Papaya

Topical papaya extracts help gently clear acne blemishes, smooth the skin, and remove dead cells while offering mild relief from stings, though they may cause minor redness or irritation for some. This ingredient suits dry skin and oily skin best, and it comes in exfoliators, cleansers, and masks. It fits easily into a daily routine, as it layers smoothly with other products.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2015Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015
This page shows papaya products with a Lovi page. For every product, and a routine built for your skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular papaya products
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Dermalogica
Daily Microfoliant
€72.82
- Farmacy Green Clean
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Kate Somerville
ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment
€23.18
-
ilso
Super Melting Serum Softener
€30.90
- Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder
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Elemis
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads
€42.45
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Elemis
Papaya Enzyme Peel
€31.42
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Elemis
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash
€8.80
Papaya exfoliators
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Dermalogica
Daily Microfoliant
€72.82
-
Kate Somerville
ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment
€23.18
- Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder
-
Elemis
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads
€42.45
-
Elemis
Papaya Enzyme Peel
€31.42
- Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant
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MEDIHEAL
Phyto-Enzyme Peeling Pad
€37.88
- AMOREPACIFIC Treatment Enzyme Peel
- e.l.f. Gentle Peeling Exfoliant
- Versed Doctor's Visit Instant Resurfacing Mask
- Bliss Jelly Glow Peel
- Tatcha The Rice Polish Classic
What reviewers say about popular papaya products
The highlight reviewers mention most for each popular papaya product on Lovi.
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Gentle daily exfoliation ★4.7 · 11.4k+ reviews
- Smoother skin texture
- Brightens complexion
- “gentle enough for daily use”
Farmacy Green Clean Effortless Makeup Removal ★4.6 · 15.0k+ reviews
- Non-Stripping & Hydrating
- Pleasant Sensory Experience
- “dissolves long-wear foundation”
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment Smoother texture ★4.5 · 4.2k+ reviews
- Pore minimization
- High price point
- “Baby soft”
What people say about ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment
ilso Super Melting Serum Softener Effective sebum removal ★4.6 · 1.8k+ reviews
- Requires extra tools
- Smoother skin texture
- “melts blackheads away”
Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder Gentle exfoliation ★4.5 · 600+ reviews
- Skin texture
- Brightening effect
- “Non-abrasive, suitable for sensitive skin, no stinging”
Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads Smoother skin texture ★4.8 · 8.0k+ reviews
- Brightening and radiance
- Gentle exfoliation
- “baby soft”
Papaya cleansers
- Farmacy Green Clean
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Elemis
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash
€8.80
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Exfoliating Cleanser
- NATURIUM Vitamin C Complex Cleanser
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SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Poremizing Deep Cleansing Foam
€12.64
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Revision Skincare
Papaya Enzyme Cleanser
€112.33
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Mario Badescu
Enzyme Cleansing Gel
€16.90
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LANEIGE
Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cleansing Foam
€31.36
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Farmacy
Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm
€20.00
- Derma E Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
- Derma E Anti-Wrinkle Cleanser
- Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser
Papaya masks
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HERBIVORE
Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask
€139.77
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KORA Organics
Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
€14.50
- Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Enzyme Masque
- Freeman Hawaiian Black Salt Peel-Off Mask
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REN Clean Skincare
Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask
€42.51
- the SAEM Gem Miracle Black Pearl O2 Bubble Mask
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Perricone MD
Chlorophyll Detox Mask
€61.00
Other papaya products
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ilso
Super Melting Serum Softener
€30.90
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Farmacy
Deep Sweep 2% BHA Pore Cleaning Toner
€80.00
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AXIS-Y
Dark Spot Correcting Glow Toner
€20.99
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SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Boosting Toner
€24.81
- Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Glow Moisturizer
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Farmacy
Daily Greens Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer
€80.00
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thinkbaby
Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+
€27.99
Papaya for dry skin
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thinkbaby
Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+
€27.99
- Farmacy Green Clean
- Medimine Phyto Enzyme Powder Wash
- Bliss Jelly Glow Peel
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VT
Cica Mild Powder Wash
€5.60
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SKINFOOD
Black Sugar Perfect Essential Scrub 2X
€26.98
- Oséque Silky Bright Enzyme Powder Facial Wash
- Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Enzyme Masque
- Dermalogica Exfoliant Accelerator 35
- Derma E Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
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KORA Organics
Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
€14.50
-
AXIS-Y
PHA Resurfacing Glow Peel
€15.10
Papaya for oily skin
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Dermalogica
Daily Microfoliant
€72.82
-
Farmacy
Daily Greens Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer
€80.00
-
KORA Organics
Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
€14.50
- Medimine Phyto Enzyme Powder Wash
- Elizavecca Milky Piggy Elastic Pore Cleansing Foam
- Papa Recipe Tea Tree Control Enzyme Powder Cleanser
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HERBIVORE
Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask
€139.77
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Revision Skincare
Papaya Enzyme Cleanser
€112.33
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Boosting Toner
€24.81
- Peach & Lily Glass Skin Face Polisher
- Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder
- Bliss Jelly Glow Peel
Papaya for combination skin
-
Dermalogica
Daily Microfoliant
€72.82
-
KORA Organics
Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
€14.50
- Elizavecca Milky Piggy Elastic Pore Cleansing Foam
- AMOREPACIFIC Treatment Enzyme Peel
-
Farmacy
Daily Greens Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer
€80.00
- Medimine Phyto Enzyme Powder Wash
-
HERBIVORE
Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask
€139.77
-
VT
Cica Mild Powder Wash
€5.60
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Exfoliating Cleanser
- Peach & Lily Glass Skin Face Polisher
-
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Boosting Toner
€24.81
- Dermalogica Exfoliant Accelerator 35
Questions and answers
What does papaya do for the skin?
Papaya helps gently exfoliate the skin and may improve acne when used with retinoids, but it can also disrupt the skin barrier and cause irritation.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2015Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015
How do you use papaya?
Papain can be applied topically in various formulations, such as combining it with hydroxypinacolone retinoate and retinol glycospheres once daily for acne or incorporating it into beauty masks for exfoliation. However, topical application may also disrupt the skin barrier and cause inflammation, acting as an allergen.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023
Should you use papaya in the morning or at night?
Papaya may be used in the morning or at night when it is part of a routine or a product, such as a once-daily gel used for acne.
Can you use papaya every day?
Yes, you can use papaya every day as part of a fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres applied once daily for acne.
Does papaya cause purging or irritation?
Papaya may cause irritation because topical application can disrupt the skin barrier and act as an allergen. When combined with retinoids in a fixed combination gel applied once daily, it may also lead to mild to moderate local side effects in some users.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2015Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015
Which skin types is papaya best for?
Papaya is a Superior fit for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, and mature skin types, as well as skin with dark spots, with top products like KORA Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask, Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, and Medimine Phyto Enzyme Powder Wash.
Research on papaya
Behind this ingredient guide
Lovi checks every ingredient 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
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