🇩🇪Germany

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel for dry sensitive skin

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

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel

Low

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ConcerningSafety

A weak match for dry sensitive skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry or flaky skin, as Carica Papaya Fruit Extract and Grapefruit Fruit Extract provide enzymatic cleansing to smooth texture.
  • The presence of glycerin offers humectant action, but the formula lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive ingredients for optimal hydration for your dry skin.

How to apply

  • Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your face fresh. Start slowly once a day if your dry skin feels sensitive at first.
  • Apply your cleanser first thing in your routine before any toner or moisturizer. Follow the usual steps for your AM or PM daily routine.
  • Gently massage the cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to protect your dry skin.
  • Apply the cleanser to slightly damp skin to help it clean gently without stripping moisture. This method is very safe for sensitive and dry skin types.
  • Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and avoid the delicate eye area. Always do a patch test before using the product for the first time.

People Say

★4.4Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this non-foaming gel cleanser is highly recommended for combination and oily skin types, effectively removing excess oil and impurities while maintaining skin hydration. Users frequently report a brighter, refreshed complexion and improved skin texture. However, it may not fully remove heavy makeup and some users dislike the lack of lather or are concerned about parabens.

Highlights

  • Gentle and non-drying Mostly Mentioned
    • “does not strip skin”
    • “leaves face soft”
    • “gentle enough for daily use”
    • “no tight feeling”
  • Brightening and refreshing Often Mentioned
    • “leaves skin bright”
    • “complexion looks refreshed”
    • “gives a nice glow”
    • “revives dull skin”
  • Effective oil control Often Mentioned
    • “removes excess oil”
    • “great for oily skin”
    • “balances my combination skin”
    • “keeps shine away”
  • Poor makeup removal Often Mentioned
    • “doesn't remove mascara”
    • “need a separate remover”
    • “leaves residue”
    • “not for heavy makeup”
  • Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
    • “skin feels smoother”
    • “helps with blackheads”
    • “reduces bumps”
    • “exfoliates gently”
  • Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
    • “smells like a spa”
    • “fresh clean scent”
    • “love the smell”
    • “light and pleasant”
  • Non-foaming texture Sometimes Noted
    • “doesn't foam at all”
    • “weird gel texture”
    • “miss the bubbles”
    • “feels like slime”
  • Contains parabens Rarely Noted
    • “contains methylparaben”
    • “wish it was paraben-free”
    • “ingredients aren't clean”
    • “avoiding preservatives”
  • Eye irritation Rarely Noted
    • “burns my eyes”
    • “stings if it gets in eyes”
    • “avoid eye area”
    • “painful on eyes”
  • Price vs. value Rarely Noted
    • “a bit pricey”
    • “better cheaper options”
    • “paying for the brand”
    • “not worth the money”

Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, mariobadescu.com, sephora.com, spacenk.com, beautybay.com, and more

Questions and answers

Why is Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel a weak match for dry sensitive skin?

This cleanser is a weak match because, although glycerin helps hold moisture and fruit extracts smooth texture, the formula lacks enough softening and sealing ingredients to prevent dryness. Cleansers for this skin need a rich blend of hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture and health.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023

Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?

This cleanser is a weak match for your skin because its exfoliating fruit extracts and lack of rich moisturizers can leave dry, sensitive skin feeling tight and stripped. A cleanser for this skin type needs hydrating and soothing ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and prebiotic thermal water to protect your skin barrier and lock in moisture.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Papaya Fruit Extract do for dry sensitive skin?

Papaya fruit extract helps exfoliate dry sensitive skin, but because it can cause irritation and disrupt the skin barrier, it may not be a good fit for easily upset skin. This skin type needs products with gentle, soothing ingredients that keep moisture locked in without harsh scrubbing or peeling.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2015International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023

What does Grapefruit Fruit Extract do for dry sensitive skin?

Grapefruit fruit extract helps calm dry, sensitive skin by reducing irritation and protecting against everyday stressors. This ingredient is unlikely to cause issues, but a product for this skin type also needs soothing hydrators and gentle oils to keep skin soft and smooth.

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This cleanser is a weak match for dry sensitive skin because it lacks enough rich, soothing ingredients to keep dry skin comfortable while it cleans. A cleanser for this skin needs gentle cleansing agents along with soothing and moisturizing ingredients like ceramides and rich plant oils to protect the skin barrier.

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol, but because it is a weak match for dry sensitive skin, it may cause extra dryness and irritation when paired together. To prevent this, your cleanser needs to be gentle and include rich nourishing ingredients and protective soft sealers that keep moisture locked in.

How often should I use this cleanser?

This cleanser is a weak match for your dry sensitive skin, as it lacks enough rich moisturizing ingredients to keep dry skin comfortable. When using an enzyme cleanser on this skin type, it helps to start just once a week to see how your skin responds. Dry skin needs a gentle cleanser packed with rich, nourishing oils and butters to lock in hydration.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry sensitive skin, but it may cause irritation because it lacks enough rich moisturizing ingredients to comfort this skin type. A cleanser for dry sensitive skin needs soothing oils and gentle hydrating ingredients to keep the skin soft and protected.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

This cleanser is not a good match for dry sensitive skin because it lacks enough rich, sealing ingredients to lock in moisture for this skin type. A product for this skin needs plenty of heavy, softening moisturizers and protective barrier-building ingredients to keep dry skin comfortable and hydrated.

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, hexyl cinnamal, benzyl alcohol, limonene, citronellol, and geraniol).

What the research says

  • Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.

    Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016

  • A 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, 2015

  • Reflux 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, 2020

  • Topical application of an aqueous gel containing 0.1% w/w naringenin demonstrated in vitro safety, significantly reduced UV-induced stratum corneum lipid peroxidation, and showed in vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy against methyl nicotinate-induced inflammation in human participants compared to a blank gel and untreated area, while chlorogenic acid, apigenin, and kaempferol displayed pro-oxidant profiles.

    Frontiers in Chemistry, 2024

  • Topical application of a naringenin-containing formulation protected hairless mice from ultraviolet B-induced skin damage by inhibiting edema, cytokine production, superoxide anion, and lipid hydroperoxides while maintaining antioxidant enzymes and glutathione levels.

    PloS One, 2016

  • Encapsulating naringenin, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), and kaempferol into nanostructured lipid carriers provided prolonged release, stability, and antioxidant protection against oxidative stress in human keratinocytes, with an NDGA and kaempferol mixture showing synergistic antioxidant effects.

    Pharmaceutics, 2021

  • 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

  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001

  • Topical 2% tea lotion significantly decreased inflammatory lesions and was superior to 5% zinc sulphate solution in patients with acne vulgaris.

    Saudi Medical Journal, 2008

  • Topical 2% tea lotion significantly reduced the mean lesion count of papules and pustules in patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to a control solution over 2 months.

    Saudi Medical Journal, 2006

Why other cleansers fit dry sensitive skin better

Ingredients

Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Peg-8 Stearate, Ppg-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Grapefruit Fruit Extract, Carbomer, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Triethanolamine, Diazolidinyl Urea, Mica, Ci 77891 Titanium Dioxide, Ci 19140 Yellow 5, Ci 42090 Blue 1, Ci 15985, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol

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

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product.

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

Buy online

Prices checked 17 Oct – 5 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Germany.

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