Dermalogica Clear Start Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask for skin with dark spots

Sulfur
Kaolin
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Zingiber Officinale Oil Root
Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf
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- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A weak match for skin with dark spots; the cleansing masks alongside fit it better.
- Journal of Evidence-based Medicine, 2020
- Revista de Investigacion Clinica; Organo Del Hospital de Enfermedades de la Nutricion, 2004
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 exfoliation for your normal skin due to the presence of sulfur and kaolin, which help to absorb excess oil and reduce inflammation, though it may not fully address your main goal of pigmentation.
- The inclusion of various botanical oils like rosemary and eucalyptus offers some antioxidant benefits, but their concentration may not be sufficient for significant pigmentation improvement.
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
★4.3Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviewsThis mask is widely praised by users with oily and acne-prone skin for its unique fizzing sensation that makes the skin feel actively cleaned and decongested. While many users report softer skin and reduced blackhead visibility after use, results on deep blackhead removal vary, with some finding it more effective as a pore-softening prep step rather than a complete extraction solution. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Softens and smooths skin Mostly Mentioned
- “left my skin feeling incredibly soft and smooth”
- “face feels super clean without being stripped”
- “texture of my skin improved immediately after rinsing”
Unique fizzing sensation Often Mentioned
- “fizzing action feels like it's working deep in pores”
- “bubbles popping on my face is a fun experience”
- “love the tingly sensation as it activates”
Packaging issues Often Mentioned
- “pump stopped working halfway through the bottle”
- “hard to get the last bit of product out”
- “bottle design makes it difficult to dispense”
Helps clear pores Sometimes Noted
- “noticed a reduction in blackheads on my nose”
- “pores looked visibly smaller and tighter”
- “great for clearing out congestion in t-zone”
Non-drying formula Sometimes Noted
- “didn't leave my face feeling tight or dry like other clay masks”
- “gentle enough for my sensitive skin”
- “hydrating despite being a clearing mask”
Quick and easy to use Sometimes Noted
- “works in just 3-5 minutes which is great”
- “easy to apply and rinse off quickly”
- “perfect for a quick morning skin refresh”
Lack of deep extraction Sometimes Noted
- “didn't clear my blackheads as much as I hoped”
- “fun to use but didn't see a difference in my pores”
- “blackheads were still there after multiple uses”
Price per value Sometimes Noted
- “bottle didn't last very long for the price”
- “expensive for the amount of product you get”
- “ran out much faster than my other masks”
Unpleasant smell Sometimes Noted
- “has a distinct sulfur smell that lingers”
- “smells a bit like rotten eggs due to the sulfur”
- “medicinal scent is quite strong”
Sensation discomfort Rarely Noted
- “fizzing sensation was too ticklish and itchy for me”
- “felt a bit irritating on my sensitive areas”
- “couldn't wait to wash it off because of the tickle”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is the Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask a weak match for skin with dark spots?
This mask is a weak match because, while its sulfur and kaolin help absorb excess oil and reduce inflammation, it may not fully address your dark spots. A cleansing mask for this skin needs effective brightening ingredients and gentle exfoliants that promote a brighter complexion.
Which ingredients make this mask a poor fit for skin with dark spots?
This mask is a weak match for dark spots because its sulfur and kaolin focus more on absorbing oil and reducing inflammation than fading dark spots, and its botanical oils may not be concentrated enough to improve pigmentation. A cleansing mask for dark spots needs effective exfoliating and brightening ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and exfoliating acids to brighten your complexion and improve texture without irritation.
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 cleansing mask is a weak match for your skin with dark spots because it mainly absorbs excess oil and reduces inflammation rather than fading dark spots. To properly address dark spots, this skin type needs targeted brightening ingredients and gentle exfoliants that help even out skin tone.
Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?
Using this mask with retinol may easily irritate your skin because both ingredients actively peel and dry the surface. To avoid redness and peeling, use them on different days rather than together in the same routine. Skin with dark spots trying to fade marks needs gentle brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide along with soothing hydrators instead of harsh drying treatments.
How often should I use this mask?
This mask is a weak match for skin with dark spots because it may not fully fade dark spots or offer enough brightening benefits. Skin with dark spots needs products with targeted brightening ingredients and strong antioxidants to help even out skin tone.
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it contains sulfur and kaolin to absorb excess oil and reduce inflammation. However, it may not fully address your dark spots, and skin of this type needs targeted brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide to fade discoloration.
Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Azelaic 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, 2012Topical formulations containing 1.25% Malus sp. extract or 0.75% rutin protected against UVB-induced sunburn cells, caspase-3 activation, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, lipid peroxidation, and metalloproteinase formation in ex vivo skin explants and 3D tissue-engineered skin.
Rejuvenation Research, 2020A 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, 2018Tea tree oil nanoemulsion containing adapalene gel demonstrated significantly greater reductions in total, inflammatory, and non-inflammatory acne lesions as well as acne severity index compared to adapalene marketed gel in 100 patients with acne vulgaris over 12 weeks.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2022Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007
Ingredients
Water, Disiloxane, Sulfur, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Kaolin, Glycerin, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Polyacrylate-33, Hectorite, Butylene Glycol, Zingiber Officinale Oil Root, Quartz, Lecithin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil Leaf Rosemary Oil Leaf, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf, Citrus Reticulata Oil Leaf Tangerine Oil Leaf, Thymus Vulgaris Oil Flower Leaf, Salvia Sclarea Oil Salvia Officinalis Oil, Spearmint Oil Leaf, Peppermint Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Abies Sibirica Oil, Rosewood Oil Wood, Citronella Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, Sodium Cocoyl Threoninate, Xanthan Gum, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol
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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