Neutrogena Deep Clean Purifying Clay Cleanser/Mask for combination skin
Salicylic Acid
Kaolin
Bentonite
Glycerin
Glycolic AcidAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for combination skin; other cleansing masks fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 exfoliation for your combination skin, as salicylic acid and glycolic acid work to clear pores and absorb excess oil with kaolin and bentonite clays. Panthenol provides a soothing effect, helping to calm the skin.
- The cleansing action is effective for oily shine, though the formula is not specifically targeted to significantly reduce oiliness.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no harsh ingredients and a good balance of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use this cleansing mask during your PM routine once a week to control oil. Start slowly 3 times a week and increase if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply the cleansing mask after the cleansing step and before using your hydrating toner. This ensures it works effectively on your skin.
- Spread an even layer over your face using gentle motions. Avoid any harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the mask to clean and slightly damp skin for the best results. This helps the product target oily shine efficiently.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a simple patch test before your very first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and acne-prone skin frequently praise this 2-in-1 cleanser and mask for its deep pore cleansing and breakout reduction capabilities. A moderate number of users appreciate the refreshing cooling sensation and acne-fighting properties, with some noting it softens skin texture. Conversely, a low to moderate number of users with sensitive skin report irritation, burning, and dryness, while a moderate number find the scent overpowering and a low number experience difficulty rinsing or report it caused breakouts.
Highlights
Effective deep cleaning Mostly Mentioned
- “removes oil”
- “unclogs pores”
- “feels fresh”
Versatile 2-in-1 Often Mentioned
- “convenient”
- “time-saving”
- “multi-use”
Helps with acne Sometimes Noted
- “reduces breakouts”
- “clears congestion”
- “treats body acne”
Refreshing cooling Sometimes Noted
- “tingly feel”
- “wakes up skin”
- “menthol effect”
Softens skin Sometimes Noted
- “smooth finish”
- “healthy look”
- “non-stripping”
Drying/Stripping Sometimes Noted
- “dry patches”
- “tight skin”
- “requires heavy moisturizer”
Skin irritation Sometimes Noted
- “chemical burns”
- “stinging”
- “redness”
- “sensitive skin reaction”
Strong scent Sometimes Noted
- “menthol smell”
- “overpowering fragrance”
- “chemical odor”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “purging”
- “cystic flare-ups”
- “bad reaction”
Difficult to rinse Rarely Noted
- “residue left”
- “requires scrubbing”
- “messy removal”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, neutrogena.com, beautycrew.com.au, woolworths.com.au, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Neutrogena Purifying Clay Cleanser/Mask work for combination skin?
This cleanser works reasonably well for combination skin by offering moderate exfoliation and absorbing excess oil, though other products fit this skin type better. A product of this type needs powerful exfoliating and oil-controlling ingredients paired with balancing hydration to effectively manage both oily and dry areas without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Salicylic acid and glycolic acid make this cleanser a good fit by clearing pores, while kaolin and bentonite clays absorb excess oil, and panthenol helps to calm the skin. To work best for combination skin, a product of this type needs a balanced blend of exfoliating acids, soothing components, and hydrating ingredients to manage oily shine without drying out the skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
What does Salicylic Acid do for combination skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear clogged pores and balance oily areas while remaining gentle enough for dry spots on combination skin. It reduces breakouts and oiliness effectively with a low likelihood of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
What does Kaolin Clay do for combination skin?
Kaolin clay helps absorb excess oil in oily areas while keeping dry patches comfortable and calm. This gentle mineral ingredient is unlikely to irritate sensitive combination skin.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleansing mask fits into a combination skin routine as a weekly step used after a regular cleanser and enzyme powder, followed by a hydrating toner, treatment, and moisturizer. Products of this type need a balance of exfoliating acids and clays like kaolin and bentonite to clear pores and absorb excess oil, alongside soothing ingredients like panthenol to keep the skin calm.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this mask in your weekly routine, but it is best to avoid using it on the same nights you apply retinol to prevent excess irritation. This type of product needs gentle exfoliating acids and calming ingredients like panthenol to keep combination skin balanced without drying it out.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleansing mask once a week as part of your weekly routine. A product of this type needs exfoliating acids like salicylic and glycolic acid alongside soothing ingredients like panthenol to properly clear pores and calm combination skin.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores, as it uses kaolin and bentonite clays along with salicylic and glycolic acids to clear pores and absorb excess oil. However, because it can be drying for some people, combination skin needs a gentle, hydrating cleanser with ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to keep the skin balanced.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017A 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, 2025A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A 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 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Vectorization of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid with clay enabled its penetration into deeper skin layers and led to a significant clinical reduction in fine lines in the crow's feet area compared to placebo after 28 days.
Skin Research and Technology, 2024Twice-weekly use of a clay mask over 4 weeks in 75 adults with oily or combination skin improved acne-related outcomes, sebum content, skin evenness, hydration, and reduced dryness and irritation.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Quaternized 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, 2017A 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, 2025A 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, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Kaolin, Bentonite, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Trideceth-9, Peg-5 Ethylhexanoate, Xanthan Gum, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, Menthyl Lactate, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Disodium Edta, Titanium Dioxide, Green 3
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
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