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As I wandered through the aisles of Superpharm I casually stopped to check out the skincare section to pick up my usual items. I dropped my face wash and micellar water into the cart but continued browsing the shelves without the intention of trying something else because my skin is so finicky, anything new seems to get her angry. My eyes fell on the Shea Moisture African Black Soap Clarifying Mud Mask and the sleek black packaging made me reach for it. Reading the label I thought it looked promising, I pondered for a while but proceeded to put it back, remembering how moody my skin behaves. My friend Gis who was in the other aisle came up as soon as I was setting the mask back on the shelf and asked me if I was going to get it. Feeling doubtful even though I wanted to try it, I debated for a while until she talked me into getting it. I can't exactly remember the price of it, I'm thinking it was around TT$150. It retails for US$15.99 on the Shea Moisture website and comes in a 6oz plastic jar.
As previously mentioned, the packaging is a sleek black, it also comes with semi metallic orange writing. It is labelled as a clarifying mud mask with tamarind extract and tea tree oil, specifically formulated for blemish prone skin. All the details of the main ingredients are conveniently located on the jar along with the uses, benefits and directions which are:
African Black Soap- Clarifies oily, blemish prone skin.
Tamarind Extract- A natural astringent that helps exfoliate skin.
Tea Tree Oil- Gently purifying essential oil helps to soothe and mattify skin.
Uses: This clarifying mud mask, blended with African Black Soap and Fair Trade Shea Butter, helps draw out dirt and congestion while helping to absorb excess oil. Blemish- prone skin feels balanced, purified and refreshed.
Directions: Apply a thin layer of mud with fingertips to clean skin, avoiding eye area. Keep on for up to 10 minutes. Remove with damp face cloth. Use weekly or as needed.
The product is formulated without parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, sulfates and is not tested on animals.
I was looking forward to trying the mask so I did the same evening. As I opened the jar I was quite pleased to see that it was full. I immediately noticed the refreshingly pleasant scent and the dark gray mud was so smooth, I couldn't wait to dig in.
The consistency of this mask is notably smooth and buttery, it applies quite effortlessly to the skin with your fingertips or a brush. Immediately as I began to apply the product on my freshly washed face, I noticed a slight burning sensation on my skin, I continued with the application regardless of this. By the time I covered my entire face, avoiding the eyes, it was burning quite a bit. The sensation subsided as soon as the mask started to dry. At this point I felt like my pores were open and as it dried some more it stiffened slightly. I could feel a dull pulling as it stiffened and I could tell it was really clarifying my pores. Looking into the mirror I noticed oily spots where my large pores are located on my face, particularly on my cheeks and nose. The mask seemed to have sucked the oil out of my pores so I was thrilled about that. I followed the instructions by removing with a damp face cloth. The face cloth I use is actually the Makeup Eraser towel which is gentle on the skin. After wiping off the mask my skin felt refreshed and definitely appeared brighter as well as smoother than before the application. I can't exactly say the mask has a pore minimizing effect, however, because it was so clarifying, my pores were de congested enough to where they were less noticeable.
I have used this mask at least nine times within the last few months and I'm not halfway through the jar yet. If I'm having an acne flare up I do stick to the instructions of using weekly, otherwise I reach for it whenever I think my skin needs a little boost or when my pores are congested to the point where my skin is bumpy to the touch. The results are pretty much the same as the first time. I must make mention that I used this as aftershave skincare on my cousin's face and his review was pretty much the same as mine, he experienced the initial burning as well but was eventually pleased with the results.
What are my final thoughts? Do I recommend? Will I repurchase? How do I rate it out of 10?
All in all the mask surely lives up to its claims, the clarifying effect is significant. Its compatibility with sensitive, acne prone skin is a big deal for me. It has a lot more pros than cons, actually the only con that I can't point out is the burning sensation which is the reason I deducted 2 points for a rating of 8/10... Another thing that could possibly be a con for someone else but it wasn't an issue for me is the scent since some people find a high scented skincare product to be off putting. I definitely consider it to be value for money since the 6oz jar can last 3-5 months even when being used weekly. I do recommend this mask for anyone who is looking to amp up their skincare routine or if you have sensitive skin like me and you're looking for a mask that your skin can tolerate. I do see myself repurchasing in the future, however, if I come across a 9 or 10/10 product that contains the same benefits and agrees with my skin so well, minus the burning sensation I will reach for that instead.
I hope you guys found this review helpful, if you decide to try the mask be sure to let me know what you think and how it worked for you. If you have any questions, comments, recommendations or content requests feel free to drop a comment below.