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A'pieu Enzyme Powder Wash for acne-prone skin

Average

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for acne-prone skin; other products fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 and seboregulation for your combination skin, with papain and willow bark extract gently decongesting pores and balancing oil production.
  • While it provides excellent cleansing, the formula lacks specialized ingredients to effectively target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, as it contains soothing Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate and avoids harsh or prohibited ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use your enzyme powder cleanser as part of your PM weekly routine. Start by using it once a week and build up slowly if your skin is happy.
  • Place this step after your regular cleanser and before applying your hydrating toner. Follow the weekly routine order for the best results.
  • Mix the powder with a little water in your hands to create a soft foam. Gently massage onto your face and avoid rubbing too hard.
  • Apply the enzyme powder cleanser on slightly damp skin to help activate the formula evenly. Make sure your face is clean before applying.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test first and do not combine this with strong acids on the same night.

People Say

★4.8Overall rating based on 100+ reviews

Based 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 acne-prone skin?

A'pieu Enzyme Powder Wash works moderately well for acne-prone skin because it cleanses and helps balance oil, but acne-prone skin needs products with specialized ingredients like niacinamide or licorice root extract to effectively target blemishes and breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Papain and willow bark extract help this cleanser gently clear out pores and balance oil production for acne-prone skin. A product of this type needs specialized ingredients that target acne and blemishes, alongside soothing and hydrating components, to be a great fit for this skin.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015

What does Papain do for acne-prone skin?

Papain helps clear acne-prone skin by gently removing dead cells and targeting blemishes as part of a targeted treatment gel used daily. However, it may cause mild redness or irritation, and since it can disrupt the skin barrier, acne-prone skin also needs soothing, barrier-repairing ingredients to stay calm and protected.

Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2015

What does Bromelain do for acne-prone skin?

Bromelain helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing swelling and irritation. This ingredient may also support clearer skin through its anti-inflammatory properties.

Molecular Carcinogenesis, 2012Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 1988

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This enzyme powder wash goes into your weekly routine once a week, and you can carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well and sees good results. While it safely cleans and clears pores with papain and willow bark extract, acne-prone skin needs products with specialized ingredients to target blemishes and breakouts.

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

You can use this enzyme powder cleanser alongside retinol by keeping them in separate steps or alternating days to avoid irritation, as the cleanser gently clears pores while retinol treats breakouts. A complete routine for this skin needs specialized acne-fighting ingredients and soothing care to properly target blemishes without harshness.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can start using this enzyme powder cleanser once a week, and if your skin handles it well without irritation, you may carefully use it more often. This product cleans your skin safely, but to truly target breakouts and blemishes, acne-prone skin needs specialized blemish-fighting ingredients.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on acne-prone skin, as it contains soothing dipotassium glycyrrhizate and avoids harsh ingredients. However, because it lacks specialized blemish-fighting ingredients, acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that includes targeted acne treatments and oil-balancing ingredients.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Acta Biomaterialia, 2022

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, 2019
  • 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
  • Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate-loaded hydroxypropyl chitosan and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels applied to wounds in a mouse full-thickness skin defect model resulted in rapid wound closure, efficient tissue remolding, collagen deposition, and decreased inflammation compared to commercial Tegaderm film and 3M dressing controls.

    Acta Biomaterialia, 2022
  • Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.

    Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016
  • 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
  • Carica 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, 2021
  • Oral 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, 2023
  • An 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, 2026
  • A 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, 2017
  • Combining 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, 2015
  • Licochalcone 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, 2015
  • Bioactive 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, 2025
  • Bioactive 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, 2022
  • A 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
  • A 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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