The 14 Best Clay Masks to Refine Your Skin, Tested & Reviewed

Best Overall

Cleure Facial Mask

$29 at Amazon View on Cleure.com

Folks, gather round: While there is no such thing as the perfect clay mask, this product comes awfully close. Cleure Facial Mask with Kaolin Clay is the small brand’s heaviest hitter, using a fragrance-free blend of (you guessed it) kaolin clay and dead sea mud to go deep into pores without sensitizing the skin—no small feat for the typically drying nature of a clay mask. But what impressed us most was how effective the mask still is. “I have the world’s most sensitive skin so normally I steer clear of face masks, but this product makes my face feel incredibly soft with no irritation whatsoever,” our tester shares.

Our one gripe with this otherwise holy grail mask? The thick formula often has a hard time making its way out of the tube. But we love it so much that we’ll just squeeze a little harder.

Active Ingredients: Kaolin clay, dead sea mud, and glycerin | Size: 4 oz | Key Benefits: Disinfect pores, dissolve impurities, refine skin | Skin Type: All

Best Budget

Aztec Secret Health & Beauty Indian Healing Clay Mask

$15 at Amazon $20 at Walmart

This affordable viral mask is popular for a reason: It seriously works. With 100 percent natural calcium bentonite clay, the one-ingredient formula goes deep into pores to purify skin of all the unwanted effects of pollution and debris. Plus, the jar includes a whopping pound of the skin-saving stuff, so you can use it a million different ways—for things like body wraps, foot soaks, insect bites, and more. “I feel like a beauty chemist when I use this mask: mixing pure bentonite clay with a bit of water or apple cider vinegar until I get the consistency I want,” InStyle associate editorial director Shannon Bauer shares. “You can feel the mask tighten. I love that it helps control sebum for my combination-oily skin. It especially comes in clutch for reducing the size and redness of painful hormonal breakouts."

Our lazy side doesn’t love that we have to mix together the mask ourselves (like Bauer mentioned, you can use more than just water), but we like this mask so much that we’re willing to put in the work.

Active Ingredients: Calcium bentonite clay | Size: 16 oz | Key Benefits: Deeply cleanses pores| Skin Type: Oily, combination

Best Luxury

Tatcha The Clarifying Clay Mask

$70 at Amazon $70 at Sephora $70 at Kohls.com

Tatcha The Clarifying Mask is pretty special for a number of reasons. First of all, it only needs to be left on for three to five minutes, which is significantly shorter than most of the other products on this list (a win if you ask us). Next, instead of fully drying into a hardened layer like most clay masks, it slowly warms and spreads with a gentle massage, and transforms from a light green color to a sun-toasted red hue (so cool!). Lastly, it’s extremely easy to wash off. “While rinsing, it slides off my skin with no tugging whatsoever,” says our tester.

But, the best part? “This mask feels incredibly luxurious, warm, and thick on my face. And afterwards, my pores look smaller, and my skin looks refreshed—even in tone and wildly soft to the touch,” she adds. 

Active Ingredients: Okinawa kucha clay, Japanese volcanic ash, and glycerin | Size: 1.7 oz | Key Benefits: Clarifies, minimizes pores, decongests | Skin Type: Normal, combination, oily

Best for Sensitive Skin

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Facial Mask

$36 at Amazon $40 at Sephora $40 at Kohls.com

Though inducing glow isn’t the main function of a clay mask (detoxing and clarifying are), this one from Glow Recipe pulls through with this added benefit. “After removing the mask, my skin looks brighter than usual and dewier than I would’ve expected with a clay mask,” explains one of our testers. The hyaluronic acid in the formula goes a long way to provide a boost of hydration, while the detoxifying ingredients (including watermelon enzymes and BHAs) completely clear out skin. 

The mask also reduces shine and makes skin feel overall fresh, qualities that our tester attributes to the micro-exfoliants. “The mask completely extracts dirt and oil from my face, and leaves my skin feeling fresh and so bouncy,” she adds. As a bonus, this is one of those masks that provides results that only get better with long-term use. 

Keep in mind that it does require a bit of effort to spread because of the thick texture, but the extra elbow grease is worth it for the glowing results. 

Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, watermelon enzymes, and beta hydroxy acid | Size: 2.03 oz | Key Benefits: Exfoliates, detoxifies pores, hydrates, brightens | Skin Type: All

Best Deep Cleaning

Florence By Mills Clarifying Mud Mask

View on Ulta

This mask may feel super gentle going on, but rest assured it is doing the work. Powerhouse ingredients charcoal powder and salicylic acid draw impurities from the skin, leaving it fresh and clear, while kaolin clay gently exfoliates. Lastly, lavender and tea tree essential oils provide soothing benefits, ensuring the potency of the other ingredients don’t lead to irritation. 

“For a deep cleaning clay mask, I love to use AHAs or BHAs to help loosen and dissolve the gunk in pores,” says Jill Di Donato, associate commerce editorial director for InStyle. “Similarly, when I exfoliate, I prefer to use a chemical over mechanical method. This one contains salicylic acid, a BHA with the antiseptic addition of tea tree oil. The lavender oil has a skin soothing effect, and leaves a subtle scent.”

