Ingredient glossary
Bromelain
On your shelf ✓What Bromelain does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Bromelain · Also: Pineapple Enzyme
In short: Bromelain delivers enzymatic exfoliation and anti inflammatory, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is limited. One thing to know: clear it with your doctor if pregnant; introduce it gently.
- What it does
- Enzymatic exfoliation, anti inflammatory
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Watch out
- Clear it with your doctor if pregnant; introduce it gently
- Evidence
- Limited
The Glow take
Nice to have, and nothing to overthink.
Bromelain plays a quiet supporting role, rounding out a formula rather than being the reason you buy it.
— Maya
What it does
- enzymatic exfoliation
- anti inflammatory
weak evidenceExisting studies of bromelain peels and topical use focus on general wound and inflammation models with only small cosmetic trials reporting smoother texture and reduced erythema compared with placebo.
On a label: usually effective at 0.1-1%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- normal
- oily
- combo
Approach with care
- very sensitive
- rosacea
- compromised barrier
- pineapple allergy
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskModerate
- Allergen originComes from pineapple
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationSuits
- OilySuits
- SensitiveTake care
Take extra care if any of these apply to you: rosacea, compromised barrier, pineapple allergy.
Where it fits in your routine
Nobody has measured whether Bromelain changes how your skin handles sun.
Same position as papain: protease-driven desquamation is a plausible mechanism, but no published work measures UV sensitivity after bromelain use, so nothing sources this either way. The previous basis asserted what specific cosmetic trials measured; that claim could not be verified and has been removed.
Plays well with
- humectants
- soothing agents
Bromelain, answered
Is Bromelain safe during pregnancy?
Clear it with your doctor first. Bromelain is flagged as use-with-caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so check with your doctor or midwife before adding it.
Who should avoid Bromelain?
Approach Bromelain with care if any of these apply to you: very sensitive, rosacea, compromised barrier, and pineapple allergy. Its irritation risk is moderate, so introduce it slowly and patch test first.
What concentration of Bromelain actually works?
Bromelain tends to do its job in the 0.1 to 1% range. Much lower and it is likely underdosed.
During pregnancy
Treat Bromelain as a maybe rather than a yes for now. It is flagged as one to use with caution while pregnant or breastfeeding, so it is worth clearing before you carry on.
When in doubt, check with your doctor or midwife. They outrank any website, including this one.When it is worth booking →
Compare Bromelain with
Can you mix Bromelain with
- Retinol
- Salicylic acid (BHA)
- Lactic acid
- Glycolic acid
- Retinal
- Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
- Retinyl Palmitate
- Retinyl Acetate
- Retinyl Propionate
- Retinyl Retinoate
- Tretinoin
- Adapalene
- Mandelic Acid
- Gluconolactone
- Lactobionic Acid
- Phytic Acid
- Citric Acid
- Willow Bark Extract
- Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
- Papain
- Ammonium lactate
- Sponge spicules
- Betaine Salicylate
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