8 Best Clay Masks, Tested & Dermatologist Recommended 2025
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As someone with acne-prone, combination-to-oily-skin, Iâve found much clarity (both figuratively and literally) by incorporating the best clay masks into my skin care routine. Clay masks work by absorbing excess oil, to help even skin texture, remove blackheads and keep pimples at bay. While theyâre not always suitable for sensitive skin, they can do wonders for those who deal with excess grease and rednessâtake it from me, someone who always deals with congestion around my T-Zone and nose. Using a mask at least once a week has made a noticeable difference.
Here, weâre sharing the best ones to incorporate into your regimen, recommended by dermatologists and Glamour testers. Our top pick is the Kiehlâs Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask, because it addresses a number of skin concerns from oiliness to whiteheads, doesnât leave skin feeling dry or stripped, and helped shrink an editor’s breakout in just two uses. We also included options for dryer and more sensitive skin types, plus picks that will help minimize large pores and give you glowing skin.
The best clay masks, at a glanceBest Overall: Kiehlâs Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask, $47Best For Pores: innisfree Super Volcanic AHA Pore Clearing Clay Mask, $18Best For Blackheads: fresh Umbrian Clay Pore Purifying Face Mask, $62Best For Dry Skin: SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Mask, $70Best For Sensitive Skin: SONAGE Tulsi Soothing Tri Clay Mask, $48Best For Glowing Skin: Tatcha The Clarifying Clay Mask, $70How we chose the best clay masksWeâve tested over a dozen clay masks by evaluating texture and consistency, how they felt during application, if they were able to minimize breakouts, make our skin look tighter and brighter. We opted for consistencies and textures that were easy to apply (not messy), and formulas that didnât make our skin feel overly dry or stripped. We also paid attention to how our skin looked the next day after application, and if the mask was able to shrink our zits and give us an overall more glowy and fresh appearance.
Best Overall: Kiehlâs Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask
Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask
Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Kiehlâs Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask
Pros: Shrinks pimples quickly; doesnât leave skin feeling dry after useCons: Might feel too drying/tight for someBrendan Camp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of MDCS Dermatology is a huge fan of this pore-refining mask because itâs effective, hydrating, and not overly harsh on the skin. âThis formula unclogs pores but also contains soothing aloe vera to moisturize,â he says. Amazonian white clay sops up extra oil and leaves you with a more mattified, radiant complexion.
Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary loves this mask and shares that itâs part of her weekly skin care routine. âI like to apply this mask before bed on Sunday evenings to help detox my skin for the week to come. It definitely has a bit of a tight-feel during application which I kind of love, but I donât find it to be extra drying on the skin. If I have a breakout, it usually looks a lot smaller and less red after using this mask once or twice. I particularly like that you can spot treat with it: just take a little bit of the product, apply it on a zit and let it sit for 10 minutes. As soon as I wash it off, I always notice that most of the redness is gone, and then I reapply it every night until itâs totally shrunk (this one time, it only took two applications to zap my zit!). Generally, this mask has completely mattified my complexion and my makeup glides on a lot smoother and looks less oily. I really canât see myself going on without it.â
Best for Pores: Innisfree Super Volcanic AHA Pore Clearing Clay Mask
Innisfree Super Volcanic AHA Pore Clearing Clay Mask
Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Innisfree Super Volcanic AHA Pore Clearing Clay Mask
Pros: Helps reduce pore size and rednessCons: DryingThis detoxifying K-beauty clay face mask is a great option if youâre looking to address clogged pores and blemishes. Itâs infused with volcanic ash to absorb sebum and grease, plus AHAs to gently exfoliate dead skin cells and even out skin texture.
âI deal with pores and redness on and around my nose, and this clay mask has been a game changer for this particular area,â says Glamourâs Kilkeary. âItâs not messy in the slightest and has done a great job of evening out my skin texture after a few weeks of consistent use. My nose looks a lot more smooth and dewy and the redness has improved. I also noticed that I havenât broken out in this area as Iâve been testing it, so I definitely think itâs doing the job of keeping gunk at bay.â
Best for Blackheads: Fresh Umbrian Clay Pore Purifying Face Mask
Fresh Umbrian Clay Pore Purifying Face Mask
Original photo from Jen Calle testing Fresh Umbrian Clay Pore Purifying Face Mask
Pros: Non-comedogenic and helps address blackheads and whiteheadsCons: PriceyYou may have heard a thing or two about using charcoal products to help reduce blackheads, but Dr. Camp shares that clay might just be a better option. âClay tends to have more minerals than charcoal, and is thought to be less abrasive and drying,â he says. Enter: this pore-purifying face mask that uses umbrian clay to help rid of blackheads, plus sandalwood oil and chamomile to soothe the skin.
