14 Best Face Masks for Acne, According to Dermatologists & Testers

“Hormonal acne is pretty much the bane of my existence. Every month, I have to deal with pesky breakouts, but the good news is that I found this mask that helps keep my skin under control during my menstrual cycle. I like to apply it right before bed (like an hour or so) and wash it off before I fall asleep. In the morning, I can see the difference in the size of my breakouts; I have less redness and a clearer complexion overall. Hot tip: Use it as a spot treatment on pimples overnight!” – Shauna Beni-Haynes, Teen Vogue Shopping Editor

• Key ingredients: Sulfur, Gardenia Flower Extract, Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide
• Pros: The formula was developed by aestheticans and works to reduce the appearance of dark spots
• Cons: Some users note that the formula takes frequent & consistent use to see results

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Best for dark spots: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial AHA & BHA Mask

T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial™ AHA + BHA Mask

$80

Sephora

$80

Ulta

courtesy of Kara Nevsig

“This resurfacing mask can help exfoliate and minimize the appearance of comedonal acne,” says Dr. Gohara. It mimics an exfoliating facial at your favorite spa, but you can enjoy its benefits in just a few minutes from the comfort of your bedroom or bathroom. Just don’t overdo it, as the blend of AHAs and BHAs is powerful. “There is a balance between benefit and breaking out more,” she says. “Using these products once a week is what I recommend to gauge if your skin is on team face mask.”

“The Babyfacial is also a go-to in my own routine, and I love how soft and bright my skin feels post-treatment, whether or not I’m breaking out.” – Kara Nesvig, Teen Vogue Contributor

• Key ingredients: AHA, BHA (2% salicylic acid)
• Pros: Easy to use, acts like a “deep cleaner” for your skin and the active ingredients get the job done
• Cons: The formula can be too intense for sensitive skin

Save when you shop the best face masks for acne with these Sephora promo codes.

Best for cysts: Renee Rouleau Rapid Response Detox Masque

Rapid Response Detox Masque

$69

Renee Rouleau

If you deal with hormonal acne and sometimes feel like there’s a storm brewing under your skin, this soothing mask may help diffuse the situation — and potentially prevent future bumpy breakouts, too. As someone who has dealt with persistent hormonal acne for years, Renee Rouleau’s Rapid Response Detox Masque is pretty much a holy grail for me. It’s a gentle, calming gel formula that works to banish those big, painful cysts that often pop up during my cycle. – Kara Nesvig, Teen Vogue Contributor

• Key ingredients: Tea tree oil, salicylic acid, allantoin
• Pros: Reviewers praise the cooling, calming gel and fast-acting results
• Cons: Some note that the fragrance can be polarizing. (To me, it smells like McDonald’s Sprite.)

Best Affordable: Proactiv Amazonian Clay Mask

Amazonian Clay Mask

$34

Amazon

$34

Proactiv

If you’re oily, Dr. Gohara recommends seeking out a clay mask, which can help control oil and impurities. Proactiv’s Amazonian Clay Mask purifies and shrinks pores, but it won’t dry your skin out post-mask session thanks to nourishing botanicals.

• Key ingredients: Bentonite and kaolin clay, avocado oil, shea butter
• Pros: Comes with a spatula for mess-free application and has a creamy, workable formula
• Cons: Some reviewers aren’t fans of the strong scent.

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Best for blackheads: The Ordinary 2% Salicylic Acid Masque

Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque

$25

Amazon

$14

Sephora

Acne can leave your skin looking dull and blah. Restore the glow with a little help from this blend of salicylic acid, charcoal, and clay. Salicylic acid dives deep into your pores to dig up dead skin cells and refresh skin, while the clay and charcoal combo sucks up impurities. “This mask leaves the skin looking clear and smooth by helping to get rid of buildup, oil, and dead skin,” explains Dr. Marisa Garshick MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York, adding that you should use it on clean, dry skin once to twice weekly.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, kaolin clay, charcoal powder
• Pros: Affordable price point and deeply cleanses
• Cons: May not be suitable for sensitive skin.

