A'pieu Enzyme Powder Wash for combination skin
Papain
Bromelain
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Willow Bark Extract
Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for combination skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 combination skin, as papain and willow bark extract provide enzymatic and mild chemical exfoliation to address oily shine and decongest pores. Lauric acid and sodium lauroyl aspartate contribute to effective cleansing, balancing oil production without over-drying.
- The formula is highly suitable for combination skin, with ingredients like papain and willow bark extract aiding in mild exfoliation and seboregulation.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing agents like Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine once a week. Start 3x/week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the enzyme powder cleanser after your regular cleanser and toner, but before your moisturizer.
- Pour a small amount into wet hands and rub together to create a creamy foam, then massage gently onto the face.
- Apply the enzyme powder cleanser on slightly damp skin to help activate the gentle exfoliating enzymes.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin feels comfortable.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this exfoliating cleanser was a cult favorite, highly praised for its gentle exfoliation and non-stripping, hydrating properties, leaving skin soft and bright. It was particularly effective for sensitive and acne-prone skin in removing dead skin cells and sebum. Users frequently lament its discontinuation and difficulty in finding it.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “Particles are fine and incredibly gentle”
- “Mild enough for daily use”
- “Exfoliates without making skin feel squeaky clean”
Discontinued, hard to find Mostly Mentioned
- “Heartbreaking that this perfect product has been discontinued”
- “Gone for good”
- “Can't get our hands on it anymore”
Good value Often Mentioned
- “Shockingly affordable”
- “Price is incredibly wallet-friendly”
- “Generous quantity”
Non-stripping, hydrating Often Mentioned
- “No tightness after cleansing”
- “Skin doesn't feel dry or tight”
- “Leaves skin feeling velvety”
Deep cleansing Sometimes Noted
- “Removes excess sebum”
- “Cleansing effectiveness is excellent”
- “Face feels fresh and bright”
Packaging issues Sometimes Noted
- “Lid feels a bit flimsy”
- “Vulnerable to moisture”
- “Easy to use too much product”
Scent not for all Rarely Noted
- “Scent isn't great”
- “Typical for fermented products”
- “Unique scent”
Sources: lovi.care, hwahae.co.kr, reddit.com, yesstyle.com, ebay.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does A'pieu Enzyme Powder Wash work for combination skin?
A'pieu Enzyme Powder Wash works moderately well for combination skin, offering mild exfoliation and effective cleansing to help manage oily shine without causing irritation. However, combination skin often needs a cleanser of this type that also provides extra hydration to keep dry and oily areas properly balanced.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Papain and willow bark extract help this cleanser fit your combination skin by providing gentle enzymatic and chemical exfoliation to clear pores and reduce oily shine. Dipotassium glycyrrhizate also supports your skin by soothing it without causing irritation. To be a better fit for this skin type, products of this type need extra hydrating ingredients to maintain balance.
What does Papain do for combination skin?
Papain gently exfoliates the skin by breaking down dead surface proteins, which helps keep oily and dry areas balanced and smooth. It is unlikely to cause severe irritation when used properly, though mild tingling may occur.
What does Bromelain do for combination skin?
Bromelain helps clear away dead skin and smooth out rough areas by gently breaking down outer skin proteins. A product of this type needs soothing hydrators and gentle exfoliants to balance combination skin without causing irritation.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This enzyme powder cleanser goes into your weekly routine as an exfoliating step once a week, though people who tolerate it well may carefully use it more often. A combination skin type needs a gentle cleanser that balances oil and provides mild exfoliation with ingredients like papain and willow bark extract.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this enzyme powder cleanser in your routine, but because it provides moderate exfoliation, it is best used on separate days or times from your retinol to help prevent irritation. Combination skin often does better with a gentle, non-exfoliating cleanser for daily cleansing while keeping exfoliating powders for occasional weekly use.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
How often should I use this cleanser?
Start by using this enzyme powder cleanser once a week, and if your combination skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. The formula provides moderate exfoliation with papain and willow bark extract to help clear oily shine and decongest pores safely.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin because it contains soothing agents and mild exfoliants like papain and willow bark extract that help decongest pores. To properly care for combination skin, a cleanser of this type needs ingredients that balance oil production without over-drying while keeping the skin calm.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A 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, 2015A topical formulation containing panthenol, niacinamide, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate increased skin hydration by 74.1% and reduced transepidermal water loss by 13.5% at 28 days compared to baseline and untreated control in 35 individuals with xerosis.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016Reflux 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, 2020Carica papaya leaf extracts obtained via supercritical fluid and conventional methods demonstrated antioxidant and cytoprotective effects on skin fibroblasts against oxidative stress, driven by their respective lipophilic and hydrophilic constituents.
Molecules, 2021Oral bromelain slightly reduced pain compared to controls (mean difference -0.27) and topical bromelain reduced time to complete debridement by 6.89 days, with no major health risks reported.
Nutrition and Health, 2023An upcycled pineapple leaf fibre crosspolymer forms a physical barrier that protects against environmental aggressors while providing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipollution, UV protection, hydration, and hair benefits.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026A coaxial electrospun core-shell nanofiber scaffold delivering bromelain and salvianolic acid B demonstrated sustained drug release, in vitro endothelial cell migration, increased capillary formation in an in ovo assay, and in vivo efficacy for skin regeneration and wound healing.
Biomedical Materials, 2017Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
2-Hexanediol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lauric Acid, Maltodextrin, Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Zea Mays Starch, Water, Butylene Glycol, Willow Bark Extract, Willow Leaf Extract, Sodium Palmitate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Papain, Aspergillus Ferment, Titanium Dioxide
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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