One thing I’ve learnt I can’t live without in my quest for flawless skin is a good clay-based face mask.I was never really bothered about masks, they always felt like an added extra to me, more of an indulgence than a necessity (if you’ve read my "Choosing the right products" post, you’ll know I’ve become pretty ruthless when it comes to adding products to my routine). But recently, I've totally changed my view on face masks, and they have now become a firm part of my beauty arsenal.I’m talking about a specific type of mask though: the clay-based variety that draw blemish-causing impurities from the skin. This type of mask helps to combat blemishes that have already formed and also draw out the dirt and grime that is building in your pores, waiting to produce spots that you don’t even know about yet.
In this post I’m going to talk about the two masks I use. One is at the luxury end of the market and the other falls firmly into the budget beauty category.Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask
The first mask I'm going to talk about is the luxury option, the Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask. The moor mud in the mask draws out impurities and clears congestion in the pores, without being drying, while the minerals in the mud (which include calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper) revitalise the skin, even the tone and mattify the complexion.
The mask comes in a heavy glass jar, along with a little scooper. The mask itself is a dark gray color. It is very thick, and has some darker gray and black granules in it. I really like the smell, it reminds me of essentials oils. The scoop is also handy, because it keeps everything very hygienic (I hate putting my fingers into pots of products), and it also makes it easy to measure out the amount you need. I’d say I need 1 and a half scoops to cover my face. I like to place a warm Muslim cloth over my face before applying the mask, to very slightly dampen my face and open my pores. Then I apply it quite generously, and leave it for 20 minutes or until it’s dry depending on how much of a rush I’m in. There is a strong tingling sensation when first applied, but its not unpleasant and it wears off quite quickly. I try to let the mask dry fully if possible, because it is an expensive product and I like to feel like I’ve used it properly.Then I simply rinse off. You can use a muslin cloth to take it off if you like, but I prefer to just use water.Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2-in-1 Wash and Mask
The Neutrogena mask comes in a large tube, and you just squeeze out the amount you need and spread it in a generous layer over your face.I like this, because it's easy to control how much comes out, and it's very hygienic. I find I need a decent sized to do my whole face. It’s a thick white/light gray cream with quite a clayey texture (duh!). It’s less thick than the Omorovicza, which is basically set in the pot. I like the smell of this one too. It's a hard one to describe, it's not exactly minty, but it's along those lines; very clean smelling. I personally put a thickish layer all over my face and then leave it on for about 20 mins again or until it’s dry, but this can take quite a while because it is a fairly “wet” product to begin with. My VerdictThe most obvious difference between these two products is the price. The Neutrogena mask is a high street/drug store buy, which you can pick up in your weekly grocery shop and still have change from a fiver. The Omorovicza mask is a much more of a luxury purchase, and retails at £57.In terms of results, I have to give it to the Omorovicza. However, the Neutrogena is still very effective for the price. I use the Omorovicza maximum twice a week, when I really need it, but I don’t necessarily use it regularly.It is quite expensive, so I normally get it out when I’m feeling very congested and regular cleansing isn’t cutting it. It is very potent though. Lots of reviewer say that they see pimples come up for a day or two after using it because it has drawn so much to the surface. I’ve never had that happen to me, but I do find it very effective on those stubborn (under-the-skin) spots that don't respond to acne treatments. It kinda pulls everything to the surface, which gets rid of the root or cause of the blemish. Nothing else, short of a facial, has been as effective for me on that type of spot. But I still wouldn’t risk using this before a big event in case it does break me out.You need to persevere a bit more with the Neutrogena mask, and you won't see such dramatic results, but the good thing is that it is cheap enough to use more often. It might be a bit unfair to compare these two, because they are in a different league, but I think the Neutrogena is a great place to start. That's what I did - I started off with the Neutrogena mask, before I got hooked on deep cleansing masks in general and then upgraded to Omorovicza. But I have used the Neutrogena loads and I am on my second tube. So it’s a good one if you’re hesitant about trying some of the more expensive masks on the market.Final WordsIf you can afford it, I would say that the Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask is one of the best clay-based masks out there at the moment. But if you can’t, but you still want something to help treat those stubborn blemishes, I'd give the Neutrogena 2-in-1 a go.
You can get the Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask here. Omorovicza has also JUST (literally the email came through as I was writing this post) launched an Introductory Kit, which includes travel sizes of some of their most popular products. It's only one pound more than the mask on its own, so if you are interested in trying Omorovicza as a range, this is ideal! You can get it here.
The Neutrogena 2-in-1 Wash and Mask is available here.I also have a few samples of the Eve Lom Rescue Mask, which I’m looking forward to trying. I’ve heard lots of good things about it. Another one I’d like to get my hands on is Glam Glow.It’s a bit of cult hit at the moment, so I’d like to know if it lives up to the hype. Has anyone tried either of these? What did you think of them? Do you have any other favourite masks?
