Clinique Acne Solutions Oil-Control Cleansing Mask for dry sensitive skin
Salicylic Acid
Kaolin
Aloe Barbadensis Powder
Acetyl Glucosamine
Gentiana Lutea Root ExtractCaution
- CautionDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry sensitive skin; the cleansing masks alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry and sensitive skin due to salicylic acid and kaolin, which help cleanse pores and provide mild renewal, but may strip natural oils.
- While the formula contains soothing ingredients like chamomile and aloe, the presence of kaolin and salicylic acid makes it less suitable for your dry skin type.
How to apply
- Use your cleansing mask PM once a week as part of your weekly routine, and increase to twice a week if your dry skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the cleansing mask after cleansing and enzyme powder, but before your hydrating toner, serum, and moisturizer.
- Smooth an even layer of the cleansing mask over your face while gently avoiding any unnecessary rubbing.
- Apply the cleansing mask to clean and dry skin to ensure better comfort for your sensitive skin type.
- Always avoid the eye area and do a patch test before using the cleansing mask for the first time.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsThis clay-based mask is frequently praised for its ability to dry out active breakouts and unclog pores, leading to smoother, clearer skin and excellent oil control for users with oily and acne-prone skin. A minority of users report it can be drying or irritating if left on too long.
Highlights
Clears acne & blemishes Mostly Mentioned
- “dried out pimples”
- “cleared blemishes”
- “reduces spots”
- “stops breakouts”
Controls oil & shine Often Mentioned
- “keeps skin shine-free”
- “mattifies oily skin”
- “removes excess oil”
- “less greasy”
Deep cleans pores Often Mentioned
- “unclogs pores”
- “pores look smaller”
- “deep clean feeling”
- “blackheads reduced”
Fast-acting treatment Sometimes Noted
- “works in 5 mins”
- “overnight spot treatment”
- “quick results”
- “fast drying”
Smooths & softens skin Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels smooth”
- “baby soft”
- “texture improved”
- “softer complexion”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “dried my skin”
- “flaky patches”
- “too harsh”
- “tight feeling”
Hard to remove Rarely Noted
- “hard to wash off”
- “scrubbing required”
- “stuck to skin”
- “messy removal”
Ineffective for some Rarely Noted
- “did nothing”
- “saw no difference”
- “breakouts continued”
- “waste of money”
Pricey for size Rarely Noted
- “expensive”
- “small tube”
- “pricey”
- “not enough product”
Strong chemical smell Rarely Noted
- “smells like paint”
- “strong scent”
- “chemical odor”
- “unpleasant smell”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, macys.com, boots.com, clinique.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Mask for dry sensitive skin?
This cleansing mask offers moderate exfoliation with salicylic acid and kaolin that may strip natural oils from dry and sensitive skin. While it includes soothing ingredients like chamomile and aloe, a product for this skin type needs hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture and health.
Which ingredients make this mask a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid and kaolin make this mask a poor fit because they may strip natural oils from dry skin. A cleansing mask for dry sensitive skin needs hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture and health.
What does Salicylic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid is generally a poor fit for dry, sensitive skin because it is designed to clear out pores by removing excess oil, which can easily leave dry skin irritated. A product of this type needs gentle exfoliating helpers paired with rich, soothing moisturizers and barrier-repairing ingredients to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.
What does Kaolin Clay do for dry sensitive skin?
Kaolin clay is a poor fit for dry sensitive skin because it absorbs natural oils and can worsen dryness and irritation. A product of this type needs soothing, hydrating ingredients and a gentle formula to protect dry and delicate skin.
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This cleansing mask is a poor match for dry and sensitive skin, as its ingredients like salicylic acid and kaolin may strip natural oils and cause irritation. A product of this type for this skin needs gentle, nourishing ingredients and soothing components to keep the skin calm and hydrated without stripping its natural barrier.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You should not use this cleansing mask with retinol on dry sensitive skin because the salicylic acid and kaolin may strip your natural oils and cause severe irritation. A product of this type needs gentle, hydrating ingredients and nourishing plant oils to keep your skin soft and calm.
How often should I use it?
This cleansing mask may strip natural oils from dry sensitive skin, so use it very rarely or look for a nourishing mask with gentle, hydrating ingredients instead.
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This mask is unlikely to clog pores since it contains salicylic acid and kaolin, which help clear them out, but it may dry out dry sensitive skin and cause irritation. A product for this skin needs gentle, hydrating ingredients that clean without stripping natural oils.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Cryotherapy 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, 2012A 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, 2010Topical 2% N-acetyl glucosamine reduced facial hyperpigmentation in an 8-week split-face clinical test, with an even greater effect observed when combined with 4% niacinamide.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007N-acetyl-glucosamine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers successfully delivered the hydrophilic agent through the skin and reduced melanin distribution in healthy volunteers.
Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2016Topical cosmetic products containing hyaluronic acid, N-acetyl glucosamine, and gamma-amino butyric acid improved skin hydration by 24.28% to 33.60%, elasticity by 11.98%, and skin lightening by 5.26% over 2 months in 20 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2019Gentiana lutea extract increases lipid synthesis and triglyceride levels in human primary keratinocytes in vitro via p38 MAPK and PPARgamma signaling, and significantly increases skin lipid content in a proof-of-concept trial of 33 volunteers compared to placebo.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017Topical application of Gentiana lutea extract reduced average roughness, relief of the upper eyelid skin, and redness of dark circles in 22 subjects after 14 days compared to placebo.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Sucrose, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Algae Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Powder, Acetyl Glucosamine, Inulin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Salicylic Acid
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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