Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Mud Mask for oily skin
Salicylic Acid
Charcoal Powder
Kaolin
Bentonite
Centella Asiatica Extract
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
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 pore-refining benefits for your oily skin, as kaolin and charcoal powder help absorb excess sebum and impurities, while salicylic acid exfoliates and decongests pores.
- While the formula is highly suitable for oily skin due to seboregulating and keratolytic actions, it does not specifically target oily shine.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing agents like Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Centella Asiatica Extract.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this clay mask is highly favored by users with oily and combination skin for its rapid 3-minute drying time and immediate cooling effect. It effectively refines skin texture and reduces the appearance of surface oil and pores. Some users with sensitive skin report it can be drying, and it may not fully extract deep blackheads in one application.
Highlights
Cooling sensation Mostly Mentioned
- “feels amazing and cooling”
- “lowers skin temperature”
- “soothing upon application”
- “refreshing menthol feel”
Fast drying time Often Mentioned
- “dries super fast”
- “efficient for busy routines”
- “sets in 3 minutes”
- “no long wait”
Smoother skin texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels baby soft”
- “nose felt incredibly smooth”
- “texture looks refined”
- “makeup applies better”
Drying and tightness Often Mentioned
- “skin felt very tight”
- “too drying for dry areas”
- “need moisturizer immediately”
- “left face feeling parched”
Oil control Sometimes Noted
- “great for oily t-zone”
- “removes surface gunk”
- “skin feels detoxed”
- “less oily next day”
Pore tightening Sometimes Noted
- “pores look tighter”
- “skin feels firm”
- “visible reduction in pore size”
- “tightens up the skin”
Incomplete extraction Sometimes Noted
- “didn't remove deep blackheads”
- “surface clean only”
- “blackheads still visible”
- “better for oil than extraction”
Mild irritation Rarely Noted
- “skin was slightly red”
- “caused mild irritation”
- “tingling sensation”
- “sensitive skin turned pink”
Removal difficulty Rarely Noted
- “hard to wash off completely”
- “residue left in pores”
- “requires scrubbing to remove”
- “messy removal process”
Strong scent Rarely Noted
- “smells medicinal”
- “strong essential oil scent”
- “scent lingers”
- “perfume smell is concerning”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, medicube.us, yesstyle.com, stylekorean.com, oliveyoung.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Mud Mask work for oily skin?
This mask offers moderate pore-refining benefits for your oily skin by absorbing excess oil and clearing pores, though it does not specifically target oily shine. To best care for oily skin, a product needs effective ingredients that provide excellent oil control and reduce shine while keeping the skin calm and clear.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for oily skin?
This mask contains kaolin and charcoal powder to help absorb excess oil, along with salicylic acid to clear out pores. To be an even better fit for oily skin, a product of this type needs ingredients that effectively reduce oily shine while providing strong purifying and clarifying benefits.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?
Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
What does Charcoal Powder do for oily skin?
Charcoal Powder is unlikely to treat acne or provide exfoliative benefits for oily skin, as products with activated charcoal lack clinical evidence for these claims. An oily skin routine needs ingredients that balance oil production and gently clear pores.
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleansing mask fits into a weekly routine for oily skin, going after a cleanser and enzyme powder and before a hydrating toner. Oily skin also needs products that specifically target oily shine to keep excess oil completely under control.
BioMed Research International, 2020Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
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 using it on the same nights you apply retinol to prevent excess dryness and irritation. Use the mask first as part of your weekly steps, and save your retinol for a different night.
How often should I use this mask?
You can use this mask once a week as part of your weekly routine. People who tolerate exfoliating products well and see good results may carefully use them more often.
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it uses kaolin, charcoal powder, and salicylic acid to absorb excess oil and clear out pores. However, reviewers frequently mention a dry, tight feeling after use, so an oily skin type of this kind needs added hydrating ingredients and gentle moisture to keep the skin comfortable.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A 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, 2020Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009Cryotherapy 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, 2010Treatment 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 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010Soap-and-water wash and superactive charcoal paste applied topically at various times after T-2 toxin exposure effectively reduced skin lesion severity in swine compared to untreated controls.
Fundamental and Applied Toxicology, 1989Vectorization 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, 2025Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A 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, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Kaolin, Bentonite, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Charcoal Powder, Salicylic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Witch Hazel Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hyaluronic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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