The 17 Best Exfoliating Peel Pads for Brighter, Bump-free Skin
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Lazy skincare lovers, rejoice!
InStyle / Marcus Millan
What if we told you there's a skincare product so easy to use, with formulas so tough and effective that you'll see visible improvement immediately and long-term? Sounds like a skincare scam, right? But au contraire! Exfoliating chemical peel pads are a unicorn product you'll believe in once you swipe it across your skin. As the pads rev up your skin's cellular turnover behind the scenes, you'll watch your dark spots fade, clogged pores clear, fine lines appear softer, and your skin boasting a newfound radiance.
These supercharged wipes are pre-soaked in a solution of brightening ingredients, exfoliating chemicals, and fruit enzymes to remove layers of skin-dulling dead cells from the surface. "As we age, our cells turn over more slowly due to cellular senescence, and a little help from a peel pad can be just the thing to keep that youthful glow and aid in that turnover that makes young skin so smooth, bright and hydrated," says Lisa Chevalier, M.M.S., PA-C, and founder of SoVous Medical Spa and Laser Center.
We tested many valiant contenders, but not every peel pad can be a winner. After weeks of researching and using our own skin's evolution as evidence, we curated the ultimate list of the best exfoliating peel pads filled with the most effective and potent formulas, balanced with soothing herbs and botanical extracts to sidestep irritation and doused with moisture-magnet humectants and niacinamide.
Best Overall: Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel
What We Love: This product is the OG chemical peel and remains our favorite due to its ease, efficacy, and non-sensitizing formulation.
What We Don't Love: Truly lazy skincare aficionados may not enjoy the fact that there are two steps.
We’ve been using these peels for over a decade and have no plans to stop anytime soon. We're also in great company: “I love Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta peel pads for those with acne as they really help combat the keratin buildup in the skin,” says Dr. Kiran Mian, a board-certified dermatologist at Hudson Dermatology & Laser Surgery in New York City.
Unlike most peels, this derm-developed formula features two steps—one exfoliator and one neutralizer—to deliver concentrated doses of ingredients for maximum results. Step one taps lactic, salicylic, and malic acids (along with a few others) to resurface skin, and step two floods skin with an infusion of soothing plant extracts, water-loving humectants, and calming herbs to speed up recovery and minimize irritation. (You also don't have to rinse or wash your face again after step two, which makes us love it even more.) Just swipe, wait two minutes, and swipe again.
Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid｜Best for: Dullness, acne, fine lines and wrinkles｜Size: 35 treatments
Best Budget: ELF SuperGlow AHA Peel Pads
What We Love: These peels are very gentle, but still work well to resurface skin.
What We Don't Love: The pads are on the small side and very thin.
It’s rare to find such a great peel at this price point, especially one that won’t irritate sensitive skin. It uses a gentle blend of AHAs and fruit enzymes to break down and remove dead cells; the peel pad isn’t textured so it won’t feel abrasive on the skin.
While those with coarser skin may prefer texture, it’s this smooth finish that makes the product especially ideal for easily sensitized skin. However, the pads are fairly thin, meaning that they don't hold as much solution as other peel pads on our list. If you’re expecting to use one pad across a lot of real estate, you'll probably only get face and neck coverage before needing to grab a second wipe.
Active Ingredients: Alpha-hydroxy acids, papaya enzymes｜Best for: Dullness｜Size: 45 treatments
Best Drugstore: L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Bright Reveal Anti-Aging Exfoliating Peel Pads
What We Love: These peels smell surprisingly delicious.
What We Don't Love: These may be best for more mature skin, which can frequently better tolerate glycolic acid.
Most peels smell like a noxious blend of chemicals, which we typically choose to ignore considering all the benefits they provide our skin once we power through every use. These peels from L’Oréal are a pleasant surprise—they deliver real results while offering a subtle citrusy aroma. Those results come courtesy of glycolic acid, one of the most popular alpha-hydroxy acids due to its ability to powerfully resurface skin. The formula also features glycerin, a humectant that helps prevent skin from dehydrating, a common side effect of chemical peels.
