SKINFOOD Black Sugar Perfect Enzyme Powder Wash for oily skin
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 for your oily skin, as papain and lactobionic acid provide enzymatic and mild chemical exfoliation to regulate desquamation, though it does not specifically target oily shine control.
- Allantoin and betaine are included to soothe your skin, ensuring a gentle experience without irritation.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients and a formula designed to avoid irritation.
How to apply
- Use your enzyme powder cleanser as part of your AM or PM weekly routine. Start using it 1x per week and increase to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this enzyme powder cleanser in your routine after the regular cleanser and before the hydrating toner, serum, and moisturizer.
- Gently mix the enzyme powder cleanser with water in your hands to create a lather. Massage it softly over your face without rubbing .
- Apply the enzyme powder cleanser to clean, slightly damp skin for the best results .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin is happy.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this powder-to-foam cleanser is highly regarded for its gentle exfoliation and ability to leave skin feeling soft and hydrated without stripping. Users appreciate the convenient travel-friendly packaging. However, many find the product to be expensive for the quantity provided and express concerns about the environmental impact of the single-use sachets.
Highlights
Travel-friendly packaging Mostly Mentioned
- “Perfect for travel with convenient single-use packets”
- “Easy to take with you on trips”
- “Individual packaging is great for travel.”
Gentle exfoliation Often Mentioned
- “Much gentler than a typical scrub”
- “Leaves my skin incredibly soft and smooth”
- “Minimal irritation on the face.”
Low cost-effectiveness Often Mentioned
- “A bit pricey for the amount”
- “Isn't cost-effective”
- “Quantity is enough for a month's use.”
Effective deep cleanse Sometimes Noted
- “Feeling that my pores have been cleaned”
- “Helps remove excess sebum”
- “Leaves my skin feeling refreshingly clean.”
Non-stripping finish Sometimes Noted
- “Not dry or sticky”
- “Leaves skin soft and hydrated”
- “Doesn't feel stripping after use.”
Wasteful packaging Sometimes Noted
- “Creates a lot of waste”
- “Not the most environmentally friendly option”
- “Wish it wasn't single-use packets.”
Scent preferences Rarely Noted
- “Has a sour scent”
- “Slightly bitter notes”
- “Unique refreshing scent.”
Too gentle for some Rarely Noted
- “Hard to tell if it's actually removing dead skin”
- “Unsure whether it's effective or not”
- “Granules dissolve quickly.”
Sources: lovi.care, oliveyoung.com, yesstyle.com, hwahae.co.kr, whatsinmyjar.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does SKINFOOD Black Sugar Perfect Enzyme Powder Wash work for oily skin?
This powder wash works for your oily skin by offering moderate exfoliation and soothing ingredients like betaine to prevent irritation, though other cleansers fit this skin better because they specifically target oily shine control. Oily skin needs products with ingredients like niacinamide and papain to thoroughly cleanse, manage oiliness, and promote a balanced complexion without irritation.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Papain and lactobionic acid make this cleanser work for your oily skin by providing gentle exfoliation, while allantoin and betaine help soothe it. Because it does not specifically target oily shine, cleansers for this skin type need ingredients like Niacinamide and effective exfoliating components that manage oiliness and balance the complexion.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
What does Black Sugar Extract do for oily skin?
Black Sugar Extract helps keep oily skin smooth and soft by gently clearing away dead flakes and maintaining moisture. This type of ingredient works best for oily skin when it includes clarifying components that balance oil without stripping away essential hydration.
What does Corn Starch do for oily skin?
Corn starch helps manage oily skin by reducing unwanted shine and absorbing excess oil for a matte finish. It is unlikely to clog pores and may help keep your face looking fresh throughout the day.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This enzyme powder cleanser goes in your weekly routine, used once a week as an exfoliating step before your cleansing mask and toner. Oily skin often benefits from products that specifically target and control excess shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this enzyme powder cleanser with retinol by using them on different days or in separate routines, because using both at the same time may cause too much irritation on oily skin. When combining potent exfoliants and retinol, oily skin needs soothing ingredients like allantoin and betaine alongside oil-controlling ingredients to keep the skin calm and balanced.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
How often should I use this cleanser?
Start using this enzyme powder once a week as part of your routine. If your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as its gentle formula avoids harsh ingredients and includes soothing components. To better manage oily shine, an oily skin type typically needs ingredients that specifically target excess oil control.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
An emulsion containing 10% lactobionic acid significantly reduces human skin surface pH without causing skin irritation or barrier impairment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003A 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, 2020Lactobionic acid produced better skin performance with a lack of skin irritation and barrier impairment compared to glycolic acid in 77 healthy volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010The combination of sucrose dilaurate and sucrose laurate suppressed HMGB1 release, melanin production, melanocyte dendricity, and melanosome transfer in vitro, and reduced the appearance of facial spots compared to vehicle in an 8-week human use test.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022Sucrose ester in an ibuprofen hydrogel increased skin hydration and ibuprofen penetration more intensely than a gel without sucrose ester without causing greater alterations in the stratum corneum structure in hairless mice.
Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, 2012Topical application of the nonsugar fraction of brown sugar prevented chronic UVB-induced skin thickness increases, elasticity loss, wrinkles, pigmentation, and vascular changes in melanin-possessing hairless mice, which may be mediated by inhibiting MMP-2 and VEGF expression.
Journal of Natural Medicines, 2009Hydrolyzed 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, 2026Topical 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 a 2% cream containing combined fruit extracts for 56 days significantly reduced wrinkle depth by 11.5%, length by 10.07%, and area by 29.55% in 21 female subjects compared to a placebo.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015A topical cream containing 4% Ficus carica fruit extract applied to the cheeks of human volunteers for 8 weeks significantly decreased skin melanin, trans-epidermal water loss, and sebum, and significantly increased skin hydration compared to a base control.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2014A Ficus carica cell suspension culture extract reduced epinephrine, interleukin 6, lipid peroxide, and protein carbonylation, induced ceramide synthesis, and decreased transepidermal water loss and sebum production in skin cells and in vivo.
Antioxidants, 2021Co-culturing mesenchymal stem cells and human keratinocytes on nylon66 electrospun scaffolds loaded with Beta vulgaris extract enhanced cell proliferation and promoted epithelial differentiation compared to mono-cell culturing.
Materials Science & Engineering. C, Materials for Biological Applications, 2017An aqueous extract of Beta vulgaris reduced lipid accumulation and reactive oxygen species in human HaCaT keratinocyte cells treated with palmitic/oleic acids or hydrogen peroxide.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026
Why other products fit oily skin better
A moisturizing cream containing 2% l-carnitine and 5% EGCG significantly reduced sebum levels and improved skin hydration in ninety subjects with seborrhea over 4 weeks, showing greater anti-sebum efficacy in the combination group compared to the l-carnitine group alone.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
Ingredients
Zea Mays Starch, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Diglycerin, Betaine, Allantoin, Maltodextrin, Papain, Water, Iron Oxides Ci 77492, Lactobionic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Sucrose, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Iron Oxides Ci 77491, Iron Oxides Ci 77499, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Proline, Threonine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine
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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