Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel for dry skin
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Grapefruit Fruit Extract
Glycerin
Phenoxyethanol
Triethanolamine
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other cleansers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, 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 cleansing for your dry or flaky skin, as Carica Papaya Fruit Extract and Grapefruit Fruit Extract provide mild exfoliation to smooth texture, while Glycerin offers some humectant action.
- The formula contains Glycerin for hydration, but it lacks sufficient emollient ingredients to fully address your dry skin's needs.
- The product is safe for your dry skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin clean. Start using it daily right away since your skin is not sensitive.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow with your toner and moisturizer afterwards.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Apply this cleanser on slightly damp skin for a comfortable and refreshing wash. This helps maintain your skin's natural moisture while cleansing away dirt.
- Avoid getting the cleanser directly into your eyes to prevent any irritation. Do a simple patch test before your first use to ensure your skin likes it.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this non-foaming gel cleanser is highly recommended for combination and oily skin types, effectively removing excess oil and impurities while maintaining skin hydration. Users frequently report a brighter, refreshed complexion and improved skin texture. However, it may not fully remove heavy makeup and some users dislike the lack of lather or are concerned about parabens.
Highlights
Gentle and non-drying Mostly Mentioned
- “does not strip skin”
- “leaves face soft”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “no tight feeling”
Brightening and refreshing Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin bright”
- “complexion looks refreshed”
- “gives a nice glow”
- “revives dull skin”
Effective oil control Often Mentioned
- “removes excess oil”
- “great for oily skin”
- “balances my combination skin”
- “keeps shine away”
Poor makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “doesn't remove mascara”
- “need a separate remover”
- “leaves residue”
- “not for heavy makeup”
Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels smoother”
- “helps with blackheads”
- “reduces bumps”
- “exfoliates gently”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like a spa”
- “fresh clean scent”
- “love the smell”
- “light and pleasant”
Non-foaming texture Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't foam at all”
- “weird gel texture”
- “miss the bubbles”
- “feels like slime”
Contains parabens Rarely Noted
- “contains methylparaben”
- “wish it was paraben-free”
- “ingredients aren't clean”
- “avoiding preservatives”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “burns my eyes”
- “stings if it gets in eyes”
- “avoid eye area”
- “painful on eyes”
Price vs. value Rarely Noted
- “a bit pricey”
- “better cheaper options”
- “paying for the brand”
- “not worth the money”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, mariobadescu.com, sephora.com, spacenk.com, beautybay.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel work for dry skin?
Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel offers moderate cleansing for dry skin, as Carica Papaya Fruit Extract and Grapefruit Fruit Extract help smooth texture while Glycerin provides some hydration. However, it lacks sufficient softening ingredients to fully address dry skin needs. A cleanser for this skin type needs essential ceramides, sodium hyaluronate, niacinamide, or other rich hydrating ingredients to lock in moisture and protect the skin barrier.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, and Grapefruit Fruit Extract make this cleanser work for dry skin by providing hydration and mild exfoliation to smooth texture. However, because it lacks enough softening and moisturizing ingredients, a cleanser for this skin needs rich hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
What does Papaya Fruit Extract do for dry skin?
Papaya fruit extract helps clear away dead cells to make dry skin feel smooth, but it may cause irritation if your skin barrier is already weak. To care for dry skin properly, products of this type need gentle exfoliating enzymes paired with rich moisturizers and barrier-supporting ingredients.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2015
What does Grapefruit Fruit Extract do for dry skin?
Grapefruit fruit extract helps protect dry skin from sun damage and keeps it calm. To care for dry skin properly, this type of product also needs rich moisturizing ingredients like honey to lock in hydration and smooth rough patches.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the first cleansing step before applying a hydrating toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen. A cleanser for dry skin needs extra softening and hydrating ingredients like richer oils and butters to fully protect your skin's moisture barrier.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying it first to gently smooth your skin before your retinol treatment. A cleanser for dry skin like this needs enough softening ingredients to protect your skin barrier while you use strong ingredients like retinol.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. Because it provides mild exfoliation to smooth texture, dry skin needs a cleanser that also includes rich moisturizing and smoothing ingredients to keep it soft and comfortable.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts, or lead to purging on dry skin. The formula is generally safe and free of harsh ingredients that typically cause irritation or breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser works safely on the body, but because dry skin needs rich, softening ingredients and heavier moisture to stay smooth, cleansers for dry skin also need plenty of soothing oils and butters.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, hexyl cinnamal, benzyl alcohol, limonene, citronellol, and geraniol).
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Incorporating 1, 2, and 5 percent papain into starch- and carboxymethyl cellulose-based films preserved proteolytic and skin exfoliation activity while improving mechanical properties and water solubility compared to control films, with immobilized enzyme maintaining stability for up to 90 days.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023Topical 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, 2020Topical application of an aqueous gel containing 0.1% w/w naringenin demonstrated in vitro safety, significantly reduced UV-induced stratum corneum lipid peroxidation, and showed in vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy against methyl nicotinate-induced inflammation in human participants compared to a blank gel and untreated area, while chlorogenic acid, apigenin, and kaempferol displayed pro-oxidant profiles.
Frontiers in Chemistry, 2024Topical application of a naringenin-containing formulation protected hairless mice from ultraviolet B-induced skin damage by inhibiting edema, cytokine production, superoxide anion, and lipid hydroperoxides while maintaining antioxidant enzymes and glutathione levels.
PloS One, 2016Encapsulating naringenin, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), and kaempferol into nanostructured lipid carriers provided prolonged release, stability, and antioxidant protection against oxidative stress in human keratinocytes, with an NDGA and kaempferol mixture showing synergistic antioxidant effects.
Pharmaceutics, 2021The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical 2% tea lotion significantly decreased inflammatory lesions and was superior to 5% zinc sulphate solution in patients with acne vulgaris.
Saudi Medical Journal, 2008Topical 2% tea lotion significantly reduced the mean lesion count of papules and pustules in patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to a control solution over 2 months.
Saudi Medical Journal, 2006
Why other cleansers fit dry skin better
Phytosphingosine increased filaggrin metabolism and skin hydration in human skin by stimulating filaggrin biosynthesis and degradation leading to natural moisturizing factor formation.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
Ingredients
Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Peg-8 Stearate, Ppg-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Grapefruit Fruit Extract, Carbomer, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Triethanolamine, Diazolidinyl Urea, Mica, Ci 77891 Titanium Dioxide, Ci 19140 Yellow 5, Ci 42090 Blue 1, Ci 15985, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol
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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