Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque for dry skin
Amazonian White Clay
Bentonite
Glycerin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceCaution
- LowDry Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for dry skin; the cleansing masks alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, 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 excellent pore cleansing for your dry skin due to high concentrations of kaolin and bentonite, which absorb excess oil and impurities, though these ingredients can also strip natural oils, limiting hydration benefits.
- While the product provides general skincare benefits like hydration and soothing, it lacks specialized ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or ceramides to significantly moisturize your dry or flaky skin.
How to apply
- Use this cleansing mask PM as part of your weekly routine, starting 1x/week and increasing slowly if needed. Always follow with a rich moisturizer to prevent dryness.
- Apply the cleansing mask after using your cleanser and enzyme powder, but before your hydrating toner and moisturizer. This ensures the mask works effectively on your dry skin.
- Smooth an even layer of the cleansing mask over your face while avoiding any rubbing. Let it sit for the recommended time before gently rinsing it off.
- Apply the cleansing mask to clean, dry skin for the best comfort. Since your skin is dry, this method helps prevent any potential irritation.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin tolerates the product well.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this clay mask is widely praised by users with oily and combination skin for its ability to deeply cleanse pores and reduce shine without being overly stripping. Most users report softer, smoother skin and visibly smaller pores. A minority experience immediate stinging or redness upon application.
Highlights
Leaves skin soft Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels incredibly soft afterwards”
- “texture feels refined and smooth”
- “face feels like a baby's bottom”
Deeply cleanses pores Often Mentioned
- “sucked the gunk out of my pores”
- “pores look noticeably smaller”
- “clears up sebaceous filaments”
Reduces excess oil Often Mentioned
- “keeps my oils at bay”
- “mattifies without drying me out”
- “great for my T-zone”
Non-drying formula Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't crack or feel tight”
- “creamy texture, not chalky”
- “less drying than other clay masks”
Burning/stinging sensation Sometimes Noted
- “burned my face immediately”
- “intense tingling upon application”
- “stings for the first few minutes”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for a clay mask”
- “pricey but lasts a long time”
- “not worth the money”
Messy removal Rarely Noted
- “hard to wash off completely”
- “need a washcloth to remove”
- “leaves a residue if not scrubbed”
Redness/irritation Rarely Noted
- “left my face bright red”
- “caused a breakout”
- “too harsh for sensitive skin”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, amazon.com, kiehls.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque for dry skin?
Lovi advises caution because this mask uses strong clays that absorb oil and impurities, which can strip natural oils from dry skin. It also lacks specialized moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides to help flaky skin stay soft and smooth. A cleansing mask for dry skin needs deep hydrating and soothing ingredients that protect the skin's moisture barrier without drying it further.
Which ingredients make this mask a poor fit for dry skin?
The clays like kaolin and bentonite make this mask a poor fit for dry skin because they absorb oil and may strip natural oils. Dry skin needs a product with deep moisturizers like hyaluronic acid or ceramides to keep skin soft and smooth.
What does Amazonian White Clay do for dry skin?
Amazonian White Clay helps remove excess oil and impurities, but it can be too drying for dry skin. Dry skin needs gentle, hydrating ingredients like glycerin and ceramides to keep skin soft and smooth.
What does Kaolin Clay do for dry skin?
Kaolin clay is generally not ideal for dry skin because it acts as an absorbent and can strip away natural oils. This type of skin needs soothing, moisture-locking ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or gentle plant oils to keep the surface soft and calm.
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This mask does not fit a dry skin routine well, because its clays absorb natural oils and can leave your skin even drier. Dry skin needs a nourishing mask with extra moisture-boosting ingredients instead.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You should use caution applying this mask with retinol because its strong clays may strip natural oils and dry out your skin further. A nourishing mask with hyaluronic acid or ceramides is better suited to help keep dry skin soft and smooth.
How often should I use this mask?
This mask is a poor match for your dry skin because clays like kaolin and bentonite absorb oil and can strip away your natural moisture. To care for dry skin, a product of this type needs nourishing ingredients and moisture-locking additions like hyaluronic acid and ceramides.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This mask is unlikely to clog pores since it relies on heavy clays that absorb oil and impurities, though it may cause irritation on dry skin. Dry skin needs a product with gentle hydrators and barrier-repair ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides to keep skin soft and comfortable.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
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, 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, 2001A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010
Ingredients
Water, Kaolin, Bentonite, Propanediol, Glycerin, Ci 77891 Titanium Dioxide, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Zea Mays Corn Starch, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Aloe Barbadensis Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Avena Sativa Oat Kernel Flour, Allantoin
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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