Clear Purifying Clay Mask

Paula's Choice

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The Paula's Choice Clear Purifying Clay Mask is a wash-off mask. Our analysis of its 33 ingredients (26 low-risk) rates it Excellent (97/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Wash-Off Mask
Ingredients
33
Low-risk
26
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
United States

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 7/9
Good for dry skin
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Cetyl Esters Copper PCA Butylene Glycol Glycerin Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Zinc PCA
Caution for dry skin
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Illite Xanthan Gum Kaolin Glycerin Salicylic Acid Bentonite Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 2/0
Good for oily/acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Sensitive Skin 4/8
Good for sensitive skin
Kaolin Glycerin Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Allantoin
Caution for sensitive skin
Sodium Citrate Sodium Chloride Butylene Glycol Glycerin Salicylic Acid Citric Acid Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract Phenoxyethanol

Ingredients list

33 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (4)
All33 Skin Conditioning28 Viscosity Controlling8 Humectant6 Fragrance6 Masking6 Skin Protecting6 Absorbent5 Viscosity Increasing Agent4
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
4
B
Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
A
Kaolin
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Skin Protecting, Slip Modifier)
2
A
Bentonite
(Absorbent, Bulking Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
3
Titanium Dioxide
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying, Sunscreen Agent, Uv Absorber)
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
A
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Antimicrobial)
1
B
Cetyl Esters
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient)
1
A
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
(Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Opacifying, Slip Modifier, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
2
A
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
Illite
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent)
1
A
Tapioca Starch
(Viscosity Increasing Agent)
Zea Mays Starch
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Controlling)
1
B
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
HYDROLYZED RHODOPHYCEAE EXTRACT
(Not Reported)
1
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Epilobium Fleischeri Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
(Skin Conditioning)
BRASSICA CAMPESTRIS SEED OIL
(Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing)
3
Zinc PCA
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
1
Copper PCA
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning)
1
B
Lauroyl Lysine
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling)
3
B
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
(Antistatic Agent, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foaming, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
2
A
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
1
A
Sodium Citrate
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Chelating, Masking)
1
Sodium Chloride
(Bulking Agent, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
1
A
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning)

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

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Key ingredients

Salicylic Acid
Exfoliant, Skin Conditioning
Kaolin
Skin Protecting
Titanium Dioxide
Uv Absorber
Butylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning, Humectant
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Cetyl Esters
Skin Conditioning, Emollient

Benefits

Good for oily/acne-prone skin

Concerns

Contains paraben
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
May not suit dry skin
May not suit sensitive skin

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Kaolin
Abrasive, Absorbent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A AbrasiveAbsorbentAnticaking agentBulking agentOpacifyingSkin protectingSlip modifier
Bentonite
Absorbent, Bulking agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A AbsorbentBulking agentEmulsion stabilisingOpacifyingSuspending agent -nonsurfactantViscosity increasing agentViscosity controlling
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningEmollientAntimicrobial
Cetyl Esters
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Skin conditioningEmollient
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Absorbent, Anticaking agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A AbsorbentAnticaking agentOpacifyingSlip modifierViscosity increasing agentViscosity controlling
Illite
Abrasive, Absorbent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 AbrasiveAbsorbentAnticaking agentBulking agent
Tapioca Starch
Viscosity increasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Viscosity increasing agent
Zea Mays Starch
Abrasive, Absorbent
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AbrasiveAbsorbentAnticakingSkin protectingViscosity controlling
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioning
Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
HYDROLYZED RHODOPHYCEAE EXTRACT
Not reported
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Not reported
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Epilobium Fleischeri Extract
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
+ 10 more — see the full ingredients list above
Salicylic Acid
Antiacne agent, Antidandruff agent
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B Antiacne agentAntidandruff agentCorn/callus/wart removerDenaturantExfoliantFragranceHair conditioningSkin conditioningKeratolyticMaskingPreservative Good for Oily SkinBad for Sensitive Skin
Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic colorant, Opacifying
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 1–3 Cosmetic colorantOpacifyingSunscreen agentUv absorber Good for Sensitive Skin
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B AntimicrobialAntioxidantAstringentEmollientHumectantMaskingOral care agentSkin conditioningSkin protectingTonicUv absorber Good for Oily Skin
Allantoin
Skin conditioning, Skin protecting
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningSkin protectingSoothing Good for Oily SkinGood for Sensitive Skin
Citric Acid
Chelating agent, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Chelating agentFragrancePh adjusterBuffering agentMasking Bad for Sensitive Skin
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Use as the first step, on clean hands, before the rest of your routine.
  • 2 Morning only: Apply as the last step of your AM routine, after moisturiser, and reapply every ~2 hours of sun exposure.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Use with caution
BHA (salicylic) (Salicylic Acid)

Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.

This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

BHA (salicylic) 0.5–2%

Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.

Salicylic Acid

INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.

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