celimax Heartleaf BHA Peeling Pad for oily acne-prone skin
Heartleaf Extract
Bha Beta Hydroxy Acid
Madecassoside
Oil Tree Leaf
GlycerinAverage
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oily skin, as salicylic acid and betaine salicylate work to decongest pores and smooth texture, addressing your concerns with acne and breakouts.
- The inclusion of Centella Asiatica Extract and Madecassoside provides soothing benefits, making it suitable for your non-sensitive skin.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week to start, increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but before your final moisturizer step.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product directly onto clean, dry skin for the best results against breakouts.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always use a daily SPF since exfoliating makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with sensitive, acne-prone, and textured skin frequently praise these pads for delivering gentle yet effective exfoliation that smoothes roughness without causing irritation. The dual-sided design allows for targeted treatment of clogged pores and dead skin cells, leaving the complexion feeling hydrated, calmer, and noticeably softer.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels noticeably smoother”
- “refined and evened out”
- “removes dead skin cells”
- “erased closed comedones”
- “softens rough patches”
Gentle for sensitive Often Mentioned
- “no irritation”
- “gentle daily exfoliation”
- “suitable for sensitive skin”
- “mild BHA formula”
- “didn't breakout”
Effective dual-sided Sometimes Noted
- “gauze side cleans pores”
- “embossed side wipes gently”
- “great for nose/chin”
- “convenient 2-in-1”
- “physical and chemical exfoliation”
Hydrating and non-sticky Sometimes Noted
- “light boost of hydration”
- “refreshing finish”
- “non-sticky residue”
- “absorbs well”
- “leaves skin moist”
Soothing and calming Sometimes Noted
- “calms redness”
- “soothing heartleaf extract”
- “relieves skin troubles”
- “invigorating feel”
- “reduced inflammation”
Can be drying Rarely Noted
- “drying if used daily”
- “skin felt tight”
- “not for dry skin”
- “need moisturizer after”
- “stripped natural oils”
Gauze side rough Rarely Noted
- “gauze side too scratchy”
- “irritating if rubbed hard”
- “texture feels abrasive”
- “too harsh for cheeks”
- “tingling sensation”
Pad moisture low Rarely Noted
- “pads could be wetter”
- “essence feels skimpy”
- “dried out quickly”
- “need two pads”
- “top pads less soaked”
Scent not preferred Rarely Noted
- “medicinal smell”
- “strong tea tree scent”
- “smells like Sprite”
- “herbal odor”
- “scent isn't my favorite”
Slightly sticky Rarely Noted
- “slightly tacky finish”
- “felt sticky initially”
- “residue left behind”
- “clashed with makeup”
- “heavy feeling”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, oliveyoung.com, stylekorean.com, yesstyle.com, celimax.us, and more
Questions and answers
How well does the Celimax Heartleaf BHA Peeling Pad work for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant treatment offers moderate clearing for oily skin with salicylic acid and betaine salicylate to smooth texture and calm breakouts. Because other options fit this skin type better, an ideal product for oily acne-prone skin needs strong acne-fighting ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or niacinamide to manage excess oil and breakouts effectively.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid and betaine salicylate help decongest pores and smooth texture for your oily acne-prone skin, while centella asiatica extract and madecassoside provide soothing benefits. However, an exfoliant treatment for this skin needs benzoyl peroxide or niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate to better address breakouts and excess oil.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
What does Heartleaf Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Heartleaf Extract helps calm oily, acne-prone skin by fighting bacteria and reducing redness and swelling. It is unlikely to irritate, making it a soothing choice that may protect against breakouts.
Heliyon, 2024Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 2016
What does Bha do for oily acne-prone skin?
BHA helps clear up breakouts and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing excess oil and calming redness. It works deep inside pores to clear away dirt and oil while keeping skin smooth and comfortable.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant goes in your evening routine, starting at once a week so your skin can adjust. To better fit oily acne-prone skin, this type of product needs ingredients like salicylic acid to clear pores and soothing components to keep skin calm.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant with retinol by alternating nights rather than using them together, because combining strong treatments may cause excess dryness and irritation on oily acne-prone skin. Apply the retinol on one night and this exfoliating pad on another, always following up with a gentle moisturizer.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start using this exfoliating treatment once a week in the evening, and if your oily acne-prone skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often. To work best for this skin type, an exfoliant needs clarifying salicylic acid and soothing plant extracts like heartleaf to decongest pores while keeping skin calm.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your oily skin, as salicylic acid helps clear out pores and smooth texture. However, because it removes dead skin, you may experience some mild initial purging as trapped debris comes to the surface. To work best for acne-prone skin, this type of product needs soothing ingredients like heartleaf and centella asiatica to keep skin calm while exfoliating.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (limonene) and drying alcohol (denatured alcohol).
What the research says
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, 2024The 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, 2023Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003Quercetin phospholipids 1% cream significantly reduced UV-, histamine-, and chemical-induced skin erythema (-10.05%) and mean wheal diameter in 30 healthy human volunteers, showing comparable efficacy to 1% dexchlorpheniramine cream.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2016Quercetin-loaded niosomes formulated with Span60-RH40 at a 9:11 mass ratio improved quercetin solubility, photostability, sustained release, and transdermal penetration, yielding a skin retention 2.95 times higher than quercetin solution.
Molecules, 2019Optimized rutin-loaded glycerosomes formulated into a nanosunscreen gel demonstrated sustained drug release, greater skin permeation, good antioxidant activity, and better epidermal retention compared to the dermis, indicating high safety, stability, and sun protection factor values for topical administration.
Gels, 2023Cryotherapy 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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A 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, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical herbal treatments including lemon balm, olive leaf extract, propolis, and sage-rhubarb cream reduce pain, swelling, lesion size, and healing time in patients with herpes labialis compared with placebo or acyclovir.
Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 2025Topical oleuropein formulations reduced erythema, transepidermal water loss, and blood flow by approximately 22%, 35%, and 30% in healthy volunteers with UVB-induced erythema.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008An oil-in-serum formulation containing olive extract standardized in hydroxytyrosol improved skin barrier function and significantly reduced hyperpigmentation in participants with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after 45 days of application.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2026The 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, Butylene Glycol, Denatured Alcohol, Camellia Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arginine, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, C12-14 Pareth-12, Lactobionic Acid, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Glycerin, Bifida Lysate Ferment, Centella Asiatica Extract, Disodium Edta, Lactose, Oil Tree Leaf, Wheat Extract, Purslane Extract, Perilla Frutescens Extract, Panthenol, Honeysuckle Extract, Centipede Geranium Extract, Cats Claw Extract, Eupathoria Gypsy Herb Extract, Chosun Cordyceps Root Extract, Pine Pine Leaf Extract, Catnip Extract, Madecassoside, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorphenesin, Betaine, Betaine Salicylate, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Chamaecparis Obtusa Water, Sea Water, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, Limonene
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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