Dermaquest Essential Cleanser is a gentle yet effective gel cleanser that cleans and purifies the skin without stripping any moisture. It does contain a small amount of papaya and pineapple enzymes, which will give your skin a super mild exfoliation to dissolve dead skin cells/promote a brighter, smoother complexion etc. However, it's soooo gentle don't think of it as an exfoliating step. It's actually super soothing and contains aloe vera as a base, so this is a great cleanser for even the most sensitive skin and the additional sodium hyaluronate will help maintain optimal moisture levels too. This is a daily cleanser that will effectively remove impurities, excess oil, and is especially great @ anyone who wears a lot of makeup. It will leave your skin feeling clean, soft, and balanced and is perfect for most skin types.