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ZO Skin Health Complexion Clearing Masque for oily skin

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

ZO Skin Health Complexion Clearing Masque

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 benefits for your oily skin as sulfur and kaolin absorb excess oil and help with breakouts, providing supportive care for your main goal of reducing oily shine.
  • The formula is highly suitable for oily skin due to the presence of sulfur and kaolin, which offer excellent seboregulation and absorption of excess sebum.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

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

★4.9Overall rating based on 100+ reviews

Based on limited data, this product is highly effective for acne-prone and oily skin, with users frequently noting its ability to clear breakouts and act as a spot treatment. It is also praised for absorbing excess oil and pores without over-drying the skin. A moderate number of users mention a strong, lingering sulfur smell, and a low number report potential for dryness with overuse or issues with the scent lingering on towels.

Highlights

  • Clears acne breakouts Mostly Mentioned
    • “There's always at least a 50% reduction in size and takes redness away!”
    • “I swear a zit is nearly gone the next morning.”
    • “My daughter's skin is 90% more clear.”
    • “In the morning they are nearly dried out and done!”
  • Effective spot treatment Often Mentioned
    • “I use this as a spot treatment.”
    • “Most magical mask/spot treatment ever.”
    • “Love this mask for makeup prep and spot treatment!”
    • “I use it mostly as a spot treatment for pimples overnight.”
  • Doesn't over-dry Sometimes Noted
    • “Leaves my skin feeling very clean without being super dry.”
    • “Hydrates the skin to combat dryness.”
    • “Leaves your complexion looking fresh and balanced.”
    • “Without stripping the skin.”
  • Reduces oil/pores Sometimes Noted
    • “Very affective to reduce oil and make my pore smaller.”
    • “Absorbs excess oil that can lead to future breakouts.”
    • “Helps unclog congested pores, reduce surface oil.”
    • “Helps absorb oil and creates a thicker product consistency.”
  • Strong sulfur smell Sometimes Noted
    • “I can't get over the sulfur smell it was AWFUL.”
    • “Leaves an awful smell of rotten eggs/sulfur.”
    • “Some mention mixed feelings about breakouts and the smell.”
    • “I only used it once and plan to never use it again because of the smell.”
  • Lingers on towels Rarely Noted
    • “Leaves an awful smell of rotten eggs/sulfur on your towels if wipe it off with that.”
    • “So glad I rinsed it off in the shower and didn't use a towel.”
    • “Awful smell of rotten eggs/sulfur on your towels.”
  • Potential for dryness Rarely Noted
    • “It can dry the skin so I would not recommend it to be used too often.”
    • “If you overuse it, it might dry your skin.”
    • “If bothersome dryness or peeling occurs, reduce application.”

Sources: lovi.care, zoskinhealth.com, skinclique.com, myfacedr.com, antiagingvancouver.com, bskinenvie.ca, and more

Questions and answers

How well does ZO Complexion Clearing Masque work for oily skin?

This cleansing mask offers moderate benefits for oily skin, as sulfur and kaolin absorb excess oil and help with breakouts. It is unlikely to cause irritation and provides supportive care for reducing oily shine, though a cleansing mask for this skin needs salicylic acid, zinc oxide, or niacinamide along with purifying clays to manage oiliness and enhance texture more effectively.

Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2009Carbohydrate Polymers, 2017

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

Sulfur and kaolin make this mask a good fit for oily skin because they absorb excess oil and help with breakouts. A product of this type needs effective ingredients like salicylic acid and zinc oxide to provide better detoxifying and clarifying benefits for oily skin.

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 goes in your weekly routine after a cleanser and enzyme powder, followed by a hydrating toner, treatment, and moisturizer. To give oily skin the best care, this type of product needs ingredients like sulfur and kaolin to absorb excess oil and help with breakouts.

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

You can use this mask in your weekly routine, but it is best to avoid applying it on the exact same nights you use retinol to help prevent dryness and irritation. When using both, use the mask during your weekly treatment step and save your retinol for your regular evening routine on a different night.

How often should I use this mask?

This mask works well as a weekly step in your routine, helping to absorb excess oil and clear breakouts. To get better results for oily skin, this type of product needs stronger oil-balancing and purifying ingredients like salicylic acid or clay formulas used more consistently.

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 its sulfur and kaolin help absorb excess oil and clear up blemishes without harsh ingredients. An oily skin routine like this works best with ingredients like clay and sulfur to control shine and keep pores clear.

Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

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

What the research says

  • 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

  • Quaternized 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, 2017

  • A 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, 2020

  • Bentonite 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, 2025

  • 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, 2017

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

Ingredients

Water, Bentonite, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylene Brassylate, Glycerin, Kaolin, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Silica, Sulfur, Talc, Tetrasodium Edta, Ultramarines

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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How does it fit your skin?

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