INNISFREE Volcanic Calming Pore Clay Mask for acne-prone skin
Volcanic Clay
Madecassoside
Aha
Pha
Lactic AcidAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other cleansing masks fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate pore cleansing for your combination skin, as kaolin and bentonite absorb excess sebum and impurities, while madecassoside provides calming benefits. The formula lacks targeted ingredients to effectively address blemishes and breakouts, which is your main goal.
- The presence of volcanic ash and lactic acid offers gentle exfoliation and seboregulation, contributing to overall skin clarity.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this cleansing mask during your PM weekly routine. Start 1x/week and increase if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this cleansing mask after using your pre-cleanser and cleanser , and before your hydrating toner.
- Spread an even layer of the cleansing mask over your face , avoiding any rubbing to protect your skin.
- Apply the cleansing mask to clean and dry skin to help clear up your blemishes effectively.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsUsers find this mask to be a gentle, creamy option that effectively cleanses pores and soothes sensitive, dry, or acne-prone skin without stripping moisture. While many appreciate its quick application and pore-refining results, some users seeking deeper pore cleansing for stubborn blackheads found it too mild. A few reviewers noted a thinner consistency than expected and wished for a larger product size for the price.
Highlights
Gentle & non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “skin didn't feel stripped”
- “no aggressive cracking”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “hydrating finish”
Creamy texture Often Mentioned
- “glides on like a dream”
- “smooth like butter”
- “soft whipped texture”
- “easy to spread”
Soothing for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “calmed my redness”
- “didn't irritate my acne”
- “safe for sensitive skin”
- “contains madecassoside”
Effective pore maintenance Sometimes Noted
- “pores looked tighter”
- “skin felt softer”
- “removed excess oil”
- “smoothens skin texture”
Quick & convenient Sometimes Noted
- “only takes 5 minutes”
- “washes off easily”
- “great for busy mornings”
- “fast drying”
Too mild for deep cleaning Sometimes Noted
- “results are subtle”
- “didn't clear blackheads”
- “prefer the Super version”
- “too gentle for deep clogs”
Price per volume Rarely Noted
- “finished it quickly”
- “small tube”
- “expensive for amount”
- “wish it was bigger”
Residue Rarely Noted
- “takes time to rinse”
- “left a film”
- “needed a washcloth”
- “clings to hairline”
Runny consistency Rarely Noted
- “a bit watery”
- “comes out too fast”
- “thinner than clay jars”
- “messy tube”
Scent Rarely Noted
- “earthy smell”
- “weird scent”
- “smells like clay”
- “fragrance was off”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, amazon.com, yesstyle.com, oliveyoung.com, adorebeauty.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
How well does INNISFREE Volcanic Calming Pore Clay Mask work for acne-prone skin?
This mask works moderately well for acne-prone skin because clays absorb excess oil and madecassoside calms the skin, though it lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients. A cleansing mask for acne-prone skin needs strong blemish-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or zinc oxide for the best results.
Which ingredients make this clay mask a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Volcanic clay and lactic acid help absorb excess oil and gently exfoliate, while madecassoside calms the skin. Because it lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients, an acne-prone skin type needs a product with ingredients like salicylic acid, zinc oxide, and niacinamide to effectively treat breakouts.
What does Volcanic Clay do for acne-prone skin?
Volcanic clay helps clear acne-prone skin by soaking up excess oil, reducing breakouts, and making skin feel smoother and more even. Using it twice a week is unlikely to cause irritation and can improve hydration while calming the skin.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
What does Madecassoside do for acne-prone skin?
Madecassoside helps acne-prone skin by calming redness, reducing acne breakouts, and repairing the skin barrier to keep it healthy. It may also lower water loss and soothe irritation when used consistently in your routine.
Where does this clay mask go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cleansing mask is used once a week in your weekly evening routine, right after the enzyme powder and before your hydrating toner and moisturizer. Acne-prone skin needs a product of this type that also includes targeted ingredients to effectively address breakouts and blemishes.
Can I use this clay mask with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this clay mask in your weekly routine, but avoid applying it on the same nights you use retinol to lower the risk of skin irritation. Use the mask once a week on a designated mask night before your hydrating toner and moisturizer, keeping your retinol for other evenings.
How often should I use this clay mask?
You can use this cleansing mask once a week as part of your routine. This frequency helps clear pores and absorb excess oil without irritating your skin, though an acne-prone skin type also needs targeted breakout-fighting ingredients for better results.
Can this clay mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This clay mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on acne-prone skin, as it contains gentle clays and soothing ingredients that are safe for your skin. However, because it lacks targeted ingredients to actively stop breakouts, acne-prone skin needs a product with strong blemish-fighting ingredients and deep pore-clearing acids to truly keep pores clear.
Is this clay mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A bentonite-based facial mask with Alcea sulphurea extract combined with oral azithromycin significantly reduced total lesion count and acne severity index while enhancing patient satisfaction in patients with moderate acne compared to placebo plus azithromycin over 8 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Quaternized carboxymethyl chitosan/organic montmorillonite nanocomposite demonstrated superior moisture-adsorption and retention compared to hyaluronic acid, good UV-protection ability, negligible dermal irritation, and prominent moisture-retention efficacy on human stratum corneum when formulated into a cosmetic cream.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 2017Bentonite paste provides complete protection against +RNA viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and improves skin condition when used for dermal sanitization compared to alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 2020A novel water-in-oil emulsion with a lecithin-modified bentonite prevented epidermal degradation and inflammatory protein secretion induced by urban dust and cedar pollen more effectively than a conventional water-in-oil emulsion in a reconstructed human epidermis model.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Bentonite nanoparticles and honey co-administration improved skin wound healing in BALB/c mice by reducing inflammatory cell infiltration and increasing fibroblastosis, new epithelium thickness, granulation area, and collagen density compared to the untreated control group.
The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, 2025Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
Why other cleansing masks fit acne-prone skin better
A 30% supramolecular salicylic acid peel improved the global acne grading score and skin barrier indicators, decreased cutaneous microbiome richness and evenness along with Staphylococcus proportion, reduced inflammatory cytokines, and increased caveolin-1 expression in 28 patients with moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2023A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 45% mandelic acid peel showed nearly equal overall efficacy as 30% salicylic acid peel in patients with mild-to-moderate facial acne vulgaris, but with fewer adverse effects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Glycerin, Bentonite, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, 1,2-Hexanediol, Volcanic Ash, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Onsen-Sui, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Propanediol, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactic Acid Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Gluconolactone, Madecassoside, Lactic Acid, Polyquaternium-10, Tocopherol
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.