Dr. Dennis Gross DRx Blemish Solutions Clarifying Mask for oily skin
Colloidal Sulfur
Retinol
Licorice Root Extract
Zinc Oxide
Willow Bark ExtractHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few cleansing masks fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin due to the presence of sulfur and zinc oxide for their seboregulation and anti-inflammatory actions, with kaolin and sulfur effectively absorbing excess oil and decongesting pores.
- Willow bark extract offers mild exfoliation to further support your goal of reducing oily shine.
- The formula is safe for your skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like Bisabolol and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, and lacks harsh or prohibited substances.
How to apply
- Use this cleansing mask PM as part of your weekly routine, starting 1×/week and working up if tolerated.
- Apply this cleansing mask after your cleanser and enzyme powder, and before applying your hydrating toner.
- Smooth an even layer over your face using clean fingers, avoiding harsh rubbing.
- Apply this cleansing mask on clean, dry skin to help control excess oil effectively.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always do a patch test before your first use.
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
What makes DRx Blemish Solutions Clarifying Mask a great fit for oily skin?
This mask is a great fit for oily skin because sulfur and zinc oxide help control extra oil while kaolin soaks up shine and clears out pores. Willow bark extract gently sweeps away dead skin cells to keep your face looking fresh, and soothing ingredients like aloe vera help keep your skin calm.
Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for oily skin?
This mask is a great fit for oily skin because sulfur, zinc oxide, and kaolin help absorb extra oil and clear out pores. Willow bark extract also provides mild exfoliation to help reduce shiny skin.
What does Sulfur do for oily skin?
Sulfur helps manage oily skin by gently clearing away excess oil and calming redness with a very low chance of skin irritation. This type of skin needs ingredients that control oil and soothe without clogging pores.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2004Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1988
What does Retinol do for oily skin?
Retinol helps oily skin by keeping pores clear and balancing sebum production, which may reduce shine and breakouts. Because it can sometimes cause dryness or peeling in the beginning, starting slowly is recommended.
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleansing mask goes in your weekly routine after a cleanser and an enzyme powder, and before your hydrating toner. It helps soak up extra oil and clear out pores using sulfur, zinc oxide, and willow bark extract.
Can I use this mask with benzoyl peroxide, and in what order?
It is best to use this mask on separate days from benzoyl peroxide treatments to help prevent excessive dryness and irritation on oily skin. Using strong drying ingredients together can sometimes lead to redness and peeling, so spacing them out keeps your skin calm and balanced.
How often should I use this mask?
This cleansing mask fits into your weekly routine once a week as part of your weekly steps. Using it this often helps clear out pores and soak up extra oil while keeping your skin calm.
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it uses sulfur, zinc oxide, and kaolin to absorb excess oil and keep pores clear. Willow bark extract also provides mild exfoliation to help prevent clogged pores and reduce oily shine.
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
Biomimetic hyaluronic acid-stabilized zinc oxide nanoparticles selectively inhibited C. acnes, outperformed erythromycin in preclinical acne models, and safely reduced acne lesions and redness in a clinical trial.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2025A 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, 2019Azelaic 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, 2016Bioactive 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, 2010A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
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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