Neutrogena Deep Clean Purifying Clay Cleanser/Mask for oily skin
Salicylic Acid
Kaolin
Bentonite
Glycerin
Glycolic AcidAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansing masks fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 and cleansing for your oily skin, as salicylic acid and glycolic acid work to remove impurities and excess oil, while kaolin and bentonite clays absorb shine.
- Glycerin and panthenol provide basic hydration and soothing benefits, though more specialized ingredients could further enhance the reduction of oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risk of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing panthenol.
How to apply
- Use this cleansing mask PM as part of your weekly routine, starting 1×/week and working up if tolerated.
- Apply this cleansing mask after your cleanser and enzyme powder, and before applying your hydrating toner.
- Smooth an even layer over your face using clean fingers, avoiding harsh rubbing.
- Apply this cleansing mask on clean, dry skin to help control excess oil effectively.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and acne-prone skin frequently praise this 2-in-1 cleanser and mask for its deep pore cleansing and breakout reduction capabilities. A moderate number of users appreciate the refreshing cooling sensation and acne-fighting properties, with some noting it softens skin texture. Conversely, a low to moderate number of users with sensitive skin report irritation, burning, and dryness, while a moderate number find the scent overpowering and a low number experience difficulty rinsing or report it caused breakouts.
Highlights
Effective deep cleaning Mostly Mentioned
- “removes oil”
- “unclogs pores”
- “feels fresh”
Versatile 2-in-1 Often Mentioned
- “convenient”
- “time-saving”
- “multi-use”
Helps with acne Sometimes Noted
- “reduces breakouts”
- “clears congestion”
- “treats body acne”
Refreshing cooling Sometimes Noted
- “tingly feel”
- “wakes up skin”
- “menthol effect”
Softens skin Sometimes Noted
- “smooth finish”
- “healthy look”
- “non-stripping”
Drying/Stripping Sometimes Noted
- “dry patches”
- “tight skin”
- “requires heavy moisturizer”
Skin irritation Sometimes Noted
- “chemical burns”
- “stinging”
- “redness”
- “sensitive skin reaction”
Strong scent Sometimes Noted
- “menthol smell”
- “overpowering fragrance”
- “chemical odor”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “purging”
- “cystic flare-ups”
- “bad reaction”
Difficult to rinse Rarely Noted
- “residue left”
- “requires scrubbing”
- “messy removal”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, neutrogena.com, beautycrew.com.au, woolworths.com.au, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Neutrogena Deep Clean Purifying Clay Cleanser/Mask work for oily skin?
Neutrogena Deep Clean Purifying Clay Cleanser/Mask works decently for oily skin by offering moderate exfoliation and absorbing shine, though other products fit it better. To achieve the best results, oily skin needs specialized ingredients that further enhance the reduction of excess oil and deeply clarify the complexion without causing irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Salicylic acid and glycolic acid help remove impurities and excess oil, while kaolin and bentonite clays absorb shine. To work even better for oily skin, a product of this type needs more specialized ingredients to further enhance the reduction of oily shine.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?
Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
What does Kaolin Clay do for oily skin?
Kaolin Clay helps oily skin by soaking up extra oil and clearing the skin while keeping it calm and comfortable. Using it twice a week can improve acne, skin evenness, and hydration while reducing dryness and irritation.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleansing mask fits into a weekly skincare routine for oily skin. To properly care for oily skin, a product of this type needs specialized ingredients that can further enhance the reduction of oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
This cleansing mask offers moderate exfoliation and removes excess oil for oily skin, but it is unlikely to cause irritation when used safely. To use it with retinol, apply the mask on your weekly routine day and use your retinol on separate evenings to prevent over-drying your skin.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleansing mask weekly as part of your routine. This frequency helps clear excess oil and impurities safely without causing irritation. Oily skin of this type can also benefit from oil-balancing ingredients that better target shine.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as its clays and exfoliating acids help clear away excess oil and impurities. However, some reviewers do report skin irritation and drying, so a product of this type for oily skin also needs specialized ingredients to better control shine while keeping the skin calm and balanced.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 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, 2019A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Cryotherapy 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, 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, 2025A 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, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Kaolin, Bentonite, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Trideceth-9, Peg-5 Ethylhexanoate, Xanthan Gum, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, Menthyl Lactate, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Disodium Edta, Titanium Dioxide, Green 3
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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