New in: Aesop Primrose Facial Cleansing Mask

I’ve been on the hunt for a good clay mask for a while now – something that will really dry up blemishes when that’s what my skin needs. I came across this one at Aesop’s stand-alone store on Queen West but decided to wait and think about it, finally purchasing it from Nordstrom. It contains rose geranium, primrose seed and sage leaf, which are supposed to clarify and decongest while moisturizing.

How it looks/feels: It looks like any other clay mask – a grey paste. The smell is fresh and green but not overpowering. The texture is a little more slippery than I expected, probably because of the glycerin and oils that the mask contains.

Experience: I applied a medium-thick layer of the mask after washing my face with a mild cleanser. It was easy to apply, spreading evenly. I went and played around on my phone for around 20 minutes, until the mask was mostly hardened.

Results: I could see that the mask had successfully pulled oil out of my more problematic areas, specifically my nose, which was satisfying. It rinsed off clean and left my skin feeling super refreshed, if a little dry. I don’t think it totally lives up to its promise of delivering hydration, but that’s not really what I expect from a clay mask. I’m happy with the deep-clean feeling that it left behind, but I won’t use this more than once a week.