I’ve been working in the beauty and grooming industry for over 3 years now. As you can imagine, I’ve come across every moisturizer, cleanser, serum, eye cream, essence, toner, and sunscreen you can imagine. By far, one of the more demanding categories I test are face masks. It seems like every drugstore and high-end brand has a face mask of some type. Some are formulated to make the skin glow, soothe puffy and baggy eyes, minimize the appearance of acne, and many more. Really, there is one for any condition you are looking to treat.

Whether caused by stress, hormones, mask mandates, or inflammatory breakouts, face masks can help treat all types of acne. There are several masks formulated for different types of acne, masks that have specific ingredients, with clear instructions on how to get the best results. And because the plethora of masks on the market can confuse anyone, here’s exactly what you should be looking for.

First of all, acne is caused by clogged pores that produce too much oil and dead skin. As a result, they form whiteheads and blackheads. But thankfully, leave-on creams, sheet masks, peel-off clay masks, and face masks, typically worn overnight or 15-20 minutes during the day, can help. These masks allow deep penetration, letting the active ingredients inside pull out impurities, reduce large pores, and hydrate the skin. Plus, masks are used all over the face, so if a blemish is non-visible to you, face masks will work to make sure it never surfaces.

Generally, clay masks use kaolin or bentonite to help pull out oil, dirt, and excess sebum from your pores to prevent or stop causing acne. This is great for those with clogged pores and oily skin, as it will detoxify and remove all the gunk. Abrasive face masks for exfoliating masks have granules in them that help slough (read: remove) dead skin cells that can also clog pores. Masks infused with fruit extracts help with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (the scarring left behind from acne) and works to brighten the skin’s total appearance.

If you struggle with dry skin, face gel masks can help boost the overall moisture. For extra pay off and hydration, try sleeping in them weekly. Make sure you wash your face before applying the mask, a clean canvas is the most important first step. It helps to remove any trapped dirt or oils and for the mask to work to its fullest. Consistency is really key here. And lastly, be sure to remove gently to not irritate skin.

If face masks seem too tricky to do weekly or multiple times a day, you can always invest in skincare products formulated with salicylic acid, the ingredient that chemically exfoliates dead skin cells; or glycolic acid, the ingredient that keeps pores clean and helps prevent buildup of product.

Especially if you’re struggling with blackheads, here’s 5 face masks to get you started.

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