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Acne Treatment Mask - With 6.4% Sulfur

$44 $35 (20% off)

Amazon

$44

Dermstore

Dr. Caren Campbell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in San Francisco, likes this mask because of its acne-fighting list of ingredients like sulfur, which she says is “helpful as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial,” and lactic and glycolic acid to help exfoliate the skin. Glytone is frequently recommended by dermatologists due to its quality formulations.

• Key ingredients: Sulfur, glycolic acid, lactic acid
• Pros: The cooling effect feels soothing on active acne and it won’t strip skin or leave it feeling tight
• Cons: Less widely available at larger retailers

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Best for dry skin: Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Mask

Dr. Jart Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Mask

$10

Kohls

$20

Amazon

If you notice that your skin is feeling dry, tight, or irritated during your acne journey, that’s your skin crying out for moisture. “This hydrating mask contains ceramides, panthenol, and glycerin, which are all powerhouse hydrators,” explains Dr. Penzi. This sheet mask helps nourish thirsty skin and keep your skin barrier feeling happy and balanced, especially after strong acne treatments.

• Key ingredients: Ceramides, glycerin, panthenol
• Pros: Supports the skin barrier for up to eight hours and relieves tight-feeling skin
• Cons: Sheet masks can be considered wasteful

Clinique

Acne Oil Control Cleansing Mask

$32

Sephora

$32

Ulta

Clinique’s skincare has been trusted for generations, and their Acne Solutions line is a favorite for gently but effectively fighting breakouts; this fast, convenient mask is especially good if you’re oily. “This mask is a clay-based mask that helps to reduce blemishes and clogged pores,” says Dr. Garshick. “It also contains salicylic acid and can help to reduce oiliness and shine on the surface.”

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, kaolin clay
• Pros: It has a fragrance-free formula and can be used as a spot treatment
• Cons: Some reviewers noted that it left their skin feeling dry

Save when you shop the best face masks for acne with these Sephora promo codes.

Dermacontrol Purifying Clay Face Mask with Bentonite Clay

$33

Amazon

$19

Target

There’s a reason Cetaphil continues to be one of the most trusted and beloved drugstore brands. “This creamy mask is gentle but effective as it uses Amazonian clay designed to deeply clean the pores while improving tone and texture, leaving the skin looking softer and smoother,” explains Dr. Garshick. It’s less drying than other formulas, too. “It is still gentle on the skin, making it a good option for those who are oily but also sensitive,” she says.

• Key ingredients: Bentonite and kaolin clay, cucumber seed extract, apple fruit extract
• Pros: It has a fragrance-free formula, and it's great for sensitive skin
• Cons: Reviewers call it refreshing but say it can be difficult to remove

Save when you shop the best face masks for acne with these Amazon promo codes.

Best Splurge: Tata Harper Clarifying AHA + BHA Mask

Clarifying Pore AHA + BHA Mask with Salicylic Acid for Redness

$75

Sephora

$75

Nordstrom

If you’re looking for a clean beauty option — and don’t mind a bit of a splurge — try Tata Harper’s luxurious Clarifying AHA + BHA Mask. It clarifies and exfoliates with gentle micro-crystals and AHAs but won’t stress your skin out thanks to rich, hydrating honey.

• Key ingredients: AHA and BHA blend, African wild grape, raw honey
• Pros: Best for dry and combination skin types. “I love that as you wash it off, you can gently massage it with the tiny micro grains for added exfoliation,” says a reviewer
• Cons: Less affordable price point

Save when you shop the best face masks for acne with these Sephora promo codes.

Best drugstore: Neutrogena Clear Pore 2-in-1 Facial Cleanser/Mask

Neutrogena

Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask

$28

Amazon

Kick it old school with a drugstore classic like Neutrogena’s Clear Pore 2-in-1 Facial Cleanser/Mask, which can be used as either an acne-fighting cleanser or left on your skin as a mask. Benzoyl peroxide, a dermatologist's fave for acne, helps treat acne, while clay helps control oil. The cooling sensation feels great when your skin is stressed out.

• Key ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide, kaolin and bentonite clay
• Pros: Accessible price point and has a 2-in-1 formula
• Cons: Benzoyl peroxide can stain and bleach towels and bedding

Save when you shop the best face masks for acne with these Amazon promo codes.

