Peeling Gel that creates "dead skin" particles: Is it real exfoliation?

Subject: Re: How to make Peeling Gel

Regarding your question about making a peeling gel that creates "dead skin" or "eraser dust" particles:

As the staff explained, this effect is typically not actual skin peeling or exfoliation. Instead, it's an illusion created by using certain ingredients, particularly polymers, at higher concentrations than usual.

For example, ingredients like Carbomer, which are normally used at 0.5-1.5% to thicken gels, can be used at higher percentages (e.g., 3-6%) to cause the gel to pill or form visible particles when rubbed on the skin.

However, formulas designed this way do not provide genuine exfoliation benefits. Furthermore, they might prevent other beneficial active ingredients in the formula from being properly absorbed into the skin.

For these reasons, this method is generally not recommended for effective skincare.