Dr. Dennis Gross DRx Blemish Solutions Clarifying Mask for skin with dark spots
Colloidal Sulfur
Retinol
Licorice Root Extract
Zinc Oxide
Willow Bark ExtractAverage
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other cleansing masks fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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 suitability for your normal skin, as glycerin and kaolin provide humectant and mild oil-absorbing actions, but it lacks sufficient emollients for optimal hydration.
- The mask provides excellent pore cleansing with sulfur and kaolin to absorb excess oil and impurities, which is beneficial for general skin health.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, with soothing ingredients like Bisabolol and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and no harsh components.
How to apply
- Use this cleansing mask once a week to start, and increase frequency only if your skin feels fine.
- Apply the cleansing mask in your weekly routine after the cleanser and enzyme powder, but before the hydrating toner.
- Spread an even layer over your face while carefully avoiding the delicate eye area.
- Apply the cleansing mask to clean and dry skin for the best and most comfortable results.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid combining it with strong acids.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, users with acne-prone and oily skin report that this sulfur-based mask effectively calms redness, reduces cystic flare-ups, and minimizes pores without over-drying the skin. While many appreciate its versatility as both an overnight spot treatment and a mattifying primer under makeup, some users experienced pilling or difficulty with the thick texture.
Highlights
Reduces acne Often Mentioned
- “Calms cystic flare-ups”
- “clears hormonal acne”
- “diminishes inflammation”
Versatile application Often Mentioned
- “Works as overnight mask”
- “spot treatment”
- “makeup primer”
Minimizes pores Sometimes Noted
- “Pores appear smaller”
- “smooths skin texture”
- “mattifies oily zones”
Non-drying formula Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves skin soft”
- “balances oil”
- “does not strip moisture”
Texture and pilling Sometimes Noted
- “Pills under makeup”
- “hard to spread”
- “thick consistency”
Adverse reactions Rarely Noted
- “Caused breakouts”
- “irritated sensitive skin”
- “did not work for everyone”
Application difficulty Rarely Noted
- “Dries too fast”
- “difficult to layer”
- “requires quick application”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump malfunctions”
- “hard to get product out”
- “requires unscrewing top”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lookfantastic.com, lovelyskin.com, sephora.sg, and more
Questions and answers
How well does DRx Blemish Solutions Clarifying Mask work for skin with dark spots?
This cleansing mask works reasonably well for skin with dark spots, though other products fit it better. A cleansing mask for this skin needs effective exfoliating ingredients that brighten the complexion, alongside hydrating ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture and improve texture.
Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Retinol and licorice root extract help address dark spots on this skin. However, this mask is only an average fit because it lacks sufficient softeners to keep skin hydrated, which products that fit this skin better typically provide through ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.
What does Sulfur do for skin with dark spots?
Sulfur is unlikely to help fade dark spots on its own, but certain sulfur compounds may improve skin pigmentation and dark patches. To effectively address dark spots, this skin type needs ingredients that target discoloration and even out skin tone.
What does Retinol do for skin with dark spots?
Retinol helps fade dark spots and uneven pigmentation while smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles. It works by boosting skin renewal, though it may occasionally cause mild scaling or stinging when first starting out.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2016
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This cleansing mask fits into a weekly routine as a nourishing mask step, though products for skin with dark spots need more hydrating softeners to reach their full potential.
Can I use this mask with benzoyl peroxide, and in what order?
It is unlikely to be a good idea to use this mask with benzoyl peroxide, as combining them may cause excessive dryness and irritation on your skin. A product of this type needs rich, nourishing hydrators and gentle soothing ingredients to keep skin soft and calm while treating dark spots.
How often should I use this mask?
This cleansing mask works for skin with dark spots, though other products fit it better and it lacks enough smoothing hydrators for optimal moisture. To improve dark spots, a product of this type needs brightening ingredients like licorice root extract and gentle exfoliants along with rich softeners to keep the skin comfortable.
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for skin with dark spots, as it uses sulfur and kaolin to absorb excess oil and impurities. However, because it is only an average fit for this skin, a product of this type needs richer hydrating ingredients to keep the skin fully balanced and moisturized.
Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (farnesol). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A 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, 2017Azelaic acid was probably less effective than benzoyl peroxide in acne treatment response, while showing little or no difference compared to tretinoin, and adverse events were mild and transient across evaluated topical treatments.
Journal of Evidence-based Medicine, 2020Topical application of precipitated sulphur 2-8% petrolatum achieved a 95% clinical and ectoparasitological cure rate in 40 ambulatory scabies patients without relevant adverse effects.
Revista de Investigacion Clinica; Organo Del Hospital de Enfermedades de la Nutricion, 2004Topical 10% benzoyl peroxide and 2%-5% sulfur cream achieved "good" to "excellent" results with no undesirable side effects in 113 consecutive patients with acne.
Canadian Medical Association Journal, 1966Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025Topical 0.5% hyaluronic-ZnO nanogel applied twice daily reduced inflammatory-lesion counts by 58% at week four in human subjects compared to baseline without causing erythema.
Biomedicines, 2025Nels cream achieved a similar reduction in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesion counts compared to 5% benzoyl peroxide in acne vulgaris patients, but caused significantly fewer side-effects such as peeling and dryness.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2000Topically applied coated and uncoated zinc oxide nanoparticles under flexing and massage are retained in the stratum corneum with no significant penetration into the viable epidermis and no cellular toxicity in human skin.
Nanomedicine, 2016A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
Ingredients
Sulfur, Water, Kaolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Zinc Oxide, Bentonite, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Farnesol, Opuntia Tuna Stem Extract Flower, Willow Bark Extract, Bisabolol, Retinol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Sodium Pca, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil Leaf Rosemary Oil Leaf, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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