by alternating nights to help prevent irritation on your oily skin. Apply the exfoliant first on its designated night, and use your retinol on a separate evening when you are not exfoliating.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Use this exfoliant once a week to start, and if your oily skin handles it well with good results, you can carefully use it more often. This type of skin needs regular exfoliation and oil control from acids and enzymes to stay smooth.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores for oily skin and has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients. Oily skin often does better with a product that balances surface oil while deeply clearing pores.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A combination of dermapen and glycolic acid peel significantly decreased acne scar grades and resulted in higher patient satisfaction compared to either monotherapy in 30 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A 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, 2015Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Oral 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, 2017Topical 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, 2021Topical sulforaphane treatment reduced mottled skin pigmentation in humans and UV-induced pigmentation in wild-type mice through NRF2 and keratinocyte-specific IL-6Rα signaling.
JCI Insight, 2020Topical application of sulforaphane-rich broccoli sprout extracts reduced UVR-induced erythema by a mean of 37.7% in six human subjects.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2007Pre-treatment with sulforaphane and phenylethyl isothiocyanate significantly counteracted UVR-induced increases in apoptosis and decreases in catalase in human skin by inducing Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathways.
Pharmacological Research, 2013
Ingredients
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycolic Acid, Dimethicone, Methylheptyl Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Diglycerin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Isohexadecane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Dimethiconol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Maltodextrin, Aleurites Moluccana Seed Oil, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Oleth-20, Bromelain, Algin, Tocopherol, Papain, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Disodium Edta, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
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
How does it fit your skin?
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