Peptide 21 Amino Acid Exfoliating Peel Pads
The Peter Thomas Roth Peptide 21 Amino Acid Exfoliating Peel Pads is a exfoliating scrubs & peeling gel. Our analysis of its 55 ingredients (39 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The Peter Thomas Roth Peptide 21 Amino Acid Exfoliating Peel Pads is a exfoliating scrubs & peeling gel. Our analysis of its 55 ingredients (39 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Amino Acids | |
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Vitamin B Complex |
Good for Dry Skin
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Retinol
(Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Sodium Lactate
(Buffering Agent, Exfoliant, Humectant, Keratolytic) |
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Phytic Acid
(Chelating Agent, Oral Care Agent) |
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PPG-5-Ceteth-20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Rosa Centifolia Flower Water
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting) |
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Hamamelis Virginiana Water
(Astringent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
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Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Threonine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Hair Waving Or Straightening) |
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Glutamic Acid
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent) |
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Serine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Aspartic Acid
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Arginine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Alanine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Proline
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Valine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Histidine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Humectant) |
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Glycine
(Buffering Agent, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Lysine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent) |
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CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA FLOWER EXTRACT
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Oily Skin
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ASCORBIC ACID
(Antioxidant, Buffering, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Retinyl Palmitate
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Miscellaneous) |
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
(Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Sensitive Skin
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Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
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Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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citrus limon peel extract
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient, Skin Protecting, Tonic) |
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Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract
(Cleansing, Hair Conditioning, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Tonic) |
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Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Citrus Tangerina Peel Extract
(Astringent) |
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Mentha Piperita Extract
(Cleansing, Deodorant, Fragrance, Refreshing, Tonic) |
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Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract
(Anti Seborrheic, Cleansing, Oral Care, Skin Conditioning, Tonic) |
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Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
(Fragrance, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Tonic) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Aminobutyric Acid
(Hair Conditioning) |
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Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
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Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking) |
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Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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PEG-8 Dimethicone
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Leucine
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
(Antioxidant) |
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Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Allergens
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Benzoic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Preservative, Bulking Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Tyrosine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Proprietary, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous, Antistatic Agent, Masking, Skin Conditioning) |
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Phenylalanine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Isoleucine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent) |
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Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Octyldodecanol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Perfuming, Solvent) |
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Silica
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Sodium Propoxyhydroxypropyl Thiosulfate Silica
(Bulking Agent) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.
Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.
Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
ASCORBIC ACID, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.
Salicylic Acid
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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