If you're looking to keep skin looking healthy, free of impurities and clear as day, a pore-clearing mask is what you need in your life. Most of these masks contain ingredients like mud or charcoal that work like a magnet to remove the gunk inside your pores (that eventually lead to pimples, blackheads and other lovely things that like to pop up conveniently right before a big event). But many of these pore-clearing masks leave you without impurities — and the important oils that your skin needs in order to stay healthy. To help you out in your quest for a pore-clearing mask that's gentle on skin but really works, we tried some of the best-selling products on the market. Here are the five that won our heart.
What made me instantly fall in love with this mask was the way it made my skin feel the second I removed it. Like many of the other options, it glided on nicely and dried to a non-crumbling consistency. When I removed it, my skin felt so much more luxurious, plump and hydrated, which surprised me since most charcoal masks are a bit drying and require maximum hydration after use. This mask uses honey and golden wildflower to nourish the skin, and it was visibly and physically noticeable as soon as I took it off.
This pore-clearing mask was one of the first "big girl" charcoal treatments that I'd ever tried and it will always remain one of my go-to products. I can always count on this mud mask to drastically clear out my pores. I know that because you can literally see the results: As the mask dries, it becomes apparent that the little dots around your nose (or wherever you have visible pores) are gunk being pulled out of your skin. Because this option is so potent, make sure to use proper hydration after use.
Infused with African Black Soap (which is rich in vitamins A and E) and jojoba beads, you can count on this mud mask to make your skin feel seriously clean and free of unwanted breakout-causing impurities. I really loved the way this mask gave a mechanical exfoliation as well as the mask doing its job while drying as well. When removing, I made sure to move around the jojoba beads to exfoliate the skin even more. The only thing this mask lacked, in my opinion, was enough slip to comfortably apply it to the skin. I had best results when I mixed in a bit of water.
If you ask me, this pore-clearing mask is the best for those who have more sensitive skin. The mask is incredibly soft and easy to apply and while it's on, it cleanses and hydrates the skin while it simultaneously drawing out dirt, oil and other pesky impurities. While this mask was drying, it didn't have the same hardening effect as some of the other options, which is why I say that more sensitive-skinned babes will appreciate this choice.
