Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Enzyme Masque for combination skin
Ascorbic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Pineapple Fruit Extract
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Superoxide DismutaseAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other nourishing masks fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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
- Offers moderate exfoliation and brightening for your combination skin due to papaya and pineapple fruit extracts, which help smooth texture and even skin tone, though these benefits are mostly supportive and irrelevant for your specific concern of oily shine.
- Ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbyl phosphate provide antioxidant activity, which is beneficial for combination skin but does not directly address excess oil.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using your creamy mask 3x a week and work up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- Apply your creamy mask after cleansing and toning, but before your moisturizer to lock in benefits. This step fits nicely right in the middle of your daily routine.
- Smooth an even layer of the creamy mask gently over your face, avoiding any unnecessary heavy rubbing. Let it sit for a few minutes ⏱ so your skin can drink it in.
- Apply the creamy mask on clean and dry skin to help manage oily shine effectively. This ensures the product works best for your combination skin type.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a simple patch test before your very first use to make sure your skin is happy.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this hydrating enzyme masque is widely praised for its gentle yet effective exfoliation, which helps brighten dull skin and improve texture for those with dry, sensitive, or aging skin. Users consistently report that it leaves their complexion feeling soft, hydrated, and noticeably more radiant after just one use.
Highlights
Brightens skin Mostly Mentioned
- “Skin is bright and hydrated”
- “Boost radiance”
- “Reveals radiant skin”
Deeply hydrates Often Mentioned
- “Super-hydrating”
- “Provides moisture”
- “Leaves skin hydrated”
Gentle exfoliation Often Mentioned
- “Gently dissolves dead skin”
- “Passive yet effective”
- “Gentle way to glow”
Softens texture Often Mentioned
- “Leaves my skin soft”
- “Skin feels smooth”
- “Noticeable improvement to texture”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Smell is amazing”
- “Refreshing citrus fragrance”
- “Fresh squeezed oranges”
Mild tingling Sometimes Noted
- “Does tingle”
- “Always feel a tingle”
- “Tingle but no reaction”
High price Rarely Noted
- “Investment product”
Not for all Rarely Noted
- “It's ok”
- “Probably won't repurchase”
- “Not for sensitive skin”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, imageskincare.com, theskinnerd.com, dermstreet.com, skintrends.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does the Vital C Hydrating Enzyme Masque work for combination skin?
This mask works for combination skin by smoothing texture and brightening tone with fruit extracts and vitamin C, though it does not directly manage oily shine. A nourishing mask for this skin needs effective soothing ingredients that control oil and balance moisture levels across dry and oily areas without causing irritation.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for combination skin?
Papaya and pineapple fruit extracts help smooth texture, while vitamin C provides brightening benefits for your combination skin. However, because these ingredients do not address oily shine, a nourishing mask for this skin needs soothing and calming ingredients, balancing hydration, and barrier-repairing extracts to manage both dry and oily areas effectively.
What does Vitamin C do for combination skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten dull areas and smooth out uneven texture on combination skin while protecting against daily environmental stress. It may also help keep pores clear and skin firm by supporting collagen production, though drier spots may need an added moisturizer to stay comfortable.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This mask goes into a weekly routine for combination skin after cleansing and before toning, as masks of this type are typically used once a week. This product provides gentle exfoliation and brightening to smooth texture, but combination skin with oily shine also needs ingredients that directly control excess oil.
Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?
This mask is safe for your combination skin and is unlikely to cause irritation, but because it provides moderate exfoliation with fruit extracts, you should use it on a separate day or time from your retinol routine to avoid over-exfoliating. When combining exfoliating masks and retinol in your overall skincare plan, your skin needs soothing hydrators and gentle barrier-supporting ingredients to stay calm and smooth.
How often should I use this mask?
This nourishing mask works for your combination skin, though other products fit it better because its brightening and smoothing benefits do not target oily shine. Start using it once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often.
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your combination skin since it lacks harsh ingredients, though it does not target oily shine. A product for this skin needs oil-controlling and pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help manage excess oil.
Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Incorporating 1, 2, and 5 percent papain into starch- and carboxymethyl cellulose-based films preserved proteolytic and skin exfoliation activity while improving mechanical properties and water solubility compared to control films, with immobilized enzyme maintaining stability for up to 90 days.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023A 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, 2020Topical 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, 2022Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Oral bromelain slightly reduced pain compared to controls (mean difference -0.27) and topical bromelain reduced time to complete debridement by 6.89 days, with no major health risks reported.
Nutrition and Health, 2023An upcycled pineapple leaf fibre crosspolymer forms a physical barrier that protects against environmental aggressors while providing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipollution, UV protection, hydration, and hair benefits.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026A coaxial electrospun core-shell nanofiber scaffold delivering bromelain and salvianolic acid B demonstrated sustained drug release, in vitro endothelial cell migration, increased capillary formation in an in ovo assay, and in vivo efficacy for skin regeneration and wound healing.
Biomedical Materials, 2017Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016A fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres in aqueous gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a 41% mean reduction in GAGS score and a 40.8% mean reduction in total lesions, with 15.3% of patients experiencing mild to moderate local side effects, in 94 evaluable patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Reflux extraction of Carica papaya leaves yielded higher antioxidant capacity and superior in vitro wound-healing activities including fibroblast proliferation, cell migration, and collagen synthesis in human skin fibroblasts compared to ultrasonic-assisted extraction and agitation.
Molecules, 2020Topical application of TAT-SOD significantly suppresses UVB-induced erythema formation, blood flow rise, and apoptotic sunburn cell formation in human volunteers compared to a vehicle control.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2016Topical treatment with the synthetic SOD/catalase mimetic EUK-134 reduced lipid peroxide levels both at baseline on non-irradiated human skin and at the surface of UVA-exposed skin when applied before or after irradiation, compared to controls.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2004Topical superoxide dismutase formulations maintained physical stability and enzymatic activity for 6 months at 4 and 30 degrees C, and effectively inhibited UVB-induced skin erythema for 48 hours, whereas formulations combined with alpha-tocopherol were unstable.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2007
Why other nourishing masks fit combination skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Application of Galactomyces ferment filtrate skin care formula significantly reduced the net values and daily fluctuation of facial pore area, roughness, and redness in young Japanese women.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Pineapple Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Superoxide Dismutase, Algae Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Grape Seed Extract, Yeast Polysaccharides, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Rna, Potassium Sorbate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Extract Orange Blossom Extract, Silk Amino Acids, Sodium Dna, Disodium Edta
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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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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