The 13 Best Chemical Peels for Instantly Brighter Skin (2024)

Dr Dennis Goss has a range of exfoliating products (including the brand’s cult-favorite peel pads), but we like this professional-grade peel for something a bit stronger. It uses a blend of powerful ingredients like lactic and glycolic acids to reveal younger skin, plus calming ingredients like green tea, glycerin, and colloidal oatmeal to soothe afterward.

Key ingredients: Lactic acid, salicylic acid, collodial oatmeal, green tea, glycerin

One satisfied customer writes: “My new favorite acid formula for my skin. I used to use P50v but I find this better for a skin cycling routine. It definitely feels like a peel but hasn’t caused me sensitivity or redness. Huge fan.” —DaisysDiary

Thousands of Sephora customers agree: This formula from the Ordinary really delivers. It features a blend of AHAs and BHAs that target dull, uneven texture, and because it’s also oil-free, it is especially ideal for acne-prone and combination skin.

Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, Tasmannia lanceolata fruit/leaf extract

One satisfied customer writes: “So far the best product that helped me with old face scars and leaves my face so radiant the next day. Love it !!!!” —GabrielaM04

You don’t have to be on skincare TikTok to hear about this beloved exfoliant, which has a cult following. And the hype is real: Its 2 percent salicylic acid gets deep into pores, while green tea helps prevent irritation.

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, green tea, methylpropanediol

What experts are saying: “If you need a product that works fast, this Paula’s Choice exfoliating serum is great. It also leaves skin feeling slightly moisturized, which is always a bonus.” —Katie Intner, associate beauty editor

Consider packing some of these acid-peel pads in your carry-on when traveling. The formula’s hero is glucosamine, a gentle natural exfoliant that reveals brighter skin in seconds.

Key ingredients: Glucosamine, lactic acid, salicylic acid, caffeine, white birch extract, niacinamide

What experts are saying: “Exfoliation is even more important when traveling, and these one-step peel pads make it easy to keep skin fresh and bright—even when you’re jetlagged.” —KI

Hyperpigmentation, spots, and wrinkles are no match for Algenist’s at-home vitamin C peel, which resurfaces gently to reveal brighter skin.

Key ingredients: Alguronic acid, blue algae vitamin C, triple acid complex

One satisfied customer writes: “This product was very effective for me. It gave me a brighter, more even complexion yet it did not dry-out or irritate my skin. I use this product once a week for a skin pick-me-up. Highly recommend!” —BridgetKath

Don’t let the word baby fool you—this peel isn’t child’s play. Made up of 25 percent AHAs and 2 percent salicylic acid, this formula leaves no pore unturned. Apply it once a week for luxurious and, yes, baby-soft skin.

Key ingredients: Pumpkin ferment extract, chickpea flour, cactus extract, virgin marula oil

What experts are saying: “A little goes a long way when applying Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial. Its powerful AHA and BHA formula helps clarify even my acne-prone skin without causing further irritation and leaves it feeling—as the name implies—smoother and softer than ever. This mask is definitely one of my go-tos to exfoliate my skin while minimizing dullness gently.” —Tiffany Dodson, associate beauty commerce editor

Not quite a toner and not exactly a peel, this versatile resurfacing compound is designed to streamline your routine. Apply it after cleansing and let the blend of hardworking ingredients—including AHAs, peptides, and hyaluronic acid—minimize fine lines and dark spots with ease.

Key ingredients: Siren capsule technology, stabilized vitamin C, stable retinol, stabilized vitamin E, multi-hydroxy acids

What experts are saying: “Whenever someone asks me about my favorite skincare brands, U Beauty is one of my most mentioned. This genius do-it-all exfoliator leaves skin looking shockingly radiant—and can streamline your nighttime routine, which is ideal for busy moms.” —Jenna Rosenstein, beauty director

Shani Darden is responsible for the glow seen on A-listers like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jessica Alba, and her two-step peel aims to give you that same glow at home. The first step of this Harper’s Bazaar Skincare Award winner resurfaces skin with lactic, mandelic, and glycolic acids, before the neutralizing formula—which includes two types of clay—cleans pores.

Key ingredients: Lactic acid, mandelic acid, glycolic acid, kaolin clay, bentonite clay

What experts are saying: “I love any product Shani creates, but this peel works overtime to keep my skin clear and bright. The two-step process makes the peel feel a bit more luxurious, as opposed to slapping an exfoliating serum on. I use it once a week in place of a clay mask.” —KI

Despite this peel being gentle enough to be used morning and night, it packs a punch, thanks to three different acids and papaya extract. Not only does the formula exfoliate, its copper gluconate also aids in the production of collagen to smooth fine lines and wrinkles even further.

