It’s easy to find a variety of masks at the counter, featuring different ingredients and materials to suit different textures. Based on your skin type, choosing between the best face masks for acne will prevent issues and inflammation—or make it worse.
A moisturizing acne mask is the best choice for dry skin. Look for ingredients that enhance the hydration of your skin.
Clay masks function like a magnet for pulling out dirt from your pore if your skin type is oily.
However, with sensitive skin, you must choose your masks carefully and wisely. Not many people with sensitive skin are lucky to withstand the use of any mask without side effects. Look for creamy formulas that will nourish your skin and soothe the inflammation. The best face masks for acne-prone sensitive skin will also feature ingredients that fasten the curing process.
The 15 Best Face Masks for Acne
1. Brightening Glycolic Peel Mask by Caudalie
The AHA mask from a renowned French brand provides gentle peel to reveal softer, brighter, and more even skin. This gentle treatment buffs away dull, dead cells and brightens dark spots. Natural, time-release glycolic (AHA) acid gently exfoliates, revealing a new, soft and fresh complexion. It’s a great solution to help fix large pores and dullness caused by uneven texture.
Related: Best Exfoliators for Acne Prone Skin
Viniferine is Caudalie’s proprietary brightening ingredient, clinically proven to lighten dark spots over 60 times more effective than Vitamin C. The Peel Mask formula is further enriched with papaya enzymes to invigorate and illuminate. In synergy, these ingredients support natural cell turnover and collagen production, revealing your softest, brightest skin.
This product is vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and safe for sensitive skin. Additionally, it’s free of all fillers, gluten, GMOs, and synthetic chemicals.
Suitable for normal, oily, combination, dry, and sensitive skin types.
2. Therapeutic Sulfur Acne Treatment Mask by Peter Thomas Roth
The Peter Thomas Roth medicated mask is formulated with 10% maximum-strength sulfur. Enriched with purifying Kaolin Clay and Bentonite Clay, it dries and clears up acne blemishes, working to prevent the formation of new ones at the same time.
Good masks for acne are multitaskers, made to exfoliate the skin, absorb excess oil, and help purify clogged pores. These properties should be supported by soothing ingredients to prevent the issues that come with potent treatments. This mask features Aloe Vera, proven in calming and soothing the look of skin.
For the best results, apply to affected areas of the face, chest, and back and let dry for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water to remove and gently pat dry. Apply 2 to 3 times per week. If your skin is sensitive or easily dried-out, reduce the frequency of application.
3. Mineral Facial Treatment Mask by AHAVA
The Ahava clarifies your skin with Dead Sea mud, the most mineral-rich mud on earth. This precious mud helps purify the skin, absorbing excess oil while hydrating for a healthier complexion. The Clearing Facial Treatment Mask cleans deeply, unclogs pores, and calms the skin.
The multi-benefit facial mask is made to give oily, or blemish-prone skin a deep treatment for preventing bacteria and excess oil production. Its gentle, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial formula ensures that skin gets incredibly clean but feels calm and nourished instead of dry and irritated.
The innovative formula also features jojoba granules to enhance the cleansing effect while exfoliating and nourishing the skin. At the same time, magnolia bark extract acts as a natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory agent. The Ahava Mineral Facial Treatment helps you reveal a smooth, soft, and detoxified appearance from the first use.
4. Supermud Clearing Treatment by Glamglow
This Allure Readers’ Choice Award-winning clarifying mask comes with six exfoliating acids and activated charcoal to instantly and visibly clear pores. It improves the complexion appearance of normal, combination, and acne-prone skin.
The Super-Six acid blend features lactic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, tartaric acid, and pyruvic acid. It works inside several different skin layers to unclog pores and minimize their appearance. Activated-X Charcoal brings the result further by extracting dirt, toxins, debris, and impurities from within pores.
The proprietary TEAOXI Eucalyptus Leaf compound extracts and encapsulates pore-clogging oils without drying effect on your skin.
Apply a thin layer to clean skin and leave on for a minimum of five and a maximum of 20 minutes. Rinse with water. Use 2-3 times a week
The Glamglow Supermud mask is vegan, free of parabens, formaldehyde, and formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, triclosan, mineral oil, and retinyl palmitate.
5. Professional-C Microdermabrasion Polish by Obagi
Obagi Professional-C Microdermabrasion Polish features a powerful infusion of 30% L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and ultra-fine crystals for exfoliation. It minimizes the appearance of fine lines and large pores.
Additionally, this formula fights hyperpigmentation and sun damage to boost a youthful glow. Regular use will help you unveil dramatically brighter, smoother, more youthful-looking skin.
