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COSRX Centella Cleansing Powder for oily acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

COSRX Centella Cleansing Powder

Superior

  • SuperiorOily Skin Fit
  • SuperiorEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best products for oily acne-prone skin.

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

  • Excellent suitability for your oily skin and acne concerns is provided by lipase and protease enzymes, which offer effective exfoliation and pore decongestion, complemented by Centella Asiatica Extract to soothe inflammation.
  • Allantoin further supports skin comfort and barrier function, ensuring a gentle yet thorough cleansing experience.
  • The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion 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

★2.8Overall rating based on 100+ reviews

Based on limited data, this water-activated enzyme cleanser is appreciated for its gentle, non-stripping formula that leaves skin soft and soothed, making it a good option for travelers and those with sensitive, acne-prone skin. A significant drawback is the packaging, which many users find wasteful and environmentally unfriendly, alongside concerns about the product's value and ease of use.

Highlights

  • Wasteful packaging Mostly Mentioned
    • “Environmentally unfriendly”
    • “Too much plastic”
    • “Unnecessary individual sachets”
  • Gentle, non-stripping Often Mentioned
    • “Skin feels soft”
    • “Not tight after washing”
    • “Mild exfoliation”
  • Travel-friendly Often Mentioned
    • “Perfect for gym bag”
    • “Convenient for trips”
    • “Great for airplanes”
  • Poor value Often Mentioned
    • “Expensive for amount”
    • “Tiny quantity (12g)”
    • “Not worth the price”
  • Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
    • “No strong scent”
    • “Good for sensitive noses”
    • “Simple ingredients”
  • Soothing for sensitive Sometimes Noted
    • “Calms redness”
    • “No irritation”
  • Messy application Sometimes Noted
    • “Hard to open wet”
    • “Powder spills easily”
    • “Difficult to measure water”
  • Medicinal smell Rarely Noted
    • “Medicinal powder scent”
    • “Yeasty smell”
    • “Unpleasant odor”

Sources: lovi.care, skinsort.com, gopicky.com, kbeautyhobbit.com, hwahae.co.kr, christinahello.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes COSRX Centella Cleansing Powder one of the best fits for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is a great fit for oily acne-prone skin because lipase and protease enzymes clear out pores and gently shed dead skin, while Centella Asiatica Extract helps calm redness and inflammation. Allantoin adds extra comfort to the skin barrier, keeping the wash thorough yet gentle without causing irritation.

Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin thanks to its lipase and protease enzymes that gently exfoliate and clear out pores, along with Centella Asiatica Extract to calm inflammation. Allantoin also helps keep your skin comfortable while thoroughly washing away dirt without irritation.

Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023

What does Centella Asiatica Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?

Centella Asiatica Extract helps calm red spots and supports skin healing in oily, acne-prone skin. It may also help balance moisture and reduce breakouts by soothing irritated areas.

Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023

What does Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate do for oily acne-prone skin?

Sodium cocoyl isethionate helps cleanse oily acne-prone skin gently without stripping the skin barrier because its large molecular structure prevents it from penetrating deep into the skin. This mild surfactant washes away dirt and excess oil while keeping the skin calm and comfortable.

Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Dermatologic Therapy, 2004

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is used once a week in your weekly routine as an enzyme powder step after removing makeup and before applying a cleansing mask. It helps clear pores and exfoliate your oily skin safely, while soothing inflammation and keeping your skin comfortable.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this enzyme powder cleanser alongside retinol, but use them at different times or days to keep your skin calm and avoid irritation. Apply this cleanser during your weekly routine or evening steps, and use your retinol treatment on alternate nights.

How often should I use this cleanser?

Start by using this enzyme powder once a week as part of your routine. People who tolerate it well and see good results can carefully use it more often.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it uses gentle ingredients and enzymes that clear out pores without irritation. It also includes Centella Asiatica Extract to help calm inflammation, making it a great fit for your skin.

Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.

    Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

  • Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.

    Molecules, 2023

  • A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.

    Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020

  • Sodium cocoyl isethionate micelles are too large to penetrate stratum corneum aqueous pores, resulting in significant steric hindrance that prevents skin barrier perturbation and explains its skin mildness.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007

  • Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

  • Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.

    Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016

  • An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.

    Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018

  • Prophylactic application of a topical scar gel containing Allium cepae extract, allantoin, and heparin significantly improves patient-assessed scar color, stiffness, and irregularity compared to no treatment in women following a cesarean section.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014

  • Hydrolyzed corn starch containing maltotetraose activated the NRF2 pathway, upregulated antioxidant-responsive genes, increased NRF2 protein expression and nuclear translocation, and reduced reactive oxygen species levels in human keratinocytes exposed to oxidative stress.

    PloS One, 2026

  • Proteinase K and retinoic acid-loaded cationic liposomes lessened adhesive bacterial colonies by 62%, inhibited C. acnes-stimulated keratinocyte hyperproliferation without cytotoxicity, and improved impaired skin barrier function compared to free controls in in vitro and in vivo models.

    International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2023

  • Alkaline protease from recombinant Bacillus subtilis enhanced ex-vivo skin permeability in a biphasic, activity- and time-dependent manner, with optimal effects at 20 units and 30 minutes, and significantly increased transdermal vardenafil plasma levels in rats with minimal residual histopathological changes.

    International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2017

Ingredients

Zea Mays Starch, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate, Maltodextrin, Allantoin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lipase, Protease

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play