Peter Thomas Roth Therapeutic Sulfur Mask for skin with dark spots
Sulfur
Kaolin Clay
Bentonite Clay
Soothing AloeAverage
- 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 normal skin due to the presence of glycerin with humectant action, but lacks sufficient emollient ingredients for optimal results.
- The sulfur and zinc oxide provide excellent pore cleansing for acne-prone skin, reducing lesions and blemishes, though these functionalities are not directly relevant to your main goal of pigmentation.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your normal skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis mask is highly praised for its ability to rapidly clear cystic and hormonal acne, absorb excess oil, and reduce redness. While users consistently report significant improvements in skin clarity and texture, many caution that the product can be quite drying and has a potent, lingering sulfur scent.
Highlights
Effective acne treatment Mostly Mentioned
- “cleared up my cystic acne”
- “sucks the gunk out”
- “best sulfur acne mask I've ever used”
- “prevented future breakouts”
Unpleasant smell Mostly Mentioned
- “smells horrific”
- “smell did get pretty bad”
- “towels will smell like sulfur”
- “rotten egg smell”
Oil and pore control Often Mentioned
- “great for oilier skin”
- “decreases oiliness”
- “pores look cleaner”
- “absorbs excess oil”
Drying and irritating Often Mentioned
- “can be drying”
- “irritates eyes”
- “caused peeling”
- “burning sensation”
Fast acting Sometimes Noted
- “visible results overnight”
- “dries pimples quickly”
- “works as intended fast”
- “great spot treatment”
Good value Sometimes Noted
- “container lasts forever”
- “a little dab does the job”
- “worth the investment”
- “lasts about 2 years”
Smooth application Sometimes Noted
- “goes on smoothly”
- “silky texture”
- “washes off quickly”
- “nice cooling sensation”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “taken aback by the price”
- “bit pricey”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Packaging concerns Rarely Noted
- “wish it came in sustainable packaging”
- “jar packaging”
- “prefer tube”
Sensitizing Rarely Noted
- “feels a little tingly”
- “burning sensation”
- “too strong for daily use”
- “irritating on large areas”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, influenster.com, walmart.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Peter Thomas Roth Therapeutic Sulfur Mask work for skin with dark spots?
Peter Thomas Roth Therapeutic Sulfur Mask works for skin with dark spots only moderately, as its ingredients target pores rather than pigmentation. To fit this skin well, a product of this type needs effective exfoliating and brightening ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.
Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for skin with dark spots?
This mask works for skin with dark spots, though other products fit it better because its main ingredients focus on cleansing pores rather than brightening. To best target dark spots, a product of this type needs effective exfoliating ingredients that promote a brighter complexion, along with beneficial components 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 Kaolin Clay do for skin with dark spots?
Kaolin clay helps gently absorb excess oil and clear out pores without drying out the skin, which makes it a useful step for managing skin with dark spots. By lifting away impurities, it helps brighten the overall look of the face and allows other targeted treatments to absorb better. To truly fade dark spots and even out skin tone, products of this type need to be paired with brightening ingredients like vitamin C or exfoliating acids.
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This mask works for skin with dark spots as an average fit, though other products fit it better. To properly address dark spots, a product of this type needs skin-brightening active ingredients and rich softening ingredients.
Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this mask alongside retinol, but apply it at a different time of day or on alternate days to keep your skin calm and avoid excessive dryness. This product needs nourishing ingredients and rich softeners to maintain moisture balance when paired with strong treatments like retinol.
How often should I use this mask?
This cleansing mask works for skin with dark spots, though other products fit it better and this skin needs nourishing ingredients and brightening actives for optimal results. It is unlikely to irritate normal skin, but since it is an average fit, you should use it just once a week to see how your skin reacts.
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 your skin, as sulfur and zinc oxide provide deep pore cleansing. However, because it can be drying, skin with dark spots needs added hydrating ingredients and softening agents to keep it smooth and balanced.
Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
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, 2017Biomimetic 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, 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, 2025Azelaic 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, 1966Vectorization 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 cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010
Ingredients
Sulfur, Water, Bentonite, Kaolin, Propylene Glycol, Talc, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Zinc Oxide, Polysorbate 20, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Carbomer, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
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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