These peels are potent, with some users reporting irritation and breakouts after a few treatments. That can be par for the course with some peels, as the cellular turnover can cause blemishes to rise to the surface and leave skin feeling sensitive. More resilient skin, including mature skin, may do best with this drugstore treatment.
Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, glycerin｜Best for: Dullness, fine lines｜Size: 30 treatments
Best for Hyperpigmentation: StriVectin Daily Reveal Exfoliating Face Pads with AHA + BHA + PHA + TXA
What We Love: This product features tranexamic acid, a potent dark spot fighter.
What We Don't Love: The formula may be too strong for some skin types.
These peels from StriVectin feature a veritable alphabet soup with both AHAs and BHAs in the mix. Amongst the AHAs, you’ll find glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and tranexamic acid, one of the most powerful ingredients in the hyperpigmentation-fighting arsenal. The chemical peel pads feature a nubby texture that further helps to resurface skin. With consistent use of these peel pads, you’ll see a brighter, clearer complexion with smoother texture, fewer dark spots, and smaller pores.
Because of the powerhouse blend of ingredients in this peel solution, these pads are very strong. This isn’t a bad thing, as it tends to equal visible results for super stubborn skin concerns, hyperpigmentation and large clogged pores, that are quick to appear after just a few treatments. These peels are meant to be used daily, but considering their strength, it's a good idea to start slowly integrating it into your routine once or twice a week and ramping up from there as your skin tolerates the actives.
Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, gluconolactone, tranexamic acid｜Best for: Dullness, discoloration, uneven texture｜Size: 60 treatments
Best for Sensitive Skin: Lancer Skincare Gentle Exfoliating Peel Pads
What We Love: This formula uses botanical retinol alternative bakuchiol to improve skin tone and texture without irritating skin.
What We Don't Love: It can leave a tacky feeling on the skin.
Chemical peels often leave skin feeling irritated, making it hard for people with sensitive skin to find an exfoliation solution that works for them. This derm-developed peel is gentler than most, thanks to lactic acid and bakuchiol, a plant-based ingredient that offers results that are comparable to those of true retinol, but without the irritating side effects. It also helps slough off dead skin with papaya enzymes, which help dissolve the bonds securing those cells to the surface, leaving skin looking refreshed. But our favorite ingredient, oatmeal, simultaneously helps calm skin and seal moisture for a stronger skin barrier.
The only irksome factor of this product is how it dries—it can cause the skin to feel sticky, even after the formula has dried. However, there’s an easy solution to that: Just use it at night before moisturizing. This way, it won’t interfere with any makeup application.
Active Ingredients: Bakuchiol, lactic acid, papaya enzyme｜Best for: Dullness, discoloration, fine lines｜Size: 45 treatments
Best for Mature Skin: Dr. Loretta Micro Peel Peptide Pads
What We Love: This formula features a steep concentration of glycolic acid to combat wrinkles.
What We Don't Love: You’re meant to wash off the peel for the first few weeks, which may be inconvenient for some.
While not all chemical peel brands disclose the concentration of ingredients used in their formulas, this dermatologist-created formula does—and it contains a remarkable 10 percent concentration of glycolic acid to effectively slough away dead skin cells to fade fine lines and discoloration while reducing the appearance of enlarged pores. Guarana extract, a powerful antioxidant, protects skin from free radical damage and amino acid-rich algae peptides penetrate into the skin's deeper layers to speed up collagen production and visibly firm skin.
Because these peels are so strong, you’ll have to rinse them off 10 to 20 minutes after using them for the first few weeks (your skin will need time to learn to tolerate the formula’s potency). This may be annoying, but it's temporary; once you get past the initial acclimation period, you won’t have to rinse off the treatment and the results are worth it.
Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, algae peptides, guarana extract｜Best for: Fine lines, discoloration, enlarged pores｜Size: 60 treatments
Best Korean: DERMALOGY by NEOGENLAB Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Pads with Green Tea
What We Love: The peel pad is double sided so you can customize your exfoliation experience.
What We Don't Love: If you’re looking for a super-strong peel, this may not be the right one for you.
While many peels feature strong chemical aromas, this one features a botanical fragrance that won’t irritate sensitive noses—and the product won’t irritate your complexion either. It boasts centella asiatica, green tea, and hyaluronic acid to help soothe, calm, and hydrate, as well as a bevy of exfoliants, including PHA, a notoriously gentle ingredient that resurfaces skin without causing too much sensitivity.
Each pad is designed like a little pouch so you can insert your fingers into it to use both the coarser woven texture (which is meant to take off dead skin) and a lightly textured side to push the solution into the skin while boosting skin’s hydration levels. These peel pads are so big that some people even cut them in half to get double the peels out of each jar. Despite the blend of potent ingredients, this peel is not super powerful (which is what makes it so ideal for sensitive skin). If you’re looking for a hardcore formula, try one of the brand’s other peel iterations, like lemon.
Active Ingredients: PHA, green tea, centella asiatica｜Best for: Dullness, redness, dry skin｜Size: 30 treatments
Best for Toner: TULA Breakout Breakthrough Acne Maximum Strength Biodegradable Toner Pads
What We Love: These multi-purpose pads are formulated without drying alcohol.
What We Don't Love: It leaves behind a sticky finish.
If you have acne, you know it’s especially important to balance your skin’s pH with toner—except when you're also using an exfoliating peel pad. Tula's chemical peel is designed to be used in lieu of toner and even better, the formula taps gentler ingredients, like apple cider vinegar rather than alcohol, to loosen debris found in clogged pores. Along with pomegranate water, willowherb, probiotics, and prebiotics to avoid potential irritation, your skin will have no clue it's interacting with a powerful peel.
Meanwhile, salicylic acid, niacinamide, and azelaic acid work in tandem to combat acne and fade post-breakout dark marks. The solution is all delivered via a textured, biodegradable pad that further helps to whisk grime and bacteria off the skin. The only downside of this toner-peel pad hybrid is that they can leave the skin feeling a little sticky, which can be frustrating if you use them in the morning. Our workaround is to use these at night and embrace the stickiness by layering a thicker moisturizer on top to turn it into our own overnight treatment.
Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, niacinamide, azelaic acid｜Best for: Acne, discoloration｜Size: 30 treatments
Best for Body: Skinfix Resurface+ AHA/BHA Niacinamide Exfoliating Pads for Face and Targeted Body
What We Love: This formula can be used on both the face and body to get clearer, brighter skin from head to toe.
What We Don't Love: We wish the pads were larger.
We've often used our facial peels on other areas of our body to quickly resolve a backne situation, but the tougher skin on our arms and legs usually need more oomph. That's when we go for this Superman-strength peel. Loaded with high concentrations of glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids, plus a healing boost of niacinamide, the mountain-sized bumps on our arms and legs soften as the formula purges congested pores, blackheads, and fungal acne. If your acne rudely left red angry dots in its wake, it neutralizes those too.
We love that the pads are textured and biodegradable, but we do wish they were a little larger. They’re larger than most, but we wish they were a bit bigger so we could use one pad on our whole body and our face, rather than one for each.
Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, lactic acid, niacinamide｜Best for: Rough texture, discoloration, dullness｜Size: 60 treatments
Best for Acne: Jan Marini Marini Clear Multi-Acid Corrective Pads
What We Love: This is a very powerful product and works well to clear up all forms of acne.
What We Don't Love: You’ll have to wash your face after using this product.
