Do You Really Need An Enzyme Cleanser

Cleansers are the unsung heroes of a skincare routine.

There’s so much about oils, serums, toners, eye creams, spot treatments, etc., that sometimes we forget that the best weapon in your skincare arsenal is the humble cleanser! But, what if I told you that your face wash could be doing even MORE for your skin?

Enter: Enzyme Powders.

Okay, I know… the thought of using a powder as your cleanser seems kind of strange. I’ll be the first to admit I was hesitant too. The thought seemed so counterintuitive- to be washing my face with a powder?

As you know, I’m kind of a geek when it comes to the science skincare, so I’ve been doing a lot of research about this type of cleanser.

If you don’t know what enzymes are, they’re “chemicals that speed up the rate of a reaction between two substances without being consumed themselves. … Enzymes work by breaking down that keratin protein to reveal smoother skin.” (Source.)

So in a powder cleanser form, enzymes help gently exfoliate your skin, help with reducing pore sizes and congestion, breaks down any makeup you have on your skin and reduce excess sebum (AKA the stuff that causes pimples) and help to loosen the conjunctions between dead skin cells! Can you say game changer?

To use an enzyme powder cleanser, put a nickel size amount of powder into the palm of your hand- then activate it with some warm water. The powder turns into the silkiest smooth foam when you rub your hands together. Then, massage it all over your face (avoiding your eye area) for about 15 to 20 seconds, and then rinse off. Your skin instantly looks brighter and feels so much softer.

As for where this cleanser falls into my routine, I like to do it once or twice a week at night as part of a double cleanse! I’ll use my typical face wash, then follow up with an Enzyme cleanser.

A powder cleanser, like Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser, Skinesque, and the Tatcha Rice Powder Foaming Enzyme Powder, are truly the BEST cleansers to travel with. They’re not made of liquid so you don’t have to worry about them possibly spilling in your bag, and since they’re a powder form, you can just stick the whole bottle into your carryon!

Since these cleansers are in powder form, they have zero water content water whatsoever, so all of the ingredients are totally undiluted. Plus, without any moisture, they have fewer preservatives!

So let’s recap:

1. Gentle exfoliator.
2. Easy to travel with.
3. Fewer preservatives.
4. Unclogs pores and leaves skin smooth.
5. Perfect for combination and sensitive skin

Honestly, what’s not to love? Have you ever used an enzyme powder cleanser? Let me know in the comments below!

PS: check out the widget below to shop all of the products in the post!

Photography by Karla Ticas