11 Charcoal Face Masks to Deep Clean Skin and Unclog Pores

Clogged pores and excess oils are often a recipe for unwanted blackheads, whiteheads, and zits. Keeping your pores clear of that gunk can be helpful in maintaining clear skin. A tried-and-true beauty staple, charcoal is laced with cleansing benefits that makes it a trusted ingredient in toothpaste, facial cleansers, and face masks. You've probably come across TikToks of people trying out charcoal face masks while scrolling through your FYP, and aside from just being interesting to look at, charcoal face masks really work wonders for your skin.

Charcoal face masks are enriched with a special material that helps remove dirt and oil from the skin. New York-based, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp notes that charcoal is an "adsorbent compound" that "acts like a sponge," drawing onto materials and removing them from the skin's surface. Along with sucking chemicals, dirt, oil, and other pore-clogging debris out like a magnet, board-certified dermatologist and Girl + Hair founder Dr. Camille Howard says charcoal face masks help gently exfoliate the skin's surface.

Acne-prone and oily skin types typically yield the best results from charcoal face masks. Dr. Howard recommends those with "particularly dry skin" to "use charcoal masks with caution as excessive use can strip the skin of essential oils." It can also lead to "further dryness, redness, and irritation," which is the ultimate faux pas when you're trying to keep your pores fresh and clear. Dr. Howard notes that while charcoal works well on breakout-prone skin, tihs skin type can also be susceptible to "redness, dryness, irritation, and more blemishes" if used more than 2-3 times a week. For those with sensitive skin, Dr. Camp suggests applying a thin layer of the mask onto the arm in a patch test to see how the "skin reacts before applying it to your face."

Charcoal face masks aren't the only type of skincare that works wonders to refresh the skin. Clay face masks and micellar cleansers are two other trusted pore cleansers that work similarly to charcoal. Both clay and charcoal face masks absorb excess oil, reduce acne, and exfoliate your skin, but they are quite different. According to Dr. Camp, "clay tends to have more minerals than charcoal and is thought to be less abrasive and drying." Micellar cleansers, on the other hand, are more gentle cleansing options. Board-certified dermatologist and More Than a Pretty Face podcast host Dr. Azadeh Shirazi says micellar cleansers are better options for "sensitive skin types as they are more gentle and hydrating." According to Dr. Camp, micellar cleansers are often "diluted concentrations of surfactants that lift oil and debris and facilitate its removal without drying."

Are you ready to clear away blackheads, whiteheads, and other pore-cloggers? This dermatologist-approved list of the best charcoal face masks will help purge the gunk and refresh your skin.