June Jacobs Honey Enzyme Cleanser: Does It Really Exfoliate?

Ingredient Science
This gentle foaming cleanser uses pineapple and papaya enzymes to dissolve dead skin without a single gritty bead — but does it outperform acid washes?
Expert Analysis · Honest Reviews · Real Results
🍯 **You Can Eat This Cleanser**

I lathered this up expecting basic bougie foam. What I got was a face wash that smells like a honey jar fell into a fruit salad — and somehow exfoliates without a single scrubby bead.

The real flex? June Jacobs uses fruit enzymes (pineapple + papaya) to dissolve dead skin while you wash. No grit. No wait time. Just foam that eats away flakes.

🧪 **What You’re Actually Paying For**

$42 for 6.7 oz. Not cheap. Not insane. The claim that got me: “gentle enough for daily enzymatic exfoliation.” Most enzyme cleansers are too weak to matter. This one actually does something.

1. **Honey base** — Lathers creamy, not stripping. No sudsy tightness after rinse.
2. **Pineapple enzyme** — Bromelain. Breaks down keratin plugs (the stuff that makes texture).
3. **Papaya enzyme** — Papain. Gentler cousin of bromelain. Works on surface dead skin.

🔬 **The Ingredient Hit Squad**

Four active players. No filler fluff. The pineapple and papaya are the headliners — they literally digest dead protein cells. The honey? It’s not just for smell. It keeps pH balanced so enzymes don’t go rogue.

  • Bromelain: Dissolves clogged pore debris without irritation
  • Papain: Lightly peels top layer of dead cells
  • Honey: pH buffer + humectant (holds moisture in)
  • Aloe: Anti-inflammatory so your face doesn’t freak out

🍍 **How It Feels To Use**

Squeeze out a honey-gold gel. Add water — it foams like a light meringue. Not fluffy. Not flat. In between. The smell is aggressively natural — like a farmer’s market honey stick.

Week 2: My nose texture is… gone? Not all of it. But the little sebaceous filaments that usually need a scrub? Smoothed out. One surprise — it stung slightly around my nostrils the first time. Only the first time.

💡 **One Thing** — Leave it on for 45 seconds before rinsing. The enzymes need contact time to work. Lather and instantly wash off = wasted $42.

✨ **Did It Actually Work?**

Yes. My skin looks like I used a light acid toner — but without the redness. The flakes around my chin disappeared by day 4. My pores didn’t shrink (they never do), but they look cleaner. Not a peel. Just a smoother baseline.

Buy if
You want daily exfoliation without acids. Dry, sensitive, or retinized skin — this won’t burn you.
⏭️

Skip if
You need heavy-duty resurfacing. This won’t touch deep acne scars or hard texture.
💰

Worth it?
Yes — if you replace your current cleanser + exfoliant. It’s two steps in one bottle.

📋 **Final Call**

This is the cleanser for people who want exfoliation without the anxiety of acids. It works slowly, consistently, and doesn’t punish you for using it daily.

8.2/10
Gentle enough daily, actually exfoliates

💡 **Where to Buy** — Direct from June Jacobs or Dermstore. Grab the travel size first ($18) — you’ll know by week 1 if it’s for you.