It’s a running joke in my friend group that whenever someone comes over, I force them to take a shower—partly because I’m a germaphobe, and partly so they can help me test beauty products. I like to think of myself as generous (mi casa es su casa and all that), but there are a few items I keep strictly to myself—one of which being the go, a gommage-style peeling gel rooted in Korean skin-care practices.
In K-beauty, body care is treated with the same level of intention as facial skin care. According to Lilis founder Helen Shin, Korean beauty is built on the idea that skin health is cumulative. “You layer, you prep, you sequence,” she explains. “What’s less talked about in the West is how that same philosophy extends to the body.” In Korea, exfoliation is practically a cultural expectation. “There’s even a phrase for it,” Shin says: “때 밀었어?” which roughly translates to “Did you exfoliate your dead skin?”
After watching her mother struggle with a rare form of atopic dermatitis for years, Shin founded Lilis in 2024. Another influence was Korean bathhouse culture, where she saw firsthand how central exfoliation rituals were to body care. “Traditional scrubbings can be harsh,” she says. “I wanted to honor that ritual but create something gentler and more sophisticated.”
The result is Lilis, a body-care brand designed to integrate that philosophy into a modern routine, currently centered around two products: the Instant Peel Body Treatment and the Firming Serum.
Lilis Instant Peel Body Treatment
- Why We Love It: Clinically tested to improve the appearance of skin texture, tone, and smoothness, this Korean-inspired peel works like magic. Apply the gel to dry skin and watch it activate on contact, visibly pilling as it binds to dead skin cells. And before you assume the worst, it contains no harsh acids or abrasives. The formula is gentle enough for sensitive skin types and conditions like keratosis pilaris and dermatitis, leaving skin softer, brighter, and more even in under two minutes.
- Key Ingredients: Arbutin, bakuchiol, artemisia princeps extract, asiaticoside
- Best For: Dry skin, keratosis pilaris
- Size: 320 mL
About the Lilis Instant Peel Body Treatment
Amity Murray, lead aesthetician at Hotel Chelsea’s spa, where Lilis is incorporated into select treatments, describes the Instant Peel as a light chemical exfoliating gel that lifts dead skin cells through gommage action. As you massage it onto dry skin in circular motions, the cellulose bonds to dead cells and rolls them away without grit, abrasion, or friction. The result, she says, is skin that looks more even and bright, with fewer ingrown hairs.
The ingredients go beyond exfoliation, too. Shin explains that bakuchiol, a plant-based alternative to retinol, supports skin tone and texture without irritation. Arbutin brightens; artemisia princeps, a botanical deeply embedded in Korean skincare tradition, calms and protects; centella asiatica keeps skin soothed throughout the exfoliation process; and cholesterol, a native component of the skin’s lipid barrier, reinforces it, so the skin feels nourished rather than compromised after.
How to Use the Lilis Instant Peel Body Treatment
Shin’s approach is simple: Start on dry skin, before the water even runs. “Apply the Instant Peel and massage in circular motions—within seconds you’ll see it begin to activate, rolling away dead skin as it goes. I think of it as a moment to really connect with your body, as the massage itself is part of the ritual. Rinse everything off, then cleanse as normal.” She uses it two to three times a week, sometimes solely on specific areas like her legs before shaving, her elbows, and her knees.
Murray is equally enthusiastic. “Both Lilis products are highly effective for dry skin as well as challenging conditions like keratosis pilaris. I like to keep the Instant Peel in my shower and use it daily, especially on elbows or thighs that need extra attention.” If you have sensitive skin, patch test first and let your skin guide the frequency.
My Experience With the Lilis Instant Peel Body Treatment
For someone with extremely dry skin, exfoliation is everything to me. Each week, I cycle through exfoliating soaps, exfoliating gloves, and dry brushes that mechanically slough away impurities, but Lilis is the only salve I covet that relies purely on chemical exfoliation. My routine cadence is two to three times a week, typically on “everything shower” days when I can really enjoy the process. I like to describe it as a gentle full-body version of the Baby Foot peel—you actually watch the dead skin lift away, which is either satisfying or alarming depending on your disposition.
A few things worth knowing before you try it: Apply it in the shower so the dead skin has somewhere to go, and make sure to target elbows and knees, which never get enough attention. The version I have is fragrance-free, which is great for sensitive skin types, though Lilis recently released a Slow Blink option with notes of amber, sandalwood, musk, and vanilla. The formula doesn’t tingle or sting, and the pump is a small which helps you dispense just the right amount of product. No matter how many repeat uses, the skin that’s left behind is soft, hydrated, and visibly more even.
After rinsing, I’ll reach for the Firming Serum or whatever else I’m in the mood for—serum, lotion, butter, oil, sometimes all of the above. Everything sinks in so much easier after. It’s one of those rare products I’ve never found a dupe for, and at this point, I’ve stopped looking.
Meet the Experts
- Amity Murray is the lead esthetician at Hotel Chelsea in New York City.
- Helen Shin is the founder of Lilis.
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