Ole Henriksen Lemonade Smoothing Scrub for oily skin
Glycolic Acid
Lactic Acid
Lemon Peel Extract
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
Licorice Root ExtractAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other exfoliants fit it better.
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
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your oily skin due to the presence of glycolic acid and lactic acid, which help smooth texture and manage oiliness.
- While beneficial for general skincare, the formula's exfoliating ingredients are not specialized enough to significantly target concerns like oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh or prohibited ingredients.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.3k+ reviewsThis scrub is highly regarded for its ability to instantly polish and retexturize the skin, leaving it feeling soft, smooth, and glowing. While many users with various skin types—including those with sensitive or acne-prone skin—praise its effectiveness in clearing pores and reducing dullness, some individuals find the physical exfoliation too abrasive or potentially irritating. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Effective exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves skin soft”
- “polishes skin instantly”
- “clears out pores”
- “removes dead cells”
Instant glow Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin glowy”
- “healthy glow after”
- “brighter skin”
- “looks amazing”
Refreshing scent Often Mentioned
- “Smells so delicious”
- “zingy lemon scent”
- “refreshing and fun”
- “smells wonderful”
Convenient packaging Sometimes Noted
- “Easy to squeeze”
- “minimizes mess”
- “sturdy tube”
- “no water contamination”
Too abrasive Sometimes Noted
- “A bit too abrasive”
- “feels like sandpaper”
- “scrubbing particles harsh”
- “caused slight burning”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “Slightly burned”
- “caused a rash”
- “not for sensitive skin”
- “caused breakouts”
Product volume Rarely Noted
- “Tube comes half-empty”
- “not enough product”
Sensitizing ingredients Rarely Noted
- “Contains sensitizing ingredients”
- “fragrance-heavy”
- “not for everyone”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, olehenriksen.com, spacenk.com, ulta.com, prettyismyprofession.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Ole Henriksen Lemonade Smoothing Scrub work for oily skin?
This scrub offers moderate exfoliation for oily skin, helping smooth texture and manage oiliness safely without causing irritation. However, its exfoliating ingredients are not specialized enough to significantly target oily shine. For an optimal fit, oily skin needs products with BHA, salicylic acid, willow BHA, and blue tansy to effectively control oil, refine pores, and maintain clarity.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2011
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily skin?
Glycolic acid and lactic acid help smooth texture and manage oiliness on oily skin. To be a better fit for this skin type, a product needs pore-refining and clarifying ingredients like BHA, salicylic acid, and blue tansy that specifically target excess oil and shine.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2011
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 Lactic Acid do for oily skin?
Lactic acid helps manage oily skin by significantly reducing oil production and pore size while improving moisture levels. It supports a clearer and smoother look through gentle surface renewal.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This exfoliant goes in your weekly routine, starting at once a week and using it more often only if your skin handles it well. Oily skin also needs ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid to properly manage shine and blemishes.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
Using this exfoliant with retinol may easily cause irritation, so you should use them on different nights instead of applying them together. Spreading them out gives your skin time to adjust while still helping smooth texture and manage oiliness.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start using this exfoliant once a week, and if your oily skin tolerates it well and sees good results, you can carefully use it more often. Oily skin of this type needs targeted oil-controlling ingredients and gentle acids to effectively manage shine and smooth texture.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, and it helps manage oiliness while smoothing texture. A product of this type for oily skin needs ingredients that provide deep pore-clearing benefits and specialized oil control to target shine effectively.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene, linalool, and citral).
What the research says
Combined sequential treatment with microneedling and 35% glycolic acid peels caused a significant improvement in superficial and moderately deep acne scars, skin texture, and postacne pigmentation in thirty patients compared to thirty patients receiving microneedling alone.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2011A combination of dermapen and glycolic acid peel significantly decreased acne scar grades and resulted in higher patient satisfaction compared to either monotherapy in 30 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Repeated 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, 2000Serial 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, 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, 2020Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025
Why other exfoliants fit oily skin better
Chemical peels with 30% supramolecular salicylic acid effectively treated acne and reduced facial sebum secretion while improving skin hydration and barrier function in 25 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Sucrose, Hydrated Silica, Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate, Propanediol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate, Acrylamide Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Lemon Powder Peel Powder, Lemon Fruit Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract Extrait De Canne À Sucre Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Sandalwood Extract, Lemon Peel Oil, Bergamot Peel Oil, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Coconut Acid, Sodium Riboflavin Phosphate, Dimethylhydroxy Furanone, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Isethionate, Sorbitan Oleate, Triethyl Citrate, Vanillin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, Citral
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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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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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