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Face masks are undoubtedly the golden child of the skincare world, offering not only a quick dose of TLC for your complexion but also the opportunity to sneak in a little more self-care into a busy day. But by no means are all face masks created equal; part of the reason there are just so darn many options out there is that picking one that’s right for your skin type is crucial for scoring the best results.
Exhibit A: If you have oily skin, the endless amount of hydrating offerings on the market by not be quite right for you. Instead, purifying formulas are the name of the game, ones that can help keep excess oil in check (without stripping your skin). According to cosmetic chemist Ginger King, the key is to look at a face masks ingredient list to determine if it's a good match for your oily skin. "For masks for oily skin, look for clay, kaolin-based products as they can dry out the excess oil on face, she says." Ginger adds that also if they have ingredients like salicylic acid, charcoal, tea tree oil or avocado oil, they can also help to minimize oil production.
That being said, ahead, the best face masks for oily skin that do exactly that.
Best Overall
Eve Lom Rescue Mask
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Courtesy of Ulta
Calms redness
Gives immediate results
Rich, creamy texture
Can be a little strong
What do buyers say? 86% of 200+ Nordstrom reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
There’s really nothing this mask, a go-to for former Byrdie Editorial Director Faith Xue, can’t do. Indeed, it can decongest pores and tamp down oiliness (thanks to kaolin clay), but the benefits don’t stop there. It’s also cooling and soothing, working to reduce both puffiness and redness or blotchiness. Basically, if your skin looks less than stellar for whatever reason, slather on this mask and prepare to be amazed.
Benefits: Calms redness, clears pores | Active Ingredients: Kaolin, honey | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Size: 3.3 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Acne-Prone Skin
Omorovicza Silver Skin Savior
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Courtesy of Nordstrom
Helps calm inflammation
Thick, jelly-like texture
Works quickly
Expensive
Admittedly, any of these picks are a good choice for those prone to pimples, but Xue says this is an especially top option. It battles breakouts in several different ways, boasting oil-dissolving salicylic acid along with antibacterial colloidal silver. Add niacinamide—known for tamping down inflammation—and you’ve got yourself a perfect way to help keep your complexion clear.
Benefits: Calms redness, clears pores, helps treat and prevent acne | Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, niacinamide | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Size: 1.7 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Combination Skin
Beneath Your Mask Illuminate Clarifying Face Mask
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Courtesy of Beneath Your Mask
Boosts radiance
A little goes a long way
Simple ingredient list
Must be left on for a long time
Dealing with combination skin often puts you into a perpetual Goldilocks-type state—you want something that will address oiliness but also works to hydrate any dry spots. It’s no easy feat, which is why we appreciate the prowess of this mask. It boasts ingredients that work on both ends of the spectrum. Three kinds of clay plus charcoal remove sebum, while soothing honey, chamomile, and aloe add hydration and ensure skin is never left stripped or irritated.
Benefits: Exfoliates, hydrates, reduces excess oil | Active Ingredients: Clay blend, honey | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Size: 3.4 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Active Breakouts
Lancer Skincare Clarifying Detox Mask
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Dermstore
Effective formula
Pleasant scent
Calms redness
Can be a tad drying
Having oily skin increases the likelihood of having pimples pop up (always at the least opportune time, of course). Whenever that happens, we reach for this mask time and time again. True to its name, it contains a 3% concentration of skin-clearing sulfur, which works fast—we always notice improvement after just one use. Plus, unlike other sulfur-based products which are notorious for their stinky smell, this one has a refreshing citrus scent.
Benefits: Calms redness, clears pores, helps treat and prevent acne | Active Ingredients: 3% sulfur | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Size: 1.7 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Clay
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
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Amazon
Just one ingredient
Has a variety of uses
Clarifies and tightens skin
Can be a tad drying
Clay is a top choice for oily skin; it acts like a magnet to pull out oil and other assorted gunk from pores. This cult classic—which also happens to ring in at a very wallet-friendly price—is made of only 100% natural calcium bentonite clay. DIY aficionados will like it too since there’s no shortage of ways to use it, be that as a mask or a spot treatment. Not to mention, it also works well as foot or bath soak, or even as a treatment for an oily scalp.
