Ole Henriksen Lemonade Smoothing Scrub for dry skin
Glycolic Acid
Lactic Acid
Lemon Peel Extract
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
Licorice Root ExtractLow
- LowDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A weak match for dry skin; the exfoliants alongside 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 the presence of glycolic acid and lactic acid, which can be drying, and limited humectant ingredients like glycerin.
- While the formula effectively smooths texture, the concentration of exfoliating acids may not fully address flakiness without additional hydration support.
- The product is safe for your dry skin as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
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
★4.6Overall 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
Why is Ole Henriksen Lemonade Smoothing Scrub a weak match for dry skin?
This scrub is a weak match for dry skin because its exfoliating acids can be drying and it lacks enough moisturizing ingredients. An exfoliant for dry skin needs extra soothing and hydrating ingredients to prevent dryness and flakiness while smoothing texture.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a poor fit for dry skin?
Glycolic acid and lactic acid make this scrub a weak match because they can be drying, and the formula lacks enough moisturizing ingredients like glycerin to keep dry skin soft and comfortable. Dry skin needs a product with soothing ingredients, moisturizers, and skin-softening oils to lock in hydration while exfoliating.
What does Glycolic Acid do for dry skin?
Glycolic acid helps smooth and soften dry skin by speeding up the shedding of older surface cells. Because it can also cause the skin to lose more moisture, dry skin needs extra hydrating ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid alongside it to keep the skin comfortable.
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
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This exfoliant is used once a week in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Dry skin needs a product of this type that also brings plenty of moisture-attracting ingredients to keep the skin comfortable and well-hydrated.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You should not use this exfoliant and retinol at the same time because using them together is likely to dry out and irritate your skin. Instead, alternate the nights you use them or use the exfoliant in the morning and retinol at night to help prevent excessive dryness.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start by using this exfoliant just once a week, as strong exfoliating acids can sometimes be drying. A product of this type needs extra hydrating and moisturizing ingredients to keep dry skin comfortable and smooth.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin since it lacks heavy or pore-clogging ingredients. However, it may not fully address flakiness on dry skin without extra hydration support and ingredients that lock in moisture.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene, linalool, and citral).
What the research says
Repeated 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 dry skin better
Topical water-in-oil cream containing 3% Crocus sativus extract demonstrated absolute physical stability across various storage conditions and produced a significant increase in skin moisture and changes in transepidermal water loss compared to the base in human volunteers.
Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2014
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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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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