Erno Laszlo Pore Cleansing Clay Mask for combination skin
Kaolin
Bentonite
Glycerin
Calamine
Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower ExtractAverage
- 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 cleansing for your combination skin as kaolin and bentonite absorb excess oil and impurities, while malic, citric, and tartaric acids provide mild exfoliation. Rosa Damascena Flower Water and Portulaca Oleracea Extract offer soothing benefits, contributing to overall skin comfort.
- The formula is generally safe for your combination skin, with no harsh ingredients and a good balance of soothing agents to minimize irritation.
- This product provides basic cleansing and soothing for oily shine and combination skin, though it does not offer specialized pore treatments.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers with combination and oily skin types frequently praise this mask for effectively detoxifying pores without the harsh, cracking sensation typical of other clay treatments. The majority of reviewers report immediate improvements in skin texture and softness, noting that the formula leaves the face feeling hydrated and refreshed rather than stripped or tight.
Highlights
Non-drying formula Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't crack”
- “skin feels hydrated”
- “not stripping at all”
- “comfortable dry down”
Effective pore cleansing Often Mentioned
- “pores look smaller”
- “draws out oil”
- “blackheads reduced”
- “clean T-zone”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “very expensive”
- “pricey for size”
- “luxury price tag”
- “wait for sale”
Gentle on sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “no redness”
- “soothing”
- “calms breakouts”
- “gentle detox”
Pleasant rose scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like roses”
- “spa-like scent”
- “light floral smell”
- “refreshing fragrance”
Smooth application Sometimes Noted
- “creamy texture”
- “glides on”
- “easy to rinse”
- “silky feel”
Small quantity Sometimes Noted
- “small tube”
- “finished quickly”
- “travel size appearance”
- “not enough product”
Average results Rarely Noted
- “nothing special”
- “average clay mask”
- “expected more”
- “pores looked same”
Stains fabrics Rarely Noted
- “stained my washcloth”
- “hard to wash out of towels”
- “use dark towels”
- “pink residue”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “perfume is too strong”
- “smell lingers”
- “fragrance irritated nose”
- “too floral”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, sephora.my, walmart.com, lookfantastic.ie, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does the Erno Laszlo Pore Cleansing Clay Mask work for combination skin?
This cleansing mask works reasonably well for combination skin by using kaolin and bentonite to absorb excess oil, while soothing extracts help keep skin calm. However, a cleansing mask for this skin needs potent oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid and zinc oxide alongside balanced hydrating agents to manage shine while keeping drier areas comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025
Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for combination skin?
Kaolin and bentonite help absorb excess oil and impurities, while malic, citric, and tartaric acids provide mild exfoliation for combination skin. Additionally, ingredients like glycerin, rosa damascena flower water, and portulaca oleracea extract provide soothing benefits and comfort. A product of this type needs powerful oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid and zinc oxide, alongside balancing hydrators, to properly care for combination skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025
What does Kaolin Clay do for combination skin?
Kaolin clay helps absorb excess oil in oily areas while keeping dry patches comfortable and calm. This gentle mineral ingredient is unlikely to irritate sensitive combination skin.
What does Bentonite Clay do for combination skin?
Bentonite clay helps improve acne-related concerns, reduces excess oil, and supports evenness and hydration in combination skin when used regularly. It is unlikely to cause irritation while helping to balance oil and moisture levels.
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleansing mask is used weekly, after a makeup remover, cleanser, and enzyme powder, and before a hydrating toner, treatment, and moisturizer in your evening routine. Combination skin needs a cleansing mask with clays like kaolin or bentonite to absorb excess oil and impurities, along with soothing ingredients to keep skin calm.
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 excessive dryness or irritation. Instead, use this clay mask once a week on a separate evening, following it with a hydrating toner and moisturizer to keep your combination skin calm and smooth.
How often should I use this mask?
You can use this cleansing mask once a week as part of your weekly routine, as clay and exfoliating masks are generally started at this frequency. This product works for combination skin by soaking up excess oil and clearing impurities, though combination skin needs targeted pore treatments and balancing ingredients to get the best results.
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This mask is generally safe for combination skin and is unlikely to cause breakouts or clogged pores, as kaolin and bentonite absorb excess oil and impurities without harsh ingredients. However, because it provides only basic cleansing rather than specialized pore treatments, combination skin often needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to more effectively keep pores clear.
Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
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, 2025Portulaca oleracea extract ameliorated skin barrier damage and inflammation induced by combined exposure to glycolic acid and UVB in HaCaT cells.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022A bentonite-based facial mask with Alcea sulphurea extract combined with oral azithromycin significantly reduced total lesion count and acne severity index while enhancing patient satisfaction in patients with moderate acne compared to placebo plus azithromycin over 8 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical application of uncoated or silane-coated zinc oxide nanoparticles under occlusive conditions and on barrier-impaired skin of human volunteers results in no measurable penetration into or local toxicity in the viable epidermis.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2016Vectorization 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, 2001Topical 0.5% hyaluronic-ZnO nanogel applied twice daily reduced inflammatory-lesion counts by 58% at week four in human subjects compared to baseline without causing erythema.
Biomedicines, 2025Topical zinc oxide 20% ointment achieved a complete cure in 50% of patients with warts compared to 42% in the salicylic acid-lactic acid group, with no serious side-effects.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2007Hibiscus syriacus ethanolic extract stimulated fibronectin and collagen synthesis, fibroblast contractility, and wound healing activity in human skin cells and explants, while increasing skin hydration gene expression.
BioMed Research International, 2017Polydeoxyribonucleotide derived from Hibiscus sabdariffa callus at 5 μg/mL promoted wound healing and upregulated related genes and proteins in human keratinocytes.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2024Water extracts from Roselle leaves and callus cells exhibited different biochemical components, transcriptome profiles, and effects on human skin cells, with the callus extract demonstrating anti-melanogenic, skin barrier, and antioxidant activities, while the plant extract affected angiogenesis, oxidation-reduction, and glycolysis.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Calamine, Kaolin, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Bentonite, Pentylene Glycol, Montmorillonite, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Polyacrylamide, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Edta, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Parfum, Red 4 Ci 14700, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Red 33 Ci 17200, Tartaric Acid, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Willow Bark Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Viola Tricolor Extract, Octanediol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Lactobacillus Soybean Extract Ferment, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark 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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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