Scrub a thin, even layer onto clean, damp skin. Leave for 10-15 minutes and rinse well with warm water.
The Obagi’s Professional-C Microdermabrasion Polish Mask exfoliating formula first sloughs off dead skin to refine the skin’s texture. Next, it infuses skin with botanical oils, such as Sea Berry Fruit oil, and vitamin C. Finally, it leaves lackluster complexions with a soft and brighter finish.
The Obagi Professional C-Microdermabrasion Polish formula is paraben, sulfate, and phthalate-free.
6. Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask by First Aid Beauty
The First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask is a soothing formula and a perfect antidote to dry, dehydrated skin. It’s a blend of protective oats-colloidal oatmeal and Avena sativa oat bran. Botanical antioxidants and skin-nourishing ingredients help repair the look of your complexion and revive your natural beauty.
This is a deeply hydrating mask that helps nourish, calm, and rejuvenate distressed-looking skin. In just 10 minutes, the mask will help transform a rough, tight complexion to soft, supple, and fresh one.
The First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask is free of alcohol, artificial colorants, artificial fragrance, lanolin, mineral oil, parabens, petrolatum, phthalates, propylene glycol, sulfates, talc, formaldehyde, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclocarban, and ethanol.
It is also allergy-tested, nut-free, suitable for sensitive skin, vegan, and nano-free.
7. Skin Purifying Mask by Proactiv
This non-greasy, detoxifying acne medicine deep cleans pores and helps calm irritation and reduces redness. It effectively clears existing blemishes while working to prevent new breakout from forming.
It also shrinks the appearance of pores and helps reduce excess oil and shine. With antioxidant protection, it repairs environmental damages and helps in achieving the appearance of smoother, more refined skin.
The Proactive mask features 6% sulfur to speed the healing of pimples with spot treatment. This potent deep-cleansing mask can be also used as a targeted spot treatment to clear emerging acne breakouts. Vitamin E and tea tree oil help to soothe, nourish, and hydrate the area and minimize redness.
This formula is suitable for all skin types. It’s one of the good masks for acne that equally fit oily, dry, combination, normal, and sensitive.
8. Phyto Corrective Masque by SkinCeuticals
The Phyto Corrective Masque is an intensive calming masque. It’s formulated with high-concentrated botanical extracts, a calming dipeptide, and hyaluronic acid to intensively soothe and replenish temporary skin reactivity.
This intensive remedy cools on contact and comforts skin sensitivity while restoring natural radiance and smoothness. The Phyto Corrective Masque is a clinically tested post-procedure treatment that effectively reduces visual redness and discomfort.
This versatile facial mask has multiple uses in fixing a temporary skin reactivity. You can use it daily to minimize redness following a workout, sun exposure, chlorine pool, sauna, or a hot bath. It’s also great as weekly or seasonal first-aid help post-travel, beach days, or windburn from winter activities.
The post-procedure treatment uses include post-laser, extractions, photodynamic therapy (PDT), intense pulsed light therapy (IPL), and other in-office procedures.
9. Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask by Glow Recipe
The Watermelon Glow AHA Sleeping Mask is a bouncy, breathable sleeping mask, inspired by the traditional ways of our grandmothers. It features watermelon, hyaluronic acid, and AHA’s to hydrate, smooth and perfect skin.
Ingredients in this mask are carefully curated to provide skin-quenching hydration. Amino and vitamin-rich watermelon intensely hydrates, soothes, and fights free radical damage. Hyaluronic acid draws water in to instantly quench thirsty skin. AHAs work to remove any dead skin cells and secure soft, smooth, and glowing complexion.
The Watermelon Glow AHA Sleeping Mask can be used as an overnight or wash-off mask. To use as a sleep mask, gently pat as the final step of the evening routine and wash in the morning. Otherwise, spread a thick layer from forehead to chin and rinse after 10 minutes.
This mask is vegan and cruelty-free. It also contains no parabens, mineral oil, sulfates, phthalates, drying alcohols, or synthetic dyes.
10. Salicylic Acid 2% Masque by The Ordinary
A relatively new addition to the cult-favorite brand’s range, the Salicylic Acid 2% Masque from The Ordinary delivers a lot. It enhances the appearance of a smooth and clear complexion while leaving the skin looking and feeling refreshed.
The formula targets textural irregularities, signs of congestion, uneven skin tone, and signs of aging. It aims to enhance smoothness and clarity, leaving the skin feeling refreshed.
The structure of salicylic acid targets the removal of dead skin cells of oily and blemish-prone skin, to reveal more radiant skin beneath. Charcoal and clays are ingredients well-known for their deep cleansing abilities and removal of facial impurities.