Because the power of this mask really is, well, powerful, we don’t love it for especially sensitive skin. But if your face can take deeper exfoliation, we feel this is a great option.

Active Ingredients: Charcoal powder, salicylic acid, kaolin clay, lavender oil, tea tree oil | Size: 3.4 oz | Key Benefits: Dissolve impurities | Skin Type: Oily, combination

Best Charcoal

buttah Charcoal Detox Mask

$26 at Amazon $26 at Nordstrom $26 at Ulta

This clay mask boasts a blend of powerfully detoxifying active ingredients (activated charcoal powder and bentonite clay) with nourishing restorative ingredients (shea butter and argan oil) for an overall balancing effect. “The formula is perfect to balance your skin without stripping moisture or being too harsh,” explains our tester. 

Specifically formulated for melanated skin tones, but recommended for use by all skin tones and types, the smooth consistency and easy application set this product apart. Easy to spread with two fingers, our tester notes that it goes on seamlessly, but does produce a light tingling sensation that isn’t too strong—which might not feel great for those with especially sensitive skin.  

Active Ingredients: Activated charcoal powder, bentonite clay, and sodium hyaluronate | Size: 1 oz | Key Benefits: Purifies, detoxifies, evens texture, reduces pores | Skin Type: All

Best for Oily Skin

Youth To The People Superclay Purify Clear Power Mask

$38 at Amazon $38 at Nordstrom $38 at Sephora

Youth to the People is one of our favorite brands for their pro-grade vegan formulas that are made in California and often target oily-prone skin. They use clean ingredients that work to purify and clarify, followed up with ultra-restoring nourishment. This Superclay Mask is no exception. “The consistency feels thick and high-quality, but soft enough to spread across my face easily,” shares our tester. “It has a cooling sensation, but does not sting, burn, or even tingle at any point,” she adds, reporting that her skin felt incredibly moisturized and bright after use. 

Still, she notes that removing the mask was a bit of a hassle. “It required a lot of tugging to fully rinse off and took over five minutes to remove,” she says. For a more seamless removal process, we recommend using a sponge to gently scrub the mask off. 

Active Ingredients: Volcanic clay, niacinamide, and beta hydroxy acid | Size: 2 oz | Key Benefits: Clarifies, reduces pores, evens texture and tone | Skin Type: Normal, combination, oily

Best for Dry Skin

Mario Badescu Super Collagen Mask

$20 at Amazon $20 at Nordstrom $20 at Sephora

Mario Badescu is famous for their pore-clearing, acne-reducing products that aren’t overly aggressive and safe for sensitive skin. We love this Collagen Mask because it's actually formulated for dry skin and works to clarify, while also pumping the skin full of hydrating nourishment that ultimately evens texture and smooths fine lines. 

“It feels silky, cooling, and moisturizing—a similar feeling to applying a thick, refrigerated face cream,” our tester says. Free from any micro-exfoliants, this mask has a purely creamy consistency and is gentle enough for sensitive skin—no tingling, stinging, or redness here. The mixture of oatmeal and collagen combine to soothe and smooth for an even and bouncy complexion. 

“My skin feels more moisturized than before and hydrated enough that I don’t have to apply a cream after,” our tester adds. That said, be warned that he formula dries very hard and can be tough to remove. We recommend applying this mask 20 minutes before entering the shower for the easiest rinse off.  

Active Ingredients: Collagen, oatmeal, and kaolin clay | Size: 2 oz | Key Benefits: Evens texture, smooths fine lines, hydrates  | Skin Type: All, safe for sensitive skin

Best for Blackheads

Kiehl's Deep Pore Cleansing Mask

$26 at Amazon $26 at Sephora $47 at Ulta

Kiehl’s has been a longtime front-runner in the clay mask arena, and the Rare Earth Mask is an established fave. It’s known for being able to actually pull blackheads out after just a single use, and we can confidently say it lives up to expectations. “The mask clears and brightens my complexion and makes my skin much more even,” says our tester. 

The formula has a thick clay consistency, similar to non-fat Greek yogurt, but it dries quickly and comfortably, with a minty cool sensation and zero stinging. If you’re looking to mattify oily skin, detox impurities, and refine tone and texture, this mask will be your new BFF. But, if you have dry or sensitive skin, it won’t be the pick for you. “It did dry up my nose area a little bit,” explains our tester, but she notes that a dose of toner and moisturizer after use did the trick in restoring her skin’s moisture barrier. 

Active Ingredients: Amazonian white clay, aloe barbadensis, and glycerin | Size: 4.2 oz | Key Benefits: Clears blackheads, minimizes pores | Skin Type: Normal, Combination, Oily

Best Purifying

Fresh Umbrian Clay Face Mask

$27 at Sephora View on Fresh.com $62 at Neiman Marcus

This mask utilizes Umbrian clay (a proprietary ingredient with high-mineral content that’s exclusively sourced from Umbria, Italy) as its hero ingredient to pull out blackheads and clear clogged pores of grime. Mixed with more soothing ingredients like lavender and chamomile oil, it creates a balancing effect that’s not overly drying and works well for weekly use. 

