Neutrogena Deep Clean Purifying Clay Cleanser/Mask for sensitive skin
Salicylic Acid
Kaolin
Bentonite
Glycerin
Glycolic AcidCaution
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for sensitive skin; the cleansing masks alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 exfoliation and pore-cleansing benefits for redness and irritation due to the presence of salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which can potentially irritate sensitive skin.
- Suitable for normal skin due to kaolin and bentonite for mild oil absorption, but lacks sufficient humectants like glycerin to fully address normal skin's hydration needs.
How to apply
- Use this cleansing mask once a week as part of your weekly routine, starting slowly to see how your skin reacts.
- Apply this product after cleansing and enzyme powder, and before your hydrating toner and moisturizer.
- Smooth an even layer of the cleansing mask over your face, making sure to gently avoid rubbing.
- Put the mask on clean and dry skin to keep your sensitive face calm and comfortable.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid getting the mask too close to your eyes.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and acne-prone skin frequently praise this 2-in-1 cleanser and mask for its deep pore cleansing and breakout reduction capabilities. A moderate number of users appreciate the refreshing cooling sensation and acne-fighting properties, with some noting it softens skin texture. Conversely, a low to moderate number of users with sensitive skin report irritation, burning, and dryness, while a moderate number find the scent overpowering and a low number experience difficulty rinsing or report it caused breakouts.
Highlights
Effective deep cleaning Mostly Mentioned
- “removes oil”
- “unclogs pores”
- “feels fresh”
Versatile 2-in-1 Often Mentioned
- “convenient”
- “time-saving”
- “multi-use”
Helps with acne Sometimes Noted
- “reduces breakouts”
- “clears congestion”
- “treats body acne”
Refreshing cooling Sometimes Noted
- “tingly feel”
- “wakes up skin”
- “menthol effect”
Softens skin Sometimes Noted
- “smooth finish”
- “healthy look”
- “non-stripping”
Drying/Stripping Sometimes Noted
- “dry patches”
- “tight skin”
- “requires heavy moisturizer”
Skin irritation Sometimes Noted
- “chemical burns”
- “stinging”
- “redness”
- “sensitive skin reaction”
Strong scent Sometimes Noted
- “menthol smell”
- “overpowering fragrance”
- “chemical odor”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “purging”
- “cystic flare-ups”
- “bad reaction”
Difficult to rinse Rarely Noted
- “residue left”
- “requires scrubbing”
- “messy removal”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, neutrogena.com, beautycrew.com.au, woolworths.com.au, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Neutrogena Deep Clean Purifying Clay Cleanser/Mask for sensitive skin?
This cleanser and mask contains strong exfoliating acids that can potentially irritate sensitive skin and worsen redness. Sensitive skin needs a product of this type that features soothing and hydrating ingredients to keep the skin calm and comfortable.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid and glycolic acid make this cleanser a poor fit because they provide moderate exfoliation and pore-cleansing that can potentially irritate sensitive skin. A cleansing mask for this skin needs soothing agents and gentle hydrating ingredients to keep the skin calm and comfortable.
What does Salicylic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid may cause irritation on sensitive skin, so it requires careful use and good sun protection to keep skin comfortable. A product for this skin type needs gentle, soothing ingredients and a mild formula that respects the skin barrier.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999International Journal of Toxicology, 2003
What does Kaolin Clay do for sensitive skin?
Kaolin clay is a gentle mineral powder that helps absorb excess oil and impurities from the skin. However, because fine particles may cause irritation and stress in skin cells, it requires careful use on sensitive skin.
Genes and Environment, 2020International Journal of Toxicology, 2003
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This product is a poor match for sensitive skin because its exfoliating acids can cause redness and irritation, requiring a product of this type to feature gentle, calming ingredients and mild hydration instead. When used on less reactive skin types, it fits into a routine as a cleanser or mask, but sensitive skin needs a very gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and a nourishing mask.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a poor match for sensitive skin because its acids can potentially cause redness and irritation. Sensitive skin needs a gentle, hydrating cleanser and soothing ingredients to keep skin calm and comfortable.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores since it helps clean them out, but it may cause irritation and dryness on sensitive skin due to strong exfoliating acids. Sensitive skin needs a gentle cleanser with soothing ingredients and mild hydrators instead.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Cryotherapy 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, 2024Vectorization 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, 2001Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Kaolin, Bentonite, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Trideceth-9, Peg-5 Ethylhexanoate, Xanthan Gum, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, Menthyl Lactate, Panthenol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Disodium Edta, Titanium Dioxide, Green 3
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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