little white truths

I received this mask in one of my Mecca Beauty Loop boxes and it's taken me a while to review it because I have so many masks on the go and I've wanted to knock off a few other things first.

I've been testing it again throughout October, however, and while I don't think it's the best mask I've used, it's not bad and I've been enjoying it - especially because it's a great double-duty product that not only serves as a clay mask but also contains scrubby matter to exfoliate. Perfect for time-poor parents!

Malin + Goetz claims/product details:

• A deep cleansing and exfoliating clay mask that's ideal for oily or acne-prone skin
• Formulated with refined kaolin clay to help absorb excess oil and draw out impurities, powder-like pumice to gently polish away dead skin, and witch hazel and arnica extract, known to be anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial
• This pore-minimising, 10 minute mask purifies and balances to improve clarity and texture for healthy-looking, radiant skin
• The non-irritating mask is also suitable for sensitive skin
• RRP $70 AUD for 100ml

Verdict

This is a standard clay mask that dries down while you wait for it to work, and like most clay masks it can feel a little tightening as it dries - but not in an uncomfortable way so that's a plus.

What's different about it is that it also contains some fine, scrubby matter, and just before you wash it off, you're meant to massage it in circular motions across your face.

The first time I used it, I wasn't expecting the exfoliating particles and I was pleasantly surprised to find them because I like double-duty products. I only tend to use clarifying masks and physical exfoliants once a week each, so it's nice to come across a product that covers both bases.

Once I've massaged this in and washed it off, my skin feels smoother and looks brighter and more refined. I can imagine that it would be useful for oily or blemish-prone skin, but having dry/sensitive skin, I can't comment on whether it works well for those with a different skin type than mine.

What I can say however is that it doesn't irritate my dry/sensitive skin or further dry it out - another plus because I've used clay masks before that my skin can't tolerate. It can easily tolerate this and I've noticed no adverse reaction from using the product: indeed, I could probably use it more than once a week if I wanted to because it's reasonably gentle while still being effective.

On the claims: yes this cleanses and exfoliates; yes it polishes away dead skin; and yes I do think it improves clarity and texture for more healthy-looking, radiant skin. I can't comment on the other aspects (eg whether it's good for oily skin) because that's not my skin-type, but I imagine that it could help with blemishes etc, based on my experience with the product.

As for whether I would buy it or think it's worth the hefty price tag, I'm very picky when it comes to my masks because I want something that works wonders if I'm going to go to the trouble of using it, and this hasn't grabbed me enough for me to say it's worth the $70 AUD for the full size (but do note the full size contains 100ml, so it's large).

I think it's a good product but it's not one I would buy because it's not a stand-out for me, and I've also used similar masks before that do more for my skin - so this isn't near the top of my list.

Good but not great.