The Vivier Illuminating Enzymatic Peel is a leave-on, at-home exfoliating treatment that combines fruit enzymes, glycolic acid and salicylic acid with retinol, vitamin C and peptides in one evening step. You apply it after cleansing, you do not rinse it off, and you use it two or three nights a week. This guide covers what is in it, how to use it, how it fits with retinol, and who it suits.
Quick answers
- What is the Vivier Illuminating Enzymatic Peel?
- A gentle at-home enzymatic peel that exfoliates dead surface cells and hydrates, for skin that looks visibly brighter, smoother and clearer. It is a leave-on cream, not a rinse-off mask.
- How often do I use it?
- Two to three times a week at night, on non-consecutive days. Vivier states it is gentle enough for daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- Do I rinse it off?
- No. Apply a generous layer to clean skin and leave it on. It does not require rinsing.
- Can I use it with retinol?
- Yes, on alternate nights. It already contains retinol, so do not layer a separate retinol on the same evening.
- What does it cost?
- $126 for 60 ml at Your Skin Solution, an authorized Canadian retailer of Vivier.
What it is
Most exfoliants pick one mechanism. A scrub uses particles. A chemical exfoliant uses an acid. An enzyme mask uses fruit enzymes. The Illuminating Enzymatic Peel is unusual because it uses all three of those approaches in one leave-on cream, and then adds three ingredients you would normally find in a treatment serum rather than an exfoliant: retinol, a stable form of vitamin C, and two peptides.
Vivier describes it as "a gentle, glow-boosting enzymatic peel for at-home use that exfoliates dead skin cells, enhances skin cell turnover and hydrates to reveal visibly brighter, smoother, fresher and clearer skin." The word peel can be misleading. There is no visible peeling, no downtime, and nothing to wash off. It behaves like a night cream that happens to exfoliate.
Illuminating Enzymatic Peel
- Type Leave-on exfoliating treatment
- When Night, two to three times a week
- Skin types All skin types
- Size 60 ml
- Formula Vegan, paraben-free, alcohol-free, gluten-free
- Price $126
What is inside, and what each part does
Vivier lists six key ingredients. Three of them exfoliate, in different ways. The other three are there for what the skin looks like once the dead cells are gone.
| Ingredient | Category | What it does in this formula |
|---|---|---|
| Papain and bromelain | Fruit enzymes (papaya and pineapple) | Loosen the bonds holding dead cells to the surface. The gentlest of the three exfoliating mechanisms, and the reason the product is called enzymatic. |
| Glycolic acid | Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) | A small-molecule, water-soluble acid that helps refine surface texture and supports a more even-looking tone. |
| Salicylic acid | Beta hydroxy acid (BHA) | Oil-soluble, so it can work along the pore lining. Useful where congestion is part of the dullness. |
| Retinol | Vitamin A | Supports the skin's natural renewal so the smoother look is not only about what was removed. This is why the product goes on alternate nights to a separate retinol. |
| 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid | Stable vitamin C derivative (Et-VC) | The same form of vitamin C Vivier uses in Serum 30. Included for brightness and a more radiant-looking finish. |
| Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 | Peptides | A well-known peptide pair added for a smoother, more supple-looking complexion, and to keep the formula feeling like a treatment rather than a strip. |
The base is worth a mention too. Glycerin and argan kernel oil sit high in the ingredient list, which is why Vivier can describe the product as hydrating in the same breath as exfoliating. It is not a stripping formula.
Vivier does not publish percentages for this product. The glycolic and salicylic acids are present at levels intended for regular, unsupervised home use. This is not a professional-strength peel and should not be treated as one.
How to use it
The directions are short, and the most common mistake is treating it like a mask.
- Cleanse in the evening as usual. Tone if toning is part of your routine.
- Optional: apply a Vivier vitamin C serum first. Vivier lists this as an optional step before the peel. If you are new to the product, skip it for the first two weeks and add it once you know how your skin responds.
- Apply a generous layer of Illuminating Enzymatic Peel to the face and neck. Do not rinse. It stays on overnight.
- Moisturise over it if your skin runs dry, using something like the Nightly Age-Defying Moisturizer. Many people find the peel is enough on its own.
- Next morning, cleanse and apply SPF. Glycolic acid and retinol can increase the skin's sensitivity to sun. Vivier recommends a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day while using this product. Sheer SPF 45 is the straightforward choice.
Frequency. Two to three times a week at night, on non-consecutive days, is the recommended starting point. Vivier states the formula is gentle enough for daily use if desired, but there is no advantage in rushing there. Start at two nights, hold for a fortnight, then decide.
Using it with retinol and vitamin C
This is the question we are asked most about the product, because it contains retinol and a vitamin C derivative already.
With a separate Vivier retinol
Alternate nights. Vivier's own direction is to alternate the peel with retinol products to reduce the chance of irritation. So a typical week on Retinol 0.3% might look like this.
| Night | Treatment step |
|---|---|
| Monday | Illuminating Enzymatic Peel |
| Tuesday | Retinol |
| Wednesday | Moisturiser only |
| Thursday | Illuminating Enzymatic Peel |
| Friday | Retinol |
| Saturday | Moisturiser only |
| Sunday | Illuminating Enzymatic Peel |
If you are on Retinol 0.5% or 1.0% and your skin is already at the edge of what it tolerates, drop the peel to two nights and keep a rest night between every active. Our fall retinol reset guide covers how to build retinol frequency without overshooting.
