So you know that pink sulfur mask everyone and their dermatologist hoarded? Kate Somerville just swapped the formula. And the internet is *not* chill about it.
The old one smelled like a fancy match strike. The new one? Smells like a pool floatie left in the sun. That’s your first clue.
It’s still a $44 2oz tube of sulfur-zinc mayhem. The claim: “Same results, cleaner ingredients.” I called bullshit. Bought it anyway.
Sulfur percentage dropped
Went from 10% to 7.5%. That’s a 25% nerf on the active that actually kills acne.
Zinc oxide replaced
Old formula used zinc oxide. New one uses zinc PCA. Sounds minor — it changes the drying sensation completely.
Added niacinamide
In theory, calms redness. In practice, makes it feel less like a mask and more like a serum that got lost.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
New formula swapped in aloe and niacinamide to offset the lower sulfur. Smart on paper. On my chin? Different story.
- Sulfur (7.5%): Still the bouncer for bacteria
- Zinc PCA: Gentler drying than oxide but slower acting
- Niacinamide 2%: Helps redness but dilutes the sulfur punch
- Aloe Vera: Makes it spreadable but less ‘crusty’ — which is the whole point
Photo: Soheil Kmp / Unsplash
Old mask was a thick clay paste that dried into a chalky shell. New one is thinner — like runny yogurt with sand. It doesn’t crack, it just… sits there.
Week 2: My usual chin cyst took 4 days instead of 2 to flatten. But my dry patches didn’t peel. Trade-off feels real.
Photo: Jocelyn Morales / Unsplash
Smaller whiteheads? Gone in 8 hours. Deep underground cysts? The old formula was faster. New one is kinder but slower — like a gentle friend who takes forever to get to the point.
It’s not bad. It’s just not *the* mask anymore. The original was a weapon — this is a tool. Fine for maintenance, weak for emergencies.