L'Oréal | Pure Clay Detox Mask

L'Oréal's Pure Clay masks have been all the rage online and I've seen so many fellow bloggers in campaigns for them. So I thought I would get myself some of them to test out.  These masks have been so popular in the store that when I went to Dischem to pick some up, there was only one variety available. So instead of leaving empty handed I decided to get it and give it a try.

I have dry skin, so the detoxifying mask is a little bit risky for me.  Clay masks in general really draws out a lot of moisture out of my skin - great for people with excess sebum that needs to be drawn out of the skin, not so great for already dehydrated skin. That being said, after working out, I do have a tendency of breaking out a bit so I though this mask would be great to use once a week just to clear out my pores. 

L'Oréal's whole idea with releasing three different masks is that people's faces are zones that required different treatments. For example, some skin is oily over the t-zone but dry across the cheeks. You can't use the same mask on your entire face because that mask is meant of a specific purpose - removing excess oil or hydrating. L'Oréal has Purity (Purifies and matifies skin), Detox (Detoxify and illuminates skin) and Glow (Exfoliates and refines skin) to help you cater your skin care routine to your specific needs. I think that is very cleaver and really has taught people how to best look after their skin when masking.

What is the detox mask?
The Detox Mask is formulated to detox and brighten dull, tired skin. This helps to even out your skin tone so that you compexion is more radiant. The clay helps clean out pores the charcoal combined in the product helps illuminate your skin. This mask gets rid of any dirt, dust and pollution from your skin leaving you with skin that is clean and able to breathe (that is what the packaging says). 

What do I think of it?
From my experience, the mask definitely helps clear out pores and leave my skin feeling squeaky clean - but I cannot leave it on for longer than 5 minutes. Although it says that it isn't drying, I do find it to be too harsh on my skin when left on for longer. But for my purposes of getting a good clean one to two times a week, this stuff works a charm - especially for the price. I bought my jar on special for R109 at the time but the current price is around R150 a jar.

How do I use it?
After exercising and having my quick shower where I cleanse my face (Cape Town water restrictions means no soaks in a warm bathtub) I apply the face mask across my T-zone and leave it on for 5 minutes. Typically I'll brush my teeth and apply moisturise to my body while waiting for the mask to do it's thing. After 5 minutes I remove the mask then straight afterwards I apply a gentle hydrating mask across my entire face. This I'll leave on for about 5 - 10 minutes before removing the excess off with cottonwool pads. I follow this up with a serum / face oil then seal it all in with my night cream.

Is it worth it?
Yes. The price point (1 jar gives you 10 treatments for full face or MANY more if you only use it on small areas) and effectiveness makes it a good head buy. I am not a huge fan on jar packaging because every time you open the jar you expose the ingredients to air and this makes them less effective - but having the product in a jar means you can easily scoop what you need out of the jar - just please make sure your hands are very clean. You don't want to contaminate the product then apply that tainted product to your skin next time.

Overall I am happy with this mask and continue to use it. My advice is to listen to your skin to determine how often you need it. If it feels tight and dry the day after use, do not leave it on for too long and perhaps don't use it the recommended 3 times a week.

If you have any questions about this mask, please leave a comment below. You are also always welcome to email or tweet me. I try my best to get back to you as soon as possible.l

Big Hugs,
Charlene XXX