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ZO Skin Health Complexion Renewal Pads for oily skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

ZO Skin Health Complexion Renewal Pads

Superior

  • SuperiorOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best products for oily skin.

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

  • Excellent suitability for your oily skin as salicylic acid and glycolic acid effectively decongest pores and manage oiliness, while plant extracts like Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract provide anti-inflammatory action.
  • The keratolytic action of these acids, combined with soothing botanical extracts, ensures a balanced approach to refining texture and controlling shine.
  • The formula is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients and a low risk of irritation.

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

★4.7Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, these pads are widely praised for effectively managing oily, acne-prone, and congested skin by combining salicylic and glycolic acids to exfoliate and clear pores. While many users achieve a brighter, smoother, and more balanced complexion, those with highly sensitive or dry skin should introduce them gradually due to the inclusion of denatured alcohol and fragrance.

Highlights

  • Convenient to use Often Mentioned
    • “Incredibly convenient and easy to incorporate.”
    • “Easy-to-use pad with incredible benefits.”
    • “Perfect for on-the-go skincare maintenance.”
  • Effective exfoliation Often Mentioned
    • “Leaves my skin feeling clean, smooth, and refreshed.”
    • “Truly renew the top layer of your skin with each use.”
    • “Removes dead skin cells to prevent clogged pores.”
  • Reduces oil Often Mentioned
    • “Helps keep surface oils under control.”
    • “I've noticed less oiliness throughout the day.”
    • “Works effectively to minimize surface oil.”
  • Brightens skin Sometimes Noted
    • “Helped my hyperpigmentation SO much.”
    • “My skin looks brighter and more even in tone.”
    • “Helps to brighten skin and clarify pores.”
  • Contains alcohol Sometimes Noted
    • “Denatured alcohol is included... it's also drying for many users.”
    • “It has denatured alcohol which could lead to sensitive skin issues.”
    • “I am very conservative when it comes to having alcohol based products.”
  • High price Sometimes Noted
    • “It's a steep step up from drugstore alternatives.”
    • “I just wish they weren't so pricey.”
    • “Cut them in half to get more bang for your buck.”
  • Causes irritation Rarely Noted
    • “Can be too much during a flare... may sting on reactive skin.”
    • “If you suffer from sensitive or broken skin, [this] may be a more suitable choice.”
    • “Fragrances... can lead to sensitive skin issues.”

Sources: lovi.care, dermapproved.com, youtube.com, skinsort.com, myfacedr.com, alexandrarosepink.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes ZO Complexion Renewal Pads one of the best fits for oily skin?

These pads are an exceptional fit for oily skin because glycolic acid and salicylic acid team up to clear out clogged pores and keep extra shine under control. Plant extracts in the formula help calm the skin, and the low risk of irritation ensures a balanced, gentle way to refine your skin texture.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily skin?

Salicylic acid and glycolic acid make this exfoliant a great fit by deeply clearing pores and managing extra shine, while plant extracts like green tea leaf extract help calm the skin. This balanced approach helps refine your skin texture safely with a low risk of irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Experimental Dermatology, 2009

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 Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?

Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019

Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This exfoliant goes in your evening routine, starting at once a week and gradually increasing only if your skin handles it well. Salicylic acid and glycolic acid help clear pores and control shine, while soothing plant extracts keep irritation low.

Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this exfoliant with retinol, but it is best to use them on different nights to lower your risk of irritation. Applying both together may be too harsh for your skin, so alternate nights or use the exfoliant in your morning routine and retinol at night.

How often should I use this exfoliant?

Start using this exfoliant treatment once a week in your evening routine, and carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results. It is unlikely to cause irritation because the formula is safe for your skin with no harsh ingredients.

Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This exfoliant is an excellent fit for oily skin because glycolic acid and salicylic acid effectively clear clogged pores and help manage excess oil and shine. The formula is safe for your skin, featuring a low risk of irritation and soothing plant extracts that help keep breakouts under control.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, linalool, and hexyl cinnamal) and drying alcohol (sd alcohol 40-b).

What the research says

  • Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2009

  • An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019

  • Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

  • Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose hydrogel formulations of berberine chloride-loaded escinosomes increased skin residence time and transdermal permeability while maintaining high safety and biocompatibility without skin irritation.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020

  • Repeated 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, 2000

  • Serial 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, 2017

  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010

  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020

  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • Plantain leaf proteins exhibit a wound-healing effect on vertebrate skin both in vitro and in vivo.

    Prikladnaia Biokhimiia I Mikrobiologiia, 2011

  • Plantago lanceolata water extract improves skin wound healing in rats by inducing the transition of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, increasing wound contraction rates, and enhancing tensile strength through greater extracellular matrix protein organization compared to untreated wounds.

    The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2015

  • Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata extracts incorporated into 3D-printed polysaccharide dressings enhanced fibroblast wound closure to 64% and 52%, respectively, compared to 29% for the control.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026

  • Topical steroid withdrawal is driven by excess mitochondrial NAD+ metabolism that can be successfully targeted using complex I-inhibiting interventions such as metformin and berberine.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2025

  • Topical steroid withdrawal presents as a distinct dermatopathology characterized by burning, flushing, thermodysregulation, and elevated mitochondrial NAD+ oxidation, which can be improved by targeting complex I with metformin or berberine.

    MedRxiv, 2024

  • Gelatin/chitosan bilayer patches loaded with Cortex Phellodendri amurensis and Centella asiatica extracts inhibited the growth of Propionibacterium acnes and accelerated skin fibroblast cell viability.

    Polymers, 2021

Ingredients

Water, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Urea, Glycolic Acid, Pterocarpus Soyauxii Extract Wood, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Hordeum Distichon Extract Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Sodium Hydroxide

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play