With a vitamin C serum
Compatible. Vivier lists a vitamin C serum as an optional step immediately before the peel at night, and morning vitamin C is unaffected either way. If you use Serum 10 or C E Peptides in the morning, carry on. Our comparison of the Vivier vitamin C serums is the place to start if you have not chosen one.
Do not stack it with other exfoliants. On a peel night, leave out Exfoliant Forte, the AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cream, scrubs and exfoliating pads from any brand. One exfoliating step per night is the rule.
Who it suits
Vivier positions it for all skin types, and the hydrating base makes that fair. In practice it earns its place in three situations.
- Skin that looks dull and feels rough but reacts badly to stronger acids. The enzyme-led approach is the softer entry point to exfoliation.
- People who want one evening step, not four. Exfoliation, retinol, vitamin C and peptides in a single leave-on cream is a genuine simplification for someone who will not keep up a longer routine.
- Between professional treatments. Vivier developed it to sit alongside in-clinic peels as the at-home maintenance step. If you have facials or peels done regularly, this is the product your clinician is most likely to name.
Three groups should be more careful. If your skin is currently irritated, sunburned or compromised, wait until it has settled. If you are using a prescription retinoid, speak with the prescribing professional before adding any exfoliating retinol product. And if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the retinol content is a reason to check with your doctor first.
How it compares to other Vivier exfoliants
Vivier makes three leave-on exfoliants for the face, and they are not interchangeable.
| Product | Mechanism | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illuminating Enzymatic Peel | Enzymes plus glycolic and salicylic acids, with retinol, vitamin C and peptides | All skin types wanting a brighter, smoother look with the gentlest start. The one to choose if you only want one exfoliant. | $126 |
| Exfoliant Forte | Glycolic acid, leave-on | Tolerant, non-sensitive skin that wants a more direct AHA. Vivier includes it in the Brighten and Restore programs. | $115 |
| AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cream | Alpha and beta hydroxy acids, leave-on | Oilier or congestion-prone skin where the salicylic component does more of the work. | $102 |
The short version: if you are not sure which one you need, the Illuminating Enzymatic Peel is the safest first choice because it covers the most ground with the softest approach. Choose Exfoliant Forte or the AHA/BHA cream when you already know your skin wants something more targeted.
What to expect, week by week
| Weeks | What you are doing | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Two nights a week, no other new actives | Skin usually feels smoother to the touch the next morning. A mild tingle on application is common and should fade in a minute or two. |
| 3 to 4 | Three nights a week if comfortable | Texture and a fresher-looking surface are the first visible changes. Makeup tends to sit more evenly. |
| 5 to 8 | Settled frequency, retinol on alternate nights if using | This is when people start describing their skin as brighter. Any change to the look of uneven tone is gradual. |
| 9 to 12 | Same routine, consistently | A fair point at which to judge whether it has earned a permanent place. One 60 ml tube lasts roughly this long at three nights a week. |
If at any point your skin becomes persistently red, tight or flaky, that is a signal to drop back to one night a week, not to push through. Exfoliation only helps up to the point where the barrier stays comfortable.
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Shop Illuminating Enzymatic PeelFrequently asked questions
Is the Vivier Illuminating Enzymatic Peel a chemical peel?
Not in the clinical sense. It contains glycolic and salicylic acids alongside fruit enzymes, but at levels made for regular home use, and it is left on the skin rather than neutralised and removed. There is no visible peeling and no downtime.
Do you wash off the Illuminating Enzymatic Peel?
No. Apply a generous layer to clean skin at night and leave it on. It does not require rinsing. Cleanse as normal the next morning and follow with sunscreen.
How often should I use it?
Two to three nights a week on non-consecutive days is Vivier's recommendation. The brand states it is gentle enough for daily use, but building up gradually is the sensible route.
Can I use it on the same night as retinol?
Vivier advises alternating nights, because the peel already contains retinol. Peel one night, retinol the next, with a rest night when your skin needs it.
Is it suitable for sensitive skin?
Vivier positions it for all skin types and the base is hydrating, but it does contain acids and retinol. Start at one or two nights a week, patch test if you react easily, and hold off entirely while skin is irritated or sunburned.
Can I use it in the morning?
It is designed for evening use. Glycolic acid and retinol can increase sun sensitivity, so night application followed by SPF 30 or higher the next day is the routine Vivier describes.
Where can I buy the Vivier Illuminating Enzymatic Peel in Canada?
From an authorized Canadian retailer. Your Skin Solution is an authorized Vivier retailer. The 60 ml tube is $126, with free shipping on orders over $99 within Canada.
Product positioning, ingredient lists and directions are as published by Vivier Canada. Prices are current as of 24 September 2026 and may change. Descriptions refer to visible, cosmetic change. Individual results vary. This article is general information, not medical advice. Speak with your dermatologist or skincare professional about what suits your skin.