Benefits: Calms redness, clears pores, helps treat and prevent acne | Active Ingredients: Calcium bentonite clay | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Size: 1 lb. / 2 lb. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
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Byrdie / Bianca Lambert
Best Budget
Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask
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Courtesy of Amazon
Fun, bubbling texture
Reduces excess oil
Clears pores
Contains sulfates
You’ve likely seen bubbling masks all over social media—for good reason, they are super fun to use—but that bubbly action also serves a purpose. Namely, it helps to “massage out” gunk lodged in your pores. Here, it’s a carbonated water plus mud combo that creates those bubbles, coupled with charcoal powder to help absorb excess oil.
Benefits: Calms redness, clears pores, helps treat and prevent acne | Active Ingredients: Kaolin, charcoal powder, green tea extract | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Size: 4.3 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Exfoliating
Golde Papaya Bright Face Mask
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Gently exfoliates
Boosts radiance
Unique texture
A little messy
Diminishing excess oil may be a priority for you, but don’t forget how important exfoliating is for oily skin, too. To do so, we suggest using this unique powder-to-gel option that relies on papaya enzymes for ultra-gentle, yet ultra-effective exfoliation. Rounding out the list of completely natural (we’re talking edible) superfood ingredients are vitamin-C packed goodies such as lucuma and sea buckthorn that help ensure your skin stays perfectly glowy—not overly shiny.
Benefits: Exfoliates | Active Ingredients: Lucuma fruit powder, papaya extract | Skin Type: Sensitive | Size: 1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Hydrating
Epara Skincare Intense Hydrating Mask
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Courtesy of Neiman Marcus
Balanced formula
Easy to use
Won't irritate sensitive skin
Expensive
It may sound oxymoronic, but you may in fact want to use a hydrating mask once in a while, even if you have oily skin. Why? Relying solely on purifying, oil-absorbing products day in and day out can inadvertently end up stripping your skin, and triggering it to end up producing more oil in the first place. Keep things balanced out by working a hydrating formula, like this guy, into the mix every so often. We like it because it’s moisturizing yes, but is also specially made to actually balance out sebum production, exactly what you want if you have oily skin.
Benefits: Balances, hydrates, clears pores | Active Ingredients: Kaolin, moringa extract, coconut acid | Skin Type: All | Size: 1.8 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Occasional Oiliness
GLAMGLOW SUPERMUD Charcoal Instant Clearing Treatment Mask
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Ulta
Not overly drying
Available in multiple sizes
Helps treat and prevent acne
Strong scent
If your skin is typically pretty normal but is prone to occasional bouts of oiliness, try this mask. A favorite of Byrdie Senior Editor Holly Rhue, it works just as well on oily and acne-prone skin as it does on a normal to combination complexion, making it a good option to use whenever. Charcoal and kaolin clay act as purifiers to unclog pores, while a unique blend of six different acids works to further clear out gunk and grime. The end result is a smooth and glowing complexion, plus much smaller-looking pores.
Benefits: Calms redness, clears pores, helps treat and prevent acne | Active Ingredients: AHAs, activated charcoal | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Size: 0.5 / 1 / 1.7 / 3.5 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Clogged Pores
Innisfree Pore Clearing Clay Mask 2X
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Sephora
Exfoliates
Fragrance-free
Non-drying
Can leave a residue
Rhue is also a fan of this pick, choice for those dealing with ultra-stubborn blackheads and/or whiteheads. It’s not your standard charcoal or clay that does the purifying here (though we’re obviously not knocking those ingredients), but rather finely ground clusters of hardened volcanic lava that sop up unwanted oil. There’s also gently exfoliating lactic acid in this creamy, wash-off formula.
Benefits: Exfoliates, clears pores | Active Ingredients: Jeju volcanic clusters, lactic acid | Skin Type: Combination, oily | Size: 3.4 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
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Byrdie / Bianca Lambert
What Our Testers Say
"The clay brought my whiteheads up and soaked up the excess oil from my T-zone and cheek areas on the first use." — Bianca Lambert, Product Tester
Best Peel-Off
Shiseido Waso Purifying Peel Off Mask
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Courtesy of Sephora
Fun to use
Effective formula
Thick consistency
Strong scent
Peel-off masks might seem a little gimmicky, but they can be a particularly great option if you have oily skin, mechanically removing impurities as you peel them off. If you want to try one, make it this guy, a recommendation from Karli Bendlin, Byrdie’s Email Editor. At work is red shiso leaf, rich in antioxidants and purifying minerals. Apply the liquid formula all-over and let it dry for 20 minutes (make sure to take a selfie in the meantime because the metallic pink hue is so photogenic). Then peel it off, removing dirt, pollutants, oil, and other grime in the process.
