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When it comes to skin types, some of us have the best of both worlds — an oily T-zone and dry cheeks and, yes, you detect a bit of sarcasm here. But, over the years, I've made peace with my confused skin. The best clay masks for combination skin are some of the most effective products I've found that can address a shiny nose, forehead, and chin — all while tackling flaky cheeks.
Bentonite clay masks with activated charcoal are all the rage these days because these types of clay masks act like a magnet for excess sebum, dirt, and makeup to prevent pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads from forming. While these are always a solid choice for skin that leans oily, they can be too much for the drier areas of your face.
Green, white, and red clay masks, while often overlooked, are amazing for combination skin — and they each serve a slightly different function. French green clay exfoliates and clarifies, white kaolin clay soothes sensitive, dry skin, and red clay is the ultimate in oil absorption. You can even invest in a multipurpose mask that takes care of every inch of your combination skin. The clay possibilities are endless!
And, hey, it's kind of cool having a skin type that refuses to be tied down to one type.
1A Powerful Mud Mask With Glycolic, Salicylic, & Lactic Acids
GLAMGLOW Supermud Clearing Treatment, $47, Amazon
Consider it one of the first mud masks that truly changed the game: with a powerhouse combination of glycolic acid, acne-healing salicylic acid, and lactic acid to help reduce acne scarring and pigmentation, GLAMGLOW delivers one effective oily skin treatment. It's great for combination skin because, not only does it clear out pores, it also helps regulate oil production and calms and soothes dry, sensitive skin.
2An Anti-Inflammatory Green Clay Mask That Exfoliates Dead Skin Cells
Belif First Aid Deep Pore Care Mask, $26, Amazon
This mineral-rich green clay mask tightens and tones pores while exfoliating dead skin cells — something that works to rid your dry cheeks of flakes and to clear pores on your T-zone so that they don't become clogged. The added raspberry leaf extract in this mask contains antioxidant properties that can reduce inflammation, which is especially soothing if you have acne prone skin.
3A White Clay Mask With Wheatgerm For Sensitive Skin
Grown Alchemist Deep Cleansing Facial Masque, $39, Amazon
Sensitive skin will soak up the benefits of this white clay mask, which contains pore-minimizing wheatgerm and cranberry seed and gingko, which brighten your skin tone. It can be used on just your T-zone or all over your face to balance oils, hydrate, and cleanse pores all at the same time.
4A Slightly Tingly Mud Mask That Leaves Skin Smooth
Queen Helene Mud Pack Masque, $7, Amazon
Mud masks like this one (made from English clay) draw out dirt, but they also do a great job of softening dry skin and making your complexion more smooth. Reviewers describe this mask as "smoothing" and slightly tingly and say it works wonders on shiny T-zones.
5A Peel-Off Red Clay Mask For Sensitive Combination Skin
First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Purifying Mask With Red Clay, $30, Amazon
The super strength red clay in this 20 minute peel-off mask regulates excess sebum, flushes out pores like nobody's business, and does an incredible job at leveling out skin tone and smoothing rougher areas of skin on your cheeks. It's ideal for combination and sensitive skin and will keep acne at bay without drying out your skin.
6A 5-In-1 Mask With Volcanic Ash For A Deep Cleanse
Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask, $13, Amazon
Rid your pores of excess sebum, exfoliate skin of dead skin cells, and make you complexion look more radiant and healthy with this clay mask, which contains volcanic ash that effortlessly pulls out clogged oil and dirt from within pores. This Korean beauty mask is killer on an oily T-zone, but take care to wash it off from cheeks a few minutes sooner and to follow up with toner and moisturizer because it can feel slightly drying.
7A Multitasking Mask With Oatmeal & Clays Perfect For Combination Skin
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Oil-Absorbing Mask, $21, Amazon
This multitasking mask has both sides of combination skin covered: soothing oatmeal and sea whip is heaven on dry skin, while bentonite and kaolin clays absorb oils from pores and willow bark helps treat and prevent acne. Use it once or twice week for 10-15 minutes and you'll notice a change in your skin as it becomes clearer and smoother.
8A Retexturizing Rose Clay Mask That Exfoliates & Soothes Skin
Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask With Rose Clay, $34, Amazon
If dry-skin loving white clay and more potent pore-cleaning red clay had a baby, the product of their love would be the rose clay in this skin retexturizing mask, which is kind enough to address all of your combination skin's needs. A cocktail of acne-busting Canadian Willow Herb and Mediterranean rose clay (which is effective at eliminate toxins and dirt, but gentler than other clay types) meets the hydrating exfoliant that is jojoba beads for a 2-in-1 mask treatment that works wonders on all skin types — but is especially effective on combination skin.
9A Kaolin & Bentonite Clay Mask With Organic Plant Extracts For Delicate Combination Skin
Beauty By Earth Clear-Complexion Hydrating Face Mask, $17, Amazon
Combination, dry, and oily, and even acne-prone or super reactive skin types will all find something to love about this incredibly effective, but hydrating mask, which contains bentonite and kaolin clays, organic aloe vera leaf extract, organic shea butter, organic jojoba oil, and soothing algae extract. This is the nourishing, cruelty-free mask of your sensitive skin dreams — the one that exfoliates, balances the skin's pH, and provides so much hydration you'll question whether you actually need a separate moisturizer.
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