Best Facial Exfoliating Peel Pads

Y'all, I'm back! I had to take the day off since Charlie had an upset tummy and I had a migraine, but I'm back and I'm super excited about today's post! I really, really hope people read this post! It's been 9 months in the making! I know--facial peel pads don't make for the most interesting subject, but they are SO GOOD y'all. Trust me.

So the basics--there are all sorts of products that come on cotton pads--I think makeup remover pads or Stridex are ones that comes to mind (beauty hack: I use these to exfoliate my feet), but today I want to focus on peel pads. The name sounds like your skin is going to peel off--no, no, these are exfoliating pads. And they're great for easy skincare (most use glycolic acid for exfoliation), great for all skin types, plus they come in a huge range of prices. You just wipe them on and you're done! Instant soft skin!

I spent nine months testing every exfoliating peel pad on the market. From that huge list, these are the ones I deem the best for each category.

DRUGSTORE--these can be found online, in drugstores or Target

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix (there's an overnight version too): 60 radiance-boosting pads, soaked in exfoliating glycolic acid retexture and resurface skin whilst witch hazel helps to tone. This moisturizing formula with hyaluronic acid and soothing blue daisy helps to reveal brighter and smoother looking skin. $12.99


L'ORÉAL Revitalift Bright Reveal Peel Pads: This daily peel pad resurfaces dull, uneven tone and rough texture to reveal underlying youthful skin. It is the first step to help skin absorb our powerfully concentrated treatments: Formulated with Glycolic Acid $19.99

Pixi By Petra Glow Peel Pads: These gentle yet effective exfoliating pads will reveal brighter healthier, more radiant skin with regular use. Pores & breakouts are minimized, lines are softened and uneven skintone becomes brighter. Glycolic acid stimulates cell turnover, rose water hydrates & revitlalizes and retinyl palmitate promotes collagen production. $22 --Elle's fave

Shea Moisture SUPERFRUIT MULTI-VITAMIN RENEWAL PEEL PADS: Biodegradable, naturally-infused pads gently retexturize by removing dead skin cells without leaving skin dry. Organic Shea Butter and Mango Butter blend with a proprietary antioxidant Superfruit complex of Red Raspberry, Goji, Acai and Guava Extracts helps soften and renew skin. Enriched with Grapefruit Seed Oil and Lotus Seed Extract to improve skin's texture and tone to reveal fresh, healthy, youthful-looking skin. $14.99

Midrange -$45 and below (Try Sephora, ULTA, Amazon for these)

Primary Raw DoYou 2-Step Milk Peeling Kit: This two-step peeling kit includes an exfoliating swab and soothing sheet mask so you can explore the Korean dermatology trend of milk peeling—a gentle, lactic acid based exfoliating method to reveal brighter, more hydrated, and smoother skin. Use the oversized, AHA Milkpeel Swab pre-soaked with a blend of lactic acid and botanical extracts to gently peel away dead skin cells without irritation. Then apply the soothing soy-milk infused sheet mask, enriched with green tea and rosemary leaf, to help lock in moisture. After treatment, skin appears instantly brightened and rejuvenated. $6

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads: Facial Radiance Pads provide a smooth canvas for flawless makeup application. Cucumber and Indian gooseberry help tone your skin while lemon peel and licorice root leave the complexion looking bright and glowing. They’re safe and gentle enough to use seven days a week, even on sensitive skin. $30

Neogen Dermalogy Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling - Wine: This innovative exfoliation pad clears skin manually and chemically. The triple-layer gauze pad uses threading technology to gently remove dead skin while the AHA chemical exfoliant deeply penetrates to dissolve dirt and oil in the skin. Try the lemon version too, especially if you don't like the smell of wine (linked). $27 --Elle's fave

Bliss® That's Incredi-Peel! single-step, no-rinse peel pads, gradually releases powerful levels of exfoliating glycolic acid throughout the night for serious skin renewal without the harsh irritation. Plus, they're packed with soothing witch hazel, licorice extract and hydrating glycerin for extra-gentle results. $45

