Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser for mature skin
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Ascorbic Acid
Subtilisin
Lipase
Cellulose
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for mature skin; a few products fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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 excellent cleansing and exfoliation for your normal skin, as subtilisin and lipase effectively break down dead skin cells and impurities, while ascorbic acid aids in collagen stimulation to address wrinkles and fine lines.
- The gentle enzymatic action is well-suited for your skin type, promoting desquamation without causing irritation.
- This formula is safe for your skin, containing soothing ingredients and avoiding harsh components.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine once a week, increasing to 2-3 times if your skin tolerates it well.
- Place this enzyme powder cleanser in your weekly routine after your regular cleanser and before your hydrating toner.
- Mix a small amount of the enzyme powder cleanser with water in your hands to create a soft foam before applying.
- Gently massage the foam onto your damp face using circular motions, then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always apply SPF the morning after using exfoliating products.
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 mature skin?
Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser is a great fit for mature skin because its enzymes gently clear away dead skin cells without causing irritation, while vitamin C helps smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. This formula safely cleans and refreshes your skin using soothing ingredients and avoids harsh components.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for mature skin?
Subtilisin and lipase make this cleanser a great fit by gently clearing away dead skin cells without causing irritation, while ascorbic acid helps smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. This gentle action helps keep mature skin feeling soft and looking bright.
What does Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate do for mature skin?
Sodium lauroyl glutamate is very gentle on mature skin and helps keep it calm while cleansing without stripping away natural oils. This ingredient has a safe profile that minimizes irritation, making it well tolerated even by sensitive skin types.
What does Vitamin C do for mature skin?
Vitamin C helps mature skin by smoothing out wrinkles, brightening dark spots, and boosting firmness. It works by encouraging collagen production to keep skin looking youthful and radiant.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This cleanser is used once a week as part of an evening routine to gently wash and smooth mature skin. It helps sweep away dead skin cells without causing irritation, while vitamin C supports a firmer and brighter look.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this enzyme powder cleanser alongside retinol by using the cleanser on your weekly exfoliating days rather than mixing them in the exact same routine. This helps prevent over-exfoliation and irritation while allowing ingredients like ascorbic acid and retinol to support smooth, firm skin safely.
How often should I use it?
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 gentle enzymes help clear away dead skin cells without causing irritation, while vitamin C aids in smoothing fine lines.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for mature skin. Its gentle enzymes clear away dead skin cells without harshness, helping keep pores clear while smoothing fine lines.
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, 2014Bacterial cellulose masks incorporated with vegetable extract increased skin hydration by 76% in 75% of volunteers, while propolis extract decreased hydration by 32.6% in 80% of volunteers, demonstrating effectiveness for skincare applications.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018Topical 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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Co-founder, Medical Director
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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