Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Ascorbic Acid
Subtilisin
Lipase
Cellulose
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few products fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Highly suitable for your oily, acne-prone skin as subtilisin and lipase provide excellent enzymatic exfoliation and seboregulation, effectively cleansing pores and aiding skin renewal.
- Ascorbic acid further supports skin renewal and pore clearing, contributing to a smoother complexion.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use your enzyme powder cleanser PM once a week to start, then increase frequency if your skin tolerates it well. Always apply SPF during the day since exfoliating products can make skin sensitive to the sun.
- Apply this enzyme powder cleanser in your weekly routine after the standard cleanser and before your hydrating toner and moisturizer. This step helps clear away dead skin cells.
- Mix the powder with a little water in your hands to create a gentle foam , then massage it softly onto your face while avoiding harsh rubbing.
- Apply the enzyme powder cleanser on slightly damp skin to help activate the formula effectively. Make sure your face is clean from makeup before starting.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Do not mix this with strong acids or retinoids in the same routine to prevent irritation.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis powder cleanser is highly praised for its ability to provide a deep yet gentle exfoliation, leaving skin feeling exceptionally smooth and refined. It is particularly effective for oily and combination skin types, helping to balance sebum and clear pores. However, users with dry or sensitive skin should use it with caution as it can cause dryness or tightness if applied too frequently.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin texture is immediately more even”
- “face feels so smooth”
- “soft exfoliation”
- “leaves complexion soft and revitalized”
Gentle deep clean Often Mentioned
- “deep yet gentle cleanse”
- “pores breathing again”
- “clean but not stripped”
- “removes makeup and pollution”
Ideal for oily/combo skin Sometimes Noted
- “great for combination skin”
- “reduces excess oil”
- “helps eliminate breakouts”
- “perfect for oily types”
Long-lasting product Sometimes Noted
- “lasts almost 5 months”
- “a little goes a long way”
- “lasts a very long time”
- “good value despite price”
Travel-friendly format Sometimes Noted
- “practical for travel”
- “easy to pour into travel container”
- “lighter than liquid cleanser”
- “no liquid restrictions”
Drying for dry skin Sometimes Noted
- “face feels a bit tight”
- “can be quite drying”
- “use with caution if dry skin”
- “felt constricted”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “definitely expensive”
- “luxury price range”
- “overpriced”
- “investment product”
Messy application Rarely Noted
- “powder can be messy”
- “hard to control amount”
- “spills easily if open”
Risk of irritation Rarely Noted
- “quite red after”
- “face exploded”
- “overkill for my face”
Unpleasant smell Rarely Noted
- “smells a bit weird”
- “medicinal kind of cream smell”
- “scent is a negative”
- “funky odor”
Sources: lovi.care, nordstrom.com, spacenk.com, influenster.com, bluemercury.com, cultbeauty.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because it uses enzymes to gently clear pores, balance oil, and help renew oily acne-prone skin. Ascorbic acid further supports a smoother complexion while keeping irritation low.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Subtilisin and lipase make this cleanser a great fit by giving you gentle enzyme exfoliation that clears out pores and helps control oil. Ascorbic acid also supports skin renewal for a smoother complexion.
What does Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate do for oily acne-prone skin?
Sodium lauroyl glutamate helps wash away oil and dirt while being very gentle on oily acne-prone skin, causing minimal disruption to the outer skin layer compared to harsher cleansers. This makes it a great choice for keeping skin clean and calm without feeling stripped or overly dry.
What does Vitamin C do for oily acne-prone skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten skin, smooth out texture, and improve uneven spots for oily acne-prone skin. It may also help fade marks left behind by blemishes.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This enzyme powder cleanser goes in your weekly routine, used once a week as part of an exfoliating step. People who tolerate it well and see good results may carefully use it more often.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this enzyme powder cleanser alongside retinol by applying the cleanser first during your evening routine and following with your retinol treatment. This cleanser helps clear pores and smooth your complexion without irritation, making it a safe pairing for your skin.
How often should I use this cleanser?
Start by using this cleanser once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. The formula safely cleanses pores and helps renew your skin without irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin because its enzymes and vitamin C deeply clean pores and help skin renewal without harsh ingredients. It is very safe for this skin type and carries a low risk of irritation.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Bacterial cellulose membranes with and without glycerin showed good skin compatibility and no barrier disruption in human subjects compared to a negative control, with glycerin-containing membranes additionally providing a statistically significant skin moisturizing effect (p=0.044).
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2014Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Nanofibrillar cellulose dressing provides efficient wound healing comparable to polylactide-based copolymer dressings at skin graft donor sites in 24 patients, with significant improvements in observer scar thickness and vascularity and skin elasticity.
Advances in Wound Care, 2020AgNP-BC exhibited over 99% reduction in Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with no cytotoxicity, allowing epidermal cell attachment and growth compared to unmodified bacterial cellulose.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 2014Cellulose acetate and soy protein hydrolysate nanofibrous dressings promote fibroblast proliferation in vitro and accelerate wound healing with reduced scar formation in vivo.
Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2018
Ingredients
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Talc, Cellulose, Maltodextrin, Water, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbic Acid, Subtilisin, Lipase
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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