e.l.f. Gentle Peeling Exfoliant for mature skin
Carica Papaya Leaf Extract
Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract Tangerine Fruit Extract
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Root Extract Licorice Root Extract
Glycerin
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for mature skin; a few products fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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 normal skin due to Carica Papaya Leaf Extract and Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract, which help smooth texture and provide humectant action.
- While Glycerin and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate offer general hydration and soothing benefits, they do not directly address your main goal of reducing wrinkles and fine lines.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate and Carica Papaya Leaf Extract and lacks harsh or prohibited substances.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant product in your PM routine once a week to start, increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well. Always apply SPF the next morning to protect your skin.
- Apply this exfoliant product after cleansing and toner, but before your moisturizer. This ensures the best absorption into your skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant product into your face, avoiding any rubbing. Let it absorb for a minute before moving to the next step.
- Apply this exfoliant product on completely dry skin to get the best results. This helps your normal skin accept the product smoothly.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area while using this exfoliant product. Do a patch test before your first use and avoid mixing it with strong acids.
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
What makes e.l.f. Gentle Peeling Exfoliant a great fit for mature skin?
This exfoliant is a great fit because it offers moderate smoothing for mature skin using Carica Papaya Leaf Extract and Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract, while Glycerin and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate help keep skin hydrated and calm. It is safe for regular use as it lacks harsh or prohibited substances, though it is less focused on reducing wrinkles and fine lines.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for mature skin?
Carica Papaya Leaf Extract and Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract make this exfoliant a great fit by smoothing texture and offering gentle exfoliation. Glycerin and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate also help by providing hydration and soothing the skin, though they do not directly target wrinkles.
What does Papaya Leaf Extract do for mature skin?
Papaya leaf extract helps mature skin by providing strong antioxidant benefits and supporting collagen synthesis, which keeps skin looking firm and smooth. Using this ingredient may also help protect against everyday oxidative stress that can age the skin.
What does Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract do for mature skin?
Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract helps smooth and firm mature skin by fighting off damage and protecting collagen. This extract is rich in helpful plant compounds that keep skin looking youthful and soft.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This exfoliant goes in your evening routine once a week as a treatment step, and people who tolerate it well and see good results can carefully use it more often. It helps smooth texture and keep your skin safe with soothing ingredients.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant with retinol by applying the exfoliant first to smooth your skin, followed by your retinol. However, because both products can cause dryness, using them together may increase irritation, so it is best to alternate nights or monitor how your skin feels.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start by using this exfoliant once a week, and if your skin feels comfortable and you like the results, you can carefully use it more often. It smooths texture and keeps skin safe with soothing ingredients while offering gentle exfoliation.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for mature skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like licorice root extract and lacks heavy or pore-clogging substances. It helps smooth texture and provides hydration, though it does not directly target fine lines and wrinkles.
Is this exfoliant 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
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.
-
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.