SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque for dry skin
Kaolin
Bentonite
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Glycerin
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit ExtractCaution
- CautionDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A poor match for dry skin; the cleansing masks alongside fit it better.
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 excellent pore cleansing for your dry skin due to kaolin and bentonite clays absorbing excess oil and impurities, though these absorbent properties can strip moisture, counteracting the hydrating effects of glycerin.
- While Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract provide soothing benefits, their hydrating impact is limited for dry or flaky skin.
- The formulation is safe for your dry skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and includes beneficial soothing components.
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
★4.8Overall rating based on 900+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this mask for effectively decongesting pores and reducing excess oil without stripping or drying out the skin, making it a favorite for oily, combination, and acne-prone types. The formula is frequently noted for leaving skin feeling smooth, soft, and balanced, with many users reporting visible improvements in pore size and skin texture after regular use.
Highlights
Non-drying formula Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't strip skin”
- “leaves skin soft”
- “creamy texture”
- “hydrated feel”
Pore refining Mostly Mentioned
- “pores look smaller”
- “cleans out pores”
- “removes blackheads”
- “decongests skin”
Oil control Often Mentioned
- “controls excess oil”
- “mattified look”
- “balances skin”
- “reduces shine”
Smoothes texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels smooth”
- “soft and supple”
- “improves skin texture”
- “exfoliates gently”
Soothing effect Sometimes Noted
- “calms red skin”
- “soothing on application”
- “doesn't irritate sensitive skin”
- “calms breakouts”
High price Sometimes Noted
- “cost a bit more”
- “expensive”
- “pricey”
- “investment product”
Application difficulty Rarely Noted
- “hard to smooth”
- “takes effort to apply”
- “thick consistency”
- “hard to spread”
Jar packaging Rarely Noted
- “dip fingers in”
- “jar is unhygienic”
- “prefer a tube”
- “messy jar”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smelled like sulfur”
- “strong smell”
- “medicinal scent”
- “earthy odor”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, bluemercury.com, skinceuticals.com, lookfantastic.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Clarifying Clay Masque for dry skin?
Lovi advises caution because the clays absorb excess oil and impurities which can strip moisture from dry skin, counteracting the hydrating effects of glycerin. A cleansing mask for dry skin needs ceramides and hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture and protect the skin barrier.
Which ingredients make this mask a poor fit for dry skin?
Kaolin and bentonite clays make this mask a poor fit because they absorb oils and impurities so strongly that they may strip moisture from dry skin. A cleansing mask for dry skin needs essential ceramides, sodium hyaluronate, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid to provide hydration and support the moisture barrier.
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.
What does Bentonite Clay do for dry skin?
Bentonite Clay is generally too drying for dry skin, as it absorbs oil and moisture which can make dry skin feel tighter and more irritated. Skincare for dry skin needs gentle, hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and nourishing oils to lock in moisture and keep the skin soft and smooth.
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleansing mask is not a good fit for dry skin because its clays absorb natural oils and can leave your skin feeling dry. A dry skin routine needs a nourishing mask instead, which brings back moisture with hydrating ingredients like glycerin and plant oils while you rest.
Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?
You should exercise caution when using this clay mask with retinol on dry skin, as its absorbent clays may strip away needed moisture. To minimize irritation, apply your retinol on a separate evening, and use a nourishing mask with rich hydrators and soothing ingredients instead.
How often should I use this mask?
This cleansing mask is a poor match for your dry skin, as its absorbent clays can strip away needed moisture. Dry skin needs a nourishing mask instead, loaded with rich hydrators and soothing ingredients to keep skin soft and comfortable.
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, as its clays absorb excess oil and impurities. However, a product for dry skin needs extra hydrating ingredients like glycerin and soothing plant extracts to prevent moisture loss.
Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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, 2017Vectorization 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, 2010The 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Fermented bilberry extract improved wrinkle depth, skin smoothness, roughness, firmness, elasticity, antioxidant capacity, and complexion evenness compared to a placebo in 66 subjects over 84 days.
Nutrients, 2024Topical application of oil-in-water creams containing wild bilberry leaves extract and seeds oil produced significant beneficial effects on the skin of healthy human volunteers.
Antioxidants, 2021Bilberry fruit extract incorporated into chitosan-based hydrogels demonstrated antioxidant, anti-hyaluronidase, and anti-tyrosinase activities, supporting their potential use in topical anti-aging preparations.
Antioxidants, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Kaolin, Bentonite, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ci 77891 Titanium Dioxide, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Sunflower Seed Oil, Saccharum Officinarum Sugar Cane Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Orange Fruit Water, Citrus Limon Lemon Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharinum Sugar Maple Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Rosemary Oil Leaf, Cucumis Sativus Cucumber Fruit Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil Flower, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Curcuma Longa Turmeric Root Extract Extract, Sclareolide, Rosa Spp Rose Oil Flower, Jasminum Officinale Jasmine Extract
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
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.