Sulwhasoo Clarifying Mask for combination skin
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract Honeysuckle Flower Extract
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract
Honey
Polygonatum Officinale Root Extract Rhizome
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other cleansing masks fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 impurities and excess oil to cleanse pores, while glycerin provides essential hydration. However, the formula lacks targeted ingredients to fully address your oily shine concerns.
- The product provides general skincare benefits like soothing and hydration, but its primary function is pore cleansing rather than intensive oil control.
- The formulation 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 routine once a week to control oil. Start slowly 3 times a week and increase if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply the cleansing mask after the cleansing step and before using your hydrating toner. This ensures it works effectively on your skin.
- Spread an even layer over your face using gentle motions. Avoid any harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the mask to clean and slightly damp skin for the best results. This helps the product target oily shine efficiently.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a simple patch test before your very first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsBased 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 the Sulwhasoo Clarifying Mask work for combination skin?
This mask works reasonably well for your combination skin because bentonite clay helps absorb excess oil while glycerin provides hydration, though other options may control shine more thoroughly. Cleansing masks for combination skin need ingredients that control oily shine and gently exfoliate without causing irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for combination skin?
Bentonite clay helps absorb excess oil and impurities to cleanse pores, while glycerin provides essential hydration. To better fit combination skin, a product of this type needs ingredients that offer targeted oil control and gentle exfoliation to balance shine without causing irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
What does Ginseng Root Extract do for combination skin?
Ginseng root extract helps keep combination skin smooth and firm by supporting collagen and locking in moisture. It also helps calm the skin and keeps it looking bright and even.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007Journal of Ginseng Research, 2017
What does Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract do for combination skin?
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract helps calm combination skin and keeps it balanced with its natural soothing properties. This extract is gentle and is unlikely to cause irritation, making it a comfortable addition to your daily routine.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleansing mask fits into a weekly evening routine, after a makeup remover, cleanser, and enzyme powder, and before a hydrating toner, treatment, and moisturizer. Combination skin requires a mask of this type to include clay for absorbing excess oil and impurities, along with hydrating ingredients.
Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this mask in your weekly routine, but keep it on a different night than your retinol to avoid irritation. Combination skin needs a product that targets oily shine along with deep pore cleansing.
How often should I use it?
You can use this cleansing mask once a week as part of your weekly routine, keeping it to a schedule that helps balance pores without drying you out.
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on your combination skin because bentonite clay helps absorb excess oil and impurities to keep pores clean. However, it may not fully control oily shine, so a combination skin type needs a product that also features targeted ingredients to balance oil production.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, and linalool) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
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, 2017A 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, 2025Quaternized 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, 2017Enzyme-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, 2015A 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, 2022A 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, 2020Lonicera 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, 2023The 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, 2021Combining 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, 2015Licochalcone 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, 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, 2025Honey-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, 2004
Why other cleansing masks fit combination skin better
Chemical peels with 30% supramolecular salicylic acid effectively treated acne and reduced facial sebum secretion while improving skin hydration and barrier function in 25 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
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.
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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
How does it fit your skin?
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