Clinical skincare brand Jan Marini has a celebrity cult following due to the real results its formulas deliver. This acne-targeting peel is no exception. It boasts three effective resurfacers, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and azelaic acid, but it's the azelaic that does the heavy lifting to curb inflammation (making it great for cystic acne) and ease discoloration, while niacinamide targets post-breakout scars.
It's tough to beat the convenience and efficacy of these peels, despite the fact that they're not a leave-on formula. Unlike other peels, you'll wait 15 minutes after wiping down your face before rinsing it off. If you’re someone who likes to do their skincare routine in bed (no judgment!), be sure to build extra time into your regimen for this formula.
Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, azelaic acid｜Best for: Acne, discoloration, dullness｜Size: 30 treatments
Best for Bikini Area: First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads
What We Love: This peel pad helps prevent razor bumps and ingrown hairs with a single swipe.
What We Don't Love: You can’t use it directly before hair removal.
These pads are specifically designed to be used on armpits, the bikini line, and anywhere else you remove body hair. The blend of glycolic and salicylic acids rids skin of the dead skin cells that get lodged within hair follicles and block hair growth. This allows the hair to grow out naturally and prevents ingrown hairs from developing, so you can get a painless and bump-free shave.
There is one caveat to these peels: You need to be a planner to use them. These pads are resurfacing your skin, leaving it somewhat tender, and using a razor on vulnerable skin is a painful nightmare waiting to happen. Wipe your legs down a few days before you want to shave and prepare for the smoothest, silkiest skin ever.
Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, aloe｜Best for: Ingrown hairs, rough texture｜Size: 60 treatments
Best for Rosacea: Ever Skincare Reveal Biomimetic Peel Pads
What We Love: These peels can exfoliate and reduce redness without irritating skin.
What We Don't Love: If you have very sensitive skin, you shouldn’t use this formula daily.
There are very few chemical peels that can be comfortably and effectively used on rosacea-prone skin—and that short list includes this clean formula from Ever Skincare. The star ingredient here is azelaic acid, which can be used to rosacea at prescription-strength levels. It works by gently resurfacing while reducing redness; caviar lime and willow bark help lightly smooth, brighten, and clarify.
A light tingly sensation is normal, but because the formula is non-irritating, most people can use the pads every day. If rosacea makes your skin extra sensitive, start with just twice a week and listen to your skin. If it becomes angry and red, slow it down even more.
Active Ingredients: Azelaic acid, caviar lime extract, willow bark extract｜Best for: Dullness, discoloration, enlarged pores｜Size: 45 treatments
Best Brightening : BeautyStat Triple Action One-Step Daily Exfoliating Peel Pad
What We Love: This formula is designed to be minimally irritating while delivering a gorgeous glow.
What We Don't Love: Because it uses gentler chemical exfoliants, it will take more time to get results.
Developed by a beauty chemist, these pads use a comprehensive blend of actives, including niacinamide, antioxidants, and plant extracts, to hone in on uneven skin tone and discoloration. It uses time-released salicylic acid instead of the traditional form, which slowly absorbs into the skin to exfoliate each pore from the inside out and shrinking them in the process. Polyglutamic acid, a humectant, pulls and binds water to the skin to stave off dryness. We love this bonus benefit, considering how drying so many peels can be.
The alpha-hydroxy acid featured in this formula is the gentle lactic acid, as its larger molecule size prevents it from sinking into the skin's deeper layers, like glycolic acid. However, this’ll mean that it’ll take more consistent use over a longer period of time to achieve the results you might be looking for. If you have sensitive skin, though, this peel will be a nice option for you.
Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, lactic acid, polyglutamic acid｜Best for: Dullness, acne, discoloration, dehydration｜Size: 30 treatments
Best for Dull Skin: Sonäge Glow to Go Glycolic Acid Peel Pads
What We Love: The formula is one of the cleanest we’ve ever seen from a chemical peel.
What We Don't Love: It creates a tingle that new peel users might find disconcerting.
