Trying to keep excess oil at bay when you have oily skin can feel like a full time job sometimes.
From sebum-regulating serums to mattifying moisturisers and blackhead-banishing treatment toners, there are so many steps to consider, which is why once a week we like to reset, relax and layer on a face mask.
It’s without a doubt the most relaxing part of our skin care routine, the perfect punctuation to a Sunday spent at home doing nothing, and it never takes more than 10 to 20 minutes depending on your mask of choice.
Plus, if you prefer a streamlined, ‘no-frills’ skin care routine, giving your skin a weekly active treatment can be a great way to address all the things that your daily skin care routine doesn’t need to consider.
On the lookout for a face mask that targets all the things you’ve been trying to keep on top of? From oil-regulating to clearing congestion, and refining the appearance of your complexion, these are the best face masks for oily skin.
2024’s top face masks for oily skin
- Origins Clear Improvement Mask, $38.88, Amazon Australia
- The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque, $22, Priceline
- Dermalogica Sebum Clearing Masque, $66, Adore Beauty
The best face masks for oily skin 2024
Origins Clear Improvement Mask
from $38.88 at Amazon Australia
Origins’ top-rated purifying mask formula contains a combination of bamboo charcoal and white china clay, which work together to absorb excess oil and clear pores of congestion. Use it once or twice a week as a mask or spot treatment to regulate oil and sebum production, and fight against blemishes and blackheads.
Sizes: 75ml
Key features:
- Contains bamboo charcoal and white china clay
- Absorbs excess oil, dirt and impurities
- Unclogs pores
- Regulates oil and sebum production
- Can be used as a blemish spot treatment
Available at:
- $38.88 from Amazon Australia
- $47 from Woolworths
- $58 from MECCA
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque
from $22 at Priceline
Formulated to refine the appearance of pores, skin tone and texture, this pick blends together charcoal, clay and salicylic acid to target dullness, rough skin, and congestion. Slather on a healthy layer of the stuff twice a week in the evening to reveal softer, clearer skin that’s free from blemishes and blackheads.
Sizes: 50ml / 100ml
Key features:
- Contains charcoal, clay and salicylic acid
- Brightens dull skin
- Smooths texture
- Unclogs pores
- Minimises the appearance and frequency of blemishes and blackheads
Available at:
- $22 from Priceline
- $22 from Adore Beauty
- $22 from Sephora
Dermalogica Sebum Clearing Masque
from $66 at Adore Beauty
If you find most purifying masks a little too stripping for your skin then we’d suggest adding this sebum-regulating pick from Dermalogica to your routine. It’s infused with a blend oil-absorbing clay, congestion-clearing salicylic acid, refining licorice extract and niacinamide, soothing oat and bisabolol extracts, and line-plumping safflower oil.
Sizes: 75ml
Key features:
- Contains clay, salicylic acid, licorice extract, niacinamide, oat extract, bisabolol extract and safflower oil
- Regulates sebum production and absorbs excess oil
- Clears congestion
- Refines the appearance of pores and the complexion
- Plumps fine lines
Available at:
- $66 from Adore Beauty
- $82.50 from Oz Hair & Beauty
- $92 from Dermalogica
Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Pore Mask
from $57 at Sephora
Inspired by Scandinavian sauna cold plunges, Ole Henriksen has used an innovative combination of alpine willowherb and snow lotus to soothe, mattify and refine the appearance of pores. Once the clay-based mask has set, apply cold water to the face to emulsify the formula, which transforms into a rich purifying lather that removes excess oil and dirt on the surface of the skin.
Sizes:
Key features:
- Contains cooling antioxidant-rich botanicals alpine willowherb and snow lotus to soothe, mattify and refine pores
- Clay-based formula absorbs excess oil
- Green Fusion Complex
(green tea, eucalyptus, kelp and Irish moss extracts) boasts natural antiseptic, oil-absorbing and refining properties - Lactic acid and salicylic acid exfoliate pore-clogging dead skin cells
- Neem seed oil helps replenish moisture and nourish the complexion
Available at:
- $57 from Sephora
- $57 from The Iconic
Fenty Skin Cookies N Clean Whipped Clay Pore Detox Face Mask
from $53 at Sephora
With a whipped and creamy clay texture and charcoal dotted throughout the formula, this face mask looks more like a dessert than a skin care product. Its detoxing properties are equally as sweet, with a blend of clay, charcoal and salicylic acid working to draw out impurities, absorb excess oil and refine the appearance of pores, skin tone and texture.
Sizes: 75ml
Key features:
- Contains clay, charcoal and salicylic acid
- Whipped, creamy texture feels luxurious on the skin
Draws out impurities
Absorbs excess oil - Refines the appearance of pores, skin tone and texture
Dope Skin Co Acai Purifying Clay Mask
from $39.95 at Dope Skin Co
This antioxidant-infused formula simultaneously aims to brighten, as well as purifying the complexion. Niacinamide and panthenol are the supporting players in this pick, with vitamin C-rich Kakadu plum and acai extract taking centre stage in this clay-based mask.
Sizes: 70ml
Key features:
- Contains Kakadu plum, acai extract, niacinamide, panthenol and clay
- Brightens and soothes skin
- Refines the appearance of pores
- Smooths texture
- Absorbs excess oil and impurities
Which face mask is best for oily skin?
Face masks that contains oil-absorbing ingredients such as clay or charcoal can be beneficial for purifying the complexion. Try finding a formula that promises to regulate sebum and oil production too, which you can incorporate into your skin care routine once or twice a week to maintain a more balanced complexion. AHAs and BHAs can be great ingredients for oily skin as they help with congestion management, exfoliate dead skin, refine pores, banish blackheads and minimise the appearance of dark spots.
Is a moisturising mask good for oily skin?
Moisturising face masks are great for oily skin as they help to replenish moisture levels and bring balance back to complexions that tend to produce too much oil in a response to dryness and dehydration. We’d recommend using one in a double mask routine after you’ve used a purifying face mask for best results (read: refined tone and texture, and hydrated, plump skin).
Looking to save money on face masks for oily skin? Check out our coupon codes for MECCA, Sephora and more.
Main image credit: @fentyskin
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
