Skinceuticals Clarifying Clay Mask

I am a huge fan of clay masks. They are the big guns of my skincare arsenal. Yes, they can be quite drying for the skin if used too often, BUT they are the only product that can calm down my hormonized angry skin when it's that time of the month.
Number one special power: they draw impurities to the surface and detox my skin.

My numero uno best-of-the-best pick is the Eve Lom Clay Mask but it's a pricey product so I'm always on the lookout for alternatives. I was about to pick up another set of Apivita green clay masks but the saleslady recommended the Skinceuticals Clarifying Clay Masque. Voila!

Reassuringly, luxuriously heavy (and super environmentally UNfriendly) packaging

Here's the description on the website:

"This non-drying masque combines kaolin and bentonite, the highest quality earth clays; botanicals and minerals to help heal and calm the skin; and a 5% hydroxy acid blend to gently exfoliate.

• 5% hydroxy acid blend gently exfoliates dead skin cells
• Natural earth clays, kaolin and bentonite, decongest pores, lift impurities, and help remove excess oils
• Aloe provides anti-inflammatory properties
• Chamomile calms and soothes the skin"

This mask is recommended for normal, combination and oily skin types. Ha-ha no one in their right mind with dry skin  would buy a clay mask, right????

My favourite part about this mask is that it isn't drying at all. I used this product every other day when my skin was flaring up, and exactly four days after I started using this mask (and Mario Badescu's Buffering Lotion), my skin was completely clear again!!

It looks hard (and a bit like hair product) but it's surprisingly malleable...not hard at all!

Even though this mask isn't drying, I always moisturize afterwards. I use Bicelle's B5 Gel.

Overall: 4 / 5
Repurchase? Yes! I've come to think of this as my (kind of) poor man's Eve Lom alternative. I have to say that I think Eve Lom's mask is more deep cleansing, but this mask does calm down my sensitive red areas and help control my oily t-zones.