Best for scars: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

Indian Healing Clay 1 lb

$16

Amazon

$19

Target

This is one of those cult classic products you’ve probably seen thousands of times; it’s been a pore-cleansing secret for decades. The brand calls the product “a vacuum for your pores,” and they’re not kidding. You mix the powder with water or apple cider vinegar to form a paste, then apply to skin for just five to ten minutes to clean pores. It’s ideal for oily skin types.

• Key ingredients: Calcium bentonite clay
• Pros: Reviewers call it “transformative,” and it can also be used for body wraps and foot soaks
• Cons: It may be too drying for sensitive or dry skin

Save when you shop the best face masks for acne with these Amazon promo codes.

Vitamin C Lactic Biocellulose Brightening Treatment Mask

$12 $9 (25% off)

Amazon

$12

Sephora

If you’re looking for a face mask for acne scars, one formulated with vitamin C can help fade those dark marks over time. Dr. Penzi likes this biocellulose sheet mask with vitamin C and lactic acid to brighten skin and niacinamide to absorb oil and calm skin.

• Key ingredients: Vitamin C, lactic acid, niacinamide
• Pros: Made from biodegradable coconut fibers and hydrates and revives dull, dry skin
• Cons: Expensive price point

Save when you shop the best face masks for acne with these Amazon promo codes.

Best for dark spots: Omnilux Clear

Omnilux Clear

$395

Omnilux

Yes, this is a big, big, big splurge, but this FDA-cleared blue and red light face mask really works. With regular use, this non-invasive mask helps clear breakouts faster. It’s also one of the best masks for acne scars, as it works to reduce the appearance of dark marks over time. Use it four times a week for 10 minutes for six weeks, then reach for it when you feel a breakout start. If you’re interested in trying an LED face mask for acne, Dr. Gohara recommends choosing a blue light option; blue light has been shown to kill blemish-causing bacteria.

As someone with consistent acne issues, the Omnilux Clear has been the best thing I’ve used (outside of dermatologist-prescribed medication, notably spironolactone) to shrink zits and reduce redness and scarring.

• Key ingredients: Red and blue light
• Pros: Pain-free, non-invasive
• Cons: Some reviewers complain about the design, saying it’s uncomfortable to wear

A face mask is just one piece of your acne-fighting toolbox. Dr. Gohara recommends being gentle with your skin during a breakout; don’t pick, scrub too aggressively, or use a harsh cleanser to dry out zits — that could just make things worse. Dr. Campbell, says the best way to treat breakouts is to get on a routine and stick to it, especially one determined by your dermatologist.

• Retinol
• Salicylic Acid
• Benzoyl Peroixde

“The best treatments for acne typically incorporate key acne-fighting ingredients" (like the ones listed above), says Dr. Garshick. You may find them in cleansers, toners, creams, or prescription products. “For someone starting out, it can help to start with either a benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid cleanser and a retinol, such as over-the-counter adapalene found in Differin gel.”

If you’re wondering how to get rid of acne fast, we have good news and bad news. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to acne, nor is there a miracle product that will change your skin overnight. It takes time to treat and heal a breakout, but a comprehensive routine — which may include a face mask — can help keep the process chugging along. “There is no magic bullet with breakouts. Even prescription medications can take weeks to work,” says Dr. Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Connecticut. “That being said, there are ways to keep it from getting worse and minimize those bigger pimples that are not fun to deal with,” she adds.

Talk to your derm about the best ingredients for your specific acne; the best face mask for hormonal acne may not work for blackheads. “There are several different ingredients in face masks that can help acne,” Dr. Penzi. Look for hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerine to keep skin balanced; salicylic acid to unclog pores; and clay or charcoal to help absorb excess oil. Once you’ve found your mask match, incorporate it into your routine slowly, just as you would with a new topical or active serum. “Start once a week and work up or down gradually depending on if your skin tolerates it and if you actually can see a difference,” advises Dr. Gohara. Make sure to follow up with a moisturizer, especially if you’re using clay-based masks to replenish any moisture drawn out.

• Dr. Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut and Vice President of the Women’s Dermatologic Society
• Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in New York and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Cornell - New York Presbyterian Medical Center
• Dr. Caren Campbell, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at CCMD Dermatology in San Francisco
• Dr. Lauren Penzi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in New York