The World's Most Powerful (& Budget Friendly) Facial

I can honestly say I have only had 2 professional facials done in my entire life. Each of them was wonderful - especially when it came to the extractions. I was more than willing to deal with the slight discomfort knowing that all the gunk that was trapped in my pore was being removed. So incredibly satisfying! Since professional facials can be expensive and time consuming, I'd been searching for other methods of really clearing my pores. I am prescribed Tretinoin, a prescription Retinol cream that helps increase cell turnover so there are less clogged pores. While this has helped immensely, I was still finding that I had congestion on and around my nose - little blackheads that were impossible to remove. I did not want to buy extraction tools and try to do them myself, for fear of scarring or other accidents. The charcoal masks in my collection, while great at stopping active breakouts, weren't really the solution to clearing pores. I did some research online and kept finding amazing reviews on this mask: The Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay.

First of all, this tub is HUGE - 15.5oz! You get all of it for only $8-$10 depending on the retailer, which is a huge plus for me as a budget-conscious millennial. It is 100% natural calcium bentonite clay, which is a type of absorbent clay that forms from aged volcanic ash. It absorbs negatively charged toxins, and has been used for centuries to detoxify the body and skin. I honestly love anything all-natural rather than harsh chemicals, so that box is ticked. I ordered my tub from Amazon, but you can also get it at select Target and CVS stores. The description on the back of the tub is as followed : "Removes impurities and dirt from the pores. Deep pore cleansing. Feel your face pulsate. WORLDS MOST POWERFUL FACIAL." So how does this almost 5 star rated mask on every website measure up?

This mask is very easy to prepare. You can mix it with water or raw apple cider vinegar. I personally love apple cider vinegar as it is an astringent that helps detoxify the skin in addition to the clay itself. It also makes the mask mix more smoothly while it fizzes and bubbles when combined - it is quite fun! I use a plastic bowl and this little face mask spatula to mix the mask. Once it has been mixed to a smooth texture, I apply to my face. It feels very good on the skin during application - it does not burn or sting at all. I then let the mask sit for 20 minutes. Those who are more sensitive may need less time.

As the mask dries, you really can feel a pulling sensation. This is the mask doing it's job - it is literally pulling all of the impurities to the surface, which leaves me feeling so satisfied. After the 20 minutes is up, I wet my face with warm water and wash off the mask. Since this is natural clay it is safe to wash down the sink. My face is a little red in the areas where the mask was, but this is totally normal - as long as you are not itchy or irritated, this redness will go away shortly after the mask is done.

My skin after removing the mask

The results? My pores appear much smaller after the mask, and I did find in the initial applications of this mask some purging - little blemishes did appear a day or so after I used the mask. This, however, is normal, as the mask is literally bringing the impurities trapped under the skin to the surface. This small blemishes were much easier to eliminate than if they had been a full-blown breakout. Now that I have been using the mask once a week for over a month, I rarely find that I get breakouts at all - only clear, glowing skin! My favorite time to use this mask is right after traveling. All of the excess sebum and dirt from recycled airplane air is a challenge for me and this mask nips that in the bud. I rarely get bad breakouts anymore since using this mask.

So if you are looking for an economical way to eliminate breakouts, clear pores, and detox your skin, I highly recommend this mask. You can even use anything extra that doesn't go on your face on your body, for extra pampering or relaxation. Just be sure that you have enough room on your top shelf - like I said, this tub is huge. The size also makes it great to have a masking party with friends - and trust me, everyone will love it!