🇺🇸United States

Dr. Barbara Sturm Clarifying Mask for oily skin

High

  • SuperiorOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for oily skin; a few cleansing masks fit it even 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

  • Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by kaolin and zinc pca, which effectively absorb excess oil and impurities to reduce oily shine. Panthenol and allantoin further support your skin by offering hydration and soothing effects.
  • The formula is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
  • This product offers excellent pore cleansing and seboregulation, making it a highly effective choice for managing oily skin.

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

★4.4Overall rating based on 200+ reviews

Users with oily, acne-prone, and combination skin frequently praise this mask for its ability to calm inflammation and refine pores without causing dryness. Many report clearer, softer skin and reduced redness. A minority find it insufficiently hydrating or question its value given the high price point.

Highlights

  • High price point Mostly Mentioned
    • “very expensive”
    • “pricey investment”
    • “hard to justify cost”
  • Calms and soothes Often Mentioned
    • “calms and soothes”
    • “reduces redness”
    • “skin is extremely calm”
  • Non-drying and hydrating Often Mentioned
    • “doesn't dry out skin”
    • “feels hydrated”
    • “no cracking/drying”
  • Effective spot treatment Sometimes Noted
    • “works on pimples”
    • “heals breakouts faster”
    • “great spot treatment”
  • Refines pores and mattifies Sometimes Noted
    • “pores look refined”
    • “instantly mattified”
    • “draws out impurities”
  • Softens skin texture Sometimes Noted
    • “skin feels soft”
    • “silky soft”
    • “smooth finish”
  • Value for money Sometimes Noted
    • “wouldn't repurchase full price”
    • “results not worth cost”
    • “better affordable alternatives”
  • Can be drying Rarely Noted
    • “dried my skin out”
    • “felt a bit dry”
    • “needed serum after”
  • Scent/Fragrance Rarely Noted
    • “little bit of smell”
    • “scent is noticeable”
    • “fragrance free but smells”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, nordstrom.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, spacenk.com, mecca.com.au, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Dr. Barbara Sturm Clarifying Mask a great fit for oily skin?

Dr. Barbara Sturm Clarifying Mask is a great fit for oily skin because kaolin and zinc PCA absorb excess oil and impurities to reduce shiny skin. Panthenol and allantoin also help by providing hydration and soothing effects. Its formula avoids harsh ingredients, making it safe and effective for managing oily skin.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012

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

Kaolin and zinc PCA make this mask a good fit for oily skin because they absorb excess oil and impurities to reduce oily shine. Panthenol and allantoin further support your skin by offering hydration and soothing effects.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012

What does Zinc PCA do for oily skin?

Zinc PCA helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and keeping skin calm and clear. It is unlikely to cause irritation and supports a healthy, balanced complexion.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012

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 goes in your weekly routine after a cleanser and enzyme powder, followed by a hydrating toner, treatment, and moisturizer. Clay masks help soak up excess oil and impurities to reduce shine, while soothing ingredients calm the skin.

Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012

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

You can use this cleansing mask in your weekly routine, but avoid applying it on the same nights you use your retinol to prevent irritation. Use the mask first on your designated mask night, rinse it off completely, and then follow up with your usual hydrating toner and moisturizer.

How often should I use this mask?

This cleansing mask fits into your weekly routine as a once-a-week step after cleansing and enzyme powder. Kaolin and zinc pca effectively absorb excess oil and impurities to reduce oily shine while being safe for your skin.

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 kaolin and zinc PCA to soak up extra oil and clear impurities without harsh ingredients that trigger irritation. It is generally safe and well-tolerated, though it may occasionally feel a bit drying for some users.

Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012

Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).

What the research says

  • A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
  • A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
  • 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
  • Zinc PCA inhibits UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 production through suppressed AP-1 activation and enhances type I collagen synthesis by increasing SVCT2 mRNA expression in cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012
  • 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
  • A pharmaceutical formulation containing therapeutic clay from Ocara, Brazil, promoted greater formation of collagen fibers, regeneration of the deep dermis at seven days, and reepithelialization with continuous granulation tissue formation at 14 days in rat skin wounds compared to untreated controls.

    Materials Science & Engineering. C, Materials for Biological Applications, 2014
  • Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.

    Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024
  • Topical jojoba oil application in male mice decreased exercise-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression (Il-1b and Il-6 in soleus, Il-1b in gastrocnemius) compared to untreated exercised mice.

    Biomolecules, 2025
  • Nanolipidgel formulations with argan or jojoba oil and humectants demonstrate good sensory attributes, instrumental properties, and moisturizing efficacy for cosmetic application.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014
  • Topical purslane at 5% and 10% concentrations achieved alleviation of symptoms and lesion remission comparable to topical 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide in 34 subjects with oral lichen planus over 90 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2023
  • Facial masks containing low-temperature extracted Portulaca oleracea protect sensitive skin from photothermal stimulation and improve skin barrier function during photorejuvenation.

    Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025
  • Portulaca oleracea extract ameliorated skin barrier damage and inflammation induced by combined exposure to glycolic acid and UVB in HaCaT cells.

    Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019

Ingredients

Water, Kaolin, Alcohol Denat, Cetearyl Alcohol, Jojoba Seed Oil, Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment, Octyldodecanol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Cetearyl Glucoside, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Pca, Allantoin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Lens Esculenta Seed Extract, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexylene Glycol, Polygonum Bistorta Root Extract, Arginine, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Vine Extract Flower Leaf, Pantolactone, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891

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.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product.

Buy online

Prices checked 5 Nov 2026

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.