Rhassoul (or ghassoul, a purifying, saponaceous clay that is well-known in the Eastern regions of the world, and which absorbs both the sebum and impurities, while preserving the protective hydrolipid film of the skin), montmorillonite, kaolin, bentonite, and even talc… all these mineral substances provide a ‘blotting’ effect and thoroughly cleanse the pores and the skin, leaving it clean and healthy.
We already knew about the masks developed by Caudalie (Purifying Mask or Instant Detox Mask, 75ml, €20) and Biotherm (Skin Best Wonder Mud Masque, anti-pollution, pore-minimizing, glow-reviving purifying mask, 50ml, €50).
Now, there are mini-size formats by Korres (Purifying Natural Clay Mask, 18ml, €7.90) and Nocibé (Purifying Capsule Mask, 12ml, €2.95, with white clay and rice powder): they are extremely convenient, because they can deliver the right dose, even far from home. They are intended for combination to oily skins…
… And so is the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Clay Mask by The Body Shop (100ml, €13).
But the latest ones feel like velvet on the skin and no longer provide a sensation of tightness.

New comfortable formulas

The new, suppler galenic formulas no longer harden, do not make the skin dry, and suit most skin types.
As an example, the Pure-Clay Mask range by L’Oréal Paris will soon be available in supermarkets as a Smoothing Mask, Detox Mask, or Purifying Mask (50ml, €8.90). Three clays were selected (ghassoul, montmorillonite, and kaolin) and combined with three natural ingredients: Eucalyptus, Charcoal, and Red Algae extract to create melting mask-cream textures.
This month, it is Vichy’s turn to launch their Pore Purifying Clay Mask (75ml, €20) with two white clays (kaolin and bentonite), aloe vera, allantoin, and a high proportion of fortifying, regenerating Vichy thermal water to soften it all.

Multi-masking

Thanks to this new trendy word, everyone can revive the concept! It was invented by the beauty salons that had been using the ‘tailor-made mask’ approach for long, with products adapted to the various ‘geographical areas’ of the face to meet their specific needs. For example, a purifying mask on the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin), a smoothing mask on the cheeks, etc.
Cattier, the king of organic-certified clay, is actually the first to have offered sensitive skins a Pink Clay Mask (100ml, €3.65). And it should be noted that brands play on the ‘softer’ shades of clays and the fact that they go with soothing, moisturizing ingredients… because the main active still remains kaolin!

On Men’s hair, body, and skin too

Cattier has developed a new clay mask for the hair (Detox Scalp Mask Pre-shampoo with pink clay and a lemon extract for all scalp types, 200ml, €15.95): an excellent idea to ‘depollute’ one’s hair from chemicals (in particular those in hair dyes).
As for Biotherm Homme, they have just released T-Pur Blue Face Clay, a powerful anti-imperfection mask (50ml, €37), with ghassoul and white clay extracts combined with a blue alga and Life Plankton for an extremely soft, non-drying, non-sticky cream texture.
As for The Body Shop, they are one of the rare to have thought about a body clay mask, available in the Spa of the World range (Moroccan Rhassoul Body Clay, Firming Clay Body Mask, 200ml, €19).

Ariane Le Febvre