SKYN ICELAND Nordic Skin Peel: It's both exceedingly effective and very gentle, so you avoid the redness and irritation other peels can cause. The pads do double duty - exfoliating to reveal fresh skin and sweeping up dirt and oil to keep pores squeaky clean. There's an dded a dose of calming emollients and protecting antioxidants to improve tone and texture and diminish fine lines, leaving skin bright, clear and firm. $45 --Elle's fave

MURAD Rapid Resurfacing Peel: Experience Dr. Murad's renowned glycolic anti-aging treatment at home. This extra-strength peel blends 10% glycolic acid with vitamin C to instantly retexturize and brighten skin without irritation. 16 simple to use, presoaked towelettes. $44

NuFACE Prep-N-Glow™ Cloths: The dual-sided Cloths feature soft cotton lace to remove makeup, dirt, oil, and impurities as micro-dots provide gentle exfoliation. Enriched with hydrating hyaluronic acid and skin-protecting antioxidants and minerals, the cloths deliver antiaging properties and create beautifully refreshed and radiant-looking skin. $20 --Elle's fave

Pricey, but worth it (straight up, most of these I got samples of):

Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM Overnight Resurfacing Pads: These double-sided resurfacing pads help physically exfoliate, renew, and moisturize skin, while helping to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, skin tone, and texture. A clinical dose of retinyl palmitate—a form of vitamin A that is more gentle than retinol—begins working immediately to help renew the look of aging skin. Glucosamine is an acid-free exfoliator that works throughout the night to help gently exfoliate and smooth the appearance of skin without over drying. A high-performance form of vitamin C helps visibly brighten and even the look of skin tone, ceramides help replenish moisture with essential lipids, and allantoin, aloe vera, and chamomile help soothe and calm the appearance of skin. $52 --Elle's fave, try the other peel pads from this brand too

EXUVIANCE Performance Peel AP25: The creators of the original Glycolic Acid peel introduce a high performance peel that is safe and easy to use at home. The Exuviance Performance Peel AP25 contains a 25% blend of Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Polyhydroxy Acids (PHA) including Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid and Gluconolactone. Performance Peel AP25 not only works at skin's surface to exfoliate dead, dull surface layers, it also stimulates the process of cell renewal among all layers, to reveal fresher, healthier cells. $77 --Elle's fave

DERMADOCTOR Physical Chemistry Facial Microdermabrasion + Multiacid Chemical Peel: Helps improve the appearance of: Fine lines Dull, lifeless complexion, Dry, flakey skin, Post acne discoloration, Enlarged pores, Blotchy skin discoloration due to sun damage, melasma, freckles and aging, Preparing skin for deeper penetration of post-procedural skin treatments $75

Cane + Austin Miracle Pad®+: These easy-to-use, one-step daily treatment pads contain pharmaceutical grade glycolic acid to deliver ultimate antiaging results. Great for all skin types including dry and sensitive, they reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots, even pigmentation, and restore skin luminosity and vitality. $88

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel: Step one is packed with rejuvenating, powerful, yet gentle exfoliating acids. Step two controls the alpha hydroxy acid activity, delivers antiaging actives, nourishes, and keeps skin balanced, smooth, and radiant. Skin immediately looks refreshed and perfectly prepped for a more effective skin care routine. This universal formula contains a combination of five acids, ideal for first-time peel users and those of all skin types. $16-$148 (5 treatments-60) --Elle's fave, try the other versions too.

PHILOSOPHY The Microdelivery Triple-Acid Brightening Peel:  Delivers advanced anti-aging and skin-brightening benefits through an advanced triple-acid formula that dissolves and sweeps away dull, dead skin cells and impurities. The result: skin tone and clarity appear improved and fine lines, diminished. Plus, a unique skin-brightening technology visibly reduces the appearance of dark spots and discoloration, for a revitalized, luminous complexion. Includes 12 individually wrapped pre-saturated peel pads, for weekly use. $70

Have you ever tried facial peel pads? Which one(s)?

Which of these would you try?

PS: Enter to win L'Oreal's latest mascara.