As a beauty editor, I’ve tried a lot of skincare. There are things I love (vitamin C, any kind of gel cleanser and rich, balmy moisturisers) and things my skin doesn’t love so much. The number one culprit of things my skin seems to hate? Clay facemasks.
Don’t get me wrong; I love a facemask as much as the next person. I’ve perfected the art of painting them on with a flat brush and leaving them to set without moving a single muscle, but nine times out of ten, I’m always left with the same result: sore, red skin from where the clay has sapped too much oil out of my skin.
Traditionally, clay masks use blue, pink, kaolin or green clay– and work to clear the skin of toxins, oil, debris and general dirt and grime, making them great for acne-prone or oily skin types. Whilst these ingredients do work well for many skin types, I find them way too drying on my normal-to-dehydrated skin. Often when I wash away the clay, I’m left with a bright red reminder of exactly where the mask has been on my skin.
However things have changed since I tried Kaolin Clay + PHA Face Mask. This gentle clay mask is made from a blend of kaolin and bentonite clay, which help to draw out impurities and nix oily areas. But it’s the addition of the super-gentle PHA gluconolactone that my skin really loves. Confused? Gluconolactone is essentially an exfoliating and hydrating polyhydroxy acid, that’s great for anyone with more sensitive skin. It works to improve skin tone and texture, dissolving dead skin cells and brightening the surface of your skin— but unlike its slightly more robust cousins (AHAs and BHAs) it’s hydrating too.
What’s more— if you’re partial to a bit of at-home chemistry (which skincare buff isn’t, lets be honest), you can customise the mask with your favourite serums to suit your own individual skin concerns.
I’ve started adding this into my Sunday night skincare routine on the regular. After just 10 minutes of masking, my skin looks brighter, feels smoother and has that post-facial glow… no angry redness in sight.