âI normally like to keep my skin care routine simple but adding this clay mask has helped with blackheads around my nose and smoothing out my skin. It immediately tightens after applying and comes with a small applicator for easy application. TBH, I just use my hands since itâs not very messy. It only requires 3-5 minutes which is ideal, and it leaves me with baby-smooth skin afterwards,â says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle who has combination, oily skin.
Best for Dryskin: Skinceuticals Clarifying Clay Mask
Skinceuticals Clarifying Clay Mask
Original photo from Brigitt Earley testing Skinceuticals Clarifying Clay Mask
Pros: Suitable for most skin typesCons: ExpensiveIf you have dry skin, itâs understandable that you might think a clay mask is necessary, but the dermatologists say they can be beneficial for radiant skin. Kaolin clay, which is found in this mask, is considered gentle and suitable for dry skin types, according to Dr. Camp, and this pick also contains a blend of aloe and chamomile to soothe and help reduce redness.
âAs someone with skin that skews more dry than oily, I liked that this face mask didn’t completely strip my face. Instead, the acids gently sloughed off the surface layer, leaving my skin looking brighter and feeling smoother. I also noticed shrinkage in the pores on my noseâthe one place where I do tend to see some blackheads pop up,â says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Sonage Tulsi Soothing Tri Clay Mask
Sonage Tulsi Soothing Tri Clay Mask
Original photo from Brittany Loggins testing Sonage Tulsi Soothing Tri Clay Mask
Pros: Gentle enough for moody, sensitive and combination skin typesCons: May need to be used multiple times a week to see a difference in acneNazanin Saedi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical associate professor at Thomas Jefferson University loves this deep cleansing clay mask for oily and acne prone skin types because of its absorbent qualities. âThis mask contains turmeric, holy basil and herbal ingredients to help unclog pores, reduce redness and inflammation and lessen oil production all together,â she says. Itâs extremely gentle on skin and wonât leave your skin parched or dull-looking.
âThis mask has a consistency that I would compare to acrylic paint. It spreads super thin and dries in about 10-minutes, however the instructions say that you should wash it off before itâs fully dry. I would definitely say it feels like the traditional clay mask that gets super dry and leaves your skin feeling pretty tight—Iâm guessing this is why they advise you to rinse off before it fully sets. That said, it also felt very calming on my skin, and I think it would be a great option if you were experiencing any redness or discoloration. After rinsing it off, my skin felt super clean and looked brighter. I would definitely integrate this into my routine,â says Glamour contributor Brittany Loggins.
Best for Glowing Skin: Tatcha The Clarifying Clay Mask
Tatcha The Clarifying Clay Mask
Original photo from Malia Griggs testing Tatcha The Clarifying Clay Mask
Pros: Decongests skin, suitable for those looking to improve skin texture and oiliness, mattifiesCons: Warming sensation may be irritating to someThis anti-aging warming mask is perfect for those who like to really feel their mask working. It has a warming sensation as it works to help exfoliate away dead skin and absorb sebum, and also changes in color after applied onto the face.
âTatcha’s clay mask is the best I’ve tried (I love Innisfree’s too, but was really impressed with Tatcha’s). I applied it to damp skin with its included spoon. Its texture is thick, creamy, and slightly sandy, and it has a soft grey-green color that eventually warms as you use it. I wore it for about 5 minutes before washing it off with warm water. Its crucial ingredient is Okinawan kucha clay (I’m actually Okinawan, so this was exciting to read), and though I can’t actually speak to its benefits, I can tell you that after use, my skin looked noticeably tighter and brighter with less congestion and oil. I met a friend after using it and the first thing she said was, âYour skin looks really good! Did you do somethingâ I love this mask so much. What I don’t like? It’s price tag (sigh). But man is it good,â says Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs.
