A'pieu Enzyme Powder Wash for oily skin
Papain
Bromelain
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Willow Bark Extract
Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 oily skin due to the presence of papain and aspergillus ferment, which help decongest pores and manage oiliness.
- Willow bark extract further aids in seboregulation, complementing the cleansing action for your skin type.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, with Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate providing soothing benefits and no harsh ingredients present.
How to apply
- Use your enzyme powder cleanser as part of your AM or PM weekly routine. Start using it 1x per week and increase to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this enzyme powder cleanser in your routine after the regular cleanser and before the hydrating toner, serum, and moisturizer.
- Gently mix the enzyme powder cleanser with water in your hands to create a lather. Massage it softly over your face without rubbing .
- Apply the enzyme powder cleanser to clean, slightly damp skin for the best results .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin is happy.
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 oily skin?
This cleanser works reasonably well for your oily skin because papain, aspergillus ferment, and willow bark extract help clear pores and manage oiliness safely. To fit oily skin even better, a cleanser of this type needs extra ingredients like niacinamide to deeply clean and exfoliate while promoting a balanced, bright complexion.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Papain, aspergillus ferment, and willow bark extract make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin by helping to clear pores, manage oiliness, and balance sebum levels. To work best for oily skin, a product of this type needs effective exfoliating and cleansing ingredients like niacinamide and papain to remove excess oil and promote a clear complexion without causing irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015
What does Papain do for oily skin?
Papain helps clear oily skin by gently lifting away dead cells and surface buildup to leave your face feeling smooth. This ingredient helps reduce clogged pores and flakes, though it may occasionally cause mild irritation if your skin barrier is sensitive.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Archives of Dermatological Research, 2001
What does Bromelain do for oily skin?
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This enzyme powder cleanser goes into your weekly routine as an exfoliating step once a week, and it can be used more often if your skin tolerates it well. To better fit oily skin, this type of product needs gentle exfoliating enzymes like papain and soothing ingredients to help clear pores and manage oiliness without irritation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this enzyme powder cleanser alongside retinol, but because both exfoliate your skin, it is best to use them on different days or times to prevent irritation. Use this cleanser in your weekly routine and keep your retinol for your treatment steps, ensuring your skin stays calm and smooth.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can start using this enzyme powder cleanser once a week, and if your oily skin tolerates it well and sees good results, you may carefully use it more often. An oily skin type generally needs gentle exfoliating enzymes like papain and calming ingredients such as dipotassium glycyrrhizate to keep pores clear and manage oiliness without irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This enzyme powder cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it helps decongest pores and manage oiliness without harsh ingredients. However, because its fit for your skin is only average, an oily skin type needs a cleanser that offers stronger oil control and deeper pore clearing to prevent breakouts more effectively.
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
Topical 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, 2020Oral 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, 2025A 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, 2019Bioactive 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, 2010
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.