Introduction
Sofie Pavitt Face may not yet be a household name outside of devoted estheticians and acne forums, but insiders speak of the New York facialist with a kind of reverence usually reserved for legacy brands. The line is small and purposeful, which makes each launch feel like it has been fussed over with the same care Pavitt gives her clients.
The latest fuss is Reset Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Mask. The name alone sounds like it is hitting a big red button on your breakouts, and the brand claims the mask format lets 5 percent benzoyl peroxide get in fast to calm active spots, sweep away dead cells and keep new blemishes from forming. Kaolin, panthenol and a touch of glycolic acid round out the pitch for clearer smoother skin.
I slathered it on every other night for a full two weeks, following the brand’s strict five-minute rule and pairing it with a forgiving moisturizer to see if Reset lives up to its confident moniker and whether it deserves a spot in an already crowded acne routine.
What is Reset Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Mask?
Reset belongs to the wash-off mask category, meaning you spread it over clean dry skin, leave it briefly, then rinse it away. Wash-off masks offer a middle ground for those who find leave-on acne gels too aggressive yet want more punch than a cleanser can provide.
The star ingredient is 5 percent benzoyl peroxide, a well-studied antibacterial that targets acne-causing bacteria and calms inflamed bumps. Because the mask stays on for only five minutes, it aims to deliver a therapeutic dose without the prolonged exposure that can lead to excessive dryness or peeling.
Kaolin clay adds oil-absorbing muscle, glycolic acid sweeps away dead skin to help keep pores clear and panthenol plus sodium hyaluronate counter potential dehydration. Together these extras round out a formula intended to clear active spots smooth texture and reduce the likelihood of new breakouts.
Anyone with very sensitive skin or a known intolerance to benzoyl peroxide should skip this product entirely and even resilient skin types are advised to patch test before slathering it on.
Did it work?
In the spirit of scientific rigor, I benched my usual clay mask for three days before starting Reset and congratulated myself on the groundbreaking methodology. Fourteen days felt like a fair trial window so I slotted the mask in every other evening after cleansing and before my barrier cream, timing the five minutes with the same seriousness I reserve for boiling pasta.
The first application tingled lightly around my chin and nose where I am most breakout prone. After rinsing I noticed the area looked calmer though a little tight. By the third use the angry whiteheads that had popped up along my jaw were flattening and I could practically feel the kaolin drinking up excess oil. What I also felt, however, was a creeping dryness around the corners of my mouth despite layering a generous moisturizer afterward. I scaled back to spot treating those stubborn zones instead of full-face masking and the discomfort settled.
Midway through the trial the mask had clearly curbed new eruptions. The tiny closed comedones on my cheeks were less noticeable and makeup sat smoother over the area. Texture improvements were modest but present. I cannot claim a miraculous purge of blackheads and there was one rogue cystic visitor that ignored the benzoyl peroxide entirely, yet overall the inflammation dialed down faster than it usually does with my standby salicylic cleanser.
By day fourteen my complexion looked clearer and less oily at midday though the trade-off was a lingering patch of flakiness that required extra hydration. Reset fulfilled its promise to shrink active spots quickly and keep new ones in check, but the balance between efficacy and comfort was delicate. I will probably stick with my gentler routine masks for maintenance and reach for this only during a breakout emergency. If your skin handles benzoyl peroxide well you may find a reliable ally here, just keep the moisturizer close.
Reset Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Mask’s main ingredients explained
The headliner is 5% benzoyl peroxide, a time tested antibacterial that dives into pores, delivers oxygen and wipes out the P. acnes bacteria responsible for inflamed spots. In a short contact mask it can blitz active blemishes with less risk of prolonged irritation, yet you still need to moisturize afterward because the ingredient is both potent and inherently drying.
Next up is a duo of oil magnets: kaolin and bentonite clays. Both sit on the low end of the comedogenic scale (meaning they are unlikely to clog pores) and work by soaking up excess sebum so skin feels drier for longer. The clays also give the mask its quick setting, easy rinse finish that keeps the five minute rule realistic.
Exfoliation comes from a modest amount of glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that loosens dead surface cells and helps smooth post breakout roughness. The inclusion is clever because it can lift residues that might otherwise oxidize into stubborn blackheads. Panthenol and sodium hyaluronate then step in to replenish water and offset the drying trio above, so the formula is not just a one note acne blaster.
Niacinamide is present for barrier support and redness reduction while tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) adds antioxidant backup. Retinyl palmitate, a vitamin A ester, appears low on the list but still warrants a pregnancy flag: dermatologists advise avoiding most topical vitamin A derivatives while expecting or nursing. Benzoyl peroxide itself also sits in a gray area for pregnancy safety so anyone pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding should get a doctor’s green light before use.
The preservative system relies on phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin, both widely used and generally well tolerated. There is no added fragrance or essential oils which keeps the irritant profile down. Every ingredient here can be sourced synthetically or from plants so the formula reads vegan friendly, though the brand does not hold an official vegan certification. On the comedogenic front nothing ranks high enough to raise red flags but, as always, individual reactions vary and patch testing remains your best friend.
Worth noting: the mask contains no salicylic acid, sulfur or tea tree, making it a good candidate to rotate with those actives rather than layer them. Stick to the five minute limit, moisturize generously and you will get most of the benefits without tipping into peel territory.
What I liked/didn’t like
After two weeks of alternating nights the mask showed its strengths and a few quirks that are worth flagging.
What works well:
- Noticeably calms inflamed whiteheads within 24 hours and keeps new spots from fully forming
- Short five minute contact time minimizes prolonged irritation yet still delivers a solid antibacterial punch
- Clay base mops up midday shine so makeup lasts longer without blotting
- No added fragrance which lowers the risk of extra sensitization
What to consider:
- Can leave dry or flaky patches around delicate areas unless followed by a rich moisturizer
- Initial tingling may feel intense on reactive skin so patch testing is essential
- Price sits at the higher end of single-purpose acne treatments
My final thoughts
Reset did the job it promised but asked for a bit of hydration in return, which is why it lands at a respectable 7/10. If your skin tolerates benzoyl peroxide and you prefer a short, no nonsense wash-off step rather than a leave-on gel, you will likely appreciate its quick strike on fresh breakouts. If you lean dry or sensitive or simply dislike the possibility of flaking, you may find the trade-off less appealing. Personally, I will keep a tube on hand for those “why now?” flare-ups yet will not swap it in as a permanent fixture.
Friends who already rotate stronger actives or who want a maintenance mask that doubles as a mini facial might be steered elsewhere, and that brings me to a few tried-and-tested alternatives I rate highly. Deascal’s Pink Clay Glow Mask is the all-rounder I recommend most often: gentle enough for any skin type yet effective at exfoliating, decongesting and brightening in a single five-minute sitting, all at an approachable price. For deeper pore cleanouts without the benzoyl peroxide bite, Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque consistently leaves my T-zone looking like I spent the afternoon blotting. SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque balances kaolin with mild hydroxy acids so you get refinement without chalky tightness, while Innisfree’s Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask is a wallet-friendly staple that controls oil for hours and never feels harsh. I have used each of these often enough to vouch for their performance and happily rotate them when Reset feels a touch too assertive.
Before you dive into any new mask, including Reset, read the label, mind any ingredient conflicts and please patch test first — I know I sound like an over-protective parent but a little spot test saves a lot of grief. Remember that the clearer complexion you earn will fade back to baseline if you abandon consistent use, so keep the routine steady and the moisturizer close.