Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

The Best Clay Masks at Every Price Point

The Best Clay Masks at Every Price Point

Say goodbye to excess oil.

In high school, pampering myself meant taking a long bath, painting my nails black, and slapping on three-plus goopy layers of whatever mask I thought would suck all the oil out of my T-zone.

Usually, this was a jar of grey, chalky clay that my friends and I had picked up that weekend, and the results were often less than desirable. I had dry skin, and I'd end up drying it out even more by overdoing it with these random treatments.

My face was red and tight and just plain stressed out, unlike my friends who actually had oil to eliminate. So for while, I swore off of clay masks and all they represented, until I became a baby beauty assistant here at MC four years ago. Once I stepped into the beauty closet, I had a change of heart.

I learned that there are hundreds of clay masks out there, and they cater to all skin types—even my dry, flaky complexion. These muddy creations have been optimized and pumped up with hydrating, soothing, and even exfoliating ingredients to take their sebum-zapping powers up a notch.

Different clays have different benefits, so there are some that are perfectly suited for my dehydrated visage—think kaolin to pink to Umbrian. And because my teenage self would have appreciated a bargain, there are thankfully options for everyone, from those looking for a steal to those in the mood to treat themselves. Here, the best options for your skin type and your wallet.

1. The Word-of-Mouth Favorite


Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay : Aztec Secret

Over 12,000 rave Amazon reviews can't be wrong. This mask is straightforward—it's made up of just one ingredient, 100 percent natural calcium bentonite clay—but it's a powerhouse when it comes to clearing out clogged pores, detoxifying build up in your strands, and even for at-home mud wraps.

2. Most Cleansing


Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask : Fresh

The clay harvested from Umbria, Italy has a high mineral content that gives this formula its detoxifying powers. But don't let its potency daunt you: astringent sandalwood and lavender water sooth the skin while it works.

3. Most Detoxifying


Jeju Volcanic Clay Mousse Mask : Innisfree

Volcanic clay from South Korea gives this mousse-y mask its detoxifying kick. (And the bottle eliminates the muddy mess that some jars can cause.)

4. For Your Whole Body


Kaolin Mask : The Inkey List

$7 for a gentle deep cleanse? Sign us way up. Use this formula once or twice a week on any acne prone areas, including your back and chest.

5. For Dry Skin


Mini Pore Waterclay Mask : LANEIGE

K-beauty has never steered us wrong, and this bouncy clay mask is no exception. Its gel texture, given its power from mineral mud from the Yellow Sea, zaps excess oil without stripping the skin.

6. For Sensitive Skin


Squalane + Tea Tree Detox Mask : Biossance

Clay masks sound like they'd cause the opposite of what dry skin needs, but even flakier complexions can benefit from their purifying properties. French green clay reduces the appearance of acne, and squalane keeps all skin types soothed and hydrated.

7. For Mature Skin


Goddess Skin Clay Mask : Charlotte Tilbury

This pink tube isn't just a pretty addition to your medicine cabinet's mise-en-scène. Spanish clay does the oil-absorbing work in this anti-aging formula, while reship oil restores elasticity and softens and sweet almond oil deeply nourishes the skin.

8. For Dry Skin


Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque : Kiehl's

This rich formula has been a classic for years. While it purifies and reduces oil to prevent breakouts, it's still moisturizing enough to keep skin comfy.

9. For City Dwellers


Instant Detox Mask : Caudalie

If you live in a big city, pollution can damage the skin more than you realize. The Viniferine in this formula brightens dark spots and clears pores of toxins that dull the complexion, while pink clay eradicates excess oiliness.

10. For Congested Skin


Clarifying Clay Masque : Skinceuticals

This option is an exfoliating one-two punch: A blend of five fruit acids gentle dissolve dead skin cells to leave a polished, smooth complexion, while kaolin and bentonite clays clarify and reduce oil and shine.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
×