Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser for sensitive skin

Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Ascorbic Acid
Subtilisin
Lipase
Cellulose
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few products fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 soothing benefits for your redness and irritation, as ascorbic acid and subtilisin provide gentle enzymatic cleansing suitable for normal skin.
- The presence of lipase further aids in desquamation regulation, enhancing the overall cleansing experience.
- The formula is safe for your sensitive skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including soothing components like ascorbic acid.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine once a week. Start slowly and increase usage only if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply this enzyme powder cleanser after your regular cleanser, and before your hydrating toner and moisturizer.
- Pour a small amount into wet hands, lather into a foam, and gently massage onto your face without harsh rubbing.
- For sensitive skin, apply this product on slightly damp skin to ensure better tolerance and comfort.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your very first use to prevent irritation.
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 sensitive skin?
Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser is a great fit because it offers moderate exfoliation and soothing benefits for your redness and irritation. Ingredients like ascorbic acid and subtilisin provide gentle cleansing, while lipase helps regulate skin shedding for a smooth, comfortable feel.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for sensitive skin?
Ascorbic acid and subtilisin make this cleanser a great fit because they provide gentle enzymatic cleansing without harsh ingredients. Lipase also helps regulate shedding for a smooth clean.
What does Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate do for sensitive skin?
What does Vitamin C do for sensitive skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten skin, smooth out fine lines, and fade dark spots. Clinical studies show it is generally safe and well-tolerated when improving overall skin quality.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This enzyme powder cleanser is used once a week in a routine for sensitive skin. It helps gently wash the skin while providing moderate exfoliation and soothing benefits without harsh ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this enzyme cleanser in your weekly routine alongside retinol, but apply them on different days to keep your sensitive skin calm and smooth. Using gentle exfoliating powders and retinoids at the same time is unlikely to feel comfortable, so alternate them to prevent redness and irritation.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can start using this enzyme powder cleanser once a week, and if your sensitive skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. This gentle routine helps manage redness and irritation while avoiding harsh effects.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts, or lead to purging on sensitive skin. The formula avoids heavy, pore-clogging ingredients and carries a low risk of irritation for this skin type.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 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, 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, 2014AgNP-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, 2014
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
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.