e.l.f. Gentle Peeling Exfoliant for dry sensitive skin
Carica Papaya Leaf Extract
Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract Tangerine Fruit Extract
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Root Extract Licorice Root Extract
Glycerin
Average
- HighDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, 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
- Offers moderate exfoliation suitable for dry skin due to glycerin and dipotassium glycyrrhizate, which provide humectant and anti-inflammatory actions respectively, helping to smooth texture without compromising hydration.
- The formula offers general skincare benefits that are mostly supportive for your dry or flaky skin, though it lacks specialized humectants or emollients in concentrations that would effectively address dryness.
- The safety profile is excellent for your dry and sensitive skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like dipotassium glycyrrhizate.
How to apply
- Use your exfoliant PM once a week to help with dryness. Start ⏳3 times a week only if your sensitive skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but always before your favorite moisturizer .
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and avoid any rubbing. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before layering.
- Since your skin is reactive and sensitive, apply the exfoliant on completely dry skin for better tolerance.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area .
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, users generally praise this exfoliant for being effective yet non-abrasive, making it suitable for sensitive skin and frequent use. Many enjoy the satisfying visible peeling effect and the resulting soft skin, although some reviewers suspect the peeling is merely the product balling up rather than actual dead skin.
Highlights
Leaves skin soft Mostly Mentioned
- “Skin feels so silky”
- “Makes my skin soft and glowy”
- “Face felt clean and fresh.”
Gentle and non-abrasive Often Mentioned
- “Super gentle, never irritates”
- “Felt like water, very nice”
- “Great for sensitive skin.”
Great value Often Mentioned
- “Great value at this cost”
- “Works fast and isn't expensive”
- “Better than the $50 product.”
Removes dry patches Sometimes Noted
- “Reduces chronic peeling”
- “Dead skin is gone”
- “Helps get rid of stubborn flakes.”
Satisfying peeling effect Sometimes Noted
- “Satisfying gross peeling thing”
- “Fun to see skin slough off”
- “Cool to see it work.”
Gimmicky peeling action Sometimes Noted
- “Product is very gimmicky”
- “Just the product balling up”
- “Not actually peeling skin off.”
Chemical or strong smell Rarely Noted
- “Weird chemically smell”
- “Strong smell to it”
- “Reminds me of an automotive shop.”
Messy residue Rarely Noted
- “Little balls of skin everywhere”
- “Hard to rinse off”
- “Residue left on skin.”
Not strong enough Rarely Noted
- “Don't think this does anything”
- “Better exfoliators in AHA categories”
- “Basic results.”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump broke”
- “Had to scoop it out”
- “Hard to get product out.”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, skinsort.com, youtube.com, reddit.com, thebeautyinsiders.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does e.l.f. Gentle Peeling Exfoliant work for dry sensitive skin?
This exfoliant is a moderate fit for your dry sensitive skin, helping to smooth texture without compromising hydration, though other options may address your dryness more effectively. It has an excellent safety profile with soothing ingredients, but this type of skin needs formulas rich in deep moisturizers, ceramides, and vitamins to truly lock in moisture and protect the skin barrier.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin and dipotassium glycyrrhizate make this exfoliant a good fit for dry sensitive skin by helping to smooth texture while keeping skin calm and hydrated. Because it lacks stronger moisturizing ingredients, an exfoliant for this skin needs richer hydrators, nourishing oils, and barrier-supporting components like ceramides.
What does Papaya Leaf Extract do for dry sensitive skin?
Papaya Leaf Extract is unlikely to irritate dry sensitive skin and helps keep it calm and smooth. This type of ingredient works best when it also includes soothing elements and rich moisture to protect delicate areas.
What does Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract do for dry sensitive skin?
Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract helps calm and comfort dry sensitive skin by providing gentle antioxidant care. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used in a well-formulated routine, leaving your face feeling soft and smooth.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This exfoliant treatment goes in your evening routine once a week. To truly care for dry skin, this type of product needs extra heavy hydrators and soft nourishing ingredients that effectively lock in moisture and deeply comfort tight areas.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant in your routine, but because it may dry out your skin, it should be used on nights when you are not applying retinol to avoid irritation.
How often should I use it?
Start using it once a week in the evening, and if your skin tolerates it well and stays calm, you may carefully use it more often. To truly fit dry skin, this type of product needs extra heavy hydrators and softeners.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts, or lead to purging on dry sensitive skin. Its safety profile is very good for this skin type because it contains no harsh ingredients and features soothing components that help keep skin calm.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
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, 2017A topical formulation containing panthenol, niacinamide, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate increased skin hydration by 74.1% and reduced transepidermal water loss by 13.5% at 28 days compared to baseline and untreated control in 35 individuals with xerosis.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016A 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, 2015Reflux 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, 2020Topical application of Citrus reticulata fruit extract provided instant relief from lactic acid-induced skin discomfort and increased skin tolerance by inhibiting TRPV1 activation and expression.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Fermented Citrus unshiu peel extract inhibited MMP-1 expression and decreased SA-beta-gal positive cells by approximately 45% at 0.1% concentration in ultraviolet-A-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts compared to untreated irradiated cells.
Phytotherapy Research, 2012Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025The 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
Why other products fit dry sensitive skin better
Tocopherol succinate-loaded ethosomal gel increased skin deposition, stability, moisture, and mechanical properties in 13 human subjects compared to a control gel over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022In 50 participants with sensitive skin, a Ceramide NP C15-containing emollient improved skin barrier function with a significant reduction in transepidermal water loss and induced modest changes in skin microbiota compared to the vehicle.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2026Hydrogels containing vitamin E-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers exhibited better occlusive properties and long-lasting effects, while vitamin E-loaded nanoemulsions performed a faster skin hydration effect and were selected as more attractive for skin application.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Propylene Glycol, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Quaternium-60, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Carica Papaya Leaf Extract, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract Tangerine Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum
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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