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic, acid, lactic acid, papaya fruit extract, copper gluconate

One satisfied customer writes: “It’s only day 4 with this and my skin is already looking better. I’ve been getting those little bumps everywhere and some really bad pimples. I tried exfoliating and my skin just seemed so clogged and irritated. I am a huge fan of Kiehls and saw this product. I immediately went to grab it. My skin is sensitive and this doesn’t irritate it. I went straight into morning and night and no issues. My skin started to clear up overnight the first time I used this.” —Alyssax22

This popular mask contains a natural derivative of BHA found in white willow bark extract, plus pomegranate enzymes to slough away dead skin cells and red clay to cleanse pores.

Key ingredients: White willow bark extract, pomegranate enzymes, pink clay

What experts are saying: “Not all exfoliating products need to be harsh on skin. This gel mask feels cooling on the skin, while leaving my skin feeling baby-smooth.” —KI

If one of your main skin concerns is dark spots, we suggest using this glycolic-acid-based mask. It also contains Viniferine, a proprietary brightening ingredient said to be up to 62 times more potent than vitamin C.

Key ingredients: Patented vine-sap-derived Viniferine, glycolic acid

One satisfied customer writes: “This isn’t a peel, you have to wash it off your face. Every time I use it, even if I took a break from my skincare routine, it leaves me with the best skin ever! Super soft, moisturized and no texture.” —JackeyAguila

This weekly peel uses extracts from naturally AHA-rich caviar limes—finger-shaped citrus fruit filled with tiny caviar-esque pearls of juice—along with glycolic acid and retinol to seriously smooth skin.

Key ingredients: Caviar lime extract, glycolic acid, phytic acid, papaya enzymes, pineapple enymes, retinol

What experts are saying: “Before a big event, I use this Lancer peel mask for 10 minutes, and my skin feels bouncier, brighter, and smoother once I rinse it off!” —KI

This skincare co*cktail from the experts at Glossier contains a blend of salicylic, glycolic, and lactic acids, along with niacinamide and aloe, to soothe skin.

Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, Ultra Nourishing Complex, gluconolactone

One satisfied customer writes: “Been using this at night and before my makeup application and it leaves the skin plump and prepared. 2 weeks and I’m already seeing less dry patches and better moisture.” —Allison T.

Peels are literal chemical solutions, which are topically applied to remove the very top layer of the skin, revealing the newer—and younger—skin underneath over the course of one to three weeks. As chemical peels feature varying concentrations of ingredients, each formula is designed to penetrate the skin differently.

When it comes to using any type of peel at home, professionals advise starting slowly. Try doing a test spot with a lower-concentration peel (aim for between 5 and 10 percent glycolic acid) before treating your entire face.

The best at-home peel formulas include a blend of active ingredients, like alpha hydroxy acids (including glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids) and beta hydroxy acids (like acne-fighting salicylic acid), plus a gentle exfoliant, like fruit enzymes.

In addition to these staple ingredients, experts suggest looking for other skincare essentials in your chemical peel for more specific needs. “It’s so important to read the label when it comes to at-home peels. Otherwise, you will be shedding like a snake or develop an unwanted or unforeseen reaction,” says board-certified dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi of La Jolla Dermatology, adding that your skin type is also a crucial consideration when choosing a formula. “If you have normal skin and want to improve tone and pigment, then go for a glycolic acid,” she says. “And if you have acne, a peel that combines glycolic and salicylic is most effective. For dry or sensitive skin, formulations with mandelic or lactic acid are most suitable.”

While many peels are created for a wide range of skin types, a few signs make it clear your skin may be experiencing irritation from one. “A slight tingling or sunburnlike sensation may occur, but it should resolve pretty quickly,” Shirazi says. “If it worsens and doesn’t go away, then it’s always best to seek professional help. Any itchiness or swollen skin may indicate an allergic reaction to the ingredients.”

For those with sensitive skin, the derm also suggests reaching for a moisturizer containing calming ingredients like glycerin and ceramides, which help restore barrier function and maintain hydration. Other ingredients to look for are allantoin, an ingredient that helps alleviate inflammation and irritation, and phytosphingosine, a natural lipid that not only strengthens the skin barrier, but also contains antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties—especially when combined with glycerin.

• Azadeh Shirazi is a board-certified dermatologist at La Jolla Dermatology in La Jolla, California.
• Tammy Yaiser is the VP of product development at Algenist.

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