Unsurprisingly, chemical peels are not often the cleanest skincare products out there, given the fact that chemicals make up the formula foundation. Yet, we were pleasantly surprised by the extent of this formula's ingredient list comprised mostly of natural, clean actives that still pack quite a punch, starting with glycolic acid to exfoliate and rebalance the skin's surface for a more even complexion. There’s also nourishing coconut milk, soothing lavender oil, hydrating glucosamine, and moisturizing beet sugar to leave skin looking plump and dewy after every use.
The only drawback is that it leaves skin tingly for a few minutes after use. We actually like this—it makes us feel like it’s working!—but it's not for everyone, and beginners should consider a less intense peel. If it gets to be too much, we just splash some water on our face and it subsides (although it also makes it less effective).
Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, glucosamine, beet sugar｜Best for: Dullness, dehydration｜Size: 30 treatments
Best for Uneven Texture: BABOR Refine RX AHA Peeling Pads
What We Love: This formula uses three different acids to resurface skin.
What We Don't Love: You’re meant to use two pads for every treatment session, so you may burn through them quickly.
Though this peel from Babor features a list of ingredients that looks simple, don’t confuse them with basic. It's a hardworking formula comprised of three alpha-hydroxy acids—lactic, glycolic, and citrus—to promote cellular turnover, shedding dead skin cells for a smoother and more even complexion, both instantly and over time. With the addition of hydrating glycerin and conditioning panthenol in the formula, you don't have to worry about the peel stripping your skin of moisture.
You get 60 peel pads in a jar and are supposed to give yourself a treatment once or twice a week. Although that sounds like it'll last you awhile, you're meant to use two pads for every application, one on your face and the other on your neck and chest, so one box won't take you quite as far as you think.
Active Ingredients: Lactic acid, citric acid, glycolic acid｜Best for: Dullness, fine lines, enlarged pores｜Size: 60 treatments
Best for Wrinkles: Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads
What We Love: This clinically formulated peel offers some of the most powerful ingredients you can find in an at-home treatment.
What We Don't Love: The potent formula is more costly than others on this list.
SkinBetter Science is a longtime favorite of InStyle Senior Beauty Commerce Editor, Kaitlin Clark. "My sensitive skin refuses to play nicely with any strong skincare, leaving me to measly mild formulas, when it's the superhero strength anti-aging skincare I want," she says. "I had just about given up on potent acid-packed exfoliants altogether because it always ended in disastrous waves of angry red flashes across my skin, but a few editors insisted that this product, with an extremely strong, effective formula that feels as gentle as a baby lotion, I gave into office peer pressure and tried it. Allow me to introduce you to the reason I no longer have dry skin or pores that could easily be confused for craters on Mars."
These peel pads are especially terrific for those looking to proactively curb the signs of aging. Each one is saturated with a mix of alpha-hydroxy acids, lactic and glycolic acids, along with the beta-hydroxy acid, salicylic acid, to seriously resurface the top layer of skin and digging deep into pores to leave skin looking firmer, brighter, and smoother. Plus, with the brand's proprietary AlphaRet technology, a lactic acid and retinoid cocktail, your skin will be lavished with anti-aging benefits. “These peel pads are a perfect combination of retinol plus alpha hydroxy acids for mature skin in addressing fine lines and dullness,” says Dr. Mian.
Active Ingredients: Retinoid, lactic acid, glycolic acid｜Best for: Dullness, fine lines, enlarged pores｜Size: 30 treatments
Best Extra Strength: M-61 PowerGlow Peel Extra Strength 20%
What We Love: This is the most powerful at-home peel we’ve ever tried.
What We Don't Love: If you have sensitive skin, steer clear.
We’ve tried dozens of chemical peels, but this is the only one we’ve ever tried that’s comparable to a professional, in-office treatment. It features a whopping 20 percent glycolic acid (the highest concentration on this list) to slough away dead skin, delivering instant radiance and smoothing away fine lines while salicylic acid helps clarify pores to combat blackheads. The peels are well sized, so you can use them across your face, neck, chest, hands, and even arms before you’ve used up all the solution.
