Have you ever seen that episode of Sex And The City where Samantha has a chemical peel, and her face turns into a red, wince-inducing nightmare? If you haven’t, don’t Google it. If you have, we’ll forgive you if you decided to avoid chemical peels… until now.
The chemical peels we’re going to share won’t give you nightmares, even if you have the most parched skin. Besides, they address most skin-based concerns. From blemishes to fine lines, chemical peels can deliver glowing, soft, and even skin. And nobody’s excluded from the party. Skincare advancements mean that even the driest complexions out there can exfoliate without the harsh drying effects of traditional chemical peels.
So, what’s the best chemical peel for dry skin?
- Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel
- The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA
- Murad Replenishing Multi-Acid Peel
- Perricone MD No:Rinse Exfoliating Peel
- Farmacy Honeymoon Glow AHA Resurfacing Night Serum
- Bliss That's Incredi-peel Glycolic Resurfacing Pads
- Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel
- Elemis Peptide4 Overnight Radiance Peel
- Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial AHA + BHA Mask
- The Inkey List 10% Lactic Acid
- Peter Thomas Roth FIRMx Peeling Gel
- Dr. Dennis Gross Ultra Gentle Daily Peel
Are chemical peels good for dry skin?
Chemical peels are good for dry skin and can actually help skin retain moisture better and reduce the feeling of tightness and dryness. The whole point of the treatment is to remove dead and dry cells from the skin’s surface and let new cells take their place. This process is crucial because these dead cells often cause dry, flaky patches. After the peel, your skin undergoes a kind of renewal and it gets rid of this dry layer of old cells. This makes your skin more hydrated and more efficient at absorbing moisture.
However, there is a catch. After a chemical peel, your skin is in a delicate state. The new cells that come to the surface do not have the same protective fats as the older, mature ones, making your skin more sensitive and a bit vulnerable. You may notice some redness or scaly patches. Best move? Use a moisturizer loaded with ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol right after treatment and until your skin is healed. These ingredients will rebuild the skin’s protective barrier and restore a healthy balance.
Which chemical peel works best on dry skin?
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) are the big names in the chemical peel territory. AHAs act on the surface of the skin, while BHAs can pass through the skin’s oil layer and reach the pores.
For dry skin, AHAs like glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids are the best choice. They do more than just exfoliate; as humectants, they draw moisture from the environment into the skin. This dual action—exfoliating the dry layer of the skin and pulling in moisture—makes AHAs particularly effective for dry complexions. The new generation of acids, polyhydroxy acids, are also recommended for dry skin since they are both hydrating and gentle.
When choosing a chemical peel, the acid solution is not the only thing that matters. The concentration of the solution and how often you use it weigh just as much. The strongest? They can remove too much moisture. It’s best to start with a mild facial peel, such as one with less than 10% AHA. Once you finish the product, you can increase the concentration to 15% and then to 20%. Also, don’t do a chemical peel more often than twice a week.
The best chemical peels for dry skin
It turns out these are the best chemical peels for dry skin that work to boost the skin’s renewing process while maintaining hydration on track.
Dermalogica
Rapid Reveal Peel
People with dry skin feel they can’t use strong chemical peels—as most dry out the skin. But Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel leaves the complexion smoother and brighter, not irritated and dehydrated. This is because the peel is made with 10% lactic acid, which is the perfect balance between hydration and exfoliation. There’s also pumpkin fruit enzyme, which is loaded with natural AHAs to accelerate cell turnover. Since it’s packed with even more natural brighteners, including caviar lime extract and lemon essential oil, the peel vows to enhance skin radiance and visibly reduce aging marks without causing dryness.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA
Regular Lactic Acid 10% + HA is an effective and budget-friendly chemical peel for dry and sensitive skin. Thanks to 10% lactic acid, it stimulates cell renewal to reduce pigmentation, scars, and age spots without drying the skin. To minimize potential irritation from acids, the formula includes berries for their soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, you have 2% hyaluronic acid which adds more hydration to your skin. If your skin is dry and a little worried about acids, you can dilute this product with The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid Serum to reduce the strength. Since this product is a leave-on serum, you don’t need to wash it off. Use it in the evening and let it work well overnight.
Murad Replenishing Multi-Acid Peel
Dry skin can breathe a sigh of relief, as Murad Replenishing Multi-Acid Peel gives some major glow without the sensitizing effects of acids. This chemical peel contains an acid cocktail (think a-z) to get rid of dead cells, purge pores of impurities, and brighten dark spots. To counteract the unwanted peeling side effects, you’ve got adaptogenic holy basil and omega-rich oils to replenish and support the protective barrier function. Be sure to use this in the evening, and don’t rinse it off after applying.
Perricone MD No:Rinse Exfoliating Peel
Consider Perricone MD No Rinse Peel if your skin is super sensitive or can’t tolerate other chemical exfoliants. It’s a leave-on daily peel, non-irritating, that gently exfoliates dry skin, smooths texture, and enhances radiance thanks to gluconolactone. If you are not familiar with it, gluconolactone is a PHA that delivers mild exfoliation and intense hydration. There’s also plenty of hyaluronic acid, urea, and aloe vera in this peel, all great for moisturizing the skin and counteracting dryness and irritations.