The Salicylic Acid 2% Masque is a potent rinse-off formula. It should stay on your skin no longer than 10 minutes in order to maximize the exfoliating benefits.
This cruelty-free and vegan formula does not contain alcohol, gluten, nuts, oil, silicone, parabens, and sulfates.
11. Acne Solutions Oil-control Cleansing Mask by Clinique
The Clinique Acne Solutions Oil-control Cleansing Mask targets the appearance of blemishes and clears the skin. This soothing, natural-clay-based formula helps clear pores and eliminate imperfections, keeping skin shine-free.
The formula with acne-fighting salicylic acid visibly cleanses and unclogs pores, ridding the skin of excess oil. It takes only five minutes to transform your skin, leaving it feeling smoother and looking clearer and less congested. The gentle, non-drying formula won‘t irritate or dry out the skin.
Salicylic Acid and Acetyl Glucosamine work to remove all dead skin cells that can contribute to clogged pores. Kaolin Clay and Laminaria Saccharina Extract absorb surface oil and clean the residues.
This mask is suitable for normal, dry, combination, and oily skin with concerns like large pores, excessive oiliness, acne, and blemishes.
It’s gluten-free, and also free of SLS and SLES, parabens, and phthalates.
12. Clear Improvement Charcoal Honey Mask by Origins
The Clear Improvement Charcoal Honey Mask is a gentle, purifying mask that detoxes and nourishes. After use, the skin is left feeling comfortably clean, clear, and conditioned.
This mask is formulated with bamboo charcoal that acts like a magnet to draw out deep-dwelling pore-cloggers. It actively, thoroughly cleanses and draws out impurities and debris. Golden wildflower and fermented honey are featured for nourishing properties, leaving the skin feeling perfectly pure and completely conditioned.
It’s suitable for normal, oily, combination, and dry skin types, as a solution for large pores, oiliness, dullness, and uneven texture.
The Clear Improvement mask is formulated without animal ingredients except for honey and beeswax. It’s free of parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol, mineral oil, DEA, petrolatum, paraffin, polyethylene beads, and formaldehyde.
13. Clearing Mask by Indie Lee
This gentle yet effective treatment mask will clean and nourish your complexion. It’s formulated with salicylic and glycolic acids to exfoliate dead skin cells; bentonite clay and colloidal sulfur to gently draw out impurities; zinc oxide, chamomile, and red seaweed extract to ensure skin is left calm, reconditioned, and hydrated.
Hyaluronic Acid provides continuous moisture by attracting and binding up to 1,000 times its weight in water.
The Clearing Mask is great for all skin conditions and especially recommendable for oily and imperfection-prone types.
This formula is free of essential oils, parabens, mineral oil, sulfate-based detergents, synthetic fragrance, petroleum-based ingredients, phthalates, phenoxyethanol, formaldehyde, and GMO ingredients.
14. Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask, for Normal To Oily Skin
This multi-tasking facial treatment works as a purifying mask, daily deep cleanser, and pore reducing treatment. Exclusive Umbrian Clay is rich in minerals and helps to balance, purify, and clarify the complexion.
The formula is blended with sandalwood oil for astringent and calming benefits. It’s further infused with chamomile flower and lavender water for soothing properties. The Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask effectively reduces the appearance of pores and mortifies skin.
This three-in-one face mask also can be used as a daily cleanser, ideal for normal to oily skin. It’s potent enough to spot-treat imperfections. Frequent use leaves your complexion appearing softer, smoother, balanced, and healthier looking.
The formula is free of SLS and SLES, parabens, and phthalates.
15. The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Face Mask
The Body Shop’s Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask will refine and revive your skin. Inspired by Ayurvedic traditions, this 100% vegan clay mask is infused with bamboo charcoal, green tea leaves, and Community Trade tea tree oil to cleanse and purify.
This invigorating face mask draws out impurities and refines the appearance of pores. You will discover new, healthy-looking skin with a glow that shows.
Use this charcoal mask two to three times a week to unclog pores, release impurities and toxins, and leave the skin with a healthy-looking glow.
The Himalayan Charcoal mask is formulated without parabens, paraffin, silicone, or mineral oil.
We hope you liked our selection of the best face masks for acne. Pick the one that fits with your needs, follow the instructions carefully, and good luck!
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Joan S. Wilson is a lifelong makeup and skincare enthusiast. She used to work as a makeup artist for 5 years. Joan is always curious and wants to learn more when it comes to makeup and skincare. She tries her best to make other people’s skin health better. This is why Joan is so passionate about writing articles on beauty topics. She always looks for products that are high-quality, dermatologist-tested, and does that it says on the label. In every article, she shares her knowledge to make your life healthier and happier!