Forgot to book a facial. Again. My skin looked like a dusty screen door.
This $18 tube from Pixi promised a chemical exfoliation without the scary red face aftermath. I was skeptical.
Peel & Polish Gentle Enzyme Polish. $18 at Target. Claims to dissolve dead skin with fruit enzymes for a “polished” look. Basically, a lazy girl’s resurfacing treatment.
Papaya Enzyme
Breaks down the gunk that makes skin look dull.
5% Lactic Acid
A gentle chemical exfoliant that doesn’t scream.
Aloe + Ginseng
Calms everything down after the polish job.
Photo: Alexandra Tran / Unsplash
It’s a fruit salad for your face. The enzymes do the heavy lifting, while acids and botanicals follow up. No physical scrub beads—just chemistry.
- Papaya Enzyme: Dissolves dead skin proteins
- Lactic Acid (5%): Gently exfoliates surface cells
- Aloe Vera: Soothes and hydrates
- Ginseng: Gives a subtle antioxidant boost
Texture is a thick, opaque cream. Smells like a creamsicle. You massage it on dry skin for a full minute—it turns slightly slick, not gritty. Rinses clean.
After two weeks, my foundation stopped clinging to dry patches. The surprise? It didn’t make my combo skin freak out. No tightness, no oil slick rebound.
My skin is smoother. Makeup applies better. But it’s not a pore-vacuum or a wrinkle-eraser. It’s a maintenance polish.
It does exactly what it says—gently polishes. No drama, just a reliable glow. A perfect intro to chemical exfoliation.