Skin is the largest organ of the body, designed to offer protection. While some oil production is necessary for skin’s protective powers, some people have a little extra shine to deal with.
Whether your oily skin is caused by genetics, age, or something else, rest assured that there are products designed to help mitigate clogged pores and acne.
We pored over dozens of reviews and product descriptions to find the very best face masks to get you started.
How we chose the best face mask for oily skin
To make this list, we searched for face masks with good reviews and oil-diminishing ingredients, like:
- kaolin clay
- bentonite clay
- sulfur
- alpha hydroxy acid (AHA)
- beta hydroxy acid (BHA)
- zinc
- charcoal
We prioritized masks that are made from natural ingredients and masks that are cruelty-free.
Picks of the best face masks for oily skin
Best exfoliating face mask for oily skin
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque
- Pros: salicylic acid helps clear pores while exfoliating your skin
- Cons: may be too harsh for sensitive skin
- Salicylic acid is a BHA, a type of chemical exfoliant that works well on oily skin. This acid can deeply penetrate pores while also acting as an exfoliant at the surface level. Salicylic acid can also be useful for fighting inflammation.
This mask is cruelty-free and vegan. It’s also free of alcohol, gluten, nuts, oil, silicone, parabens, and sulfates.
You can use the mask once or twice per week for up to 10 minutes at a time. However, know that BHAs can be irritating to sensitive skin.
Best warming face mask for oily skin
Beekman 1802 Milk Mud Warming Clay Mask
- Pros: exfoliates, clears pores, and evens skin tone
- Cons: pricey
- You’ve probably never considered applying something to your face that’s described as “warm milk,” but hear us out.
This warming clay mask combines volcanic clay with jojoba beads, salicylic acid, and lemon fruit extract to exfoliate. There’s also aloe vera and cucumber to soothe your skin. And there’s goat milk to give your skin a radiant glow.
Goat milk naturally contains lactic acid and probiotics, two skin-friendly ingredients.
Free of alcohol and essential oils, this mask should be fine with sensitive skin. It’s also cruelty-free.
Best drying face mask for oily skin
Mario Badescu Drying Mask
- Pros: calamine is soothing and gentle on sensitive skin
- Cons: can be too drying when used too frequently
- This Mario Badescu mask is designed to help clear clogged pores, minimize breakouts, and remove excess oil.
The mask’s main ingredient is colloidal sulfur, which acts as the drying agent. Sulfur is a gentler alternative to AHAs and BHAs. There’s also calamine, cucumber, and kaolin clay to provide cooling, soothing, and purifying benefits.
Reviewers with oily skin and cystic acne sing this mask’s praises. However, many note that the scent isn’t great, so keep that in mind if you’re sensitive to smells.
Best clarifying face mask for oily skin
Herbivore Botanicals Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask
- Pros: made with natural ingredients and works well on both oily and combination skin
- Cons: slightly medicinal scent
- Herbivore Botanicals prides itself on the fact that the Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask is made with all-natural ingredients. One hero ingredient is white willow bark, a natural source of BHA with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
The mask’s signature blue color comes from blue tansy oil, a botanical oil that reduces redness and irritation thanks to its high concentrations of sabineneTrusted Source and camphor.
This mask is also vegan, nontoxic, and cruelty-free.
Best hydrating face mask for oily skin
ROSEN Skincare Earth Mask
- Pros: works well as a spot treatment and doesn’t dry skin out
- Cons: small jar
- Although this mask may look like guacamole, it has a minty scent. It’s meant to calm breakouts while improving your skin’s texture.
Even with antibacterial and oil-regulating ingredients, you won’t have to worry about dryness thanks to the inclusion of almond oil.
Other star ingredients include zinc oxide, which halts oil overproduction, and eucalyptus oil, which has antibacterial properties.
Still, all essential oils, including eucalyptus oil, can be irritating to those with sensitive skin. If that’s you, proceed with caution.
Best anti-inflammatory face mask for oily skin
Chloe+Chad That Glow Purifying Mask
- Pros: can be used as a mask or scrub
- Cons: dry mixture has to be combined with water
- This face mask comes dry, so you’ll have to mix with water before using it. While that can be a pain, it also makes the product more versatile — you can apply it as a mask or use it as a scrub.
The blend of vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, antioxidants, and clay makes this a hit for oily skin.
However, it’s the presence of turmeric that makes this mask even more unique. Turmeric is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredient that may help with acne and other skin conditionsTrusted Source.
Best face mask for oily, acne-prone skin
Origins Out of Trouble 10 Minute Mask
- Pros: can be used as a quick fix for special occasions or for a quick nightly routine
- Cons: may irritate sensitive skin
- This mask is great to use while getting ready for a fun night out — it only requires 10 minutes of your time.
Made with zinc oxide and sulfur, the mask helps remove dead skin, soak up excess oil, and clear pores. It also claims to help prevent future breakouts.
Reviewers with oily, combination, and acne-prone skin give this mask top marks.
However, some say it doesn’t help as much as they’d like, or that it makes their skin more irritated. One reviewer says that, while the mask works well for some types of acne, it’s not as useful for hormonal acne.
