The Ingredient: Sulfur
The Product: Dr. Dennis Gross Clarifying Colloidal Sulfur Mask ($42)
Sulfur: smells like farts but works like a charm on acneic skin. The stinky mineral is naturally antibacterial, so it both prohibits and gets rid of acne-causing bacteria. It also is what's called a keratolytic, meaning it helps your pores shed all those excess dead skin cells. It works like salicylic and benzoyl put together, only in a much kinder, gentler way. If you've found your skin gets easily irritated whenever you use an acne treatment, sulfur might be your savior.
We can't say enough good things about this mask from complexion magician Dr. Dennis Gross. It uses a mix of retinol, sulfur, bentonite clay, and prickly pear to absorb oil, mattify skin, increase moisture levels, and shrink blemishes. You can leave it on for 10 minutes and wash it off, but we find we get the best results when we apply a thin layer, let it dry, and then head to bed. You'll wake up looking fresh-faced in every sense of the word.
