I’ve used Queen Helene Mint Julep mask on-and-off for over ten years – every time I would change, I’d find myself going back to it. It was reliable, refreshing, and whipped my skin into shape. Aztec Healing Clay is no doubt effective (and I still have a ton!), but it is a labor to remove, and it isn’t convenient to mix or apply – but it’s also pretty intense. It doesn’t really irritate my skin, but it isn’t something I’d do right before going out.
Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask
I’ve been wanting a gentler approach. I still want clay masks, but I’m longing for the long-discontinued one (got2b Pure Intent kaolin clay mask). I found this Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask at Ulta and gave it a shot. You might have noticed that it wound up in my October 2015 Favorites post last week.
It has a fresh, mild scent that I find non-irritating; it reminds me of a baby product, but I can’t quite pinpoint it. Kind of weird, but not bad or gross. The consistency of the Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask isn’t so thick that it’s like troweling on mortar; it’s actually EASY to apply a thin, even layer. It seems like I need minimal product for full facial coverage, too – so it’s nice knowing the $6 tube will last many months (through the winter at absolute minimum – though I imagine I’ll start alternating with a hydrating mask before long).
Like my other masks, I still apply with the flat foundation brush from my Elite Brush set from Coastal Scents (because I can’t make it work for foundation for me); it goes on smoothly and easily. Because I can achieve a thin layer of product, it dries fairly quickly, about 7-10 minutes in my environment – it’s definitely nice not to have to commit an hour to a treatment. After it dries, I grab a washcloth and remove it gently: first, by pressing the wet cloth to my skin for about ten seconds, and then wiping away.
I’m pleased to report no irritation – no redness, none of that too-tight feeling you sometimes get with clay masks. Just clean, fresh skin. Follow it up with a moisturizer (I’m alternating between Josie Maran Argan Oil and the Alpha Hydrox 10% lotion I’ve mentioned a few times), and you win.
The Bottom Line
If you want a clay mask, get this one. It’s inexpensive and easy to come by. The Queen Helene Mint Julep can be an irritant for some people, and the formula can dry a bit tight before removal.
You can pick up the Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask at drugstores, Ulta, Wal-Mart, drugstore.com, and Amazon.