Acne Face Masks - The Best Facial Masks for Oily Skin And Spots

Acne Face Masks - The Best Facial Masks for Oily Skin And Spots

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From oil-absorbing clays to balancing probiotics, your breakout treatment awaits...

One of life’s meanest misconceptions is that acne only comes for teenagers. I stopped having to present my ID at the door over a decade ago, and can attest that breakouts and blackheads don't obediently retreat once you start paying income tax.

But it’s not all doom and gloom – in fact, all you need to do is reframe the situation. That glowing red blemish isn't a weekend ruiner, but merely an opportunity for an at-home pamper session – and a targetted acne face mask is your ally.

While there are, of course, some face masks that us acne-prone people should skip – and no clay or cream will rectify the issue on its own – there's no need to cast the category aside altogether. In fact, a specialist treatment could be the add-in your skincare routine needs, helping you to find clarity while you're slumped in front of Netflix.

Dr Anjali Mahto, author of The Skincare Bible, believes introducing a mask into your weekly skincare routine may just be the ticket for banishing weekly breakouts. ‘Living in busy, built-up areas and cities means our skin is exposed to pollutants that we need to protect ourselves from. These dirt particles can clog pores and increase oil production, making us prone to breakouts and leaving our skin looking dull. Introducing a weekly clay mask to your routine works to draw impurities out, stopping oil build-up and promoting even skin tone.'

Of course, a clay mask is the obvious choice for oily, acneic skin types – but don’t stop there. Now, there’s a whole host of thoughtfully formulated options for the breakout-prone: consider charcoal for soaking up sebum, probiotics for rebalancing a retinol-ravaged skin barrier, and centella asiatica to calm redness and inflammation.

So whether you're currently dealing with a smattering of blackheads or a throbbing red blemish that just won't calm down, call on one of the best acne face masks to swiftly restore order. Below, you'll find the ones I happily recommend.

Medik8 is a brand I wholeheartedly trust when it comes to targeted skin solutions (in fact, it's responsible for my all-time favourite retinol serum).

This simple yet satisfyingly effective mask combines clay with vitamin E and allantoin to ensure skin is left nourished and hydrated. You don't get much sensorial appeal, but your blackheads will pack up and leave.

I'm allergic to Tiktok hacks, but this is the one that actually won me over. Finally back in stock, Caudalie's clarifying mask might have found fame thanks to its 'grammable pink hue, but it's the blackhead-vanquishing powers that'll keep you slathering it on.

Formulated with papaya enzymes (a gentler alternative to glycolic acid) alongside clay, it'll make a remarkable difference to overly enlarged pores and sweep away those pesky black dots in one fell swoop.

The scent of Olivanna's clearing mask will divide opinion: it isn't artificially fragranced (good!) so you really get the salty, aquatic scent of spirulina and seaweed (not so good!)

But in terms of performance? It excels. This no-messing blend of balancing, calming and hydrating extracts will bring inflammation down and moisture levels up, so you're getting the best of both worlds.

I don't personally love the fact that this one is black (do not let it near your fancy white flannels), but if you're after an efficacious salicylic-acid mask that doesn't cost a fortune, it fits the bill.

The inci list stands up to scrutiny – there's charcoal alongside the oil-dissolving acid – and it'll help clear major congestion better than most.

If you tend to find clay masks too drying, head to this indulgent, creamy cocktail from every A-lister's favourite skincare brand.

Dr. Sturm's clarifying treatment combines clay with non-comedogenic jojoba seed oil and zinc to balance breakouts while leaving the skin barrier balanced. It's light, creamy, and smells slightly medicinal: a real Friday-night treat.

If you've been struggling with acne for a while, there's high chance you're using a retinoid product – be it something off the shelves or a prescription topical. (If you aren't, may I suggest dermatologist service Skin + Me, which will sort you out without costing the earth.)

If this is you, keep your masks and other products simple and skin-kind. REN's calming mask works to soothe the inflammation behind breakouts and rosacea, keeping your barrier clear and balanced in the face of drying spot treatments.

Not just the brand behind every celeb's favourite under-eye masks, 111 Skin also makes a stellar line of liquid treatments, each one forensically tweaked to tackle a different skin concern.

The Microbiome Blemish Mask is my Friday night go-to: much more than a simple oil-absorber, this cooling jelly features gentle acids and probiotics in a base of antibacterial rosemary water. I find it clears minor blemishes without drying my dehydration-prone barrier into submission. Apply it all-over as an intensive treatment, or use it to spot-treat misbehaving areas.

A recent launch from Sisley, this is the perfect choice for anyone who needs an end-of-week skin reset, sweeping away all traces of the smoggy city.

Blend the powder with water in the palm of your hand to transform it into a light, frothy mask. Packed with enzymes and oil-regulating niacinamide, it'll leave a weary complexion looking bright and refreshed.

La Roche-Posay's whole Effaclar range is the holy grail for those prone to breakouts and sensitivity – and this mask is fantastic when you've got an event looming.

Argilla mops up excess oil from the skin's surface, while kaolin extracts it from the deeper layers to keep spots at bay. Skin feels squeaky clean but not tight and uncomfortable: no wonder dermatologists everywhere recommend it.

Soho Skin's Detox Mask cleverly combines clay and salicylic acid with a postbiotic ferment, meaning it can help to rebalance a skin barrier in turmoil. It's scent-free and a strong choice for sensitive souls.

The best acne face masks aren't just about drawing out impurities, as you'll soon see with Omorovicza's Silver Skin Saviour.

A new favourite of mine, it contains a gold-standard concoction of salicylic acid, glycolic acid and vitamin B3 to improve the texture and appearance of the skin. The real hero ingredient however, is colloidal silver: it's antibacterial, so helps to soothe and reduce active blemishes and halt emerging ones in their tracks. For something that feels spa-like while delivering actual benefits, head here.

You don't need to spend a huge amount to get a decent clay mask, but Chantecaille's offering delivers more than most.

Rich, dense and loaded with kaolin, it's perfect for those days when your skin needs a seriously deep clean. The addition of antibacterial honey means its great for healing those spots I know you picked, while rosemary doubles down on the inflammation-fighting powers. Again, use a white flannel at your peril.

This whipped, creamy mask is such an underrated hero for oily, breakout-prone complexions: I recommend it to anyone who wants performance as well as a little pampering.

The colour-changing effect is fun, but the ingredients are no joke: there's a touch of clay to absorb impurities, algae to rehydrate, and both pre and probiotics to feed the skin barrier, helping active breakouts to heal quickly. For a clay mask that doesn't feel desert-dry, it's the gold standard.

New probiotics-based skincare brand Tula has seamlessly slipped into my regular rotation – the whole line is ideal for reactive, tantrum-prone complexions.

This swipe-on stick is the perfect lazy-girl's treatment: simply scribble it over blackheads and oily, congested areas, then sit back and let the blend of witch hazel and apple cider vinegar deeply cleanse those pores.

One of beauty's buzziest recent arrivals, Tatcha is a brand that deserves to be on your radar (and in your bathroom). A treat for the breakout-prone, this green-tinged mask contains mineral-rich clay sourced from the shores of Okinawa, Japan.

Massage it in to see the colour shift to a deep red hue, while the gentle warming action allows the blend of oil-absorbers to do its best work. It won't dry or crack on your face, nor will it leave skin feeling dehydrated. An all-round winner.