Jennifer Hussein/Allure
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News flash: Oily, congested skin types are not safe from sensitivity — believe me, I would know. So, what's a greasy, easily-irritated complexion to do when excess oil and sebum take over? Well, it's actually pretty simple: Just slather on Tatcha's The Clarifying Clay Mask to mattify your skin without any post-exfoliation redness.
As I said before, my skin is very prone to irritation and redness, considering the fact that I have been diagnosed with moderate rosacea. So, I'm always cautious when approaching new skin-care products, especially if we're talking about intensive exfoliants. Thankfully, Tatcha's latest face mask is anything but irritating. Yes, its formula does provide exfoliating benefits, but this clay-based mask focuses on polishing skin as gently as possible, preventing redness, dryness, and inflammation while unclogging pores in the process. For the record, clay is an oil-absorbing base that is "really good for oily skin," as New York City-based board-certified dermatologist David Kim, MD, previously confirmed to Allure.
Left: Two swatches of Tatcha’s The Clarifying Clay Mask. Right: An open jar of Tatcha’s The Clarifying Clay Mask.
Courtesy of brand
When I opened The Clarifying Clay Mask's gorgeous light blue jar, the first thing I noticed was its consistency. With that being said, this clay mask had an unusually light texture and felt almost like a hydrating BB cream with the addition of micro-granules that delicately sloughed away dirt, oil, and dead skin cells. These tiny granules are made from konjac, an ingredient known for its gentle approach to physical exfoliation. Not to mention, sensitive skin types won't have to worry about post-exfoliation redness or irritation, thanks to the additions of moisture-retaining glycerin, skin-calming niacinamide, and anti-inflammatory green tea extract.
Before slathering on this mask, I rinsed my skin with one of my essential gentle cleansers, the Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser. As I massaged a light, thin layer of the mask onto my skin, I noticed a warm, calming sensation as its sage green shade transformed to a mauve pink. You can tip your hat to volcanic ash, one of the mask's main ingredients, for this effect. "Volcanic ash is full of minerals that can help with sebum control," says cosmetic chemist Ginger King.
Here's the best part about this mask: Unlike other clay-based formulas, this mask only needs three to five minutes to work its oil-absorbing wonders. Once time passed, I gently massaged the mask off, feeling tiny konjac granules polish my skin without causing discomfort in the process. The mask took about thirty seconds at most to wash off, and once I dried off I immediately noticed a slight glow to my complexion that wasn't there before.
After using a mattifying treatment like The Clarifying Clay Mask, I like to incorporate dew-enhancing products to make my skin look glowy (but not greasy). I rounded out my skin-care routine for the day with the balmy Ole Henriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturizer and ultra-moisturizing Supergoop Daily Dose Hydra-Ceramide Boost + SPF 40 Oil. To say the least, my skin looked radiant and bright from the exfoliating mask, and not a blotch of redness or irritation was in sight. My skin felt surprisingly soft and moisturized, which is not usually the case after a drying clay mask. This mask is basically a five-minute shortcut to glowing skin, so it's definitely earned a spot in my dullness-defying routine.
Tatcha
Tatcha The Clarifying Clay Mask
So, is Tatcha's The Clarifying Clay Mask worth investing in? If you have ultra-oily, acne-prone skin, absolutely. It provides skin-polishing, radiance-boosting results without causing red patches, dryness, tightness, or inflammation, so sensitive skin types need not worry. What's not to love?
Want to try it yourself? Tatcha's The Clarifying Clay Mask is now available to purchase for $70 at tatcha.com and sephora.com.