Drugstore Clay Masks to Tackle Acne, Pores, and Excess Oil

Best Drugstore Clay Masks

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A good clay mask is the first thing we reach for when it comes to self-pampering. And when you pay a ton for it, you kind of lose the luxury to apply it generously on your face whenever you feel like using one. Well, cheer up! Because the best drugstore clay masks are brimming with affordable kaolin to stock up on!

The beloved bentonite and kaolin clays are not just for oily skin, but any skin that desires a pure, clean, smooth, and bright complexion.

With clay’s magic powers of drinking up excess oil, capturing impurities on the skin, and refining the look of pores, we thought you could use these drugstore clay masks that don’t hurt your wallet.

We all love a good facial roll in the mud. They make the perfect bathroom selfie. And clay’s also good for the skin to get rid of the extra dirt lounging on the skin and lying in ambush inside the pores.

That’s why we should be able to coat our faces with it whenever and wherever we want without feeling guilty! So, read on for the best drugstore clay masks to go nuts on.

Best Drugstore Clay Masks

1. Vichy Mineral Pore Purifying Clay Mask

Vichy Mineral Pore Purifying Clay Mask - Best Drugstore Clay Mask

With a combination of kaolin and bentonite clays, the mask sucks the life out of the excess oil on the surface of the skin. As it dries down on the face, it absorbs any residual sebum and dirt sitting inside the pores. While the mask is purifying and mattifying your complexion, allantoin, and aloe vera powders provide soothing benefits.

Plus, the supercharged mineral water contains essential nutrients for the skin to support its natural protective barrier. The clarifying mask is not drying for the skin. On the contrary, it leaves the skin incredibly soft and polished.

Key Ingredients: Clay, aloe
Skin Type: All
Size: 2.53 oz
Good To Know: Paraben-free

2. La Roche Posay Effaclar Shine Control Clay Mask

La Roche Posay Effaclar Shine Control Clay Mask - Best Drugstore Clay Mask

Whether you’ve just stepped out of the gym or you’ve been soaking up the sun and the sweating is out of control, you can reset your skin by slathering your face with this mask. It has kaolin clay, which is gentler than bentonite clay. Plus it’s oil-free, paraben-free, and hypoallergenic, making it the perfect clay mask for sensitive skin.

It cleans out the pores and reduces shine. But if you’re using it for acne and not for oiliness, apply the mask over the acne-prone area to dry out the acne. And enjoy a more balanced and uniform complexion.

Key Ingredients: Clay, vitamin B5
Skin Type: All
Size: 100 ml
Good To Know: Oil-free, paraben-free, contains fragrance

3. Loreal Pure-Clay Detox & Brighten Face Mask

Loreal Pure Clay Detox & Brighten Face Mask

One of the best-performing drugstore clay masks is, of course, this gem by Loreal. From application to purification, the mask is a winner for oily skin. Besides kaolin clay, the formula is enriched with charcoal, another oily skin lifesaver. With these two, the skin is stripped of any residual dirt, flakiness, dust, dead skin cells, and blackheads.

It’s like a nose strip but for the whole face. The soft, satin feel it leaves on the skin is addictive. And as the mask is on the affordable side, you’re tempted to overuse it. Whether you have oily, normal, or combination skin, you really can’t go wrong with this one. So, go ahead and grab one. Dry skin types can also use the chance to get rid of dullness.

Loreal Pure Clay Detox & Brighten Face Mask
by Ejollify

Key Ingredients: Clay, charcoal
Skin Type: All, including sensitive
Size: 1.7 oz
Good To Know: Contains fragrance

4. The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask

The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask - Best Affordable Clay Masks

This one is cooling as much as it is purifying. This clay mask is infused with charcoal and it’s like a mud mask. For people with oily, acne-prone skin, it packs tea tree oil, which is anti-bacterial.

Additionally, it contains green tea, which is soothing and calming for inflamed, blemish-prone skin. So if you have acne and large pores, this creamy charcoal/clay mask works fast to slurp excess oil and mattify your complexion.

The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask
by Ejollify

Key Ingredients: Clay, charcoal, tea tree oil, green tea
Skin Type: Combination, oily, acne-prone
Size: 3 oz

5. Cetaphil Dermacontrol Purifying Clay Mask

Cetaphil Dermacontrol Purifying Clay Mask - Best Drugstore Clay Mask

This budget clay mask is low-key enriched with amazing goodies. Besides clay, it packs apple fruit extract, which is rich in alpha-hydroxy acids such as malic acid. So it’s an exfoliating face mask. The kaolin and bentonite clays drink up the oil on the skin to balance the skin.

With gentle exfoliating action, it gets rid of dead skin cells, built-up sebum, and blackheads. Plus, unlike most clay masks, the texture of it is pretty creamy, which allows for easy application and easy removal.

Key Ingredients: Clay, apple extract, shea butter
Skin Type: Oily, sensitive
Size: 3 oz
Good To Know: Paraben-free, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free

6. Versed Find Clarity Purifying Mask

Versed Find Clarity Purifying Mask

Formulated with both kaolin and bentonite clays, this mask removes residual dirt and accumulated skin flakes from the surface of the skin. Plus, it has charcoal powder to unclog pores and draw out impurities.

It keeps the oil in check and prevents the formation of breakouts. The creamy mask is super gentle on the skin and leaves your complexion balanced, and matte, but never dry!

Key Ingredients: Clay, charcoal
Skin Type: 1.5 oz/45 ml
Size: All, especially oily
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free

7. The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque - Best Drugstore Clay Mask

This one is made with kaolin clay and charcoal powder to mattify oily skin and eliminate greasiness. But the best part is the 2% salicylic acid, which really amplifies the mask’s anti-acne benefits.

With salicylic acid, the mask gives you fast-acting exfoliation. That way, it decongests the skin, unclogs pores, removes blackheads, and reduces blemishes. The super-affordable clay mask is a great 10-minute treatment to refine oily and acne-prone skin.

Key Ingredients: Clay, salicylic acid, squalane
Skin Type: Oily, combination, acne-prone
Size: 1.7 oz/50 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free

8. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

Lastly, we have this viral clay mask. It’s pure clay and it requires a little bit of DIY on your part. You need to do the mixing. And you’re supposed to mix it with either water or apple cider vinegar, which isn’t the best if you have sensitive skin. As it’s clay, the mask is already anti-acne and anti-oil.

So it’ll suck up pore-clogging debris and leave the skin grease-free. Though there are no fancy antioxidant benefits, the mask is surprisingly effective -and satisfying-! The formula is super affordable, and goes a long way, making it one of the best drugstore clay masks for acne.

Key Ingredients: Clay
Skin Type: Normal
Size: 16 oz
Good To Know: Fragrance-free

So these are some of the best clay masks you can find at the drugstore. I love a good clay mask as much as the next guy. And like I said, even better when it’s affordable. But if you want to try out more masks without spending more, try mini-size skincare products. Some otherwise not really affordable masks become affordable when you get minis. And some come in sets too! Origins regularly releases these types of sets. So make sure to check their website.

Read Next: Best Face Mists for Oily Skin

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