Fans of Korean beauty are likely familiar with NEOGEN, a label well-regarded for its cruelty-free approach. The brand recently rolled out an enhanced product line that includes refreshed versions of its peeling pads, cleansing sticks, foaming cleansers, and toners infused with genuine botanicals. I decided to test all three variants in NEOGEN’s Dermalogy Bio-Peel Gentle Gauze Peeling collection. This was my inaugural experience with a peeling pad, and I’m thrilled I gave it a shot!
The Bio-Peel comes in Wine, Green Tea, and Lemon
One important detail when ordering NEOGEN items from YesStyle: there’s no distinction between the US/EU editions and the Korean editions. They are identical, merely distributed through different channels due to branding agreements.
These images illustrate how NEOGEN’s peeling pads have evolved:
2012: NEOGEN introduced Korea’s first-ever peeling pad.2015: The pads were refined to a 3-layer construction and pre-saturated with essence.2017: The essence was improved with the proprietary PHA formulation.
The most recent 2017 iteration is identified by the phrase “GENTLE GAUZE PEELING,” replacing the 2015 label “GAUZE PEELING.” It features NEOGEN’s patented 3-layer pad design and a PHA (polyhydroxy acids) blend aimed at minimizing irritation while delivering both physical and chemical exfoliation. The essence also doubles as a toner that doesn’t require rinsing.
1st Layer: 100% pure cotton gauze padIts lattice weave mimics the structure of human skin, effectively lifting impurities and dead cells without causing irritation.2nd Layer: Cushion padThis layer absorbs the essence and acts as a shock absorber when pressure is applied, preventing the gauze from harming the skin.3rd Layer: Embossed padDelivers essence to the skin and collects any leftover dead skin cells.
The pads are offered in Lemon, Green Tea, and Wine varieties, though all share a similar scent. Natural essential oils replace synthetic fragrances, making the essence suitable even for sensitive complexions like mine. Here’s a breakdown of the key ingredients and benefits for each version:
Lemon: Contains lemon water, extracts from lemon, orange, and lemongrass, plus lactic acid—designed to brighten and smooth the skin.Green Tea: Features extracts from green tea, Centella, mugwort, aloe, and Houttuynia cordata—aimed at refreshing and calming the skin.Wine: Includes Resveratrol derived from red wine, along with blueberry and raspberry extracts and lactic acid—formulated to reduce wrinkles and firm the skin.
I used each variant every three to four days over the course of more than a month, and I’ve come to the conclusion that the differences among them are minimal. Still, I personally favor the Lemon and Green Tea versions for nostalgic reasons (I find them more invigorating.).
The expiration date is located on the bottom. The jar contains just enough essence to saturate all 30 pads.
The jar is secured with a plastic seal
Each transparent plastic container holds 30 gauze pads drenched in essence. A plastic film seals the jar beneath the screw cap, and the entire package is wrapped in additional clear plastic. There’s no paper box or tweezers included. The container appears quite large, but the pads themselves are a comfortable size.
When I first unscrewed the lid and pulled out a pad, I noticed it smelled like Lemon Coke—a fragrance I adore. To apply, I gently slide my index, middle, and ring fingers into the sleeve and massage my freshly washed face using the gauze side, starting from the chin and moving upward toward the forehead.
Initially, I exfoliated for exactly one minute, allocating 10 seconds each to the nose, chin, and both cheeks, plus 20 seconds for the forehead (following Clarisonic’s one-minute rule). However, after a few safe attempts, I stopped timing and began exfoliating for 2 to 3 minutes—it’s incredibly soothing and gratifying! No visible dirt or dead skin appears on the used pads, but I could clearly sense my skin becoming softer and smoother afterward. I also use it on my lips, and it works wonderfully!
The pad is a convenient size, fitting 2–3 fingers.
Start with the gauze side
Then switch to the quilted side
After exfoliating, I pat my face with the quilted side. The essence doesn’t feel tacky and evaporates fairly quickly, thanks to the alcohol content. It leaves a slight cooling sensation on my skin, which feels instantly refreshing. My skin ends up silky smooth, clean, and oil-free, without any tightness or dryness. I typically follow up with a serum and moisturizer.
I started my trial in early November, when Hong Kong was still relatively warm (around 22 degrees Celsius) and humid (approximately 76% relative humidity). Issues cropped up when temperatures dropped to 14 degrees Celsius and humidity fell to 50% in December. Even though I continued exfoliating twice weekly, I noticed my skin became more sensitive, and breakouts started appearing. I attribute this to the seasonal shift, which means I need to exfoliate less often. Nonetheless, I’ve grown quite fond of NEOGEN’s Bio-Peel, and I believe it will be especially beneficial during summer or before applying makeup.
As an added bonus, here are NEOGEN’s informational videos about the Bio-Peels. They’re quite thorough:
How to use:
Differences between the Lemon, Green Tea and Wine versions:
Differences between the 2017 and 2015 versions:
Effect on makeup:
