The Body Shop Chinese Ginseng & Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask for dry sensitive skin
Chinese Ginseng
Rice Extract
Shea Butter
Salicylic Acid
Luffa Cylindrica Fruit
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other cleansing masks fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, 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 moderate suitability for your dry skin as glycerin and shea butter provide humectant and emollient actions, but the inclusion of kaolin and perlite for exfoliation and absorption is not ideal for your dry or flaky skin concerns.
- While the product offers cleansing and general skincare benefits, it lacks sufficient occlusive ingredients for optimal hydration, which is crucial for your dry skin type.
- The formulation is safe for your dry and sensitive skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your cleansing mask PM once a week as part of your weekly routine, and increase to twice a week if your dry skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the cleansing mask after cleansing and enzyme powder, but before your hydrating toner, serum, and moisturizer.
- Smooth an even layer of the cleansing mask over your face while gently avoiding any unnecessary rubbing.
- Apply the cleansing mask to clean and dry skin to ensure better comfort for your sensitive skin type.
- Always avoid the eye area and do a patch test before using the cleansing mask for the first time.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsThis creamy, exfoliating mask is widely praised for its ability to revitalize dull, uneven skin tones, leaving the face feeling softer and looking brighter. While most users enjoy the "spa-like" cooling sensation and polishing effect, some find the herbal ginseng scent overpowering and the granular texture slightly abrasive for sensitive skin. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Brightens and evens tone Mostly Mentioned
- “My complexion instantly feels brighter”
- “Reveals brighter-looking skin”
- “Helps remove dullness and unevenness”
Effective exfoliation Often Mentioned
- “Polishes away dead skin”
- “Texture feels really nice and scrubby”
- “Leaves skin feeling super smooth”
Softens skin Often Mentioned
- “Face feels incredibly smooth”
- “Leaves my skin feeling super soft”
- “Skin feels lovely and soft after use”
Cooling sensation Sometimes Noted
- “Instantly feel that cooling effect”
- “Feels very spa-like and relaxing”
- “Refreshing and soothing experience”
Difficult to remove Sometimes Noted
- “Difficult to wash off cleanly”
- “Makes a total mess in the sink”
- “Need a washcloth for full removal”
Price point Sometimes Noted
- “Quite pricey”
- “Expensive but worth buying”
- “Steep pricing made me think twice”
Strong herbal scent Sometimes Noted
- “Scent might be a bit overwhelming”
- “Smells very strongly of ginseng”
- “Has a strange scent I can't describe”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “Felt a slight burning sensation”
- “Particles are a bit large/rough”
- “Ingredients could be tough for sensitive skin”
Sources: lovi.care, nykaa.com, productreview.com.au, influenster.com, kherblog.com, tictalktoe.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does The Body Shop Chinese Ginseng & Rice Mask work for dry sensitive skin?
This mask works reasonably well for dry and sensitive skin because glycerin and shea butter help add moisture, but clay and perlite can be too drying for your skin type. To truly fit dry sensitive skin, a product of this type needs rich hydrating and soothing ingredients that lock in moisture and smooth the skin without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin and shea butter make this mask an average fit for your dry sensitive skin by helping provide moisture, while the formula remains safe and unlikely to cause irritation. However, because it includes clay and exfoliating particles, this type of product for dry skin needs more rich barrier-locking ingredients and gentle hydrating agents to properly prevent moisture loss.
What does Chinese Ginseng do for dry sensitive skin?
Chinese ginseng helps dry sensitive skin by locking in moisture and strengthening your natural skin barrier to keep it calm and smooth. It may also reduce redness and irritation when used regularly in your daily routine.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2021Journal of Ginseng Research, 2020
What does Rice Extract do for dry sensitive skin?
