10 Best Tried and True Japanese Peeling Gels in 2022 (Cosmetics Consultant-Reviewed)

Meishoku Cosmetics' DET Clear Bright & Peel Peeling Jelly Mixed Fruit Scent is a Japanese peeling gel that can be found at most drugstores in Japan. Since it can be used with wet hands, you can exfoliate your skin while in the bath as well.

In addition to fruit and plant extracts, this peeling gel was formulated with malic acid, tartaric acid, and salicylic acid, meaning it was incredibly exfoliating.

When we used our corneum checker to compare the amount of dead skin before and after using the product, we that on average, it removed about 60% of dead skin cells, earning it high marks for exfoliation.

While some of our testers commented that as they worked in the peeling gel, it started feeling a bit squeaky, so this may not be the best for those who seek an exfoliant that can make their skin feel dewy and soft. Still, they were thrilled by how smooth it made the skin feel, making it a great product for its exfoliating ability and smooth finish.

Beaute De Mode's Nice & Quick Botanical Peeling Gel comes in a large bottle with plenty to use.

This exfoliant contains AHAs like glycolic acid and lactic acid, earning it an above-average score in the ingredients test.

In our exfoliation test, we found the results to be mixed, with some seeing 90% of their dead skin cells removed, while others actually saw an increase in dead skin cells.

Exfoliating too frequently on skin that doesn't have that much dead skin on it can actually disrupt your turnover cycle even more. While some products recommend you exfoliate 1 to 2 times a week, it's best to stick to a frequency that best suits your skin.

This peeling gel comes in a large bottle, so it's a great size to keep at home. Plus, we liked how the thicker gel meant that it didn't drip off our hands, which made it easy to use.

Rosette's Rosette Gommage is another Japanese exfoliant that can be found at drugstores across the country.

It has three types of AHAs: lactic acid, malic acid, and citric acid, which are all great exfoliants. However, it does contain ethanol, so those who are sensitive to products with alcohol need to take caution, but this otherwise earned a decent score in the ingredients test.

When we actually used this product, while some testers found 90% of their dead skin removed, there were still others that actually saw an increase in dead skin. If you don't have that much dead skin, it might be best to not use this so frequently.

While it's a watery gel, it doesn't make the skin feel tight. Additionally, the cap had a decently firm feel to it, with testers commenting that the product feels easy to use.

Style Create's PLuS Honey Mild Peeling Gel is formulated with honey to help moisturize while exfoliating.

In the feel test, our testers commented their skin felt smooth and soft without feeling dry. The gel is on the watery side, so it is prone to dripping, but this shouldn't be a problem when using it on the face.

When we compared before and after using the exfoliant, we found that some of our testers saw a 70% reduction in dead skin, making it ideal for those who have rough skin.

Formulated with malic and citric acid, the ingredients chart alone suggested this product has superior exfoliating properties.

est commu's Derpharm Epiderm Gel 7 is an exfoliant that the brand recommends using together with its Enzyme Gel.

Featuring BHAs like salicylic acid and AHAs like lactic acid and glycolic acid, it not only removes dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, but also is great at removing sebum and skin cells lodged deep in the pores.

Since it doesn't contain cationic surfactants often found in other exfoliants for a smoother finish, our testers commented that their skin felt more moist, rather than smooth.

Since this exfoliant is formulated with ethanol, those who are sensitive to alcohol should take caution, but this is otherwise a great product for those who don't like having their skin feel excessively smooth or for those who want to prevent their skin from drying out.

Rosette's Rosette Gommage Moist is a moisturizing peeling gel. It's formulated with 3 types of AHAs, earning it an above-average score in the ingredients test.

In our exfoliation test, we found that on average it would remove about 0 to 10% of dead skin, but some testers saw up to a 30% removal.

This product was less exfoliating than Rosette's standard exfoliator. Still, the feel of the two products were nearly identical, so this may be better for those who want a product that's milder in exfoliation.

Doushisha's Platinum Label Hatomugi Peeling Gel is free of fragrances, pigment, and alcohol.

Our testers liked how it didn't make their skin feel dry even after rinsing it off, with many commenting that it made their skin feel silky smooth. However, even though it felt great after washing it off, it was lacking in any exfoliating ingredients, bringing down its overall score.

However, it surprisingly removed 50 to 70% of old skin. Some of our testers commented that it makes large exfoliating clumps, so we think that those clumps helped remove old skin.

Cure's Natural Aqua Gel is an exfoliant that's made 90% of water, and is a product that's making waves with influencers. 

While we couldn't find any exfoliating ingredients in our ingredients test, we did find that it created a lot of gel balls and removed 20 to 40% of our testers' old skin.

While its smooth finish was popular among our testers, there were a few that commented that its watery texture made it quick to evaporate, forcing them to quickly exfoliate their skin.

This exfoliant comes in a standard pump bottle with plenty to go around at 250g, and it can be used not just on the face but the entire body.

Mebius Pharmaceutical's Simius Peeling Gel is formulated with 11 different plant-based moisturizing ingredients.

Our testers commented that it made their skin feel a lot smoother than other exfoliants, as well as commented on how it has a thicker texture that prevents it from spilling. This product has the ideal texture for an exfoliating gel.

In our exfoliation test, some of our testers had up to 50% dead skin removed, meaning this product is ideal in smoothing out rough skin.

However, with skin that doesn't have that much dead skin on the surface, this actually increased the amount of dead skin, so it's important to determine whether or not your skin needs exfoliating.

This product is formulated with ethanol, so those with sensitive skin should take care.

FANCL's Skin Renewal Pack is an exfoliating gel that is used similar to a face mask, where it's washed off after some time.

One great feature of this exfoliator is that it's packed with moisturizing ingredients and that there's no friction involved, so it's gentle on the skin. Our testers were overjoyed at how their skin felt after rinsing it off, earning this product a higher-than-average score in the feel test.

While it didn't have any particularly great exfoliating ingredients, it is formulated with lactobacillus and fermented pear juice, enabling it to remove roughly up to 10% of our tester's dead skin.

We found that the gel tended to clump around the tip and cap of the tube, requiring regular cleaning. However, we felt that this compact exfoliator is great for taking on trips for on-the-go skincare.