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SKINFOOD Black Sugar Perfect Enzyme Powder Wash for dry sensitive skin

High

  • HighDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few products fit it even 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 skin due to the presence of papain and lactobionic acid, which help to smooth texture and cleanse effectively.
  • While the formula is safe for your sensitive skin and provides general cleansing, it lacks sufficient emollient and humectant ingredients to fully address dryness or flakiness.
  • The product is safe for your dry and sensitive skin as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use your enzyme powder cleanser PM once a week as part of your weekly routine, and start slowly to check your skin's tolerance.
  • Place this step right after your regular cleanser and before your hydrating toner, following the weekly routine order.
  • Mix the powder with a little water in your hands to create a soft foam, then gently massage it onto your face without rubbing hard.
  • Apply the foam on slightly damp skin to keep your dry flakes comfortable and safe from extra irritation.
  • Be sure to avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before your very first use.

People Say

★4.7Overall rating based on 100+ reviews

Based 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

What makes SKINFOOD Black Sugar Perfect Enzyme Powder Wash a great fit for dry sensitive skin?

This cleanser is a great fit because it cleans effectively and uses papain and lactobionic acid to smooth your dry skin without causing irritation. It is also completely safe for your sensitive skin as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

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

Papain and lactobionic acid make this cleanser a good fit because they offer moderate exfoliation that helps smooth texture and cleanse effectively without irritating your skin. This formula is safe for your sensitive skin as it contains no harsh ingredients, though it may benefit from extra soothing and softening moisture ingredients to fully address dryness.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

What does Black Sugar Extract do for dry sensitive skin?

Black Sugar Extract helps draw moisture into dry sensitive skin, but elevated sugar levels can sometimes slow down skin barrier recovery and worsen irritation. Because this type of skin needs gentle ingredients that restore hydration without impairing the barrier, products used here should include soothing agents and mild moisturizers.

Experimental Dermatology, 2019Food & Function, 2017

What does Corn Starch do for dry sensitive skin?

Corn starch helps protect dry sensitive skin by reducing friction and soothing irritation. It is unlikely to cause issues and may support skin defense when exposed to everyday stress.

PloS One, 2026

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

This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routines, starting at once a week to see how your skin responds. Because it lacks sufficient rich moisturizing and soothing ingredients to fully address dryness, you should follow it with gentle, hydrating products.

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

You can use this enzyme powder cleanser alongside retinol, but apply it at a different time of day or on alternate nights to avoid over-exfoliating your dry sensitive skin. Use your retinol during your evening routine after cleansing and a soothing toner, following up with a rich moisturizer to keep your skin calm and hydrated.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can start using this enzyme powder cleanser once a week, and if your dry sensitive skin tolerates it well and sees good results, you may carefully use it more often. The formula gently smooths texture with papain and lactobionic acid while keeping your skin safe with no harsh or prohibited ingredients.

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

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts, or lead to purging on dry sensitive skin. Its gentle formulation cleanses effectively while keeping irritation to a minimum.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Combining a 20% lactobionic acid peel with aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion increases skin hydration, improves elasticity, and decreases transepidermal water loss in 20 Caucasian females compared to lactobionic acid peel alone.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • An emulsion containing 10% lactobionic acid significantly reduces human skin surface pH without causing skin irritation or barrier impairment.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Lactobionic 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, 2010
  • A 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, 2021
  • The 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, 2022
  • Sucrose 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, 2012
  • Topical 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, 2009
  • 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 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 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, 2015
  • A 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, 2014
  • Treatment with 5% black fig leaf cream exhibited significantly higher anti-inflammatory activity, increased collagen production, angiogenesis, and re-epithelialization, and reduced inflammatory cell density compared to control groups in rat excisional skin wounds.

    Inflammopharmacology, 2025
  • Co-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, 2017
  • An 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

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.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.