Best charcoal face mask for oily skin
Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Mask
- Pros: brightens
- Cons: essential oils may be irritating
- This charcoal-based mask has two major benefits: It reduces oil and clarifies. The mixture of charcoal, lemon, and kaolin clay is made to draw out impurities from your pores while brightening your skin.
The mask is vegan, certified cruelty-free, and quick (it only needs to stay on your face for 10 minutes).
Reviewers say they like the light scent, and how well it works to clear skin. Since it’s a charcoal mask, it can be a little messy when you wash it off. However, a couple reviewers note it’s easier to remove than other charcoal masks they’ve used.
Best sheet mask for oily skin
Yes To Tomatoes Acne Fighting Paper Mask
- Pros: budget-friendly
- Cons: some reviewers mention a burning sensation
- This sheet mask is budget-friendly, with a 3-pack coming in under $10. To use the mask, you simply pat it on and then toss it when you’re done. This makes it easy and mess-free.
The mask is unique because it contains tomato extract. Tomatoes are high in vitamins and antioxidants, and some people believe the fruit’s enzymes may help exfoliate the skin. Between the tomato extract and the salicylic acid, acne won’t stand a chance.
Most cost-effective mask for oily skin
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
- Pros: budget-friendly
- Cons: may be drying and cause irritation to sensitive skin
- This mask contains only one ingredient: calcium bentonite clay, a type of clay formed from volcanic ash. It’s used to draw out impurities from the skin.
The healing clay comes as a dry powder, which you mix into a paste with water or apple cider vinegar. Choose water if you have sensitive skin. Or choose apple cider vinegar if you want additional drying effects.
Reviewers rave about this mask, saying it saved their skin.
But, fair warning: It can be drying and cause irritation — especially when used with vinegar. One Healthline editor who likes this mask suggests using half vinegar and half water to make it less sensitizing.
Additionally, though you can leave it on longer, it’s best to only wear this mask for 5 to 10 minutes if you have sensitive skin.
Best peel-off face mask for oily skin
First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Purifying Mask
- Pros: made with natural ingredients
- Cons: some say it’s hard to peel off
- This mask’s star ingredients are red clay and rosemary leaf oil, both of which help unclog pores.
Peel-off masks are known for their exfoliant properties, removing the top layer of dead skin and leaving your face feeling smooth and refreshed.
In addition to removing dead skin, this mask helps remove any lingering dirt and grime after you wash your face.
Best zero-waste face mask for oily skin
LOLI Beauty Pank Pitaya Mask
- Pros: all-in-one dry powder mask, exfoliant, and scrub
- Cons: may irritate sensitive skin
- LOLI Beauty claims that this mask works wonders in more ways than one, thanks to the star ingredient: pink pitaya, or dragon fruit. The mask smooths, brightens, cleanses, moisturizes, and helps calm breakouts.
Other key ingredients include Australian pink clay and soothing oat kernel flour. It does have some essential oils as well, which may cause irritation to sensitive skin.
Like all LOLI Beauty products, this mask is sold in a reusable or recyclable glass jar, and it’s made from organic, food-grade ingredients. It’s also Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free.
How to shop for face masks for oily skin
Can’t decide which mask to choose? Here’s what to consider while shopping.
Skin type
If you’re reading this article, you probably have oily skin. But there’s more to skin type than just oil production.
If you have sensitive skin, look for a mask without common sensitizers, like essential oils and alcohol. You may also want to test out different types of BHAs and AHAs to see if any are too harsh for your skin.
Mask type
Dry, wet, peel-off, sheet, gel… where do you even start?
Here’s our recommendation:
- If you’re new to masks, go for the regular, pre-mixed kind. They’re easy to use and get the job done.
- If you’re all about options, try a dry mask. You can mix it with whatever base you want (water, vinegar, micellar water, rose water, etc.). You can even use it as a scrub instead of a mask.
- If you’re short on time or hate mess, pick up a sheet mask. They’re fast and easy, but they’re not exactly eco-friendly.
- If you love that super-clean feeling, try a peel-off mask. Not only are they fun to use, but it’s also satisfying to see the gunk that comes out.
Ingredients
Give the ingredients list a scan before you click “add to cart.”
You’ll want to keep an eye out for all-stars like:
- kaolin clay
- bentonite clay
- sulfur
- alpha hydroxy acid (AHA)
- beta hydroxy acid (BHA)
- zinc
- charcoal
How often should you use a face mask if you have oily skin?
The short answer: It depends.
How often you should use a face mask for oily skin varies according to the type of mask.
If you’re opting for a clay mask to draw out oil and clear your pores, you can use it a few times per week.
However, if you’re using a mask with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid as star ingredients, it’s best to use them more sparingly — once or twice per week at most. Although these chemicals can do wonders for oily skin, constant exposure could cause adverse reactions or irritations.
Safety first
No matter which type of mask you use, be sure to do a patch test first. Dab some of the product on the inside of your wrist, and then wait 24 hours.
If you notice any signs of irritation, it’s probably not a good fit for your skin. Pass it along to a friend or donate it to an org, like Project Beauty Share, and try something else.
