Aveeno

Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing PHA Exfoliator.

Masks & Peels

About this product

A gentle liquid exfoliator with polyhydroxy acids (PHA) and oat kernel oil, designed to soften rough texture and lightly exfoliate without irritation.

Full ingredients

Water, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sorbitol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Lecithin, Sodium Citrate, P-Anisic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Allantoin

Guru Score

85%

Yay

4 experts · Moderate agreement

What they liked

Gentle enough for sensitive skin
Non-abrasive, no particles
Reasonably priced under $10 for 4oz

What they flagged

Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

What the gurus are saying

This cream exfoliator earns consistent praise for being genuinely gentle on sensitive skin while still improving texture. The polyhydroxy acid (gluconolactone) softens rough patches and boosts moisture without harshness or particles, making it a rare find for anyone with reactive skin who wants to exfoliate. Dermatologists note it works best as a short rinse-off treatment rather than a cleanser, and because it's so mild, many people with sensitive skin can use it daily if they want to.

Synthesized from 4 expert reviews · most recent take January 2025

Best for

Dry skin Sensitive skin

Type

Masks & PeelsLiquid

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Ulta → Amazon → Google → iHerb →

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

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Dr. Aleksandra Brown

151k subs

✓Yay

"This one contains polyhydroxy acids which are great for super sensitive skin for gentle exfoliation. It will hydrate and smooth out the skin, it helps improve the skin texture without overdrying, without any irritation. It is also just like all Aveeno products enriched with oat extract, which soothes the skin."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

✓Yay

"I'm currently almost finished with the Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing PHA Exfoliator. It's super thick so it does take time to rub in, but the next day my arm still feels moisturized even after I applied it last night. I love that it's got some nice panthenol in there and lots of different oat sides. It's really wonderful and the bottle's huge too."

Hyram

4.34M subs

✓Yay

"It's a gentle chemical exfoliator that you can use in the shower that has phas to gently exfoliate the dead skin cells off your face and is perfect if you're someone who has more sensitized dry skin"

All 2 takes from Hyram

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"If you're looking for a good drugstore exfoliating product, there's the Aveeno PHA exfoliator, which is a great simple option to get rid of the dead skin cells on your face."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

✓Yay

"For those of you who have really sensitive skin and are looking to improve skin texture, I highly recommend this Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing PHA Exfoliator, it's not abrasive. [...] Gluconolactone is a polyhydroxy acid, it helps soften rough skin and helps gently exfoliate, it also helps with improving moisture content in the skin. I really love this."

All 4 takes from Dr Dray

NEW WINTER SKINCARE AT TARGET 🛍 Dermatologist @DrDrayzday

I TRIED THE NEW AVEENO CALM & RESTORE PRODUCTS 🤔 @DrDrayzday

"This is one I've really liked seeing from Aveeno, the Nourishing PHA Exfoliator. It's not irritating, it's not harsh, there are no abrasive particulates. I [...] really like that product and I think it is a great drugstore option for a gentle, mild exfoliant for the sensitive skin folks out there, and it's pretty reasonably priced, under ten dollars for four ounces. That's probably one of my favorite products that's new."

HOW TO CLEAR KERATOSIS PILARIS ON THE FACE| DERMATOLOGIST @DrDrayzday

"I like this product because you use it and then you rinse it off, it's not harsh and it's very, very mild. I wouldn't gravitate towards this as your face wash to remove stuff, it's meant just as a short contact time with the polyhydroxy acid, [...] but it can be effective when used on a daily basis. It [...] also has oat kernel oil, which has anti-inflammatory compounds."

Vlog: BEACH DAY SKINCARE 😎 TRIP TO GALVESTON, TX @DrDrayzday

"They very gently exfoliate the skin and also help with moisture retention. They're generally pretty friendly for people who have very sensitive skin but are looking for something to improve skin texture, and you can apply it to wet or dry skin. [...] It's not abrasive, there are no particles, it's actually kind of soothing on the skin, it's just a creamy liquid with no fragrance. [...] It has very little to no lather, but it's gentle enough that you could use it daily."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing PHA Exfoliator?

A gentle liquid exfoliator with polyhydroxy acids (PHA) and oat kernel oil, designed to soften rough texture and lightly exfoliate without irritation.

Is Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing PHA Exfoliator worth it?

Yes. All 4 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 85%.

What is Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing PHA Exfoliator's Guru Score?

Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing PHA Exfoliator holds a Guru Score of 85%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 4 expert reviewers we have collected.