papain

papain

AKA “Papaya protease, caricain”

Synthetic

Ingredient Facts

papain

AKA: Papaya protease, Caricain

Synthetic · Antistatic · EWG: 2

Synthetic

Skin Conditioner

Hair Care

Enzyme

Synthetic

Clean

Papain is a natural enzyme that gently exfoliates skin and smooths the hair cuticle, leaving both softer and more conditioned.

CAS #

9001-73-4

Form

Powder

See origin →

Functions

Antistatic

Hair Conditioning

A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.

Skin Conditioning

A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.

Locks in moisture

Traditional Use

Extracted from papaya plants used in tropical medicine systems. Papain was identified as a protein-digesting enzyme in the 19th century and adopted by the cosmetics industry in the mid-20th century as a natural exfoliant alternative to synthetic options.