Clay masks have been around for centuries and can be traced back to ancient Africa and Egypt where the inhabitants were using them to treat burns and scars. Later they discovered that the masks had great beautifying properties to them and soon become essential to ancient beauty regimes. Fast forward to many many centuries later and clay masks have made a huge comeback thanks to the very popular L'Oréal Pure-Clay masks.
Red Algae + 3 Mineral Clays is best for exfoliating and pore refining rough skin.
Charcoal + 3 Mineral Clays is great for energizing and brightening dull skin.
Eucalyptus + 3 Mineral Clays is for purifying and mattifying and is best used on oily skin.
The masks are all formed with 3 clays (Kaolin + Montmorillonite + Moroccan Clay ) + either Red Algae, Charcoal or Eucalyptus. Once you select the mask that best addresses your skin concerns, it's recommended that it be applied 3 times a week for 10 minutes.
I used the masks for five weeks straight , 3 times a week , dedicating one and a half week to each mask. I , at times, have dry and not so lustrous skin so I tried the Charcoal mask first. I applied an even coat all over my face. The mask dried very quickly and changed to a light blue color. I did feel tightening of my face once the mask fully dried. I washed the mask off with water after 10 minutes. Washing the clay off my face wasn't an easy task. I had to really go over a a few areas several times to ensure the product was completely rinsed off. Once the mask was completely off I noticed instant results on my face. My face felt smoother and looked brighter after the first use. The second time I used the Charcoal mask, I noticed my pores at the tip of my nose looked cleaner than before I applied the mask. Not once after rinsing the mask off did my face feel dry, actually , my face felt very hydrated and smooth after every use.
The next mask I tried was the Red Algae mask. Even though I don't have rough skin I do like the idea of exfoliating my skin with out using harsh beads usually found in most exfoliators. I also applied a thin layer of this mask and left it on for 10 minutes. It dried the same way the Charcoal mask did, very quickly, and it changed colour to a light orange. This mask didn't tighten my skin like the Charcoal mask did. It was actually very soothing on my skin and it had a very pleasant aroma. This mask rinsed off very easily. My skin felt very soft and looked clean. By clean I mean my pores, which are all on my nose, were free of dead cells and dirt! I was impressed when the Charcoal mask cleaned my pores, but the Red Algae mask did an even better job at it! Again, after every use my skin felt hydrated and never dry.
The last mask I used for a week and a half was the Eucalyptus clay mask. Out of the 3 masks , this was the one that I didn't use all over my face. Since it's geared for oily skin and I have off and on dry skin, I only needed to use this mask on my T-Zone where during certain days of the month * ahem* I can be oily there. I loved the light non-perfume aroma of this mask. The Eucalyptus in the mask helps to reduce oil buildup in the skin. After one application on my T-Zone I noticed I had reduced shine. While using the Eucalyptus mask solely on my T-Zone, I used the Charcoal mask on the rest of my face. Again, after I rinsed off the mask, my skin looked hydrated and not dull.
I'm impressed with the overall quality and effectiveness of these pure- clay masks. These masks are thick in texture and they feel like the premium clay you would dig out of the dead sea! They aren't complicated to use and can easily be incorporated into a day or night time beauty routine. After using each mask three times a week I was able to see considerable benefits to my skin. I saw a great change in my skin tone and hydration. I was pleasantly surprised that the Red Algae mask was able to remove all the dirt from my pores from one use. After only one application using the Charcoal mask, I saw hydration and luminosity in my skin. Masks in general have become an essential part of a beauty regimen , ( hello #Koreanbeauty is built around masks alone!!), and everyone can benefit from one of these 3 Pure- Clay masks. I love the Charcoal mask so much that I've added it to my first ever giveaway; coming up on the blog soon!!
DISCLAMER: This is not a sponsored post. I bought these products with my own money. The opinions expressed are my own.
XO, Maha
