Real Barrier Porebium Powder Wash Versus Papa Recipe Blemish Enzyme Powder Cleanser
Updated on April 03, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe . They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants and PHA
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Real Barrier Porebium Powder Wash 19 ingredients
Papa Recipe Blemish Enzyme Powder Cleanser 27 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Real Barrier Porebium Powder Wash 19 ingredients
Papa Recipe Blemish Enzyme Powder Cleanser 27 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Zea Mays Starch
AbsorbentSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Diglycerin
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Papain
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningProtease
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Gluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Glyceryl Glucoside
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea
Skin ConditioningCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Madecassoside
Antioxidant
Zea Mays Starch, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Diglycerin, Allantoin, Maltodextrin, Papain, Water, Protease, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gluconolactone, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Glyceryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide Mea, Ceramide NP, Madecassoside
Zea Mays Starch
AbsorbentSodium Cocoyl Isethionate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Glutamate
Sodium Palmitate
CleansingDiglycerin
Humectant
Juglans Regia Shell Powder
Abrasive
Oryza Sativa Powder
Citric Acid
Buffering
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentTricholoma Matsutake Extract
Skin ConditioningAngelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Skin Conditioning
Arbutin
Antioxidant
Rice Ferment Filtrate
Skin Conditioning
Gossypium Herbaceum Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobionic Acid
Buffering
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Papain
Skin ConditioningWater
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Parfum
Masking
Zea Mays Starch, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Palmitate, Diglycerin, Juglans Regia Shell Powder, Oryza Sativa Powder, Citric Acid, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Arbutin, Rice Ferment Filtrate, Gossypium Herbaceum Extract, Lactobionic Acid, Allantoin, Maltodextrin, Papain, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Zea Mays Starch is starch made from corn. You might know this as cornstarch . It is used to thicken a product. It can replace talc as an absorbent.
The pH of cornstarch is 5.92.
Cornstarch is a common food ingredient used to thicken soups or to make corn syrup.
Learn more about Zea Mays StarchSodium cocoyl isethionate is a natural ingredient from coconut oil. It is an ultra gentle cleanser that gives a nice foam without drying the skin or impacting the skin barrier.
The amount of foam created depends on the amount of sodium cocoyl isethionate used in the product.
This ingredient also helps improve the spreadability of a product.
Learn more about Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateSodium Lauroyl Glutamate is the sodium salt from the lauric acid of glutamic acid.
It is a surfactant and helps cleanse the skin. Surfactants gather oil, dirt, and other pollutants from your skin so they may be washed away easily.
Diglycerin is a humectant. It is derived from glycerin, which is naturally found in your skin.
As a humectant, it helps draw moisture to the skin from the air.
Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.
Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.
Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Learn more about AllantoinMaltodextrin is a polysaccharide. It is derived from starch such as rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch.
In food, Maltodextrin is used to improve the texture and thicken a product. Due to its structure, it can help create a gel texture. As an emulsion stabilizer, it helps keep the ingredients in a product together.
As a polysaccharide, Maltodextrin has moisturizing properties. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate. The top layer of skin uses polysaccharides to retain water, keeping the skin hydrated.
Maltodextrin is water soluble and has a sweet taste.
Learn more about MaltodextrinPapain is an enzyme found naturally in the papaya plant's leaves, fruit, and roots. It has antimicrobial, soothing, and wound healing properties.
Glycine and Vitamin A are naturally found in papain.
While papain is often touted as skin-lightening, further studies are needed to prove this. However, papain has been shown to help soothe acne-inflammation.
Papain belongs to a class of enzymes called proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes break down peptides and amino acids.
Some studies found papain to be a potential skin sensitizer and allergen. Those with latex allergies might also be allergic to papaya.
Learn more about PapainWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Real Barrier Porebium Powder Wash 19 ingredients
Papa Recipe Blemish Enzyme Powder Cleanser 27 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Real Barrier Porebium Powder Wash 19 ingredients
Papa Recipe Blemish Enzyme Powder Cleanser 27 ingredients
Cons: Anxiety over getting moisture in the bottle and ruin the entire stash. Although I did depot/transfer a bit to 20mL bottles for convenience.
Pros: Skin is really smooth and plump after every use. Reminds me of COSRX's salicylic acid but without the skin tightness and dryness. The beads are course, but not abrasive (or at least it doesn't feel like it). In my head, it's more portable than Show more
