I'd be lying if I said I wasn't just a tad perplexed when I first opened up a box from Osmia Organics, expecting nothing more than a run-of-the-mill face mask, and instead, I was faced with a dry powder, a ceramic dish and a spatula. *scratches head*
That's when I started to realize that the Osmia Organics Detox Exfoliating Mask could not be any farther away from those run-of-the-mill masks. It's better. MUCH BETTER. For starters, it contains three types of clay, raw cacao, manuka honey and activated bamboo charcoal. Intriguing, no?
Once a week, using the provided spatula, I mix 2 teaspoons of the black powder with 1.5 teaspoons of water in the ceramic dish. The end product is somewhat reminiscent of thick, chunky tar. Although Osmia says it can also be used as an exfoliating paste (meaning just applying it and immediately rinsing off), I prefer to use it in its mask form, leaving it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing clean.
Similarly to other clay masks, there is a progressive tightening effect that occurs as the mask dries and draws out oils and impurities from the skin, although I don't find it uncomfortable.
This is how the mask looks about a minute or two after application...
and this is how it looks once it's completely dry.
The Detox Exfoliating Mask doesn't rinse off with quite the same ease as other, more traditional clay-based masks on the market. It requires wetting hands and working the warm water into the surface of the dried mask before massaging the product off. This is also when the mask transitions into the exfoliation step, as it has grainy particles (apparently walnut shells and olive leaf powders) that slough off dead skin cells on the surface. The rinsing process, when performed at the sink, is quite a messy one, often leaving splotches of black-tainted water all over the sink and countertop...probably explains why Osmia recommends rinsing off in the shower :)
Immediately post-treatment, my skin feels nothing short of incredible. Though my skin does feel a bit drier than it was before I started (to be expected when working with clay masks), it never feels overly tight, itchy or stripped of moisture, which by the way, can cause skin to attempt to counteract the dryness with excessive oil production. What I'm absolutely infatuated with is how unimaginably soft, smooth and plump my skin looks and feels. Often, when using clay masks, I feel the need to immediately slather on a thick cream as a kind of emergency rescue measure to put the moisture back into my skin, but with the Detox Exfoliating Mask, I feel as though my night cream/serum is allowed to complement the mask, acting more as a sealant than anything to simply lock in the amazing-ness that was left behind.
I think the Detox Exfoliating Mask would be a fantastic (not to mention necessary!) addition to just about everyone's skincare routine, with maybe the exception of those with extremely dry and/or sensitive skin types. It's a product that I don't imagine I'll allow myself to be without for a long, long time.
The Osmia Organics Detox Exfoliating Mask (1.4 oz) is available from their website for $50. It's amazing. Highly recommended.
Disclosure: The product in this post was sent to me for consideration for a review. I am not affiliated with the company, nor am I getting paid for this review. The opinions expressed in this post are honest and based solely on my own experience with the product.
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