Back in the summer, I was unlucky enough to have a a series of spots. I had probably been a bit neglectful of my skin and I had got out of the habit of regular facial steamings and weekly usage of face masks. This led me to visit Boots in pursuit of the sort of spot zapping products I have rarely bought since I was a teenager. In the end I noticed a face mask from Montagne Jeunesse called "Blemish Mud" that promised to "help combat unsightly blemishes" and enliven my skin. That sounded perfect, so I paid £1.01 and took one home to try. I have an oily t zone and dry cheeks, so classic combination skin under normal circumstances.


THE MASK

As you can tell from the product name, it is a mud based mask. It comes in a sachet, which in theory contains just one use but in reality there is plenty for two. On the front of the cheerfully coloured packet, is the information that the mask contains aloe vera and willow, while the back information adds rosemary to the list of main ingredients. I thought that this was an intriguing mix, but I couldn't quite imagine what it would smell like. I soon had my answer!

Like all MJ products, the mask hasn't been tested on animals and this product is also animal free in it's ingredients.


MUD ON MY FACE

I have used many clay based masks before, so I was not surprised that this one was a bit thick and sticky to apply. It is no worse than any other though. I like the fact it isn't in any way drippy, even when freshly applied so you can stand up and walk around once you are wearing it. Of course, I would rather lie back and relax but sometimes "life gets in the way" of my "me time"! The mask can still be potentially messy because the clay can temporarily mark fabrics, as I have disovered, if you miss washing a bit off your hands after application. The clay stain comes off in the wash though. What did surprise me was the scent. I think the first delicious whiff of the masks is one of the pleasures of the MJ products. I was therefore surprised to recoil at the scent of this one. I could not smell aloe vera or willow, but I could definitely detect the rather astringent aroma of rosemary, which mixed with the earthy base of clay, did not appeal to me. However, I wasn't going to let the product go to waste so I applied it anyway. I am glad that I did, because as I was spreading it on to my skin, the rosemary scent overpowered the clay and became much more pleasant to me. I was then happy to leave the mask in place for the recommended 10-15 minutes, even if I did not relish the scent as much as that of other products.

The mask began to dry and harden quickly, which means that it feels tight on your face. I felt it had a greater tightening affect than similar mud masks, which made it in turn less comfortable. When I smiled, my face felt like it was cracking and I didn't really want to open my mouth! It was bearable, if not the most relaxing experience. If you don't like the sort of masks that dry especially hard, avoid this one though. When the time was up, the scent had faded almost entirely, which as not a bad point for me but may be if you enjoy it more. The mask washed away quite easily although it took a bit longer to be rid of than a peel off or gel like mask for example. Again, I would say that it is no worse than other clay based masks in this respect.


THE REVEAL

Whe I first washed this off, my face had that zingy fresh feeling that you get after coming inside after a walk on a cold day. It was a really refreshing mask, and my skin felt thoroughly clean. When I looked at it closely, I did notice that not all of my pores looked fuly cleansed - but I do have especially deep and troublesome ones near my nose so you may fare better if you aren't so afflicted! From a distance though, my skin looked clear and definitely more radiant. It also felt extremely soft, just as though I had freshly applied a nice deep moisturiser. I have very occasionally felt clay masks to be drying but this one was not for me.

As for the spots, well, I didn't find they disappeared overnight and neither did I expect them to. They did not look any different when I rinsed the mask off, but I did feel that they looked less red the next morning. There was no precise recommendation on the packet as to how often to apply the mask, so I used it twice a week for 3 weeks. I know that over this time the number of spots I got dwindled to nothing. As to how much the mask contributed, I am not sure. As I mentioned above, I do not normally suffer from spots but I had a run over around a month that I sufered them on a regular basis. They have not come back bar the occasional one, but as I ceased using the Blemish Mud mask after the main attack was over, I can't credit the mask with that. One thing is for sure, using the mask on blemished skin didn't make the problem any worse, and made me feel a lot better.


WOULD I RECOMMEND THE MASK?

I think the scent is so distinctive, and quite unusual, that it is bound to divide people. If you like it, or can put up with it at least, the mask would be worth trying if you have blemishes to sort out. I am sure that the deep cleaning ability must have contributed to getting my skin back to normal and at worst, you are left with a mask that leaves your skin baby soft and feeling fresh as a daisy. I have since used a great many more MJ masks, and I have discovered plenty whose scent that I prefer, and also some that suit my deep pores better. For that reason I have not re-purchased the Blemish Mud, but I still think it is worth a try if you don't need something quite as deep cleansing. If you don't like mask that dry quite tight, you may however still wish to avoid this one.

You can buy it in Superdrug, and Boots, plus many other places online and off. Price is around £1-1.10.

[This review is also on Ciao under my user name.]