Dermalogica Exfoliant Accelerator 35 for sensitive skin

Superior
- SuperiorNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best products for sensitive skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 excellent exfoliation for your normal skin, as lactic acid and protease work to smooth texture while glycerin supports hydration. Willow bark extract and chamomile extract further aid in reducing redness and irritation, aligning well with your primary concerns.
- The combination of these ingredients provides a synergistic effect, enhancing the product's ability to address your skin's needs.
- The formula is safe for your sensitive skin, containing soothing chamomile and avoiding harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your exfoliant PM once a week to help with redness and irritation. Start slowly and only increase frequency if your skin feels happy and comfortable.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toner , but always before your moisturizer . This ensures the product absorbs properly into the skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin without rubbing . Let it absorb for a minute before moving on.
- Since your skin is sensitive , apply the exfoliant on completely dry skin for the best tolerance. This helps prevent any extra stinging or discomfort.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area .
People Say
★1.0Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsThis summary is based on limited data. The product is a professional-grade chemical exfoliant designed for trained skin therapists. While it is noted for effective resurfacing and potent ingredients that accelerate cell renewal, its use is strictly limited to professionals due to a very high risk of severe irritation or injury for untrained consumers. There are also some reports of shipping and handling issues.
Highlights
Professional use only Mostly Mentioned
- “This product is for professional use only and not intended for consumer retail.”
- “Use of this product by untrained, unlicensed persons may result in extreme skin irritation.”
- “Do not leave client unattended.”
Effective resurfacing Often Mentioned
- “Delivers fast-acting resurfacing for uneven, thick, or sun-damaged skin.”
- “Helps stimulate cell renewal and cell turnover rates.”
- “Visibly refine surface tone and improve clarity.”
Potent ingredients Often Mentioned
- “Contains skin smoothing ingredients including Lactic Acid, peptides and enzymes.”
- “Low pH (3.2) concentrate in a Chamomile Extract base.”
- “Papaya enzymes and willow bark support gentle enzymatic and chemical exfoliation.”
Risk of irritation Often Mentioned
- “Slight tingling, mild itching or some temporary skin redness are normal reactions.”
- “Remove immediately if client experiences discomfort, or irritation is severe.”
- “Do not use if skin is sensitive, sunburned.”
Professional customization Sometimes Noted
- “Allows for customization of professional resurfacing.”
- “Accelerates the activity and exfoliation efficacy of select Dermalogica professional exfoliants.”
- “Can be added to professional chemical exfoliation services to enhance overall results.”
Shipping issues Rarely Noted
- “The condition in which this item arrived it was not [acceptable]!”
- “Not a good representative of brand!”
- “Package was damaged in shipment.”
Sources: lovi.care, dermalogicathebook.com, saloncentric.com, skinmedix.com, ecosmetics.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Dermalogica Exfoliant Accelerator 35 one of the best fits for sensitive skin?
Dermalogica Exfoliant Accelerator 35 is a great fit because lactic acid and enzymes smooth your skin while glycerin keeps it hydrated. Willow bark and chamomile extracts help calm redness and irritation, making the formula safe and gentle for sensitive skin.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for sensitive skin?
This exfoliant is a great fit for sensitive skin because it uses lactic acid and enzymes to smooth texture safely, while chamomile extract and willow bark extract help calm redness and irritation. Glycerin also supports hydration to keep skin comfortable.
What does Lactic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Lactic acid may cause stinging and irritation on sensitive skin because sensitive skin often has a fragile barrier and enhanced facial blood flow. To care for sensitive skin, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients like ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier and calm discomfort.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2018Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2021
What do Peptides do for sensitive skin?
Peptides help support the skin barrier and improve the feel of sensitive skin by encouraging firmness and a smooth look. When paired with soothing and hydrating ingredients, peptide products are generally well tolerated and unlikely to cause irritation.
Advanced Science, 2025Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 1998
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after your cleanser and soothing toner and before your moisturizer. Lovi routines start exfoliating treatments once a week, and people who tolerate them well and see good results may carefully use them more often.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant with retinol by alternating nights rather than applying them together, because using strong actives at the same time may easily irritate sensitive skin.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start using this exfoliant once a week in your evening routine, and carefully use it more often only if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results. The formula is safe for sensitive skin because it contains soothing chamomile and avoids harsh ingredients.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on sensitive skin, as its formula contains soothing chamomile and avoids heavy oils that typically trigger blemishes. However, it carries a high risk of irritation and is intended for professional use only, so you may experience redness or flaking if your skin reacts strongly to the active acids.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Apigenin protects against UVA-induced cytotoxicity and senescence in normal human dermal fibroblasts, decreases MMP-1 expression, and when applied topically as a cream in human subjects, increases dermal density and elasticity while reducing fine wrinkle length, skin evenness, moisture content, and transepidermal water loss compared to control cream.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2016Topical chamomile oil combined with a night splint significantly improved the symptomatic and functional status of patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome compared to placebo, while electrodiagnostic parameters showed no significant changes.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2015German chamomile solution applied twice a day healed peristomal skin lesions significantly faster than once-a-day 1% hydrocortisone ointment in colostomy patients, with a mean healing time of 8.89 days versus 14.53 days.
Ostomy/wound Management, 2011Topical 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, 2020
Ingredients
Lactic Acid, Water, Glycerin, Sodium Lactate, Hydroxypropyl Phosphate Starch, Sodium Hydroxide, Galactoarabinan, Ethoxydiglycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Willow Bark Extract, Lecithin, Protease, Aminopeptidase, Bacillus Ferment, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate, Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
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
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