This peel is powerful stuff—while it does contain lavender and chamomile extracts to help soothe skin, you will still feel a serious tingle when you swipe this one on. That tingle can last for about an hour after use; if you have very sensitive skin, you may notice flushing and pore purging, even if you only use it once a week. We recommend patch testing when using this formula before committing to full-face application as some skin will not be able to tolerate the strength of this peel. If you have resilient skin and are looking for a peel that packs a punch, this one is definitely worth a try.
Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, chamomile extract｜Best for: Dullness, fine lines, acne｜Size: 20 treatments
What to Keep in Mind
Resurfacing Ingredients
Beta-Hydroxy Acids: “These acids are tiny, oil soluble molecules that can penetrate deeply into the pores, loosening and removing pore clogging dirt, debris, and skin cells,” explains NYC-based board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Howard Sobel. Salicylic acid is the best known BHA for its anti-bacterial and anti-septic properties, making it an all-star ingredient for acne treatments.
Alpha-Hydroxy Acids: “AHAs, especially glycolic and lactic acids, help to remove dead skin off the surface of the stratum corneum,” says Dr. Mian, calling glycolic acid "one of the best" ingredients for brighter, more radiant skin. “Both acids can help brighten the skin's dull complexion, lighten pigmentation, and smooth out skin texture.”
Although glycolic and lactic acids have been popular for years, don't sleep on four buzzy up-and-comers—mandelic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, and citric acid—that Chevalier predicts is going to be popping up more and more in solution-oriented skincare.Polyhydroxy Acids: “These are buzzy new acids that are gentle enough for sensitive skin use,” says Dr. Sobel. In fact, Chevalier says that they’re so gentle that they won’t increase sun sensitivity like most exfoliants and can even be used on patients that have rosacea and eczema. They won’t penetrate as deeply as other acids, but they still can help smooth and brighten the skin.
Fruit Enzymes: “Fruit enzymes like papaya, pineapple, and grapefruit are excellent exfoliators gentle enough for sensitive skin,” says Dr. Mian. As "clean" and natural exfoliants, they work similarly to the digestive enzymes in your gut to break down protein, except in this case, it’s breaking down the proteins securing dead skin cells to the surface, gently sweeping them away.
Retinoids: Commonly used to promote cellular turnover deep within the skin to neutralize intense hyperpigmentation for a more even-toned appearance and moderate skin laxity.
Azelaic Acid: Neither an AHA or BHA, it's derived from yeast, and works wonders to reduce inflammation while also exfoliating the skin's surface.
Your Skin Sensitivity
Skin Concerns: If peel pads are a new-to-you skincare product, it's never wise to start off with the strongest, most intense formula you can find—especially a chemical exfoliant. “For beginners, I always recommend starting with a glycolic acid-based peel because it's very effective and it works on most skin types, from breakout-prone to mature," says Dr. Sobel, before listing off nearly all the usual suspects, like acne scarring, sun spots and damage, and discoloration. But if your skin leans sensitive or reactive, he says lactic acid and PHAs are the most gentle chemical options that still deliver results, though they do work more slowly.
Your Skin Goals + What You Want to Treat
Oily or Rough Skin: To become bump-free or ramp way down on excess oil production, clogged pores or blackheads, and uneven texture, you'll do best with salicylic acid. “It gets inside pores to clear out the gunk that causes the appearance of enlarged pores and blackheads along the nose, forehead, and chin,” says Dr. Sobel. It’ll also help keep the openings of the hair follicles clear to help smooth out the coarse texture created by KP. “Most oily skin and mature skin can get away with using an all-in-one formulated peel pad,” says Chevalier. “Sensitive skin types should experiment with singular ingredients with products that take longer to penetrate."
