All masks are not created equal. This is especially true of clay masks. Too many of them are simplistic and, for many, way too strong.
But some clay masks, like the Nourishing Mask ($22) from White & Elm, are elegant and nuanced. Additionally—and this point matters—a really great mask like this one is appropriate for skin that’s dry or older than 30.
At a Glance
Here’s what you need to know about White & Elm’s Nourishing Mask:
- The Nourishing Mask is appropriate for all skin types.
- The end result is skin which is soft, clear, and smooth. Pores and imperfections are immediately minimized.
- It contains six natural, good-for-you ingredients. A mask like this proves that a product doesn’t need to have a ridiculously long or complicated ingredient list to be fabulous.
- It’s EWG Verified. This means that White & Elm submitted detailed information about their ingredients and manufacturing process. This independent verification is a useful tool for consumers who are interested in supporting companies who hold themselves to a higher level of transparency—a virtue which is, unfortunately, often lacking in the beauty industry!
- It’s a dry powder, so you’ve gotta mix a tiny amount of the powder with liquid. It’s actually fun to do, in the way self-care can be.
If you’ve stepped away from clay masks because they’re too irritating, this mask may be a stress-free re-entry into the clay mask world. Yes, it is detoxifying, but gently so. You won’t feel like a vacuum crawled over your skin. Even with my sensitive skin, this mask has made my skin look better than it would look without it.
A Cure for Clay Mask Fatigue
I was in a clay mask rut. I felt like I had tried it all, and there was nothing new to get excited about. I haven’t posted a clay mask in a very, very long time here at The Beauty Proof. The thing is, if I don’t get excited about a beauty product, it doesn’t get added to the site. Simple as that.
But this mask from White & Elm has such a perfect balance of ingredients—the spirulina, the French green clay, the alfalfa—I couldn’t help but enthusiastically share it with you.
Inside the Ingredients
Here’s the full ingredient list of the White & Elm Nourishing Mask: French green clay (aka montmorillonite), organic alfalfa leaf, organic spirulina, organic comfrey root, organic marshmallow root, organic echinacea.
| Extremely Safe | Reasonably Safe | Proceed with Caution | Insufficient Data |
The French green clay is appropriate for dry and mature skin types. And it isn’t nearly as irritating or drying as some other clay masks (cough, ahem, bentonite clay).
The inclusion of alfalfa and spirulina gives the Nourishing Mask a fresh, green smell. It’s not at all overpowering—just delightful.
How to Use
This mask comes as a dry powder, not a pre-mixed wet mask. This way, you can experience some truly fresh skincare.
Combine 1-2 teaspoons of the facial mask in a bowl with a liquid of your choice. (I use water, which, yes, isn’t exciting but it still makes for a lovely mask.) Mix into a thin paste. Apply with a brush or fingers, avoiding the eye area.
After the mask dries (which takes about 15 minutes), remove by rinsing with warm water or steaming with a warm cloth. The removal provides gentle exfoliation.
The Nourishing Mask can be used once or twice per week. This is one of the few masks I can do in the morning and not have a red, irritated face afterwards.
Also—I accidentally got some of the mask on my bathrobe, and the bright green clay washed out without a problem. This is a good thing to note, because messy masks that stain are the worst and should absolutely come with a warning label! But you won’t have to worry about that with this natural facial mask.
Where to Purchase
The Nourishing Mask is $22 for a 2oz glass jar. Find it here.
To me, that’s $22 well spent.
*This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own.
**Products get makeovers too. Be sure to check if this product has been recently re-formulated before using it yourself.
