Mask Madness, Vol. X: [I'm From] Volcanic Mask

Monday, February 26, 2018

Good morning! Another installment of my mask series. I'm not letting myself buy any new jars of wash off masks until I review them. It's working out pretty well, I only have a few more to go before I'm all caught up. Today's mask is another one I bought from the brand [I'm From] because the Vitamin Tree was such a success that I wanted to try the sister masks. If you recall, the Honey was not a winner in my book (review here), so I was hoping the Volcanic would balance out my dislike and redeem the brand in my eyes.

It's a very .... benign looking mask. Light pink in color, it comes in the hefty [I'm From] glass jar like the other masks. Which by the way, I like to upcycle into specimen jars when I'm finished with them. I take off the label and use them to hold vacation momentos like sand from a particular beach, or volcanic rocks from Vesuvius (apropos, no?). The texture is a slightly mousse-like clay. It's quite smooth so it applies without tugging or grittiness, whether you brush or swipe it on with your fingers. Thankfully, there is almost no scent (just very faintly slightly vinegar like, but barely a whiff).

Ingredients (Cosdna):

Water, Kaolin, Volcanic Ash, Bentonite, Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, Butylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, Glycerin, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Daisy Flower Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Gnaphalium Leontopodium Flower Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Plantago Asiatica Extract, Disiloxane, Dimethicone, Betaine, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Totarol, Hexylene Glycol, Decylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Freesia Flower Extract

As a wash off clay type mask, I'm not expecting this to impart much of anything to my skin. I think of it as oil removal, not a chance to brighten, moisturize, etc. To be frank; as long as I don't experience any irritation, I don't really give a hoot what's in a clay mask.

I like to allow this mask to dry to about 50%. Unlike the other masks that can really tug and crack painfully when they dry quickly, this one is on the gentle side as it dries. It does stiffen a bit as it dries but not rapidly and you can see the oil spots as it absorbs a bit of sebum. If fully dried, this mask becomes more difficult to remove, so I like to let a little moisture remain and then break it down with an oil cleanser and mask sponge for a really deep cleaning experience.

I like this mask but I don't love it. It's well suited for my greasy nose, but I had hoped the Volcanic would also remove sebaceous filaments like the Vitamin Tree Mask (it does a so-so job). I would say that the primary use of this mask is to absorb oil gently. The Volcanic is usually priced lower than the Vitamin Tree, at around $28 instead of $36. I'm on the fence about repurchasing, I think I should just buy the mask that I really adore instead of the one that's ok but slightly cheaper. I will however happily use this up multimasking, by painting my oily tzone with it while I use more moisturizing masks elsewhere on my combination face.

The [I'm From] Volcanic Mask is $28 and can be purchased from YesStyle, or on eBay for $25+.

Good clay mask for absorbing excess oil without dehydrating, combo skin types or oily & sensitive types.

What's your favorite clay mask?

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