They come in numerous variations, they work while you go on binge-watching You Tube-Videos and after you rinsed them off, your skin looks instantly refreshed/cleansed/hydrated/you name it.

So, what´s not to like?

I treat myself twice a week, choosing between hydrating or deep cleansing depending on my skins needs. 

And I really enjoy it, as you can see in the picture below:

For the past weeks I used Clarins Truly Matte Pure and Radiant Mask with pink clay and compared it to the cheaper clay masks you can get at any drugstore.

What Clarins claims:

Deep purifying mask with refreshing Pink Clay and Alpine Willow Herb cleans, tightens and refines pores with a fresh matte result in just 5 minutes.

Softens, smoothes and comforts irritated skin with Linden extract.

Non-drying texture rinses easily and is suitable for the most sensitive skin.

Facts first:

The Pink Clay mentioned in the product name is a blend of red and white clay, cleansing in a very gentle way while respecting the skins pH-balance. As every other clay it absorbs oil, drying out impurities and making the pores appear less visible due to constriction.

The ingredient list states Kaolin, which is Clay in general, without specifying the subtype.

Other main ingredients according to Clarins website are Alpine Willow Herb (Zinc and Vitamin B6), palm and coconut oil. If you look closer at the ingredient list, they make their appearance very late, indicating a low concentration.

The bottle contains 50 ml, priced at 25 € bought here.

I needed a walnut sized amount to cover my whole face, leaving my neck without product.

The mask itself doesn’t harden as many clay masks do, but gradually disappears, looking full on white when applied and almost see-though after five minutes. (The picture taken above is about 10 minutes after application)

There is no tingling or tightening sensation, even if you leave it on for almost an hour. You just rinse it off with warm water and are left with… moisturized skin.

I somehow expected the tight feeling I experienced after other clay-based masks, but my skin just felt soft and hydrated. No mattifying or pore minimizing effect as far as I could see, and if I hadn’t read the description, I would probably have mistaken it for a hydrating face mask.

Does it live up to its claims?

Partly. 

I am not sure about the deep cleansing and pore minimizing effect, but given that clay is the main active ingredient, it has to be there.

“Softens, smooths and comforts…” on the other hand: Absolutely! In fact this is the only effect I feel.

Will I rebuy?

I don´t think so. 

It really is a decent product, but it is not what I am looking for in a clay mask. 

And even though there are different “colors” of clay with slightly different effects, I will stick to the cheaper face masks, as in my opinion, clay is clay, and it is a very cheap ingredient.

Who would I recommend it to?

People with very sensitive skin, looking for a non-drying clay-based mask.