Introduction
Zitsticka is one of those clever breakout-busting brands that has quietly built a cult following while some skincare fans were busy chasing the latest viral serum. Its no-nonsense formulas and playful product names have earned it a reputation for results without the clinical snooze factor.
Enter the cheerfully named Pore Vac Pore Clearing Clay Mask. The brand calls it a deep-diving multi-masker powered by bentonite and kaolin clays plus a cocktail of acids, niacinamide and sulfur that are meant to suction debris from pores while staying kind to skin. They promise smoother texture, less redness and fewer future breakouts.
Intrigued, I slathered it on for a full two weeks in every recommended configuration: full face, T-zone and strategic spot treatments. Here’s how it fared and whether it deserves a spot in your routine or just a cameo on your bathroom shelf.
What is Pore Vac Pore Clearing Clay Mask?
Pore Vac sits in the wash-off mask category, which means you apply it to clean skin, let it dry, then rinse or wipe it away. Wash-off masks are popular for giving skin a short, concentrated hit of active ingredients without leaving anything behind that could irritate. They are often used two or three times a week to complement daily cleansers and serums.
This particular mask is built around two absorbent clays, bentonite and kaolin, that temporarily bind to surface oil and debris. Those minerals are joined by a blend of chemical exfoliants, niacinamide and a dash of sulfur. The idea is to loosen dead skin cells, soak up extra sebum, calm visible redness and make pores look less congested once you remove the mask.
It can be used three ways: all over the face, just on the T-zone or dotted onto individual spots. The brand positions it as a preventative step for people prone to clogged pores, blackheads or the odd breakout, but it is also framed as gentle enough for combination skin that only needs an occasional deep clean.
Did it work?
I did the “highly scientific” thing of shelving my usual wash off mask for four full days before starting Pore Vac, just to give it a clean arena to perform in. Fourteen days felt like a solid window to judge whether its clay-acid cocktail could make a dent in my congestion.
I stuck to the suggested three-times-a-week cadence. The first application was a full face layer that dried down in about 15 minutes with a faint vinegar tang and a mild cooling tingle. Rinsing revealed skin that felt satisfyingly matte yet not chalky, though my cheeks looked a little pink for half an hour. That post-mask smoothness lasted through the evening but by the next morning my T-zone was its regular shiny self again.
For round two I limited the mask to my forehead nose and chin. This spot-specific approach dodged the temporary redness and gave the same freshly vacuumed look to the pores on my nose. By the end of week one I noticed fewer obvious blackheads on that area and an angry whitehead on my chin had flattened out overnight after I dabbed a tiny blob of the mask on it.
Week two was where results plateaued. A third full face session left my skin feeling a touch dry despite a hydrating serum afterward. I scaled the next two uses back to the T-zone only. The mask continued to keep future breakouts at bay and smoothed the bumpy texture on my forehead but it never fully lived up to the promise of longer-lasting oil control. Twelve hours of matte time was the max I achieved.
So did it make good on its claims? Partly. It definitely lifted gunk from pores calmed the odd blemish and delivered a quick hit of smoothness without any major irritation. What it did not do was transform my skin to the point of earning a permanent slot in my rotation. I will happily finish the rest for pre-event tune-ups yet I will keep shopping for a mask that moves the needle a little further.
Ingredients decoded
Pore Vac’s headline act is its duo of clays. Bentonite swells when wet and behaves like a sponge for oil and impurities while kaolin gives a gentler, silkier drag that keeps the mask from feeling cement-like. Together they give the “vacuum” sensation the brand likes to brag about and they are what leave skin immediately matte after rinsing.
Next up is the four-acid blend: lactic, malic, tartaric and salicylic. The first three are alpha hydroxy acids that dissolve the glue between dead surface cells so texture looks smoother. Salicylic is a beta hydroxy acid that can actually wiggle into pores and unstick sebum plugs which is why blackheads look softer after one or two uses. Concentrations are not disclosed so the exfoliation is fairly measured rather than peel-level intense.
Niacinamide sits in the supporting cast at a respectable mid-list position. Over time it can help balance sebum output and fade the red or brown marks breakouts leave behind. Sulfur adds a subtle antibacterial kick and can dry down active pimples overnight although its earthy smell peeks through the apple cider vinegar tang.
Smoothing and soothing extras include aloe juice, chamomile extract and jojoba esters that keep the formula from feeling like pure clay. Castor seed oil shows up toward the end; it is nourishing but has a middling comedogenic rating which means it could theoretically clog pores for the very congestion-prone. If you are acne sensitive patch test first. A comedogenic ingredient is simply one that has the potential to block pores and trigger breakouts in susceptible skin.
The ingredient list is free of animal derivatives so vegans and vegetarians can use it with a clear conscience. There is no added fragrance though the natural vinegar-sulfur combo creates a faint pickle aroma that vanishes once the mask is off.
Pregnancy wise, the presence of salicylic acid and sulfur means you should check in with a healthcare professional before slathering it on. When in doubt skip actives until you get the green light.
Worth noting: the formula is water based, alcohol free and uses a preservative system that leans on radish root ferment rather than harsher parabens. Altogether it is a thoughtfully balanced recipe that tries to marry oil-sopping power with a little kindness, even if it does not totally replace a dedicated exfoliating serum for stubborn pores.
What I liked/didn’t like
Here are the highlights and hang-ups from my two week test drive.
What works well:
- Leaves skin noticeably smoother and pores look cleaner after a single use
- Versatile three way application lets you target trouble spots without overmasking
- Balances strong clays with soothing extracts so most combination skins can tolerate it
What to consider:
- Results are short lived so regular reapplication is needed to maintain that vacuumed finish
- Can cause temporary redness or dryness if used on drier areas of the face
- Natural vinegar and sulfur notes may bother sensitive noses despite the fragrance free claim
My final thoughts
Pore Vac lands firmly in the good-but-not-life-changing camp. After two weeks of side-by-side tests with other clay favourites in my cabinet I feel confident saying it earns its 7/10: dependable pore spring-clean, mild enough for combination skin and nifty as a spot rescue yet missing that long-game oil control some will crave. If you like the satisfaction of a clay mask yet fear the desert-dry aftermath this is a sensible step up from the old school muds. Those with oily to normal skin who enjoy a thrice-weekly detox will get the most mileage. Very dry or highly sensitive types may prefer something creamier and those chasing instant glass-skin drama might find the payoff too subtle.
Because one mask rarely rules them all I always keep a short list of alternates. The Pink Clay Glow Mask by Deascal remains my one-and-done recommendation for anyone wanting exfoliation brightening and pore clearing in a single swipe at a wallet-friendly price. If your main brief is blackhead control I still rate Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque which gives a stronger vacuum effect without tipping into irritation. For a gentle but thorough weekly purge Innisfree’s Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask is hard to beat on value and consistency. Finally when I want a more scientific spin with a noticeable post-mask glow I reach for NIOD’s Flavanone Mud which somehow manages to refine texture while leaving skin calm rather than tight. I have rotated through all of these enough times to vouch for their strengths and they each scratch a slightly different clay itch.
Before you dive into any of the above remember a wash-off mask is a supporting player not a soloist. Use it regularly alongside a balanced routine and you will keep congestion at bay yet the smoothness will fade if you slack off. As ever please patch test first (forgive the over-protective parent vibe) and listen to your skin’s feedback. Consistency plus patience, not miracles in twenty minutes, is what keeps pores looking their best.