Sulwhasoo Herbal Clay Purifying Mask for acne-prone skin
Kaolin
Bentonite
Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Honey
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root ExtractAverage
- SuperiorCombination 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 cleansing and hydration for your combination skin, with kaolin and bentonite effectively regulating sebum and gluconolactone providing mild exfoliation.
- While the formula is safe and free from harsh irritants, it lacks specific ingredients to directly target and treat your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, as it contains no prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
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
★4.5Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this mask is highly recommended for individuals with sensitive, dry, or stressed skin who need pore care without the harshness of traditional clay masks. Users consistently report a cooling, non-drying experience that leaves skin feeling soft, soothed, and visibly brighter, though it may be too gentle for those seeking aggressive blackhead extraction.
Highlights
Non-drying, hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “gel-cream formula is super hydrating”
- “didn't experience any tight feelings”
- “doesn't dry down completely”
- “leaves face clean but not stripped”
Gentle, soothing Often Mentioned
- “cooling sensation on application”
- “calms redness and irritation”
- “no tugging or stinging”
- “gentlest clay mask I've used”
Softening results Often Mentioned
- “skin feels baby soft”
- “pores look tighter”
- “brightens complexion”
- “smooths skin texture”
Herbal scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells divine”
- “relaxing herbal smell”
- “fresh ginseng scent”
- “feels like a spa treatment”
Luxurious texture Sometimes Noted
- “slides onto skin quickly”
- “silky and smooth”
- “fine powders provide gentle exfoliation”
- “easy to rinse off”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “bit expensive for me”
- “waiting for a sale”
- “pricey for a clay mask”
- “luxury price point”
Mild pore extraction Sometimes Noted
- “whiteheads not fully removed”
- “didn't minimize pores much”
- “gentler than other clays”
- “not for deep extraction”
Availability issues Rarely Noted
- “bought the trial kit”
- “hard to find full size”
- “out of stock often”
- “had to order from Korea”
Scent preference Rarely Noted
- “herbal smell is strong”
- “scent is specific”
- “smells like traditional medicine”
- “might be too much for some”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com.au, reddit.com, thevelvetlife.com, femaledaily.com, yesstyle.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Sulwhasoo Herbal Clay Purifying Mask work for acne-prone skin?
Sulwhasoo Herbal Clay Purifying Mask works reasonably well for acne-prone skin by using clays and mild exfoliants to manage oil and clear pores safely, though it lacks targeted ingredients to directly treat breakouts. To fit this skin better, a cleansing mask needs effective blemish-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or zinc oxide while keeping the skin calm and balanced.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This mask fits your acne-prone skin because kaolin and bentonite help control excess oil, and gluconolactone offers mild exfoliation to keep skin clear. However, a cleansing mask for this skin needs ingredients like salicylic acid or zinc oxide to directly treat and target blemishes.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992
What does Kaolin Clay do for acne-prone skin?
Kaolin clay helps absorb excess oil and calms redness in acne-prone skin with a strong safety profile. Using a clay mask twice a week may improve acne and skin evenness while keeping dryness under control.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024
What does Bentonite Clay do for acne-prone skin?
Bentonite Clay helps clear breakouts and calm acne-prone skin by soaking up excess oil and reducing the number of blemishes. It is a good fit for oily and breakout-prone skin when used as a facial mask.
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cleansing mask is used weekly after your makeup remover, cleanser, and enzyme powder, and before your hydrating toner and treatment. While it is safe and provides moderate cleansing and hydration, an acne-prone skin routine needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to actively clear blemishes and breakouts.
Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleansing mask as part of your weekly routine, but avoid applying it on the same nights you use retinol to prevent excessive dryness or irritation. Instead, use the mask on a separate evening when you are giving your skin a break from strong active treatments.
How often should I use this mask?
You can use this cleansing mask once a week as part of your weekly routine. While the formula is safe and unlikely to irritate your skin, this type of mask needs targeted acne-fighting ingredients to properly care for acne-prone skin.
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for acne-prone skin because it contains safe clays that help regulate oil, but it lacks specific ingredients to actively clear blemishes. A clay mask for this skin needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and soothing plant extracts to truly treat breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Skin Research and Technology, 2023
Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Combining 10% gluconolactone chemical peeling with oxybrasion or microneedle mesotherapy increased skin hydration and decreased sebum, pH, and TEWL in twenty-one Caucasian women, with no significant differences between the two methods.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023Gluconolactone 14% solution significantly improved mild to moderate acne by reducing inflamed and non-inflamed lesions similarly to 5% benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer side-effects in 150 patients.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992A 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, 2025Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Licochalcone 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, 2015Vectorization 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, 2025Artemisia princeps-derived nanovesicles accelerate cell proliferation, decrease senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity, inhibit MMP-1 activity more effectively than EGCG, and increase procollagen type I expression in human dermal cells and skin models.
Journal of Extracellular Biology, 2025Artemisia annua aqueous extract increased the itching threshold, inhibited TSLP expression, and promoted FLG mRNA expression in in vitro and in vivo models.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2024Artemisia Capillaris Thunb. extract protects human HaCaT keratinocytes from UVB-induced apoptosis and inflammation by suppressing the cGAS/STING signaling pathway.
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology, 2024Honey-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, 2021Topical 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, 2004Combining 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, 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 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
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, 2023Treatment 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, 2020A 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, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Bentonite, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sea Silt, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Powder, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Houttuynia Cordata Powder, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract Raspberry Fruit Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Honey, Miel, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Angelica Keiskei Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Root Extract Rhizome, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb 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.
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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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