Rice extract helps dry, sensitive skin by boosting hydration, reducing roughness, and calming irritation. It provides antioxidant protection and supports a smooth, soft feel without causing discomfort.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This clarifying polishing mask fits in a dry sensitive skin routine as a weekly step, used on a weekly wash day after your makeup remover and cleanser, followed by a nourishing mask, treatment, and moisturizer. Because this skin needs extra moisture, a mask of this type works best when it includes rich hydrating and softening ingredients like shea butter and glycerin to counter the drying effects of physical and chemical exfoliants.
Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this mask in your routine, but because it is exfoliating and can dry out your skin, you should not use it on the same night as your retinol treatment. Instead, use a nourishing mask on your weekly mask day and apply your retinol on a separate evening, making sure to follow up with a rich moisturizer to keep your dry skin soft and comfortable.
How often should I use this mask?
This mask works for your dry sensitive skin once a week as part of your weekly routine, though other products fit your skin better. Because your skin is dry, a product of this type needs rich softening ingredients and heavy sealants to lock in moisture without scrubbing away delicate flakes.
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This mask is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on dry sensitive skin, as its formula is safe and free of harsh ingredients that typically trigger irritation. A product of this type needs rich ingredients like extra oils, butters, and barrier-protecting components to keep dry skin comfortable and properly hydrated.
Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, citral, citronellol, linalool, and eugenol) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
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, 2017A topical xanthan gum nanogel containing gamma-oryzanol-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers and nanosized TiO2 and MBBT filters demonstrated high photoprotection with an SPF of 34 and no skin irritation or sensitization in a rat model.
Pharmaceuticals, 2023Enzyme-modified ginseng extract cream significantly reduced the global photo-damage score and various roughness measures including total roughness, smoothness depth, and arithmetic roughness average compared to placebo in 23 human subjects.
Rejuvenation Research, 2015A red ginseng hydrogel formulation with 1,2-hexanediol promoted selective growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and decreased Cutibacterium acnes in 20 female subjects.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2022A 1% fermented black ginseng cream significantly reduced eye wrinkles and brightened skin color in twenty-three human subjects compared to control cream and baseline.
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A, 2020Daily application of a cream containing niosomes loaded with purple glutinous rice extract in 20 human volunteers for 28 days resulted in a significant decrease in melanin index and skin roughness by -14.05% and -9.95%, and increases in skin hydration and elastic recovery by +48.73% and +35.98% compared to initial values.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020The iontophoretic delivery of hyaluronic acid nanogel-loaded Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate significantly reduced advanced glycation end products and mitigated skin stiffening in an ex vivo skin tissue glycation model.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2025Red rice extract suppressed UVB-induced inflammation and skin aging in human skin fibroblasts by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway, leading to decreased NF-kappa B and AP-1 activation, reduced ECM degradation, and increased ECM synthesis compared to UVB-irradiated controls.
Natural Product Communications, 2016A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical Luffa cylindrica extract suppressed plasma IgE levels by 36% and histamine by 41%, and reduced AD-like skin lesions in Dermatophagoides farinae-sensitized Nc/Nga mice compared to untreated sensitized mice.
Pharmaceutical Biology, 2015Luffa cylindrica stem sap stimulated growth and migration, induced type I procollagen and elastin synthesis, downregulated proteinases, and reversed UV-A-induced damage in human skin fibroblasts.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2021
Why other cleansing masks fit dry sensitive skin better
Topical application of a 6% green tea extract formulation increased skin moisture, enhanced skin elasticity, and improved skin microrelief by reducing roughness in 24 volunteers compared to vehicle and control over 30 days.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2013Gluconolactone treatment significantly increased facial skin hydration in 16 healthy women, with no significant differences between 10% and 30% solutions.
Skin Research and Technology, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Luffa Cylindrica Fruit, Kaolin, Sesamum Indicum Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Peg-100 Stearate, Alcohol Denat, Decyl Glucoside, Alba Beeswax Cera, Perlite, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Propylene Glycol, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Limonene, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Menthol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Citral, Citronellol, Linalool, Menthoxypropanediol, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Eugenol, Dextrin, Rice Extract, Ci 77891 Titanium Dioxide
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
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