Farmacy Honeymoon Glow AHA Resurfacing Night Serum
Farmacy holds nothing back with this 3-in-1 multitasking night treatment. It comes with a whole host of ingredients to clarify, exfoliate, and hydrate your skin as you catch some z’s. You’ve got a 10% AHA acid blend to reduce signs of aging and bring baby softness and a gorgeous glow. Salicylic acid and hibiscus extract clarify and help clear your pores, while hyaluronic acid and a blend of honey balance the AHAs, soothe, and encourage extra hydration. For us, this is the gentlest peeling for dry sensitive skin.
Bliss That’s Incredi-peel Glycolic Resurfacing Pads
Bliss aims to give a spa-quality peel through these super-saturated, convenient little glycolic acid pads. We already know that glycolic acid is a must-use for aging skin needing a boost in the radiance department, but Bliss makes sure their chemical peel pads are suitable for dry skin too. Glycerin draws moisture into the skin, and witch hazel, licorice, vitamin E, and calendula flower soothe. Incorporate these pads into your PM routine. There’s no need to rinse off after use. Let the glycolic goodness work overnight!
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel
When this chemical peel launched as a limited edition, it sold out in a month. It was so raved over that Paula’s Choice brought it back permanently. Why? Well, it’s a chemical peel that gives strong exfoliation without irritations. AHAs and BHAs combine to exfoliate both the surface and the deeper skin levels. Think reduced fine lines, texture, and hyperpigmentation, along with fewer blemishes and blackheads. Paula didn’t want any potential for irritation, so she included soothing botanical ingredients like chamomile, licorice, allantoin, and butterfly pea flower extract. Leave this on the skin for 10-15 minutes, then wash it off and complement it with other hydrating products.
Elemis Peptide4 Overnight Radiance Peel
Elemis is not holding back with the effectiveness of their chemical peel, stating that 98% of people in their user trials agreed that this product left their complexion brighter. You’ve got a formulation of skin-smoothing AHAs mixed with nourishing botanical oils to create a daily chemical peel treatment that halts congestion and dullness. The peel also contains night-scented stock oil, which is high in essential fatty acids and vitamin E, making this chemical peel great for people with dry and easily reactive skin. The term ‘beauty sleep’ has never been more applicable!
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial AHA + BHA Mask
This chemical peel gives you that home-based spa-facial treatment. It’s packed full with a blend of 25% AHAs and 2% BHAs, a cocktail that’s going to give both surface-level and deeper exfoliation to smooth, unclog pores, and reduce fine lines. Drunk Elephant really does want you to feel baby-faced! This is definitely one of the best peelings for dry skin, as you’ve got a soothing and hydrating blend of matcha tea, aloe, glycerin, apple, grape, and milk thistle. Because this product is a mask, you can apply it and leave it on for 20 minutes tops. Rinse off and complement with hydration-based skincare. A word of caution, however, if your skin is sensitive, this might not be for one.
The Inkey List 10% Lactic Acid
An alternative to The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10%, The Inkey List also made a gentle chemical exfoliator with dry skin in mind. It combines 10% lactic acid with 1% hyaluronic acid for an intense exfoliation, yet delicate enough for daily use. There’s no clear-cut way of deciding which one is better between The Ordinary and The Inkey List, as it’s more a matter of personal preference.
Peter Thomas Roth FIRMx Peeling Gel
Okay, so while this isn’t a chemical peel (no acids involved), it’s an enzymatic peel. This peeling gel uses fruit enzymes found in pineapple, pomegranate, and keratinase to remove dead cell build-up and unclog pores. It’s a super-gentle formula, which is why we’ve placed it on our list. This could be ideal if you have extra dry and sensitive skin but want a peel that will help you gain radiance and smooth texture. Apply this and gently massage your skin. Depending on your skin’s sensitivity, you can either wash it off straight away or leave it on for up to five minutes.
Dr. Dennis Gross Ultra Gentle Daily Peel
This fast-acting two-step chemical peel was formulated with sensitive and dehydrated skin in mind. The pads in the first step are soaked in an ultra-gentle solution of lactic and mandelic acids mixed with soothing ingredients such as green tea and copper peptide to leave behind smooth, glowing skin without causing damage. On the other hand, the second step delivers anti-aging benefits while acting as a neutralizer for the peel. The calming effects are given by sodium hyaluronate, Centella asiatica, adenosine, and colloidal oatmeal, which are real goodies for irritated, inflamed, or eczema-prone skin. Softly swiping it across your complexion and letting it dry for about two minutes will result in more radiant, even, and smooth skin.
Which chemical peel will you choose?
It’s honestly so great that there are tons of exfoliating options out there for people with dry, dehydrated, and sensitive skin. The benefits of incorporating chemical peels and acids into our skincare routines can be huge, with practically miraculous effects on our faces. While we believe that Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel and Murad Replenishing Multi-Acid Peel are the best chemical peels for dry skin, they got strong contenders, whether you’re buying on a budget or feeling a little more spendy.
Fact-checked by Ana Vasilescu.
