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papain
AKA “Papaya protease, caricain”
Skin Conditioning
Ingredient Facts
papain
AKA: Papaya protease, Caricain
Skin Conditioning · Antistatic · EWG: 2
Synthetic
Skin Conditioner
Hair Care
Enzyme
Clean
Papain
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.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types, gentle
Best For
Uneven Texture
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
EWG
2
CIR
Insufficient
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
ewg-2
pregnancy-nursing-safe
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USAunder review
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR