Thanks to the Internet, skin care has become deeply and highly modernized. There are popular products (Korean hydrogel masks and milky toners come to mind), ingredients (PDRN, ectoin, and exosomes), and even techniques (skin-flooding is a recent example). This is both good and bad, depending on how you look at it.
It’s great that people are taking care of their skin better and more consistently than ever before. It’s also great that Instagram and TikTok help spread new skin care techniques and educate people (me included) on potentially beneficial products and practices. However, skin care was never meant to be one-size-fits-all. And, sometimes, expensive and/or popular products and ingredients are not the most effective. In fact, sometimes it is the most standard and “unsexy” people who perform most efficiently.
Take sulfur, for example. Yes, sulfur, as the chemical element you probably learned about in your high school chemistry class. (If I may refresh your memory, it can be seen on the periodic table with the symbol S and atomic number 16.) Standard? Yes. Unsexy? Definitely. Yet it remains one of the most effective skin care ingredients in 2026, especially if you’re using it to deal with Acne, redness, or irritation.
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sulfur for acne
Let’s start with the most well-known use of sulfur in skin care products – as a treatment for acne. According to experts, it can really make a difference and contribute to clear, calm skin. take from Paula Brzewsk, PA-CA board-certified physician associate specializing in cosmetic dermatology. “Sulphur is incredibly effective for acne because it works in several ways at once. It helps absorb excess oil, gently exfoliates dead skin cells, and has antibacterial properties that reduce acne-causing bacteria. What I love about sulfur is that it clears pores without being as aggressive as benzoyl peroxide, so you can treat breakouts while maintaining a healthy skin barrier. “
Natia Ruffolo FNP-C, a board-certified nurse practitioner and beauty injector, agrees and also highlights her four-part approach to treating and preventing breakouts: It’s 1) oil-absorbing, 2) exfoliating, 3) antibacterial, and 4) pore-opening. She also adds one more thing: soothing. “Sulphur helps soothe inflammation and reduces swelling.” The latter is why it’s also so beneficial for sensitive and/or irritated skin (but more on that in a minute).
Sulfur for redness/rosacea
Brandon Camp, MDSulfur, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, says sulfur is used in the treatment of redness and rosacea for the same reason it is used in the treatment of acne – its natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. “The redness in rosacea is caused by the dilation of superficial blood vessels in the skin,” she says. “The dilation of these vessels may be partly caused by inflammation; by calming the skin, sulfur-containing skin care products may reduce redness related to rosacea.”
Ruffolo echoes this, saying that when the right sulfur skin care products are used the results can be significant. “Sulphur can be absolutely beneficial for redness and rosacea-prone skin when used appropriately,” says Ruffolo. “It has mild anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which can help soothe irritation and reduce the overgrowth of microorganisms that can contribute to flare-ups. In low, well-formulated concentrations, it can help manage redness without irritating the skin too much.”
Brazewsk says he’s seen sulfur’s transformative effects on redness in his practice. “Sulphur can absolutely help with redness and rosacea,” she says. “It has anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce both background redness and inflamed lesions. In practice, I often see it used in combination formulas like sulfacetamide plus sulfur, which are very effective for calming rosacea-prone skin.”
sulfur for inflammation
Acne and rosacea are both inflammatory skin conditions, so it should come as no surprise that sulfur can also treat and prevent inflammation. (The secret, once again, is due to sulfur’s powerful anti-inflammatory properties. “Sulphur is interesting because it treats inflammation while being relatively gentle,” says Brzewsk. “It helps soothe irritated skin and reduce inflammation without the same level of irritation that you might see with stronger active ingredients.”
However, she notes that it can still be drying if used alone or in high concentrations, and Ruffolo agrees. “If it’s too strong or used excessively, it can disrupt the skin barrier and cause dryness or irritation, especially in already sensitive skin types,” she says. “It really depends on concentration and how incorporated it is into the routine.” (Hint: Pairing it with barrier-supporting ingredients like glycerin, ceramides, squalane, and niacinamide may help.)
What type of skin does sulfur benefit the most?
“Sulphur is best suited for oily, acne-prone or combination skin,” says Brzewsk. “It’s especially helpful for patients whose disease flares up easily but can’t tolerate drastic treatments. It’s also a great option for people who struggle with both acne and redness, which is a very common overlap.”
Ruffolo says it’s also a great option for people who can’t tolerate strong ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or retinoids, but still want to use something that will make a difference in their skin condition.
Is there any skin that should be kept free of sulfur?
Camp says most sulfur-based skin care products are well tolerated, but he still recommends doing a patch test, especially if your skin is sensitive. “People with very dry or damaged skin (such as eczema) may find sulfur products too drying or irritating,” he says.
Both Ruffolo and Bryzavasek agree. “I would recommend that people with very dry, compromised, or highly sensitive skin be cautious with sulfur,” says Ruffolo. “Due to its oil-absorbing and exfoliating effects, it can be a little over-drying and may increase irritation if the skin barrier is already impaired.”
If you find it too drying, Camp recommends using sulfur-based skin care products with caution, i.e. less frequently or with barrier-assistants. Moisturizer. Brezhavsk, on the other hand, has a useful tip to share. “I especially recommend sulfur in wash-off formats or targeted treatments rather than completely exfoliating in the beginning,” she says. “This helps prevent irritation, especially for those who are new to the ingredient or who have sensitive skin.”
And, last but not least, we have to talk about the smell of sulfur. This is extremely infamous, shameful and insulting. So, if you can’t deal with the smell of skin care products containing sulfur, you’re not alone. That said, there are some sulfur skin care products that lack a pronounced or distinctive odor, due to their formulation and mixture of other ingredients and fragrances. It all depends on your perception and preference.
Best Sulfur Skin Care Products
ordinary
Sulfur 10% Powder-to-Cream Concentrate Acne Spot Treatment
Ruffolo also recommends The Ordinary’s Sulfur 10% Powder-to-Cream Concentrate as a spot treatment for breakouts. It is “a high-concentration formulation that can quickly reduce redness and wound size, especially for inflammation.”
prequel
Redness Reform Sulfur Cleanser
If you struggle with redness and/or rosacea, as I do, I recommend Prequel’s Redness Reform Sulfur Cleanser. This view helps reduce redness, soothe reactivity, and gently cleanse skin without stripping it of moisture.
kate somerville
Eradikate™ 3% Sulfur Daily Foaming Cleanser + Acne Treatment
“This acne-fighting cleanser contains natural oat extract with sulfur, which balances sebum, and a botanical complex with honey and rice bran extract, which soothes the skin, fighting blackheads, sebaceous fibers, and blemishes,” says Camp.
cosmedics
Clear Deep Cleansing Mask
Cosmedix’s Clear Deep Cleansing Mask improves skin tone and texture and reduces the appearance of redness with sulfur, kaolin clay and tea tree oil.
ZO® Skin Health
color clarifying mask
“One product I often recommend is the ZO Skin Health Complexion Clearing Mask, which combines sulfur with oil-absorbing clay to help minimize pores and soothe inflammation,” says Brzewsk.
Vivant Skin Care
sulfur clay mask
“I also like Vivant Sulfur Clay Mask for more acne-prone patients,” says Brzewsk. “It contains a high concentration of sulfur and is paired with ingredients that help reduce oil and irritation, making it especially effective for active breakouts.”
peter thomas roth
Even Clear™ Therapeutic Sulfur Acne Mask
Camp says, “Composed of maximum strength 10% sulfur and kaolin and bentonite clay, this acne treatment mask gently exfoliates the skin, absorbs excess oil, and helps unclog pores to clear acne scars and help prevent their return.”
Bano
10% Sulfur Acne and Acne Spot Treatment
This spot treatment uses 10% sulfur to quickly reduce breakouts.
occasional
Visibly Clarifying and Calming Mask
This colloidal-sulfur mask uses the star ingredient, plus niacinamide and natural clay, to target acne and redness by gently exfoliating the skin and strengthening the moisture barrier.
