Final Up to date on November 2, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Look, we’ve all had these mornings the place you look within the mirror and your face is simply pissed off at you. Clogged pores in all places, oily as hell, and people annoying little bumps that refuse to go away it doesn’t matter what you do. It’s exhausting. And after attempting what looks like each product ever made, you’re most likely questioning if a sulfur masks is gonna be the factor that lastly works or simply one other waste of cash accumulating mud underneath your sink. So I’m doing this Proactiv Plus Pores and skin Purifying Masks evaluation to interrupt down what’s really on this factor, the way it works in your pores and skin (the actual science, not the advertising BS), and whether or not it’s price shopping for or not.
Key Elements in Proactiv Plus Pores and skin Purifying Masks: What Makes It Work?
SULFUR
Sulfur’s the star right here at 6%, which is a reasonably strong quantity. Yeah, it could possibly odor kinda gross (like rotten eggs if we’re being trustworthy), however there’s a legit purpose dermatologists have been obsessive about this ingredient perpetually. Right here’s what sulfur does: it’s antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal all on the similar time. When it hits your pores and skin, enzymes convert it into hydrogen sulfide, which kills the micro organism that causes pimples whereas drying out extra oil and stopping your pores from clogging up.
t’s additionally keratolytic, which mainly means it helps your lifeless pores and skin cells shed the way in which they’re alleged to as an alternative of piling up and blocking your pores. Research present it could possibly shrink breakouts and cut back redness in actually in the future, and it’s method gentler than benzoyl peroxide, so in case your pores and skin freaks out simply, this would possibly really be just right for you.
However actual discuss, there are downsides. It will possibly dry your pores and skin out if you happen to go overboard, and the excessive pH means an excessive amount of use can really injury your pores and skin barrier. This is the reason I like to recommend it ONLY as a spot therapy. Some formulation odor dangerous, and when firms add perfume to cowl it up, that perfume could make your breakouts worse.
Associated: All the things You Want To Know About Sulfur In Skincare
The Relaxation Of The Components & Elements
NOTE: The colors point out the effectiveness of an ingredient. It’s ILLEGAL to place poisonous and dangerous substances in skincare merchandise.
- Inexperienced: It’s efficient, confirmed to work, and helps the product do the absolute best job on your pores and skin.
- Yellow: There’s not a lot proof it really works (at the very least, but).
- Crimson: What is that this doing right here?!
- Butylene Glycol: So this pulls moisture into your pores and skin and makes the entire thing really feel clean if you’re slapping it in your face. It’s mainly there to maintain all the things blended properly and cease your pores and skin from turning into the Sahara whereas the sulfur’s doing its job.
- Ceteareth-20: This stops all of the oil and water substances from divorcing one another within the tube. It additionally helps the masks really wash off as an alternative of simply sitting there in your face like a cussed movie you may’t eliminate.
- Cetearyl Alcohol: Okay don’t freak if you see alcohol as a result of that is the great form, the fatty form that really moisturizes. It makes the masks creamy as an alternative of some runny mess that slides off your face.
- Chromium Hydroxide Inexperienced: Actually simply inexperienced dye to make you’re feeling such as you’re at a spa. Does zero issues on your precise pores and skin, pure vibes solely.
- Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract: That is lemongrass, smells contemporary, kills some micro organism. Actually it’s simply right here for backup, not doing something main. It might trigger irritations in some individuals.
- Ethoxydiglycol: Makes it simpler for the sulfur to really get into your pores and skin as an alternative of simply sitting on prime doing nothing. Additionally retains all of the substances from separating into bizarre layers.
- Perfume: They threw this in to cowl up the rotten egg odor from sulfur. Which, okay high-quality, however perfume pisses off lots of people’s pores and skin so if you happen to’re delicate this is likely to be an issue.
- Geranium Maculatum Extract: It has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Glycereth-26: Holds onto moisture so that you don’t really feel like your face is gonna crack after utilizing this. Balances out the drying scenario from the sulfur and clay.
- Hydrated Silica: Just about fancy sand that soaks up oil and gently scrubs off lifeless pores and skin. Not harsh about it although, simply frivolously buffing issues away.
- Kaolin: Light white clay that digs into your pores and yanks out the filth and oil with out wrecking your pores and skin. Absorbs the greasy stuff with out taking away the oil your pores and skin really must operate. Tremendous delicate so even delicate pores and skin can normally deal with it.
- Linoleic Acid: Omega-6 that retains your pores and skin barrier wholesome and weirdly sufficient helps management oil though it’s an oil itself. Your pores and skin wants this, particularly if you happen to’re oily (yeah that sounds backwards however it’s true).
- Linolenic Acid: Omega-3 that works with the linoleic acid to maintain your barrier robust and calm irritation down. Principally injury management whereas all the things else is working.
- Magnesium Aluminum Silicate: Makes the masks thick and in addition soaks up oil. Simply serving to the opposite clay substances do their factor.
- Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil: Tea tree oil, kills micro organism, reduces redness. Basic pimples ingredient that smells tremendous natural and kinda medicinal actually.
- Paraffin: Wax that makes it creamy and stops moisture from escaping whilst you’ve received the masks on. Some individuals don’t like petroleum stuff so simply so .
- Phenoxyethanol: Stops micro organism and mould from rising within the tube. Each skincare product wants a preservative or it’ll go dangerous, that is simply doing that job.
- Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate: Light cleanser that helps you really wash this off with out feeling such as you scrubbed your face uncooked. Made out of an amino acid so it’s fairly delicate.
- Titanium Dioxide: White pigment that makes the masks look pale and clear. Similar stuff in sunscreen, has some soothing properties however actually it’s largely right here to look fairly.
- Tocopheryl Acetate: Vitamin E that protects your pores and skin from getting broken and helps it heal up. Additionally retains moisture by which issues when sulfur’s attempting to dry you out.
- Water: The bottom. Each liquid skincare product is usually water. Nothing thrilling occurring right here.
- Zinc Oxide: Sunscreen ingredient that additionally calms down redness and fights micro organism a bit. Groups up with the sulfur to maintain pimples in verify and cease your face from trying offended.
Texture
It’s creamy and sort of lotion-y, not tremendous thick such as you’d anticipate from a clay masks. Spreads on straightforward with out dragging your pores and skin round. As soon as it’s chilling in your face it begins drying and you may really feel it tightening up. Dries down matte however doesn’t flip right into a loopy cracky scenario.
Perfume
It smells like sulfur. They tried to cowl it up with perfume and tea tree oil however you may nonetheless odor that mineral-y, kinda medicinal vibe. Not gonna lie, it’s not nice however it’s additionally not horrible sufficient to make you gag. Simply don’t anticipate it to odor like roses. Plus, perfume can irritate delicate pores and skin (and acne-prone pores and skin is delicate).
How To Use It
The directions say to make use of it as a masks: wash your face, depart it a bit damp if you’d like. Squeeze a tiny quantity out and slap it on wherever you escape – brow, nostril, chin, wherever. Depart it for like 10 minutes, possibly 15 max however don’t push it otherwise you’ll dry your self out. Rinse with heat water. I do NOT suggest this. Sulfur is harsh and there’s no have to unfold it onto wholesome areas of your pores and skin. Use it as a spot remedies on pimples solely.
Packaging
Is available in a tube. Fairly primary, does the job. It’s squeezable and hygienic because you’re not dipping your fingers right into a jar.
Efficiency & Private Opinion
The sulfur actually does work on breakouts. When used as a spot therapy in a single day, pimples are noticeably smaller and fewer purple by morning. It absorbs oil nicely and does assist forestall new breakouts from forming when used constantly. The kaolin clay helps pull out impurities with out being overly harsh. The formulation additionally appears to have modified over time, turning into thinner and extra runny than the unique thick clay consistency. The masks will be drying, particularly if you happen to overuse it or have naturally dry pores and skin. And washing it off takes a little bit of effort – it doesn’t simply rinse away immediately (another reason to make use of it as a spot therapy solely!). The perfume they added to masks the sulfur odor will be irritating for delicate pores and skin, which is sort of ironic since sulfur itself is meant to be gentler than benzoyl peroxide.
What I Like About Proactiv Plus Pores and skin Purifying Masks
- Sulfur really shrinks pimples, particularly in a single day
- Soaks up oil like no person’s enterprise
- Can use it a number of instances every week with out destroying your face
- Works as each a masks and spot therapy
- See outcomes fairly quick, like subsequent day
What I DON’T Like About Proactiv Plus Pores and skin Purifying Masks
- Smells like sulfur even with the added perfume
- Dries your pores and skin out if you happen to overdo it
- Components’s thinner and extra watery than it needs to be
- Added perfume can irritate delicate pores and skin
- Takes effort to scrub off fully
Who Ought to Use This?
- Works for delicate to reasonable pimples – whiteheads, blackheads, random pimples right here and there.
- Good if you happen to’ve received oily pores and skin or mixture pores and skin that breaks out.
- Additionally strong if benzoyl peroxide makes your face freak out since sulfur’s much less harsh.
- Don’t trouble if you happen to’ve received severe cystic pimples as a result of 6% sulfur isn’t gonna lower it.
- Additionally skip it in case your pores and skin’s tremendous dry or delicate except you’re solely spot treating.
- And if perfume pisses off your pores and skin otherwise you hate sulfur smells, save your cash.
Does Proactiv Plus Pores and skin Purifying Masks Stay Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| This potent deep-cleansing sulfur masks is formulated to clear pimples blemishes, soak up extra oil and assist forestall new breakouts from forming. | True. |
| Helps alleviate irritation and reduces the looks of redness. | True. |
| Deep cleans pores and shrinks their look. | Solely salicylic acid can deep cleanse pores and it’s not right here. However pore dimension does look smaller when pimples is healed. |
| Helps cut back extra oil and shine. | True. |
| Developed to assist moisturize the pores and skin. | Might have been the intention, however it’s not notably moisturising. |
Value & Availability
$40 at Proactiv
The Verdict: Ought to You Purchase It?
Actual discuss: It’s an okay sulfur masks that does the job, however it’s not one of the best bang on your buck or the strongest formulation on the market. If it’s on sale otherwise you’re a Proactiv loyalist, go forward. In any other case search for a ten% sulfur masks with out added perfume.
Lively Ingredient: Sulfur 6%
Inactive Elements: butylene glycol, ceteareth-20, cetearyl alcohol, chromium hydroxide inexperienced, cymbopogon schoenanthus extract, ethoxydiglycol, perfume, geranium maculatum extract, glycereth-26, hydrated silica, kaolin, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, magnesium aluminum silicate, melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, paraffin, phenoxyethanol, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, titanium dioxide, tocopheryl acetate, water, zinc oxide
