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COSRX Centella Cleansing Powder for acne-prone skin

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

COSRX Centella Cleansing Powder

Superior

  • SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
  • SuperiorEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best products for acne-prone skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 combination, acne-prone skin as Centella Asiatica Extract and Allantoin provide potent anti-inflammatory and barrier-repairing benefits, while Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Protease effectively cleanse pores and reduce breakouts.
  • The gentle yet effective cleansing action is further supported by lipase, which aids in breaking down impurities without causing irritation.
  • This formula is exceptionally safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and actively soothing inflammation.

How to apply

  • Use your enzyme powder cleanser as part of your PM weekly routine. Start by using it once a week and build up slowly if your skin is happy.
  • Place this step after your regular cleanser and before applying your hydrating toner. Follow the weekly routine order for the best results.
  • Mix the powder with a little water in your hands to create a soft foam. Gently massage onto your face and avoid rubbing too hard.
  • Apply the enzyme powder cleanser on slightly damp skin to help activate the formula evenly. Make sure your face is clean before applying.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test first and do not combine this with strong acids on the same night.

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 acne-prone skin?

This powder cleanser is a superior fit because Centella Asiatica Extract and Allantoin calm redness and repair the skin barrier, while Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Protease deeply clean pores to reduce breakouts. Its gentle formula clears away impurities without irritation and actively soothes inflammation.

Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

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

Centella Asiatica Extract and Allantoin help calm acne-prone skin with soothing and barrier-repairing benefits, while Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Protease gently clear pores to reduce breakouts. These ingredients work together safely without harshness, keeping your skin comfortable and clear.

Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

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

Centella asiatica extract helps calm angry skin, reduces redness, and supports healing for breakouts. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve overall skin clarity when used consistently.

Molecules, 2023Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020

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

Sodium cocoyl isethionate helps wash acne-prone skin gently because its large size keeps it from getting deep into the skin to cause irritation or dryness. This ingredient keeps your skin calm and clean while maintaining your skin barrier, which a cleanser for breakouts needs to do without stripping dry or sensitive skin.

Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Dermatologic Therapy, 2004

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

This enzyme powder cleanser is used once a week in your evening routine, after removing makeup and before your cleansing mask. It helps clear pores and reduce breakouts without causing irritation, making it exceptionally safe and soothing for this skin.

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

You can use this enzyme powder cleanser alongside retinol, but because both can be active on your skin, it is best to use them on different days or times to prevent irritation. Use this weekly or as a separate step in your routine to help clear pores without upsetting your skin barrier.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024American Family Physician, 2012

How often should I use this cleanser?

Use this enzyme powder cleanser once a week as part of your weekly routine, and you can carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well and sees good results.

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

This cleanser is unlikely to clog your pores or cause breakouts because Centella Asiatica Extract and Allantoin help calm inflammation, while Protease and Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate clean out pores gently. It also avoids harsh ingredients, making it very safe for keeping acne-prone skin clear and smooth.

Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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