ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Polish for combination skin
Retinyl Palmitate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf
Ascorbyl Palmitate
GlycerinAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other products fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 combination skin due to sodium bicarbonate and magnesium oxide, which help manage oily shine by removing surface debris. Glycerin provides humectant support, balancing the exfoliating action for your skin type.
- While effective for general exfoliation, the formula is not specifically targeted to address your primary concern of oily shine with specialized ingredients.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, as it lacks harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant product in your PM routine starting once a week, then increase frequency carefully if your skin feels fine.
- Apply this exfoliant step after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and wait a minute before layering.
- Apply the exfoliant to clean, dry skin to help control your oily shine comfortably.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.9Overall rating based on 3.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dull, rough, or congestion-prone skin consistently report immediate improvements in texture and radiance, often describing a "glass skin" effect. While highly effective for smoothing fine lines and clearing pores, those with active acne or extreme sensitivity occasionally find the physical exfoliation too abrasive.
Highlights
Instant skin smoothness Mostly Mentioned
- “skin instantly became baby smooth”
- “leaves my skin so soft like a baby butt”
- “feels baby-soft and smooth”
- “smoothest my face has ever felt”
Radiant glow Often Mentioned
- “looking for glowing baby like skin”
- “leaves skin healthy and glowing”
- “notice my skin shining”
- “closest to glass skin I have seen”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “my wallet winced”
- “quite pricey”
- “expensive for the size”
- “wish it was cheaper”
High efficiency Sometimes Noted
- “a little goes a long way”
- “only need a small amount”
- “jar lasts forever”
- “pea-sized amount is enough”
Pleasant experience Sometimes Noted
- “smells very clean and fresh”
- “invigorating citrusy scent”
- “feels like a mini spa treatment”
- “warming sensation is nice”
Rinsing difficulty Rarely Noted
- “hard to rinse off completely”
- “leaves a film”
- “found blue crystals in hairline”
- “sticky residue left behind”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “synthetic scent irritates”
- “fragrance is very strong”
- “smell gave me a headache”
- “wish it was fragrance-free”
Too abrasive Rarely Noted
- “crystals feel rough”
- “stings active pimples”
- “felt like sandpaper”
Sources: lovi.care, zoskinhealth.com, influenster.com, amazon.com, dermstreet.com, newbeauty.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does ZO Exfoliating Polish work for combination skin?
ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Polish works moderately well for combination skin, offering surface exfoliation to help manage oily shine while glycerin provides balancing moisture. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients for your primary concerns, an exfoliant of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, or propolis to regulate oiliness and enhance radiance without irritation.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for combination skin?
Sodium bicarbonate and magnesium oxide help manage oily shine by removing surface debris, while glycerin provides balance for your combination skin. A product of this type needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and propolis to regulate oiliness, enhance radiance, and provide balanced hydration without irritation.
What does Retinyl Palmitate do for combination skin?
Retinyl palmitate helps smooth fine lines, even out skin tone, and improve texture on combination skin. Because it works gently, it is unlikely to cause irritation while helping keep both dry and oily areas looking clear and firm.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2011
What does Vitamin E do for combination skin?
Vitamin E helps balance combination skin by boosting moisture in dry areas while remaining light enough to avoid clogging pores in oily zones. It also protects the skin by fighting off free radicals and helps keep the skin barrier strong and calm.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This exfoliant goes in the evening routine once a week to gently manage oily shine, though those who tolerate it well may carefully use it more often. Combination skin works best with products that offer targeted oil control ingredients and balancing hydrators.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to use this exfoliant on separate nights from your retinol to help prevent dry skin and irritation. Applying strong scrubs and retinoids together may easily overwhelm your skin barrier.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start using this exfoliant once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well and sees good results, you may carefully use it more often. A combination skin type needs gentle surface refiners paired with balancing moisturizers to manage oily shine without causing dryness.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin, as it lacks heavy oils or common breakout triggers. However, a product of this type still needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to truly manage oily shine and keep pores clear.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, and linalool).
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, 2017Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Over-the-counter retinol products provided only weak evidence for a mild ameliorating effect on fine facial skin wrinkle lines in randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, and major methodological flaws call the validity of positive results into question.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021A cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate regimen significantly improved periorbital wrinkle appearance relative to a 0.02% tretinoin regimen at 8 weeks with comparable benefits at 24 weeks, while demonstrating significantly better tolerability in 196 women.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010A novel triple-active cosmetic formulation containing 4-hexylresorcinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide improved the visual appearance of photoageing similarly to 0.02% tretinoin and reversed a consensus gene signature associated with ageing in female adults while causing less skin irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Tea tree oil nanoemulsion containing adapalene gel demonstrated significantly greater reductions in total, inflammatory, and non-inflammatory acne lesions as well as acne severity index compared to adapalene marketed gel in 100 patients with acne vulgaris over 12 weeks.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2022Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022The 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 combination skin better
Niacinamide 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, 2022A 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, 2024
Ingredients
Peg-8, Sodium Bicarbonate, Magnesium Oxide, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Oleth-20, Trihydroxystearin, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Paraffinum Liquidum Huile Minérale Mineral Oil, Water, Tocopheryl Acetate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, Glycine Soja Soybean Sterols, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Linoleic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Green 6 Ci 61565
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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