The Best Black Face Masks

We usually associate mud or coal with anything but cleanliness. Plus, black colored creams and masks have never looked very enticing. But now its time to change our opinions, because we’ve officially judged them wrong: black colored masks are heaven-sent for skincare.

For the deepest cleanse, exfoliation and rejuvenation your skin has ever experienced, black masks are winning. This is because although black can appear a little off putting for ingredients, they tend to have the most potent cell renewal and dirt extracting properties.

Here’s some of the key ingredients you’ll find in black masks, and why they are reigning the beauty charts:

Charcoal

Charcoal is the beauty ingredient of the moment, currently raved about for it’s exfoliating and detoxifying abilities. It’s been added to cleansers, face masks, toothbrushes, and even juices for its ability to absorb toxins, draw out impurities and rid of any pollutants.

That said, charcoal is kind to skin and doesn’t strip the skin of it’s essential oils, repairing whilst it purifies. Look for a black face mask rich in charcoal for the clearest pores of your life:

Black Tourmaline

This key ingredient is less heard of, but is used more as a secret component in those new-and-upcoming magnetic masks. It helps to stimulate cell renewal and naturally replenish the skin texture, whilst effortlessly extracting dirt and pollution from the pores. It can leave skin feeling tighter and taut, but in that ‘lifted way’, refreshing the appearance of fine lines and imperfections.

Kaolin French Clay

Kaolin French Clay has a thick, fast drying texture which works to help smoothen and detoxify skin. Whilst it effectively draws out impurities, the decongesting ingredient also helps to eliminate excess sebum, which makes it a great acne preventor. Breakouts quickly vanish and oily complexions transform to matte. It’s also a great ingredient for helping assist with the fading of fine lines.

The Rodial Snake Mask combines Kaolin French Clay with Liquorice Extract to create a powerful peel off mask which gives instant skin beautifying, and brightening results.

Black Hijiki Seaweed

Another fairly unusual ingredient you may find in black masks is Black Hijiki Seaweed. This natural addition to skincare provides vital nutrition and hydration due to its high volcanic ash concentrate, which helps revitalize and detoxify skin. You’ll find it is often paired with active charcoal, or in Peter Thomas Roth‘s case, black Moor Mud.

This super mud is harvested by hand from the Irish countryside, and is rich in nutrients, essential minerals and potent anti-oxidants. A great property to protect against skin damage.

The Charcoal Future

Prepare for the black mask trend: the rise will see lots of activated charcoal products hitting the beauty shelves for 2017, allowing us to get our hands on lots of effective skin clearing products. If you especially suffer from clogged pores and congested skin – around the nose, forehead and cheeks in particular – charcoal infused face masks are the perfect treatment product when used in a face mask.

Charcoal binds together on the skin to help pull the dirt out of pores, making them less visible (it’s actually the oil build up and dirt that makes them appear bigger). The result? The cleanest, most clarified and detoxed skin of your life…

SkinStore Editors

Writer and expert

Our team of beauty experts cover everything from skincare to makeup, picking out the most effective products from the best brands and latest trends. Stay up to date on everything beauty with the SkinStore blog, and find all your essentials in one place.