The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask

Today’s review will be about the Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask by The Body Shop. I like this clay mask a lot because you can actually see how much dirt and sebum it pulls out of your pores. It is also great to use as a scrub and to me it is way superior (and a cheaper alternative) to the GlamGlow Supermud.

Claims from the manufacturer:

 Refine and revive your skin with our Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask. Inspired by Ayurvedic traditions, this 100% vegan tingling clay mask is infused with bamboo charcoal, green tea leaves and organic tea tree oil.
 It is formulated without parabens, paraffin, silicone or mineral oil. This invigorating charcoal face mask draws out impurities and refines the appearance of pores for healthy-looking skin with a glow that shows.
 100% vegan
 Enriched with Community Trade tea tree oil from Kenya
 Packed with bamboo charcoal from the Himalayan foothills and green tea leaves from Japan
 Absorbs excess oil
 For skin that needs extra purification to reveal a healthy, youthful glow
 Dematologically tested

 

Directions from the manufacturer:

After removing makeup and cleansing the skin, use the Facial Mask Brush to smooth an even layer of the Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask onto the face avoiding eye and lip area. Apply to neck and décolleté if desired. Leave for 5-10 minutes then rinse off with warm water and a muslin cloth in circular motions to gently exfoliate. Use 2 to 3 times a week. Use various masks in different areas to target specific areas of your face.

 

Ingredients:

Aqua/Water/Eau, Kaolin, Moroccan Lava Clay, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Alcohol Denat., Camellia Sinensis Leaf, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Pumice, Argania Spinosa Shell Powder, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Parfum/Fragrance, Charcoal Powder, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter/Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Limonene, Linalool, Methylpropanediol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Menthol, Disodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil/Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Citric Acid, Menthoxypropanediol, Citral, Geraniol, Coumarin, Caramel

 

My experience:

I turned to this clay mask after I’ve seen some good reviews online. It didn’t disappoint me! I’ve tried the samples of the well known (and overpriced) GlamGlow mask and it definitely is not worth it when you have the TBS Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask in your arsenal. It performs better on the skin and is easier to wash off.

 

The mask itself is made of thick creamy brown clay with particles of green tea leaves in it. The smell is quite strong at it smells like a mixture of green tea and tea tree. Even thought the scent is strong, I can also sense some peppermint in the mix as well. By no means it is a product with people with rosacea or sensitive chappy skin. It will sting the areas of damaged skin so be careful when using it. In all of the NL The Body Shop stores you can ask for a sample of the mask so use that function and “Try before you buy!”

 

Out of all my mud packs and masks this is by far the winner when it comes to the level of purification you can achieve with it. My pores are squeaky clean after se but there is one but. It dries out the skin, a lot. I would not recommend using it on the entire face. Simple spot application or the T-zone coverage is enough for it to do the magic. You only need a thin layer of clay and 10 minute of your time to drain all the dirt and sebum out of the pores. I never travel anywhere without a sample sachet of this mask with me. It remains my Holy Grail product for years and will not leave the “clay mask throne” yet.

 

*Little tip for the new buyer. If you like the body shop masks as much as I do, try getting the “At-Home Facial Mask Experience kit” which retails for 80€ for 5 full-size jars of product. Unfortunately this mask line never runs on offer in NL and by investing into the kit can save some money by paying for 4 masks and getting 1 free.