Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser for dry skin
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Ascorbic Acid
Subtilisin
Lipase
Cellulose
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for dry skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, 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 subtilisin and lipase, which provide enzymatic cleansing and mild exfoliation. Ascorbic acid further supports skin health by offering antioxidant benefits.
- The formula is generally safe for your dry skin as it avoids harsh ingredients and includes soothing components.
- While it addresses dryness moderately, it lacks sufficient emollient and humectant ingredients to fully combat dryness.
How to apply
- Use your enzyme powder cleanser as part of your PM routine once a week to start. Carefully increase frequency only if your dry skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this powder cleanser after your regular pre-cleanser and cleanser steps, but before your toner and moisturizer. Follow the weekly routine order for best results.
- Mix a small amount of the enzyme powder cleanser with water in your hands to create a gentle foam. Gently massage the foam onto your face without harsh rubbing.
- Apply the cleanser to slightly damp skin to help activate the enzyme formula smoothly. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water afterward.
- Avoid the eye area during application and do a patch test before your first use. Always use SPF the next day since exfoliants can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
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
How well does the Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser work for dry skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for dry skin, offering gentle exfoliation and antioxidant benefits while avoiding harsh irritants. However, because it lacks enough softening and moisture-locking ingredients to fully combat dryness, products for this skin type need rich hydrating and soothing components to maintain moisture and support the skin barrier.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2014
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
Subtilisin and lipase make this cleanser a fit for your dry skin by providing gentle enzymatic exfoliation, while ascorbic acid offers antioxidant support. However, because it lacks sufficient softening and moisture-binding ingredients to fully combat dryness, a cleanser for this skin type needs rich moisturizing and skin-soothing components.
What does Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate do for dry skin?
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate helps cleanse dry skin while keeping the skin barrier calm and comfortable with minimal disruption. It is much less likely to dry out or irritate the skin compared to harsher cleansing ingredients.
What does Vitamin C do for dry skin?
Vitamin C helps dry skin by boosting moisture and keeping the surface smooth and soft. It may also improve skin hydration and support the outer protective barrier over time.
Skin Research and Technology, 2008Experimental Dermatology, 2008
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine, used once a week to start for dry skin. A product of this type needs rich moisturizing ingredients and softening components to fully combat dryness.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, but since both can be drying, use them on alternating nights or apply your retinol after a hydrating toner and before your moisturizer to keep your skin smooth and comfortable.
How often should I use it?
Start by using this cleanser once a week to see how your dry skin responds, as exfoliating steps begin at this frequency. If your skin handles it well and feels comfortable, you may carefully use it more often.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin because its formula avoids heavy, pore-blocking ingredients and harsh chemicals. However, since it only offers moderate help with dryness, dry skin needs products packed with rich softening and moisture-locking ingredients to stay fully comfortable.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2014
Is it 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
Why other products fit dry skin better
Daily application of a cream containing niosomes loaded with purple glutinous rice extract in 20 human volunteers for 28 days resulted in a significant decrease in melanin index and skin roughness by -14.05% and -9.95%, and increases in skin hydration and elastic recovery by +48.73% and +35.98% compared to initial values.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Hydrogels containing vitamin E-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers exhibited better occlusive properties and long-lasting effects, while vitamin E-loaded nanoemulsions performed a faster skin hydration effect and were selected as more attractive for skin application.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2019Tocopherol succinate-loaded ethosomal gel increased skin deposition, stability, moisture, and mechanical properties in 13 human subjects compared to a control gel over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
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?
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