🇳🇱Netherlands

HISTOLAB Soft Deep Cleansing Enzyme Powder Wash for dry sensitive skin

Average

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for dry sensitive skin; other products fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, 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 suitability for your dry skin as papain and bromelain provide gentle exfoliation, while Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate and Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate cleanse without stripping natural oils.
  • The formula includes Allantoin and Tocopherol Vitamin E to soothe and protect your sensitive skin, though it could benefit from more emollient and humectant ingredients to fully address dryness.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Use your enzyme powder cleanser PM once a week as part of your weekly routine, and start slowly to check your skin's tolerance.
  • Place this step right after your regular cleanser and before your hydrating toner, following the weekly routine order.
  • Mix the powder with a little water in your hands to create a soft foam, then gently massage it onto your face without rubbing hard.
  • Apply the foam on slightly damp skin to keep your dry flakes comfortable and safe from extra irritation.
  • Be sure to avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before your very first use.

People Say

★4.0Overall rating based on 100+ reviews

Based on limited available data, users find this enzymatic cleanser to be gentle and effective, leaving skin soft and smooth without stripping natural oils. It is particularly beneficial for oily and acne-prone skin, helping to manage sebum and unclog pores. Some users note a learning curve for lathering the powder format.

Highlights

  • Gentle Exfoliation Often Mentioned
    • “leaves skin soft”
    • “non-stripping cleanse”
    • “gentle enzyme action”
  • Travel-Friendly Often Mentioned
    • “perfect for travel”
    • “compact size”
    • “easy to pack”
  • Good for Oily/Acne Skin Sometimes Noted
    • “reduces closed comedones”
    • “calms oily skin”
    • “good for breakouts”
  • Post-Wash Feel Sometimes Noted
    • “squeaky clean but soft”
    • “refreshed feeling”
    • “smooth complexion”
  • Lathering difficulty Sometimes Noted
    • “doesn't lather well”
    • “hard to foam”
    • “needs mixing effort”
  • Availability Rarely Noted
    • “inconvenient to buy”
    • “shipping takes long”
    • “niche product”
  • Price & Size Rarely Noted
    • “wish it was larger”
    • “expensive for size”
    • “hard to find”
  • Scent Rarely Noted
    • “acquired taste”
    • “scent is disappointing”
    • “odd smell at first”

Sources: lovi.care, histolab.ca, ubuy.com, hwahae.co.kr, ebay.com, gosupps.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does HISTOLAB Soft Deep Cleansing Enzyme Powder Wash work for dry sensitive skin?

This cleanser works moderately well for dry sensitive skin because gentle enzymes exfoliate while mild cleansers wash away dirt without stripping natural oils. It also contains soothing ingredients to calm the skin, though a product of this type needs more moisturizing and hydrating ingredients to fully address dryness.

Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

This cleanser fits your dry sensitive skin through gentle exfoliating papaya and rice enzymes, along with soothing allantoin and vitamin E that calm your skin. It also features mild cleansers like sodium lauroyl glutamate and sodium cocoyl isethionate which wash away dirt without stripping your natural oils. However, this skin type needs extra moisturizing ingredients and moisture-holding ingredients to fully address dryness.

Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007

What does Papaya Enzyme do for dry sensitive skin?

Papaya enzyme gently removes dead skin cells to help make dry sensitive skin feel smooth and soft. Proteolytic enzymes like this one assist with normal skin shedding, but because dry sensitive skin needs very gentle care, a product of this type requires soothing moisturizers and barrier-repairing ingredients to prevent irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

What does Rice Powder do for dry sensitive skin?

Rice powder helps calm and soothe dry sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve skin smoothness and comfort.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022International Journal of Toxicology, 2006

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine, though you should start using it just once a week to see how your skin responds. Because this type of skin tends to feel dry, it needs soothing and gentle ingredients along with rich hydrating and softening components to keep it comfortable.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first on your dry sensitive skin, rinsing it off, and then following with your retinol treatment. This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation due to its soothing ingredients, though a product for this skin type would benefit from extra moisturizing and hydrating ingredients to fully prevent dryness.

How often should I use this cleanser?

This cleanser can be used once a week to start, and if your skin tolerates it well and sees good results, you can carefully use it more often. Because this dry sensitive skin needs extra care, a product of this type needs rich moisturizing and hydrating ingredients to fully address dryness.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts, or lead to purging on dry sensitive skin because its gentle cleansing agents and soothing components wash away impurities without disrupting the skin barrier. A product of this type needs rich moisturizing and hydrating ingredients to fully comfort and protect dry skin.

Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Sodium cocoyl isethionate micelles are too large to penetrate stratum corneum aqueous pores, resulting in significant steric hindrance that prevents skin barrier perturbation and explains its skin mildness.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
  • Menstrual pads containing sodium bicarbonate caused no clinical signs or subclinical vulvar skin irritant reactions in 50 healthy women after 24 hours of patch testing.

    The Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 1991
  • Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.

    Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016
  • A 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, 2015
  • Reflux 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, 2020
  • 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, 2020
  • The iontophoretic delivery of hyaluronic acid nanogel-loaded Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate significantly reduced advanced glycation end products and mitigated skin stiffening in an ex vivo skin tissue glycation model.

    International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2025
  • Red rice extract suppressed UVB-induced inflammation and skin aging in human skin fibroblasts by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway, leading to decreased NF-kappa B and AP-1 activation, reduced ECM degradation, and increased ECM synthesis compared to UVB-irradiated controls.

    Natural Product Communications, 2016
  • Oral sodium bicarbonate improved Yo-Yo IR2 distance by 21% and repeated sprint completion time by 1.9%, while topical sodium bicarbonate improved repeated sprint time by 2.0% without affecting Yo-Yo IR2 distance, in recreationally trained male athletes compared to placebo.

    Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2023
  • Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

    Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017
  • Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2009
  • An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
  • Topical 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, 2003
  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009
  • Topical 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, 2022

Why other products fit dry sensitive skin better

Ingredients

Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Papain, Bromelain, Sodium Bicarbonate, Silica, Allantoin, Tocopherol Vitamin E, Ascorbic Acid, Water

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.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.