Best for Oily Skin: The Outset Purifying Blue Clay MaskThe Outset Purifying Blue Clay Mask
Original photo from Brittany Loggins testing The Outset Purifying Blue Clay Mask
Pros: Gently exfoliates skin, doesnât feel dryingCons: PriceyOily skin will love this detoxing clay mask that unclogs pores and improves skin radiance with salicylic acid. This pick also contains niacinamide plus floral extracts to calm and soothe rough and bumpy skin.
âI thought this blue clay mask would be drying for some reason—I think because of the thickness of the product—but I was delighted to find that itâs incredibly moisturizing. It truly feels almost more like a mud mask on the skin, and leaves it feeling incredibly clean. I was also surprised at how far a little amount went, as I would say a pea-sized amount covered one entire side of my face. It takes about 20-minutes to fully dry, and even then it doesnât leave your skin feeling too tight. After washing it off, I truly felt like I could see a difference in my nose chin, which is where I tend to have the most blackhead buildup. Overall, I think this mask would be perfect for integrating into a weekly routine,â says Loggins.
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Topicals Clearly Clarifying & Calming Mask For Breakout-Prone SkinTopicals Clearly Clarifying & Calming Mask For Breakout-Prone Skin
Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Topicals Clearly Clarifying & Calming Mask For Breakout-Prone Skin
Pros: Very comfortable wear, not drying in the slightestCons: Not technically âclayâAlthough not traditionally clay, this purifying mask prevents breakouts and calms redness like no other, making it perfect for minimizing pimples and breakouts. It combines sulfur, azelaic acid and hypochlorous acid to help kill bacteria and brighten skin tone.
Glamourâs Kilkeary loves this mask for when her breakouts are seemingly never ending. âI recently broke out a bunch from a sunscreen I used while I was on vacation, so I turned to this mask to help nurse my skin back to clarity. Although itâs not traditionally clay, it looks and feels exactly like a clay mask, and did an excellent job in clearing up the pimples I had cropping up in areas of my skin that tend to get greasy. After using this a few times in the past couple weeks, I can proudly say that my skin looks brighter and more even-toned, those pimples have finally been subdued, and Iâm not seeing any new ones crop up.â
Best Natural Mask: Borghese Advanced Fango Active Mud Mask JarBorghese Advanced Fango Active Mud Mask Jar
Original photo from Leilani McQuay testing Borghese Advanced Fango Active Mud Mask Jar
Pros: Helps soften skin bumpsCons: Might be drying to someThis mud mask has a blend of bentonite clay and hyaluronic acid to suck up blackheads, pimples and pollution all while leaving the skin hydrated and non-stripped. This pick also contains natural ingredients like mushroom and avocado extracts to help soothe and calm skin.
âIâve been using this clay mask once a week for over two months, and it keeps my skin glowing and refreshed. I love how it immediately feels like it’s working. It firms my face, which is great for preventing wrinkles in my 30s. Itâs also helped with my dry skin and miliaâmy skin feels nourished, and my milia bumps are almost gone. The fragrance is soothing, making the whole experience even better. My skin feels silky afterward, and Iâve even used it on my baby bump to keep my skin nourished before applying oil. I absolutely love this mask!â says Glamour commerce producer Leilani McQuay.
Your clay mask questions, answeredWhat do clay masks do? Can they remove acne and pimples?
According to Dr. Saedi, clay masks help absorb excess oils and debris from your skin. âThey can help unclog pores, which helps prevent acne and pimples, but may not physically remove acne and pimples,â she says. They can, however, address redness and inflammation, which can help minimize the appearance of acne.
What skin types can benefit most from clay masks?
While most skin types can benefit from clay masks, there are some ingredients to look out for depending on if your skin skews more dry or oil. âSome clay minerals have more drying properties than others, like kaolin clay, for example, is a non-swelling clay that absorbs particles, meaning it picks up impurities and holds them to the clay surface like a magnet. Kaolin clays are generally considered more gentle and easier on dry/normal skin types,â says Dr. Camp. Bentonite clays, on the other hand, have powerful absorptive properties, meaning they soak up particles like a sponge absorbs water. In this case, bentonite clays are good for those with more oily skin.
How often can you use a clay mask?
According to the dermatologists, itâs important to check the directions of the clay face masks you are using to decide frequency of use. âIn general, however, clay masks can be used 1-3 times per week, perhaps on the lower end for those who have more dry or sensitive skin types,â says Dr. Camp. It is important to avoid using clay masks before or after retinol serum application, as this may irritate or further dry out the skin.
