L’Oréal PURE CLAY MASK WITH CHARCOAL REVIEW

I love masking. It’s one of my favourite ways to pamper myself, whether I’m using one of my homemade traditional recipes or a store bought formula. So when the popular L’Oréal Paris line of Pure Clay masks that was launched sometime last year were finally available in Kenya, I had to get my hands on one.

The range has several variants of clay masks with three being the more prominent ones: the Detoxify & Brighten one with charcoal (black), the Purify & Mattify one with eucalyptus (green), and the Exfoliate & Smooth one with red algae (red). They can be used individually or together as part of multi-masking regimens where different ones go on different problem areas. I settled on the Detox & Brighten (enhanced with charcoal) one after a lot of deliberation and research because I believe that out of the three, it is the best match for my skin and my skin goals. After all the struggling my face has been going through, it has been looking dull and drab a lot and I reckoned the detox and brightening would be heaven sent. The radiance boosting promise was the selling point for me in my quest to smooth, clear, glowing skin.

L’Oréal boasts a powerful trifecta of pure clays (hence the name) behind the winning formula for this range. First in line is Kaolin which is powerful yet gentle in absorbing impurities and excess oil. Secondly, we have Montmorillonite which is abundant in minerals that help in the purification and balancing of the skin (it is actually often used in purifying water of heavy metals and other impurities). And lastly, we have Ghassoul aka Moroccan lava clay which is famous for its clarifying properties (and I swear by any Ghassoul spa treatment). The charcoal used as an enhancement in the mask acts like a magnet to draw out impurities, dirt on excess oil from deep within the pores.

I’ve been using this mask once a week for about a month now and I love it! Its thick creamy texture makes it very easy to apply on the face and/or neck, it doesn’t feel uncomfortably tight when on and drying and washes off without too much fuss. It really gets into my pores (I can actually see this during the dry down, so cool) and leaves me feeling so fresh and so clean *does the dance.* It does leave my skin feeling a little dry after I wash it off, but I anticipated that seeing as my skin is dehydrated and sensitive and this has a powerful trio of clays. However, it wasn’t anything drastic and once I put on some MAC Fix + spray and my Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream moisturizer on, the moisture and plump gets restored. No cause for alarm. It has definitely reduced my breakouts as I haven’t had any major episodes since I started using it, but I am not convinced on the brightening part yet. Maybe that would be more evident if I used it the 3 times per week as recommended, although it seems like overkill to me and my dry/dehydrated skin.

These L’Oréal Pure Clay masks come in about 1.7 OZ and I reckon I could have at least 10 applications worth of product as I use it weekly. I’d definitely get it again because I am happy with what it does for my skin as far as deep cleansing and detox, and that I have no bad reactions with it J plus the smell of petrichor (thanks to the clays) is something I can’t get enough of. I’ve seen different prices for them ranging from KShs. 1,700 to 2,700 (USD 17 to 27) depending on where you get them from. They’re available (along with their corresponding cleansers) at the pharmacy at Yaya Center and via Beauty Bar (online shop).

I might try the red mask with the Exfoliate & Refining mask (red one) or the Clarify & Smooth (yellow one) in the near future, but I think I’m gonna stick to this and my old Kaolin one from Luscious Touch UK. I hope this review was helpful for anyone looking to try this pure clay charcoal mask.  Are there any kinds of masks you’d like me to review? I’m always up for new finds. Let me know. Ciao.

 

XO