Benefits: Clears pores | Active Ingredients: Polyvinyl alcohol, red shiso leaf | Skin Type: Oily | Size: 3.7 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Splurge
Biologique Recherche Masque Vivant
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Courtesy of Rescue Spa
Feels luxurious on skin
Clarifies skin
Skin feels soft and smooth
Scent may not be for some
It may be the brand’s best-selling P50 toner that gets all the buzz, but according to Byrdie’s Associate Beauty Director Hallie Gould, you really shouldn’t sleep on this luxury mask. It boasts purifying live yeast extracts (who knew?) plus astringent witch hazel to clear out and brighten skin.
Benefits: Purifies and tones | Active Ingredients: Yeast extract, witch hazel | Skin Type: Oily | Size: 3.4 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Sheet Mask
Dr. Jart+ Dermask Micro Jet Clearing Solution
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Amazon
Reduces excess oil
Mask stays in place
Helps fade dark spots
Expensive for a single use
You’re more likely to see sheet masks geared towards dry skin than oily skin, making this a noteworthy exception. Salicylic acid plus tea tree oil tamp down sheen, while glutathione (an antioxidant) helps combat dark spots. All this in a microfiber sheet mask that stays put and won’t slip and slide down your face.
Benefits: Helps fade dark spots, reduces excess oil | Active Ingredients: Glutathione, niacinamide, salicylic acid | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Size: 1 mask | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Your T-Zone
Olay Pore Detox Black Charcoal Clay Face Mask Stick
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Courtesy of Walmart
Easy to use
Works quickly
Inexpensive
Can be a tad drying
We love this uber convenient, solid stick. While you could apply it all over, we think it’s choice for strategic swiping on areas prone to being extra oily, i.e. your T-zone. Mess-free and perfect for travel, masking has never been easier—simply apply where you want it, let dry for 10 minutes, then rinse off.
Benefits: Clears pores, reduces excess oil | Active Ingredients: Kaolin, charcoal powder | Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone | Size: 1.7 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
What to Look For in a Face Mask for Oily Skin
Oil-Absorbing Ingredients
According to Houston-based dermatologist Suneel Chilukuri, MD, FAAD, FACMS, our skin's normal oil production combined with environmental dirt and debris can lead to clogged pores. "If left untreated, clogged pores can turn into blackheads and acne lesions," he explains. "Additionally, pores that are full of excess sebum and impurities will begin to look larger. Although pores don't actually change in size much until we grow older and our collagen breaks down more quickly, regular clearing of the pores will make them appear refined and smaller, ultimately leading to smooth, flawless skin." So what are the most strategic ingredients to fill your face mask arsenal with?
Clays: And specifically, the Kaolin and Bentonite varieties, which, according to Chilukuri, are highly absorbent, helping to draw out impurities from the skin and clear pores.
Sulfur: "Sulfur is a fantastic ingredient for those with oily skin," celebrity esthetician Shani Darden tells us. "It will absorb excess oil on the skin, and it also has antibacterial properties as well."
Glycolic Acid: "This acid reduces excess oil and prevents the clogging of pores that lead to a breakout," celebrity esthetician Angela Caglia explains.
Zinc: Another pick from Caglia, Zinc keeps skin mattified and non-greasy throughout the day.
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate: A naturally occurring, clay-derived mineral that Chilukuri says supports clear and healthy skin.
Charcoal: Contains a variety of minerals and works to absorb oil and impurities from the skin. "Its structure of very small pores allows it to be highly efficient for skin detoxification," Chilukuri adds.
Salicylic Acid: Has anti-inflammatory properties to calm down acne-prone skin.
Lemon and apple: Chilukuri says both of these will naturally exfoliate the skin and remove excess oil.
A Soothing Formula
Aside from going to battle with excess oil and acne breakouts, you'll want a formula that throws in some calming, soothing ingredients to help decrease inflammation, irritation, and redness. It's all about balance, even with skincare, and pairing exfoliating and purifying ingredients with mild moisturizers can help promote a calmer, clearer complexion. Look for ingredients like honey, aloe vera, and chamomile to go gentle on your skin.
Ingredients to Avoid
"Coconut oil, mineral oil, camellia oil, sunflower oils, and petrolatum tend to clog pores," warns Chilukuri. "Additionally, alcohol, sodium lauryl, and sodium laureth sulfate strip natural skin oils, leading to more oil production and the chance of worsened acne down the line."
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