ZO Skin Health Complexion Clearing Masque for dry skin
Sulfur
Kaolin
Bentonite
Glycerin
Caprylyl GlycolCaution
- CautionDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry skin; the cleansing masks alongside fit it better.
- Journal of Evidence-based Medicine, 2020
- Revista de Investigacion Clinica; Organo Del Hospital de Enfermedades de la Nutricion, 2004
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 for acne-prone skin, as sulfur helps reduce blemishes, but kaolin and bentonite are drying and can strip natural oils, making it unsuitable for your dry skin.
- While the sulfur offers some exfoliation and anti-inflammatory benefits for dry or flaky skin, the overall formula is too drying for your skin type.
How to apply
- Use this cleansing mask PM as part of your weekly routine, starting 1x/week and increasing slowly if needed. Always follow with a rich moisturizer to prevent dryness.
- Apply the cleansing mask after using your cleanser and enzyme powder, but before your hydrating toner and moisturizer. This ensures the mask works effectively on your dry skin.
- Smooth an even layer of the cleansing mask over your face while avoiding any rubbing. Let it sit for the recommended time before gently rinsing it off.
- Apply the cleansing mask to clean, dry skin for the best comfort. Since your skin is dry, this method helps prevent any potential irritation.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin tolerates the product well.
People Say
★4.9Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this product is highly effective for acne-prone and oily skin, with users frequently noting its ability to clear breakouts and act as a spot treatment. It is also praised for absorbing excess oil and pores without over-drying the skin. A moderate number of users mention a strong, lingering sulfur smell, and a low number report potential for dryness with overuse or issues with the scent lingering on towels.
Highlights
Clears acne breakouts Mostly Mentioned
- “There's always at least a 50% reduction in size and takes redness away!”
- “I swear a zit is nearly gone the next morning.”
- “My daughter's skin is 90% more clear.”
- “In the morning they are nearly dried out and done!”
Effective spot treatment Often Mentioned
- “I use this as a spot treatment.”
- “Most magical mask/spot treatment ever.”
- “Love this mask for makeup prep and spot treatment!”
- “I use it mostly as a spot treatment for pimples overnight.”
Doesn't over-dry Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves my skin feeling very clean without being super dry.”
- “Hydrates the skin to combat dryness.”
- “Leaves your complexion looking fresh and balanced.”
- “Without stripping the skin.”
Reduces oil/pores Sometimes Noted
- “Very affective to reduce oil and make my pore smaller.”
- “Absorbs excess oil that can lead to future breakouts.”
- “Helps unclog congested pores, reduce surface oil.”
- “Helps absorb oil and creates a thicker product consistency.”
Strong sulfur smell Sometimes Noted
- “I can't get over the sulfur smell it was AWFUL.”
- “Leaves an awful smell of rotten eggs/sulfur.”
- “Some mention mixed feelings about breakouts and the smell.”
- “I only used it once and plan to never use it again because of the smell.”
Lingers on towels Rarely Noted
- “Leaves an awful smell of rotten eggs/sulfur on your towels if wipe it off with that.”
- “So glad I rinsed it off in the shower and didn't use a towel.”
- “Awful smell of rotten eggs/sulfur on your towels.”
Potential for dryness Rarely Noted
- “It can dry the skin so I would not recommend it to be used too often.”
- “If you overuse it, it might dry your skin.”
- “If bothersome dryness or peeling occurs, reduce application.”
Sources: lovi.care, zoskinhealth.com, skinclique.com, myfacedr.com, antiagingvancouver.com, bskinenvie.ca, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with ZO Skin Health Complexion Clearing Masque for dry skin?
This mask is a poor match for your dry skin because kaolin and bentonite are drying clays that can strip your natural oils. While sulfur helps clear blemishes, a mask for dry skin needs gentle hydrating and soothing ingredients that add moisture without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this mask a poor fit for dry skin?
Kaolin and bentonite are drying clays that can strip natural oils, making this mask too harsh for your dry skin. A cleansing mask for dry skin needs gentle hydrating ingredients and soothing agents to clean without drying you out.
What does Kaolin Clay do for dry skin?
Kaolin clay is generally not ideal for dry skin because it acts as an absorbent and can strip away natural oils. This type of skin needs soothing, moisture-locking ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or gentle plant oils to keep the surface soft and calm.
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This mask is not recommended for dry skin because its clay ingredients may strip natural oils and dry you out further. Dry skin needs a nourishing mask instead.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You should use caution when combining this mask with retinol, as the sulfur and clays may overly dry and irritate dry skin. Instead of a drying clay mask, dry skin needs a nourishing mask with ingredients like ceramides and gentle moisturizers to keep skin soft and comfortable.
How often should I use it?
This mask is a poor match for your dry skin because clays like kaolin and bentonite are drying and can strip natural oils, so you should avoid using it. A product of this type for dry skin needs nourishing and hydrating ingredients like glycerin to cleanse without leaving your face dry and tight.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleansing mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts since sulfur helps reduce blemishes, but a product for dry skin needs gentle, hydrating ingredients that add moisture instead of drying clays.
Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol).
What the research says
Azelaic 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, 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, 2001
Ingredients
Water, Bentonite, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylene Brassylate, Glycerin, Kaolin, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Silica, Sulfur, Talc, Tetrasodium Edta, Ultramarines
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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