🇩🇪Germany

Sulwhasoo Clarifying Mask for acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Sulwhasoo Clarifying Mask

Average

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for acne-prone skin; other cleansing masks fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 combination skin, as bentonite clay effectively absorbs excess oil and impurities to cleanse pores, while glycerin provides essential hydration.
  • While the formula offers general skincare benefits with ingredients like honey and licorice root extract, it does not specifically target your concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this cleansing mask during your PM weekly routine. Start 1x/week and increase if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply this cleansing mask after using your pre-cleanser and cleanser , and before your hydrating toner.
  • Spread an even layer of the cleansing mask over your face , avoiding any rubbing to protect your skin.
  • Apply the cleansing mask to clean and dry skin to help clear up your blemishes effectively.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this peel-off mask is highly regarded for its ability to gently exfoliate and remove impurities, resulting in noticeably brighter, smoother, and softer skin. Many users appreciate the unique herbal scent and the satisfying removal process. However, a significant number of reviewers find the product to be expensive, and some experience issues with messy application or difficulty peeling if the layer is too thin.

Highlights

  • Smoothes skin texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “Skin feels smoother”
    • “Baby soft skin”
    • “Softens texture”
    • “Makeup applies beautifully after”
    • “Removes dead skin cells”
  • Brightens and radiates Often Mentioned
    • “Skin looks brighter”
    • “Leaves skin radiant”
    • “Instant glow”
    • “Complexion looks clearer”
    • “Visibly more vibrant”
  • Gentle and non-drying Often Mentioned
    • “Not drying”
    • “Gentle exfoliation”
    • “Doesn't strip skin”
    • “Skin feels plump”
    • “Moisturizing for a peel-off”
  • High price point Often Mentioned
    • “Expensive”
    • “Pricey”
    • “Steep price”
    • “Not budget friendly”
    • “Luxury price tag”
  • Relaxing herbal scent Sometimes Noted
    • “Herbal smell calms”
    • “Love the smell”
    • “Relaxing scent”
    • “Spa-like fragrance”
    • “Pleasant herbal aroma”
  • Satisfying peel-off Sometimes Noted
    • “Satisfying to peel off”
    • “Peels off in one piece”
    • “Fun to peel”
    • “Oddly satisfying”
    • “Clean removal”
  • Application issues Sometimes Noted
    • “Sticky and messy”
    • “Hard to peel if thin”
    • “Messy application”
    • “Painful to peel (rare)”
    • “Residue left behind”
  • Strong scent Sometimes Noted
    • “Strong herbal scent”
    • “Smells like medicine”
    • “Overpowering smell”
    • “Artificial fragrance”
    • “Dislike the ginseng smell”
  • Contains alcohol Rarely Noted
    • “Contains alcohol”
    • “Tingling sensation”
    • “Slight irritation”
    • “Strong alcohol smell”
    • “Stings a little”
  • Limited deep cleaning Rarely Noted
    • “Doesn't remove blackheads”
    • “Surface level clean only”
    • “Pores still clogged”
    • “Didn't pull out gunk”
    • “Not for deep acne”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, sulwhasoo.com, influenster.com, nordstrom.com, amazon.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Sulwhasoo Clarifying Mask work for acne-prone skin?

This mask works for acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better because it does not specifically target blemishes and breakouts. A product of this type needs effective ingredients like salicylic acid that provide excellent benefits for acne and blemishes while ensuring safety and no risk of irritation.

Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Bentonite clay helps absorb excess oil and impurities to cleanse pores, while glycerin provides essential hydration. To better fit acne-prone skin, a cleansing mask of this type needs effective ingredients like salicylic acid that target blemishes and breakouts while refining pores and keeping the skin balanced.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Ginseng Root Extract do for acne-prone skin?

Ginseng Root Extract helps acne-prone skin by reducing oxidized sebum, calming redness, and fighting blemish-causing bacteria. This ingredient may improve early to middle-stage acne symptoms while supporting skin barrier repair and reducing inflammation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Phytotherapy Research, 2019

What does Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract do for acne-prone skin?

Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing swelling and redness. It works by targeting internal pathways that trigger skin inflammation, making it a useful addition to blemish-soothing routines.

International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2001Phytomedicine, 2020

Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This cleansing mask goes in your weekly routine after a makeup remover, cleanser, and enzyme powder, and before a hydrating toner, treatment, and moisturizer. Acne-prone skin needs a cleansing mask of this type to include ingredients that specifically target breakouts and clear pores.

Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this mask in your weekly routine, but apply it on a different night than your retinol to keep your skin calm. Because this mask does not specifically target breakouts, acne-prone skin needs a product with ingredients that clear blemishes and soothe irritation.

How often should I use this mask?

You can use this cleansing mask once a week as part of your weekly routine. A product for acne-prone skin needs ingredients like clay and soothing plant extracts to absorb excess oil and help keep pores clear.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This mask works for acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better because it does not specifically target breakouts and blemishes. A product for this skin needs ingredients that actively clear pores and calm active pimples.

Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, and linalool) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).

What the research says

  • A bentonite-based facial mask with Alcea sulphurea extract combined with oral azithromycin significantly reduced total lesion count and acne severity index while enhancing patient satisfaction in patients with moderate acne compared to placebo plus azithromycin over 8 weeks.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

  • 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, 2017

  • Licochalcone 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, 2015

  • Quaternized 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, 2017

  • Enzyme-modified ginseng extract cream significantly reduced the global photo-damage score and various roughness measures including total roughness, smoothness depth, and arithmetic roughness average compared to placebo in 23 human subjects.

    Rejuvenation Research, 2015

  • A red ginseng hydrogel formulation with 1,2-hexanediol promoted selective growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and decreased Cutibacterium acnes in 20 female subjects.

    Journal of Ginseng Research, 2022

  • A 1% fermented black ginseng cream significantly reduced eye wrinkles and brightened skin color in twenty-three human subjects compared to control cream and baseline.

    Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A, 2020

  • Lonicera japonica and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Polyphenolic Extract (LCPE) reduces inflammation-mediating cytokines COX-2 and iNOS and inhibits NF-kB and MAPK pathways in lipopolysaccharide-induced skin keratinocytes.

    Antioxidants, 2023

  • The incorporation of blue honeysuckle powder into cosmetic face masks resulted in stable emulsions that provided proper skin hydration and altered the physical properties of the masks.

    Molecules, 2021

  • Combining 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, 2015

  • Bioactive 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, 2025

  • Topical application of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Sophora japonica flavonoid-rich fractions individually and in combination significantly increased the wound healing rate and reduced oxidative stress compared to wound and Nolaver-treated groups.

    Molecules, 2023

  • Honey-based dressings reduced mean healing duration, length of hospital stay, and VAS pain scores compared with povidone iodine-based dressings in 1236 participants.

    Journal of Wound Care, 2021

  • Topical honey application improved the mean duration of attacks and pain, occurrence of crusting, and healing time compared to acyclovir cream in 16 adult patients with recurrent labial and genital herpes lesions.

    Medical Science Monitor, 2004

Why other cleansing masks fit acne-prone skin better

  • A 30% supramolecular salicylic acid peel improved the global acne grading score and skin barrier indicators, decreased cutaneous microbiome richness and evenness along with Staphylococcus proportion, reduced inflammatory cytokines, and increased caveolin-1 expression in 28 patients with moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris.

    Dermatology and Therapy, 2023

  • Treatment with 45% mandelic acid peel showed nearly equal overall efficacy as 30% salicylic acid peel in patients with mild-to-moderate facial acne vulgaris, but with fewer adverse effects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • A fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres in aqueous gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a 41% mean reduction in GAGS score and a 40.8% mean reduction in total lesions, with 15.3% of patients experiencing mild to moderate local side effects, in 94 evaluable patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face.

    Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015

Ingredients

Water, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Alcohol Denat, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Polygonatum Officinale Root Extract Rhizome, Peg-75, 1,2-Hexanediol, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bentonite, Xanthan Gum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Parfum, Limonene, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Propanediol, Honey Mel Miel, Disodium Edta, Linalool, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Tocopherol

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Germany.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

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