Peter Thomas Roth Therapeutic Sulfur Mask for combination skin
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 exfoliation for your combination skin, as sulfur and kaolin work to absorb excess oil and provide mild keratolytic action, though it may not fully address all concerns.
- The inclusion of glycerin and aloe barbadensis leaf juice offers hydration and soothing benefits, which are supportive but not primary for managing oily shine.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis mask is highly praised for its ability to rapidly clear cystic and hormonal acne, absorb excess oil, and reduce redness. While users consistently report significant improvements in skin clarity and texture, many caution that the product can be quite drying and has a potent, lingering sulfur scent.
Highlights
Effective acne treatment Mostly Mentioned
- “cleared up my cystic acne”
- “sucks the gunk out”
- “best sulfur acne mask I've ever used”
- “prevented future breakouts”
Unpleasant smell Mostly Mentioned
- “smells horrific”
- “smell did get pretty bad”
- “towels will smell like sulfur”
- “rotten egg smell”
Oil and pore control Often Mentioned
- “great for oilier skin”
- “decreases oiliness”
- “pores look cleaner”
- “absorbs excess oil”
Drying and irritating Often Mentioned
- “can be drying”
- “irritates eyes”
- “caused peeling”
- “burning sensation”
Fast acting Sometimes Noted
- “visible results overnight”
- “dries pimples quickly”
- “works as intended fast”
- “great spot treatment”
Good value Sometimes Noted
- “container lasts forever”
- “a little dab does the job”
- “worth the investment”
- “lasts about 2 years”
Smooth application Sometimes Noted
- “goes on smoothly”
- “silky texture”
- “washes off quickly”
- “nice cooling sensation”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “taken aback by the price”
- “bit pricey”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Packaging concerns Rarely Noted
- “wish it came in sustainable packaging”
- “jar packaging”
- “prefer tube”
Sensitizing Rarely Noted
- “feels a little tingly”
- “burning sensation”
- “too strong for daily use”
- “irritating on large areas”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, influenster.com, walmart.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Peter Thomas Roth Therapeutic Sulfur Mask work for combination skin?
This cleansing mask works reasonably well for combination skin by soaking up extra oil with sulfur and clays, though other products fit this skin type better. A product of this type needs potent oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid and zinc oxide alongside balanced hydration to properly care for combination skin.
Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for combination skin?
Sulfur and kaolin clay help absorb excess oil on your combination skin, while soothing aloe and glycerin provide supportive hydration. To fit combination skin even better, a product like this needs powerful oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid alongside balancing hydrators.
What does Sulfur do for combination skin?
Sulfur helps clear up breakouts and calms oily areas without irritating dry patches on combination skin. It works gently to keep skin looking clear and balanced.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2004Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1988
What does Kaolin Clay do for combination skin?
Kaolin clay helps absorb excess oil in oily areas while keeping dry patches comfortable and calm. This gentle mineral ingredient is unlikely to irritate sensitive combination skin.
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleansing mask fits into a weekly routine for combination skin as an occasional step after your cleanser and enzyme powder. While it helps absorb excess oil and is safe for your skin, combination skin typically needs a better balance of targeted oil control and steady hydration from ingredients like niacinamide or hyaluronic acid.
Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this mask in your weekly routine, but avoid applying it on the same night as your retinol to prevent irritation. Instead, use the mask on a separate evening, or stick to a gentle cleanser, soothing hydrators, and moisturizers that keep combination skin soft and balanced.
How often should I use this mask?
You can use this mask once a week as part of your weekly routine, as it offers moderate exfoliation with sulfur and kaolin. To better fit combination skin, a product of this type needs stronger oil control and more targeted ingredients for managing oily shine.
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin because its clays and sulfur help absorb excess oil, though it may feel drying for some. To better fit combination skin, this type of product needs ingredients that balance oil control with deeper hydration to prevent dryness.
Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
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, 2017Quaternized 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, 2017Azelaic 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, 2012A 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 novel electrospun chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol/montmorillonite clay scaffold proved to be a suitable material for cell proliferation and demonstrated strong antimicrobial and scavenging efficacy for wound healing applications.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024A 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, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010
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, 2022Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Ingredients
Sulfur, Water, Bentonite, Kaolin, Propylene Glycol, Talc, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Zinc Oxide, Polysorbate 20, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Carbomer, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
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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