ZO Skin Health Complexion Renewal Pads for acne-prone skin
Glycolic Acid
Salicylic Acid
Plantago Major Leaf Extract
Hordeum Distichon Extract Hordeum Vulgare Extract
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few products fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 acne and blemishes due to salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which effectively decongest pores and reduce inflammation for your combination skin.
- The presence of urea and various botanical extracts further supports skin renewal and soothes irritation, complementing the keratolytic action.
- The formula is safe for your combination skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and has a low risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant PM once a week to start, and gradually increase if your combination skin tolerates it well. Always apply SPF the next morning to protect your clear skin.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer step. This ensures the treatment targets blemishes effectively.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin without rubbing. Let it absorb for a minute before moving to the next step.
- Apply the exfoliant on clean, dry skin to help control breakouts safely. Since your skin is not sensitive, this dry application method ensures good product absorption.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Do not mix this exfoliant with other strong acids in the same routine.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, these pads are widely praised for effectively managing oily, acne-prone, and congested skin by combining salicylic and glycolic acids to exfoliate and clear pores. While many users achieve a brighter, smoother, and more balanced complexion, those with highly sensitive or dry skin should introduce them gradually due to the inclusion of denatured alcohol and fragrance.
Highlights
Convenient to use Often Mentioned
- “Incredibly convenient and easy to incorporate.”
- “Easy-to-use pad with incredible benefits.”
- “Perfect for on-the-go skincare maintenance.”
Effective exfoliation Often Mentioned
- “Leaves my skin feeling clean, smooth, and refreshed.”
- “Truly renew the top layer of your skin with each use.”
- “Removes dead skin cells to prevent clogged pores.”
Reduces oil Often Mentioned
- “Helps keep surface oils under control.”
- “I've noticed less oiliness throughout the day.”
- “Works effectively to minimize surface oil.”
Brightens skin Sometimes Noted
- “Helped my hyperpigmentation SO much.”
- “My skin looks brighter and more even in tone.”
- “Helps to brighten skin and clarify pores.”
Contains alcohol Sometimes Noted
- “Denatured alcohol is included... it's also drying for many users.”
- “It has denatured alcohol which could lead to sensitive skin issues.”
- “I am very conservative when it comes to having alcohol based products.”
High price Sometimes Noted
- “It's a steep step up from drugstore alternatives.”
- “I just wish they weren't so pricey.”
- “Cut them in half to get more bang for your buck.”
Causes irritation Rarely Noted
- “Can be too much during a flare... may sting on reactive skin.”
- “If you suffer from sensitive or broken skin, [this] may be a more suitable choice.”
- “Fragrances... can lead to sensitive skin issues.”
Sources: lovi.care, dermapproved.com, youtube.com, skinsort.com, myfacedr.com, alexandrarosepink.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes ZO Skin Health Complexion Renewal Pads a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This product is a great fit because salicylic acid and glycolic acid effectively clear clogged pores and calm inflammation for acne-prone skin. Urea and botanical extracts help support skin renewal and soothe irritation, while the formula maintains a low risk of irritation.
BioMed Research International, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid and glycolic acid make this exfoliant a great fit for your acne-prone skin because they effectively clear out pores and calm inflammation. Urea and botanical extracts help renew the skin and soothe irritation while keeping a very low risk of side effects.
BioMed Research International, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
What does Glycolic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Glycolic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and breakouts. It also helps fade dark spots left behind by acne and controls skin oiliness, with very few side effects when used properly.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Dermatologic Surgery, 2014
What does Salicylic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and calming redness without causing many side effects. It works by dipping deep into pores to clear out blockages and control oil, making it a reliable choice for keeping skin smooth and clear.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant treatment goes in the evening routine after your cleansing steps and before your moisturizer. Starting out using it once a week is best, and you may slowly use it more often if your skin tolerates it well.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant with retinol by using them on alternate nights or separating them into different routines to avoid heavy irritation. Applying active exfoliants on separate days from strong treatments helps keep your skin calm and balanced while reducing the chance of redness or dryness.
American Family Physician, 2012Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start by using this exfoliant treatment once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well and sees good results, you may carefully use it more often. It helps clear pores and soothe irritation with a low risk of discomfort.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2003Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant is a great fit for acne-prone skin because salicylic acid and glycolic acid effectively clear out clogged pores and calm inflammation. It has a low risk of causing irritation while supporting skin renewal with soothing plant extracts.
BioMed Research International, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, linalool, and hexyl cinnamal) and drying alcohol (sd alcohol 40-b).
What the research says
A 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, 2020Glycolic 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, 2019Twice 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, 2024Urea is a safe and effective dermatologic therapy with wide-ranging clinical utility for various skin conditions and minimal, non-systemic side effects based on a review of the clinical literature.
Dermatology Online Journal, 2013Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose hydrogel formulations of berberine chloride-loaded escinosomes increased skin residence time and transdermal permeability while maintaining high safety and biocompatibility without skin irritation.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020Repeated 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, 2017Cryotherapy 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, 2010Treatment 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 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010Plantain leaf proteins exhibit a wound-healing effect on vertebrate skin both in vitro and in vivo.
Prikladnaia Biokhimiia I Mikrobiologiia, 2011Plantago lanceolata water extract improves skin wound healing in rats by inducing the transition of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, increasing wound contraction rates, and enhancing tensile strength through greater extracellular matrix protein organization compared to untreated wounds.
The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2015Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata extracts incorporated into 3D-printed polysaccharide dressings enhanced fibroblast wound closure to 64% and 52%, respectively, compared to 29% for the control.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026Topical steroid withdrawal is driven by excess mitochondrial NAD+ metabolism that can be successfully targeted using complex I-inhibiting interventions such as metformin and berberine.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2025Topical steroid withdrawal presents as a distinct dermatopathology characterized by burning, flushing, thermodysregulation, and elevated mitochondrial NAD+ oxidation, which can be improved by targeting complex I with metformin or berberine.
MedRxiv, 2024Gelatin/chitosan bilayer patches loaded with Cortex Phellodendri amurensis and Centella asiatica extracts inhibited the growth of Propionibacterium acnes and accelerated skin fibroblast cell viability.
Polymers, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Urea, Glycolic Acid, Pterocarpus Soyauxii Extract Wood, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Hordeum Distichon Extract Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Sodium Hydroxide
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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