INNISFREE Volcanic Calming Pore Clay Mask for combination skin
Volcanic Clay
Madecassoside
Aha
Pha
Lactic AcidAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
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 pore-refining benefits for your combination skin, as kaolin and bentonite effectively absorb excess sebum and impurities to combat oily shine. Lactic acid provides mild exfoliation, complementing the seboregulation provided by volcanic ash.
- The formula includes soothing ingredients like Madecassoside and Tocopherol, which help to calm the skin and minimize potential irritation.
- This product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of beneficial 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
★4.5Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsUsers find this mask to be a gentle, creamy option that effectively cleanses pores and soothes sensitive, dry, or acne-prone skin without stripping moisture. While many appreciate its quick application and pore-refining results, some users seeking deeper pore cleansing for stubborn blackheads found it too mild. A few reviewers noted a thinner consistency than expected and wished for a larger product size for the price.
Highlights
Gentle & non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “skin didn't feel stripped”
- “no aggressive cracking”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “hydrating finish”
Creamy texture Often Mentioned
- “glides on like a dream”
- “smooth like butter”
- “soft whipped texture”
- “easy to spread”
Soothing for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “calmed my redness”
- “didn't irritate my acne”
- “safe for sensitive skin”
- “contains madecassoside”
Effective pore maintenance Sometimes Noted
- “pores looked tighter”
- “skin felt softer”
- “removed excess oil”
- “smoothens skin texture”
Quick & convenient Sometimes Noted
- “only takes 5 minutes”
- “washes off easily”
- “great for busy mornings”
- “fast drying”
Too mild for deep cleaning Sometimes Noted
- “results are subtle”
- “didn't clear blackheads”
- “prefer the Super version”
- “too gentle for deep clogs”
Price per volume Rarely Noted
- “finished it quickly”
- “small tube”
- “expensive for amount”
- “wish it was bigger”
Residue Rarely Noted
- “takes time to rinse”
- “left a film”
- “needed a washcloth”
- “clings to hairline”
Runny consistency Rarely Noted
- “a bit watery”
- “comes out too fast”
- “thinner than clay jars”
- “messy tube”
Scent Rarely Noted
- “earthy smell”
- “weird scent”
- “smells like clay”
- “fragrance was off”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, amazon.com, yesstyle.com, oliveyoung.com, adorebeauty.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
How well does INNISFREE Volcanic Calming Pore Clay Mask work for combination skin?
This mask works moderately well for combination skin by soaking up extra oil and clearing pores with clay, while mild acids smooth the surface and soothing ingredients help keep irritation low. To fit this skin type best, a cleansing mask needs powerful oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid or zinc oxide paired with hydrating agents to balance both oily and dry areas.
Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for combination skin?
This mask works for combination skin because volcanic clay, kaolin, and bentonite absorb excess shine, while lactic acid provides mild exfoliation. It also contains madecassoside to help calm the skin and minimize potential irritation. To be a better fit for this skin type, a product of this type needs strong oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid and zinc oxide alongside balanced hydration to care for both oily and dry areas.
Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
What does Volcanic Clay do for combination skin?
Volcanic clay helps balance combination skin by absorbing extra oil in the t-zone while keeping drier areas comfortable and smooth. It is unlikely to dry out your skin when used as a weekly mask.
What does Madecassoside do for combination skin?
Madecassoside helps keep combination skin calm and hydrated while supporting the skin barrier. It may also improve moisture balance and reduce irritation in areas that tend to be dry or flaky.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This mask fits into a weekly evening routine, placed after a cleanser and enzyme powder. To work better for combination skin, a product of this type needs extra pore-clearing clays and gentle exfoliants like lactic acid to control shine while keeping the skin calm.
Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this mask in your weekly routine, but it is best to avoid using it on the same nights you apply retinol to prevent excess dryness or irritation. When using both, apply the mask first on your weekly cleansing mask day, follow with a hydrating toner, and save your retinol for a different evening. Combination skin generally benefits from pairing strong exfoliants with hydrating ingredients and gentle barrier-repair components like madecassoside to keep the skin calm and balanced.
Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
How often should I use this mask?
This cleansing mask works best when used once a week as part of your weekly routine, as it provides mild exfoliation and absorbs excess oil without being too harsh. Combination skin works best with a clay mask that balances oil in the T-zone while keeping dry areas comfortable, alongside gentle soothing ingredients and mild acids.
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, as kaolin and bentonite absorb excess oil and impurities. Lactic acid provides mild exfoliation, but a product for this skin needs stronger deep-cleansing benefits and more intensive pore-refining ingredients to work best.
Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020Quaternized 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, 2017Bentonite paste provides complete protection against +RNA viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and improves skin condition when used for dermal sanitization compared to alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 2020A 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, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Glycerin, Bentonite, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, 1,2-Hexanediol, Volcanic Ash, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Onsen-Sui, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Propanediol, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactic Acid Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Gluconolactone, Madecassoside, Lactic Acid, Polyquaternium-10, 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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.