As the peel master himself Dr. Dennis Gross explains: “Our skin naturally turns over and it has a cycle where it reproduces itself every 28 days but sitting on the top layer of your skin is a dead skin cell layer,”
These dead skin cells mixed with oil, dirt and other debris can lead to congestion and blemishes, which is why exfoliation is key in dealing with uneven texture and/or breakout-prone skin. But exfoliation, as Dr. Dennis tells us, is crucial for all skin types and concerns. Not only does skin look more radiant post-peel but your other serums and treatments will have an easier time absorbing into the skin, allowing you to reap all their benefits.
And lucky for us (and our skin barriers) we’ve come a long way since a certain stone fruit adjacent scrub was the only way to exfoliate our skin. While all exfoliators work towards the same goal, each works in slightly different ways making them more suitable for different skin. The key is to pick the right exfoliator for your concern, whether that be dehydration, ageing, pigmentation or even sensitivity.
Here are our top peels and exfoliators for each skin concern...
For breakouts
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta 2% BHA Liquid Solution

For uneven texture
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment

For pigmentation
Alpha-H Liquid Gold + Vitamin C

For dehydration
Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment

For sensitivity
Tatcha The Rice Polish: Calming

For signs of ageing
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel
But, as Dr. Dennis himself explains, it’s not just a powerful ingredient list that makes this peel effective at treating signs of ageing: “When you go from step one to step two, there’s a pH fluctuation that takes the collagen you already have and puts it into a more pristine shape and structure,” resulting in plumper, smoother, younger-looking skin.
