Q: I have quite oily skin. How often should I use a face mask and which sort do I need?

I don’t recommend using a mask more than twice a week, or you can ‘saturate’ your skin with active ingredients. Oily skin types benefit from products that remove excess oil and balance sebum production. Clays are one of the most sought-after ingredients for this skin type but can be overly drying, so I like Madara Ultra Purifying Mud Mask (£20, mypure.co.uk), which contains olive fruit oil to offset any dryness. The deep-purifying detox mask also contains Nordic forest lake mud to cleanse, tighten pores and condition, leaving skin fresh and matt.

Best face mask for oily skin

Activated charcoal is also great for oily skin, and has recently seen a renaissance in popularity. Sukin Oil Balancing Charcoal Facial Masque (£11.95, mypure.co.uk) features bamboo charcoal plus rooibos tea, willowherb and aloe vera to revitalise and refresh blemish-prone skin.

Quince, bilberry and pomegranate extracts help tighten pores, reduce shine and balance your complexion. Diet-wise, I’d recommend minimising saturated fats and maximising your intake of zinc-rich foods such as nuts, seeds, lean meats, spinach, mushrooms, legumes, such as beans, chickpeas and lentils, and cacao powder.

Our Beauty Expert Karen Sinclair-Drake is an expert in natural skincare