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Dermalogica Clear Start Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask for oily skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Dermalogica Clear Start Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

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 pore cleansing for your oily skin due to sulfur and kaolin, which help absorb excess oil and decongest the pores. However, it lacks specialized ingredients to directly address oily shine concerns.
  • The formula is generally safe for your oily skin, with Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil Leaf Rosemary Oil Leaf providing soothing benefits and no harsh ingredients.
  • The product is safe for your skin, as it contains no prohibited or harsh ingredients and includes soothing components.

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

★4.3Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviews

This mask is widely praised by users with oily and acne-prone skin for its unique fizzing sensation that makes the skin feel actively cleaned and decongested. While many users report softer skin and reduced blackhead visibility after use, results on deep blackhead removal vary, with some finding it more effective as a pore-softening prep step rather than a complete extraction solution. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.

Highlights

  • Softens and smooths skin Mostly Mentioned
    • “left my skin feeling incredibly soft and smooth”
    • “face feels super clean without being stripped”
    • “texture of my skin improved immediately after rinsing”
  • Unique fizzing sensation Often Mentioned
    • “fizzing action feels like it's working deep in pores”
    • “bubbles popping on my face is a fun experience”
    • “love the tingly sensation as it activates”
  • Packaging issues Often Mentioned
    • “pump stopped working halfway through the bottle”
    • “hard to get the last bit of product out”
    • “bottle design makes it difficult to dispense”
  • Helps clear pores Sometimes Noted
    • “noticed a reduction in blackheads on my nose”
    • “pores looked visibly smaller and tighter”
    • “great for clearing out congestion in t-zone”
  • Non-drying formula Sometimes Noted
    • “didn't leave my face feeling tight or dry like other clay masks”
    • “gentle enough for my sensitive skin”
    • “hydrating despite being a clearing mask”
  • Quick and easy to use Sometimes Noted
    • “works in just 3-5 minutes which is great”
    • “easy to apply and rinse off quickly”
    • “perfect for a quick morning skin refresh”
  • Lack of deep extraction Sometimes Noted
    • “didn't clear my blackheads as much as I hoped”
    • “fun to use but didn't see a difference in my pores”
    • “blackheads were still there after multiple uses”
  • Price per value Sometimes Noted
    • “bottle didn't last very long for the price”
    • “expensive for the amount of product you get”
    • “ran out much faster than my other masks”
  • Unpleasant smell Sometimes Noted
    • “has a distinct sulfur smell that lingers”
    • “smells a bit like rotten eggs due to the sulfur”
    • “medicinal scent is quite strong”
  • Sensation discomfort Rarely Noted
    • “fizzing sensation was too ticklish and itchy for me”
    • “felt a bit irritating on my sensitive areas”
    • “couldn't wait to wash it off because of the tickle”

Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, influenster.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Dermalogica Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask work for oily skin?

This cleansing mask works reasonably well for oily skin by offering moderate pore cleansing with sulfur and kaolin to help absorb excess oil. However, it lacks specialized ingredients to directly manage oily shine, so an oily skin type needs a product with salicylic acid, zinc oxide, or niacinamide to better control oil and clarify the complexion.

Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for oily skin?

Sulfur and kaolin help absorb excess oil and decongest your pores, while rosemary oil helps soothe your oily skin. To truly manage oily shine and purify your complexion, an oily skin type needs effective ingredients like salicylic acid, zinc oxide, or niacinamide combined with purifying clays.

What does Sulfur do for oily skin?

Sulfur helps calm oily skin and manages breakouts by gently reducing surface oil and clearing pores. This ingredient has a long history of safe use in skincare with uncommon, mostly mild side effects largely limited to the skin.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2004Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1988

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.

Skin Research and Technology, 2023

Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This cleansing mask fits into a weekly routine for oily skin after makeup removal, cleansing, and an enzyme powder, and before a hydrating toner, treatment, and moisturizer. Because it provides moderate pore cleansing with sulfur and kaolin but lacks ingredients to directly control oily shine, oily skin also needs oil-absorbing and shine-reducing ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid.

Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this mask in your routine, but avoid using it on the same nights you apply retinol to prevent irritation. Instead, use this cleansing mask weekly as directed, and save your retinol for other nights when your skin is not getting a deep pore cleanse.

How often should I use this mask?

You can use this mask once a week as part of your weekly routine. To better manage oily shine, this skin type also needs products with specialized ingredients that directly control excess oil.

Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it contains sulfur and kaolin to help clear out pores and absorb excess oil. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients to control oily shine, this type of skin needs formulas with targeted oil-balancing components.

Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Topical application of a cream containing the NHE1 activator rosmarinic acid decreased skin surface pH and transepidermal water loss while increasing skin hydration in 50-60-year-old adult females compared to vehicle cream and no treatment.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022

  • A cosmetic cream with 6% standardized wild apple fruit extract and a conventional emulsifier demonstrated stable antioxidant activity of 19.25 %RSC, increased skin moisturization, and a decreased melanin index by -31.40 without causing skin irritation.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2019

  • Dermocosmetic creams containing 6%, 12%, and 15% of standardized wild apple fruit ultrasonic extract increased skin hydration proportionally to extract concentration after 28 days of application on healthy volunteers without altering transepidermal water loss or skin pH.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

  • 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, 2020

  • Topical 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, 2004

  • Topical 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, 1966

  • Vectorization 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, 2024

  • Twice-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, 2023

  • Clay 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, 2012

  • Topical formulations containing 1.25% Malus sp. extract or 0.75% rutin protected against UVB-induced sunburn cells, caspase-3 activation, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, lipid peroxidation, and metalloproteinase formation in ex vivo skin explants and 3D tissue-engineered skin.

    Rejuvenation Research, 2020

  • A 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, 2018

  • Tea tree oil nanoemulsion containing adapalene gel demonstrated significantly greater reductions in total, inflammatory, and non-inflammatory acne lesions as well as acne severity index compared to adapalene marketed gel in 100 patients with acne vulgaris over 12 weeks.

    Archives of Dermatological Research, 2022

  • Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.

    Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007

Why other cleansing masks fit oily skin better

Ingredients

Water, Disiloxane, Sulfur, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Kaolin, Glycerin, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Polyacrylate-33, Hectorite, Butylene Glycol, Zingiber Officinale Oil Root, Quartz, Lecithin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil Leaf Rosemary Oil Leaf, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf, Citrus Reticulata Oil Leaf Tangerine Oil Leaf, Thymus Vulgaris Oil Flower Leaf, Salvia Sclarea Oil Salvia Officinalis Oil, Spearmint Oil Leaf, Peppermint Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Abies Sibirica Oil, Rosewood Oil Wood, Citronella Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, Sodium Cocoyl Threoninate, Xanthan Gum, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Citrate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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