Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads for dry skin
Lactic Acid
Lactococcus Lysate Ferment
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Papain
Tocopheryl Acetate
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry skin due to lactic acid and papain, which gently slough away flakes and support hydration. Glycerin and lactic acid provide mild exfoliation and humectant properties, beneficial for dry or flaky skin.
- While the formula offers general skincare benefits, it lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive ingredients like shea butter to fully address dryness.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week, increasing slowly to twice a week if your dry skin tolerates it well. Always remember to apply SPF every morning to protect your newly smoothed skin.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but always before your rich moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute. Avoid rubbing to prevent any irritation on flaky areas.
- Apply the product directly to dry clean skin to ensure the best possible tolerance for your dry type. This helps address flaky patches without causing extra stress.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a quick patch test before your very first use. Do not mix this with other strong acids or retinoids on the same night.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 8.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise these pads for delivering "glass-like" skin by smoothing rough texture and brightening dull complexions without the irritation often associated with acid exfoliators. While highly effective for reducing dark spots and milia, a small minority of users experienced purging or breakouts, and some found the strong fragrance polarizing.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “baby soft”
- “glass skin”
- “rough patches”
Brightening and radiance Often Mentioned
- “healthy glow”
- “radiant complexion”
- “brighter skin tone”
Gentle exfoliation Often Mentioned
- “non-irritating”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “safe for sensitive skin”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “expensive”
- “pricey”
- “luxury splurge”
Convenient application Sometimes Noted
- “pre-soaked”
- “easy one-step”
- “pleasant spa-like scent”
Reduces imperfections Sometimes Noted
- “faded dark spots”
- “reduced milia”
- “smaller appearing pores”
Breakouts or purging Rarely Noted
- “terrible spots”
- “purging phases”
- “worsened acne”
Drying or irritating Rarely Noted
- “dryness”
- “slight stinging”
- “redness”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “overpowering”
- “too strong”
- “perfumey”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, sephora.co.uk, ulta.com, johnlewis.com, lovelyskin.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well do Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads work for dry skin?
Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads work moderately well for dry skin, offering gentle exfoliation and hydration with lactic acid and papain while carrying an excellent safety profile without irritation risks. However, because it lacks sufficient rich moisturizers and skin-softening ingredients, an exfoliant treatment for dry skin needs extra barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides, peptides, or rich emollients to fully lock in moisture.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for dry skin?
Lactic acid and papain help gently slough away flakes while glycerin supports hydration for your dry skin. However, this product needs rich hydrators like ceramides, niacinamide, and peptides, along with stronger barrier-supporting ingredients, to fully address dryness.
What does Lactic Acid do for dry skin?
Lactic acid helps relieve dry skin by drawing in moisture and strengthening the skin's barrier so it stays soft and smooth. This ingredient gently sheds dead cells and supports natural moisturizing factors, making it very useful for improving rough or flaky areas.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2025Skin Research and Technology, 2013
What does Lactococcus Ferment Lysate do for dry skin?
Lactococcus Ferment Lysate helps keep dry skin calm and well-hydrated by supporting the skin barrier and reducing moisture loss. Skincare for dry skin also needs ingredients that lock in moisture and soothe roughness.
Scientific Reports, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This exfoliant goes in your evening routine, starting at once a week so you can see how your skin handles it. Because it works for dry skin only moderately, this skin type needs products that also include plenty of rich softening ingredients and heavy moisturizing barriers.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to use this exfoliant on a different night than your retinol to help avoid skin irritation. When you do use both in your routine, apply the exfoliant after cleansing and before your moisturizer.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start using this exfoliant once a week in your evening routine, and carefully use it more often if your dry skin tolerates it well and sees good results.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads are unlikely to cause breakouts or purging for dry skin, as the safety profile is excellent and reviewer complaints about breakouts are low. Dry skin needs a product of this type to include rich moisturizers like shea butter and heavy oils to lock in hydration while it exfoliates.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Behenyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
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, 2020A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Topical 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, 2020Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Why other products fit dry skin better
A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Treatment with cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based microneedle patches combined with acetyl hexapeptide-8 or epidermal growth factor significantly improved wrinkles and skin hydration compared to the patch alone in Korean females over 29 days.
Annals of Dermatology, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Lactococcus Lysate Ferment, Polysorbate 20, Methyl Gluceth-20, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Disodium Edta, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Papain, Saponins, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Poria Cocos Extract, Protease, Saponaria Officinalis Root Extract Leaf, Subtilisin, Tocopheryl Acetate
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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