For my birthday last year, one of my kind friends put together a gift hamper of vegetarian friendly toiletries for me. Many of the products were made by Superdrug, and selected for me because of the companies strong no testing on animals policy. One such item was the product I am reviewing today - the "Simply Pure Cleansing Face Mask."


THE SIMPLY PURE RANGE

Simply Pure is a range of skincare products such as moisturisers and facial scrubs, and as mentioned above, it is made by Superdrug. It is a range that is manufacured without the use of parabens or fragrance, and as such is said to be especially suitable for sensitive skins. I have combination skin - prone to oiliness in some places and dryness in others. I do not regard it as being especially sensitive but I prefer to use gentle products to ward off any potential problems.


WHAT THE PRODUCT IS SUPPOSED TO DO

According to the tube, using this mask will result in a clearer and more radiant complexion. It will "help to draw out impurities and eliminate dead skin cells" and by doing so leave your skin feeling clean and soft. These are all the reasons I buy a face mask so I couldn't wait to put it to the test.


FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I don't think the tube will win any beauty awards. It's a basic design, mostly white with a swirl of aqua and silver lettering. The minimalist look does seem appropriate for the "pure" theme of the range though. Most importantly for me, the tube is easy to actually use. It dispenses a small amount of the mask in your hand rather than a avalanche of the stuff. The fact that it a squeezy tube makes it easy to get the last of the mask out too. The flip top lid is secure enough to prevent spills and as it is flat, you can store the mask upright. This means it is easier to dispense quickly when the product level has run low. The rear of the tube contains the standard information such as the ingredients and directions for use.

The first thing that surprised me about this product was that it was a mask intended for daily use. I am more accustomed to using masks on a weekly basis. I was not sure that I wanted to add using a mask to my usual daily routine which seems to last too long already! However, as the product needed to be left on for just 3 minutes, I thought I would try and follow the guidelines.


USING THE MASK FOR THE FIRST TIME

I was slightly apprehensive that this mask would smell unpleasant, as it is unscented and sometimes perfume would be preferable to the smell of the natural ingredients! I need not have worried though, as it smells only very slightly even when you have it smeared around your nose. I could detect only a mild earthiness, which no doubt comes from the clay that forms the main ingredient.

I applied the mask as directed, after cleansing. Doing so was easy. The texture of the mask was much thinner than I expected. Most clay-based masks tend to feel quite thick in my experience. There is some advantage to this thinner consistency though. It feels pleasantly light once on the skin, and it is easier to spread over your face than a thick mask. On the other hand, I needed to use more than I was expecting to in order to gain good even coverage on my face. Three or 4 squeezes of the tube seems to provide enough for me on average. At least the off white colour of the mask makes it easy to see where you have applied it already. Once on, it dried quickly and I could feel it tightening after 30 seconds or so - not so much that it felt uncomfortable though.

Once three minutes were up, I washed it off with ease. There was no hint of residue which can be an annoying feature of face masks. I touched my face and was pleasantly surprised with how soft my skin felt - just as though I had already applied my moisturiser. My face certainly felt fresh and clean. The key for me though was whether it would actually look any different. Sadly, the answer was no. I know that sometimes my skin can look a little red after using a mask, and that it can take time to settle down and show the results. So I checked my appearance again a couple of hours later and there was still no obvious "radiance". I considered that a daily use mask may need to be used over a longer period of time to work it's magic so I continued to use it every day for three weeks.


RESULTS AFTER 3 WEEKS

I sometimes used the mask in the morning and at other times in the evening, depending on how much in a rush I was in the A.M! Neither approach made any difference. My skin continued to feel really soft and smooth after using the mask but I never did experience a clearer complexion. I did feel that my liquid foundation was gliding on with greater ease when I was using the mask frequently. Nevertheless, I didn't feel this was a big enough benefit to continue using the mask considering the extra effort it involved each day. I am pleased to say that at least I didn't suffer any irritation during my "trial", nor any drying out of the skin.


WOULD I RECOMMEND IT?

I don't feel that this mask delivered enough benefits to justify my replacing the tube when it runs out. I had used about three quarters of the mask after my 3 weeks of dedicated use. I have been using the remainder sporadically just so it doesn't go to waste. I have used far more effective masks that do not require daily use, and therefore this one feels like it repays your time poorly. Three minutes a day may not sound a lot but it is just one extra thing to do when you are getting ready for the day, or for bed. It seems a chore rather than a pleasure as the weekly mask does to me. I like the fact it softens my skin, but I can use moisturiser for that. I really want a mask that can improve my complexion in other ways. I do appreciate the simplicity of the ingredients though. I think that if you are looking for a paraben free, cruelty free product then it may be worth you trying this out to see if it works better for you as it is available at a relatively low price of £2.59 for 75ml. [If you do like the range, now would be a good time to stock up on some as it is currently available on a 3 for 2 offer online and in the shops.]


OTHER INFORMATION

BUAV approved.
Hypoallergenic
Dermatologically approved.
Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.


[This review may appear in the future on Ciao under my user name.]