🇸🇦Saudi Arabia

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel for sensitive skin

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

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel

High

  • AverageNormal Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for sensitive skin; a few products fit it even better.

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 moderate exfoliation for your normal skin due to papain and pineapple fruit extract, which chemically exfoliate without significant irritation.
  • While niacinamide and milk protein offer some soothing benefits, the formula lacks targeted ingredients to address your specific concerns of redness and irritation.
  • The product is safe for your normal skin with sensitivity, as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that would cause irritation.

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

★4.6Overall rating based on 1.9k+ reviews

This gentle, non-granular cream exfoliator is widely praised by users with sensitive and mature skin for its ability to brighten and smooth the complexion without irritation. Reviewers consistently report that the fruit enzyme formula leaves skin feeling hydrated, baby-soft, and glowing, though some users seeking a harsh scrub find it too mild. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.

Highlights

  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly Mentioned
    • “no stinging or redness”
    • “doesn't irritate at all”
    • “perfect for delicate skin”
  • Softens and smooths texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft”
    • “smooths rough patches”
    • “makeup glides on”
    • “texture is refined”
  • Pleasant tropical scent Often Mentioned
    • “smells like a holiday”
    • “lovely fruity fragrance”
    • “delicious papaya scent”
    • “spa-like aroma”
  • Hydrating and non-drying Sometimes Noted
    • “no tight feeling”
    • “leaves face moisturized”
    • “creamy and nourishing”
    • “doesn't strip skin”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “expensive for the size”
    • “pricey for a mask”
    • “tube is small”
    • “luxury splurge item”
  • Too mild/Ineffective Sometimes Noted
    • “didn't see a difference”
    • “wanted deeper exfoliation”
    • “too gentle for me”
    • “results were subtle”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “clogged my pores”
    • “caused small bumps”
    • “broke me out”
    • “skin reacted badly”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “tube feels half empty”
    • “hard to squeeze out”
    • “air in the tube”
    • “product settles significantly”

Sources: lovi.care, lookfantastic.com, dermstore.com, elemis.com, sephora.co.uk, boots.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel a great fit for sensitive skin?

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel is a great fit because it offers moderate exfoliation using papain and pineapple fruit extract, which gently renew skin without causing significant irritation. Additionally, the formula is safe and free of harsh ingredients, while niacinamide and milk protein help keep skin calm.

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

Papaya enzyme and pineapple extract make this exfoliant a good fit by gently clearing away dead skin cells without causing irritation, while niacinamide and milk protein help keep sensitive skin calm and soft.

What does Papaya Enzyme do for sensitive skin?

Papaya enzyme is unlikely to be a good fit for sensitive skin because active exfoliating enzymes may cause irritation, redness, or stinging. Sensitive skin needs gentle, calming ingredients like soothing botanical extracts and hydrating lotions that repair the skin barrier without harsh chemical or enzymatic peeling.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

What does Pineapple Extract do for sensitive skin?

Pineapple extract helps improve skin hydration and strengthens the skin barrier for a smooth feel. It may also calm redness and irritation, though sensitive skin sometimes needs soothing antioxidants and gentle hydration to avoid stinging.

Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, 2016

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

This exfoliant goes in your evening routine once a week, as Lovi routines start exfoliating steps weekly and let you use them more often if your skin tolerates them well. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and adds extra safety around sun exposure.

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

It is best to use this exfoliant on a separate night from your retinol to help prevent red or irritated skin. Using strong exfoliants and retinol together is unlikely to go well on sensitive skin and may easily lead to stinging and dryness.

How often should I use this exfoliant?

Start by using this exfoliant treatment once a week, and if your skin handles it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. This product is safe for sensitive skin as it has no harsh or prohibited ingredients that cause irritation.

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

This exfoliant is unlikely to cause breakouts for sensitive skin, as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that would cause irritation. Reviewers rarely complain about breakouts, and the formula offers moderate exfoliation that is safe for your skin.

Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, citronellol, geraniol, limonene, and citral). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.

    Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016

  • A 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, 2015

  • Reflux 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

  • Oral bromelain slightly reduced pain compared to controls (mean difference -0.27) and topical bromelain reduced time to complete debridement by 6.89 days, with no major health risks reported.

    Nutrition and Health, 2023

  • An upcycled pineapple leaf fibre crosspolymer forms a physical barrier that protects against environmental aggressors while providing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipollution, UV protection, hydration, and hair benefits.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026

  • A coaxial electrospun core-shell nanofiber scaffold delivering bromelain and salvianolic acid B demonstrated sustained drug release, in vitro endothelial cell migration, increased capillary formation in an in ovo assay, and in vivo efficacy for skin regeneration and wound healing.

    Biomedical Materials, 2017

  • Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021

  • Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008

  • Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2005

  • Topical application of 1% Fucus vesiculosus extract gel twice daily for five weeks significantly decreased skin thickness and improved elasticity in human cheek skin compared with controls.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002

Ingredients

Water, Propylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, C12-16 Alcohols, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Palmitic Acid, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Parfum, Papain, Chlorphenesin, Lactis Proteinum Milk Protein, Pineapple Fruit Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disodium Edta, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract Red Algae Extract, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract Piper Nigrum Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Citral, Mentha Arvensis Oil Leaf Mint Oil Leaf, Cuminum Cyminum Seed Oil Cumin Seed 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.

  • 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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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Saudi Arabia.

How does it fit your skin?

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