Keep Your Oily Skin In Check With One Of These Top-Rated Clay Masks

Clay masks are an age-old remedy for helping to purify and balance oily skin. Fun fact: clay is a powerful detoxifying ingredient that can effectively pull impurities, dirt, dead skin cells and excess sebum and oil out of the skin. However, that doesn’t mean you should start digging for clay in your own back yard.

There are a range of clays from all over the world that are safe to use on your skin, but our personal favourite includes bentonite and kaolin clay because they are especially suited to extracting impurities from oily skin. Plus, they have exfoliating properties and can help to contribute to a healthy skin cell turnover.

The best way to reap the many benefits of clay? Try a face mask enriched with the stuff. Or more specifically, one of the best clay masks for oily skin.

Ahead, you’ll find a handful of skin-friendly clay masks that are specifically formulated for oily skin types.

2024’s TOP 3 Supermarket Shampoos

1. Body Blendz Pink Clay Mask, $29.99, Body Blendz
2. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay, $15.99, Kogan
3. Hey Bud Hemp Clay Mask, $50, Hey Bud

The best clay masks for oily skin 2024

Body Blendz Pink Clay Mask

From $29.99 at Body Blendz

Be real, everyone loves a self-care moment, especially one that ones in the form of a pretty pink mask. But this mask (thankfully) goes beyond cute looks. Enriched with a blend of ultra-nourishing macadamia oil, shea butter, green tea extract and vitamin E,  this Australian clay mask is here to ensure your excess oil is checked at the door, without the dreaded skin dehydration to go with it. Extra added bonus? Body Blendz includes a handy silicone applicator to help soak your skin with all the nourishing (pink) clay goodness. 

Key features:

• Made with Australian clay
• Vegan-friendly formula
• Enriched with macadamia oil, shea butter, green tea extract and vitamin E

Available at:

• $29.99 from Body Blendz

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

from $15.99 at Kogan

This pure calcium bentonite clay mask can be combined with apple cider vinegar or water to create a pore-purifying face mask to treat acne. It can also be used in a body wrap, clay bath, foot soak, or you can chill the clay to soothe sore muscles and insect bites.

Key features:

• 100% natural calcium bentonite (green) clay
• Deep cleans pores
• Fragrance free

Available at:

• $15.99 from Kogan
• $15.99 from Dick Smith
• $18.62 from iHerb (450g)

Hey Bud Hemp Clay Mask

from $49.99 at Priceline

This powerful detoxifying mask from Aussie brand Hey Bud was formulated with oily and acne-prone skin types in mind. The powerful clay mask combines the purifying effects of hemp seed oil, kaolin clay and bentonite clay with anti-inflammatory avocado oil and antioxidant-rich green tea extract to help minimise excess oil and sebum production and the appearance of breakouts.

Key features:

• Contains detoxifying hemp seed oil, kaolin clay and bentonite clay
• Enriched with anti-inflammatory avocado oil and antioxidant-rich green tea

Available at:

• $50 from Hey Bud
• $49.99 from Priceline
• $49.99 from Oz Hair & Beauty

Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask

from $29 at Sephora

Innisfree have utilised volcanic ash found on the Korean island of Jeju to effectively absorb 98 per cent of the sebum, which clogs pores and causes breakouts and congestion. The formula also contains a combination of purifying clays (bentonite and kaolin), and AHAs (lactic acid and glycolic acid) to help balance the complexion and exfoliate dead skin.

Key features:

• Contains Jeju Volcanic Clusters & Spheres™, bentonite and kaolin clay
• Absorbs 98 per cent of pore-clogging sebum
• Lactic acid and glycolic acid gently exfoliate

Available at:

• $29 from Sephora
• $26.61 (usually $38.23) from YesStyle
• $30 from Woolworths

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Anti-Acne Purifying Mask

from $25.59 at Priceline

If you’re looking to purify and balance oily skin, then you should try the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Anti-Acne Purifying Mask. It has been formulated with kaolin clay to minimise excess sebum and shine as well as La Roche-Posay thermal spring water and glycerin to hydrate the skin.

Key features:

• Contains purifying kaolin clay
• Enriched with hydrating thermal water and glycerin
• Minimises excess sebum and shine

Available at:

• $25.59 from Priceline
• $27.99 from Chemist Warehouse
• $32.95 from Adore Beauty

Bondi Sands Everyday Skincare Bondi Babe Clay Mask

from $16.99 at Chemist Warehouse

Bondi Sands Everyday Skincare Bondi Babe Clay Mask contains a blend of blue spirulina extract, bentonite clay and matcha, which work in unison to help purify and detoxify the skin, and calm a red complexion.

Key features:

• Enriched with blue spirulina extract, bentonite clay and matcha
• Purifies and detoxifies the complexion
• Reduces redness

Available at:

• $16.99 from Chemist Warehouse
• $19.95 from Bondi Sands
• $19.95 from Adore Beauty

Lo’eme Australia Australian Manuka Clay Mask

From $36.95 at Lo’eme

If natural, nourishing and Aussie made are things you hope to get from your clay mask, then the Lo’eme Australia Australian Manuka Clay Mask is here to tick your boxes. It’s made with an overflowing amount of botanical extracts (think: kangaroo paw and lemon myrtle) to help with your excess oil issues. Best of all, this mask has been enriched with (Aussie-grown) manuka essential oils that are known for their antibacterial properties.

Key features:

• Made from pink French clay (and Aussie clays)
• Enriched with natural Australian botanicals 
• Made from certified organic ingredients

Available at:

• $36.95 from Lo’eme

Main image credit: @laraworthington

Do you have oily skin? What’s your favourite clay mask to use?