SKINFOOD Black Sugar Perfect Enzyme Powder Wash for dry skin
Black Sugar Extract
Zea Mays Starch
Papain
Ficus Carica Fruit Extract
Beta Vulgaris Root ExtractAverage
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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 papain and lactobionic acid, which provide enzymatic and chemical exfoliation, but it lacks sufficient emollient ingredients to fully address dryness.
- Diglycerin and betaine offer humectant action, supporting hydration for dry skin.
- The product is safe for your dry skin as it contains no prohibited or harsh ingredients that would cause irritation.
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 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 dry skin?
This cleanser works well enough for dry skin, though other products fit it better. It helps lift away dead skin while keeping moisture balanced with humectants, but a dry skin type needs a cleanser with richer softening and smoothing ingredients to truly nourish flaky or tight areas.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
Diglycerin and betaine help support hydration for dry skin, while papain and lactobionic acid gently remove dead skin cells. To feel its best, dry skin needs cleansers packed with richer moisturizing ingredients and skin barrier support.
What does Black Sugar Extract do for dry skin?
Black Sugar Extract helps dry skin feel softer and smoother by increasing skin moisture and helping the skin stay hydrated. This ingredient also helps reduce flakiness so the skin looks and feels healthier.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2009
What does Corn Starch do for dry skin?
Corn starch helps protect dry skin and minimizes friction to keep it feeling soft and smooth. It is unlikely to irritate sensitive areas and may help defend the skin against daily stress.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine for dry skin as the main cleansing step. Because this type of product can be drying, dry skin needs plenty of rich moisturizing creams and soothing ingredients to keep it soft and comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by using it in your evening routine before applying your treatment, though dry skin needs a product with extra nourishing and softening ingredients to fully prevent tightness. It is unlikely to irritate your skin, but make sure to follow up with a good moisturizer.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser can be used once a week on dry skin, and people who tolerate it well and see good results may carefully use it more often. This type of skin needs nourishing ingredients and rich softeners to fully address dryness.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for your dry skin. It contains safe, gentle ingredients that avoid harsh irritation, but because it is an average fit, a product for this skin also needs richer moisturizing ingredients to fully address dryness.
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
An emulsion containing 10% lactobionic acid significantly reduces human skin surface pH without causing skin irritation or barrier impairment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Diglycerol combined with glycerol maintains a higher capacitance level and provides a long-term moisturizing effect on human skin compared to glycerol alone after 8 hours.
Journal of Oleo Science, 2016A combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio synergistically increased aquaporin 3 expression by up to 380% in keratinocytes and safely improved skin hydration in healthy volunteers.
Molecules, 2024Lactobionic 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 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
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
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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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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