“My skin isn’t as noticeably oily or shiny,” shares our tester. “Plus, my face feels smooth, supple, and soft with tightened pores.” Bonus: The mask works well as an overnight spot treatment. While we enjoy the overall way the mask makes skin look, it lacks the classic tingling sensation most clay masks offer—an attribute that made our tester wonder if it was really working. In the end this is a personal preference, and the results speak for themselves.

Active Ingredients: Umbrian clay, lavender, and chamomile oil | Size: 3.3 oz | Key Benefits: Deeply cleanses, minimizes pores and shine, balances | Skin Type: All

Best for Acne

Fenty Skin Cookies N Clean Whipped Clay Pore Detox Face Mask

$37 at Sephora $45 at Walmart View on Fentybeauty.com

Ok, we’ll admit it: From the very beginning, the branding of this product really got us. I mean, a play on cookies and cream?! How fun! The excellent news? In our lab testing, the results really checked out. “My skin feels way more hydrated and looks so glowy and fresh,” reports our tester. “And, the pores on my cheeks seem smaller.” 

The charcoal beads in this formula, intended to detoxify pores, aren’t abrasive. In an ingenious stroke, they actually dissolve and burst into the clay upon application to further draw out dirt and oil. Furthermore, the salicylic acid works to break up acne flare-ups and clarify skin. We do wish it came with some sort of applicator because using hands can get quite messy with this mask. “This is a product that requires care and consistency, but it’s from Rihanna, and she does next to no wrong,” shares our tester. For best long-term results, we suggest using the mask two to three times per week. 

Active Ingredients: Charcoal, salicylic acid, and clay | Size: 2.5 oz | Key Benefits: Reduces oil, minimizes pores, evens texture | Skin Type: All

Best Drugstore

Cetaphil Pro DermaControl Purifying Clay Mask

$16 at Amazon $21 at IHerb View on Healthcentralusa.com

We appreciate that a brand like Cetaphil formulates all their products for sensitive skin, and doesn’t forget those with oily skin. This Purifying Clay Mask has a super creamy texture that glides on seamlessly without leaving clumps or uneven patches. It is quite thick, but not in a goopy way—it feels more luxurious than the price tag. 

Upon application, there are no tightening or tingling sensations. “It isn’t rough or coarse on your skin at all; it just feels like a hug for your face,” explains our tester. “It’s a masterpiece of a mask. My skin is instantly softer and smoother after using this. And my pore size? Forget it! This stuff shrinks the huge pores along my nose—you see a difference instantly,” she adds. How about that for a glowing recommendation? Although it's worth mentioning that the first few uses will spur a purging effect, we think it’s 100 percent worth it to stick it out and get to the good part, though, so be patient.  

Active Ingredients: Kaolin clay, citric acid, and apple fruit extract | Size: 3 oz | Key Benefits: Purifies, deep cleans pores, reduces excess oil, hydrates | Skin Type: Oily, safe for sensitive skin

Best for Clogged Pores

innisfree Volcanic AHA Pore Clearing Clay Mask

$16 at Amazon $16 at Sephora View on Innisfree.com

This clay mask utilizes real-life hardened volcanic lava from South Korea’s Jeju Island to unclog your pores (how cool is that?). Together with lactic acid, these two ingredients absorb excess oils and restore your complexion to smooth brilliance. “There’s an immediate improvement in my pore size and the mask helps remove dry and dead skin. It also speeds along the healing process of residual scabbing from previous breakouts,” shares our tester. Expect a cooling sensation and slight tightening, but not to the point of tingling or burning. The formula feels creamy, yet light, and spreads easily across the entire face for an overall brightening effect. 

Make sure you don’t use this mask if you’re in a hurry, though, because it’s meant to be left on for 15 to 20 minutes—we recommend saving it for low-key self-care nights. 

Active Ingredients: Lactic acid, Jeju volcanic clusters, and kaolin clay  | Size: 3.38 oz | Key Benefits: Reduces pore size, prevents oiliness, evens texture | Skin Type: Normal, combination, oily

Best for Uneven Skin Tones

Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask

$34 at Nordstrom $34 at QVC $20 at Sephora

A clay mask that comes in squeeze bottle packaging is always a plus in our book for easy application and cleanup. This intense re-texturizing formula from Origins combines clay with jojoba beads that deeply exfoliate, clean, and strip away excess grime.

It’s definitely too powerful for dry skin types, but we highly recommend it for those with oily-prone skin. “My face feels extra clean and smooth after using this,” our tester says, but notes that it initially has a sticky feeling, and it’s quite drying so it should immediately be followed up by your favorite moisturizer to keep your complexion balanced and radiant. 

Active Ingredients: Mediterranean rose clay, Canadian willowherb, and beta hydroxy acid | Size: 2.5 oz | Key Benefits: Reduces oiliness, minimizes pores, evens texture, restores brilliance | Skin Type: Normal, oily, combination