Formula Strength: “Every peel pad from a U.S.-based company has to disclose the full list of ingredients for every product they make available," says Chevalier. "Ingredients are listed in descending order by concentration on the packaging, with the first ingredient having the highest and the last the lowest." So, for example, if lactic acid is listed second (after water), even if it's not paired with a corresponding percentage, you'll still learn lactic acid is the most concentrated active in the formula, and the second highest ingredient overall by volume after water, which is useful information to help guide you.
Your Skincare Routine: “You don't have to use a chemical peel pad every day for it to be effective,” says Dr. Mian. “Those with sensitive skin can start using it once a week, and maybe work their way up to twice a week if the formula is gentle.” More importantly, you'll also need to consider the other active skincare in your routine to ensure they all play nicely together. As Dr. Sobel says, a negative reaction is "usually not that someone's using an excessively strong peel, but rather that they're using it with too many other strong formulas all at once and collectively, it triggers skin irritation." Most skin types can handle switching between a chemical peel one night and a retinoid the next, but if it's causing too much sensitivity, add a day between each active and see how your skin fares.
Expect Some Irritation: Exfoliating peel pads are inherently irritating and there's simply no way around it. After all, you're essentially using chemicals to "burn off" a layer of skin off your face and your skin is likely to have a warm or pink flush or a tingly feel immediately after and subsides within minutes or hours (depending on your sensitivity). This is all perfectly normal. What is not normal, however, is feeling like flaming hot lava is melting down your face, in which case, abort peel pad mission and massage an oil-based cleansing balm on your skin and rinse it all off ASAP. The good news is that you can dial down the less fun parts of an intense peel with a comfort-first technique Clark calls "strategic skincare sandwiching." Meaning: A chemical peel should be step two of your routine, between a milky, ceramide- and glycerin-filled cleanser (step one) and a rich moisturizer brimming with squalane, ceramides, or snail mucin (step three, after peel).
A Plea From Our Editor: "On all that is holy, I beg of you to please look at the concentration of actives before using a new peel pad, or you may pay the price with very angry, red skin," says Clark of her cautionary tale. "It took months to get my skin back to neutral after the flare-up I caused. It's so, so much easier to just level up to a stronger peel concentration when your skin is ready for it than it is to fix angry, inflamed skin because you were a quick draw who wanted major results in two minutes."
Your Questions, Answered
When do I use exfoliating pads?
"Using your chemical peels at night is more effective because our skin does a lot of resetting at night and allows for better absorption," says Chevalier. "Many people don't know that our skin temperature actually increases while we sleep, and this causes blood vessels within skin to dilate and aid in product absorption."
Are exfoliating pads bad for your skin?
Not at all! They’re very good for skin health when used correctly. “There are a slew of skin benefits to exfoliating peel pads when used appropriately and in conjunction with proper sun care,” says Chevalier, while Dr. Sobel praises their versatility. "They can be used all over the body, including the arms, back and other areas where KP or breakouts can occur," he says.
Overuse is a different story, and will likely cause skin to feel tender, and look red, irritated, and inflamed—just ask Clark.
How often should you use exfoliating pads?
“If the formula is gentle and you have skin on the oily side, you may be able to tolerate a peel pad every day,” says Dr. Mian, who adds that some options are intended for daily use and contain soothing ingredients to support the frequency. However, it’s really best to ease chemical peel pads into your routine once or twice a week and ramp up as your skin's tolerance grows.
Why Shop With Us
Emily Orofino is a beauty writer, editor, and consultant with more than a decade of experience in the industry. She’s been using chemical peels since she was in her early twenties and has the skin to prove it (according to experts!). For this piece, she interviewed board-certified dermatologists Dr. Howard Sobel and Dr. Kiran Mian as well as board-certified PA Lisa Chevalier, who explained how to maximize the benefits of chemical peels, regardless of your skin type.
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