As I get older, I’ve been more committed to my beauty routine, even on the go. I keep a mask in my suitcase so I can have a little self-care, even when I’m in a hotel away from home. I was on 125th street in Harlem and went into a beauty supply store for some hair products. When I got to the checkout line, I saw a charcoal mask. Charcoal has been one of the top beauty trends and when I saw the price (.99 cents?!) I had to try it out.
Photo by Danielle James
I’ll admit, the beauty snob in me was a little skeptical. Activated charcoal can assist the skin in absorbing oils, toxins, and impurities. The prices made me wonder if this product could really work wonders.
The formula feels very sticky. I applied with my fingers, but I would apply with a disposable makeup brush next time. RK by Kiss instructs you to apply evenly over your face (this is important). Too thin and you won’t be able to peel off as easy.
When you are applying, ensure that you are not applying close to your hair (eyebrows or sideburns). Trust, when you take off the mask, it will rip out your hair! (I learned this the hard way with another charcoal mask). Keep it far from your eyes!
I left it on for about 20 minutes and then it was time to remove.
Taking off the mask hurt a bit. I peeled slowly and I felt every inch being separated from my face. It was tolerable but not comfortable. I’ve used other charcoal mask before and it also hurt when I took it off, so I’ll say that the pain is consistent with other masks.
I got it all off and got close to try and find blackheads. I couldn’t really see any. I hadn’t done a charcoal mask in months and I knew my pores weren’t that clean.
After I took the mask off, I still had some of the charcoal mask on my edges. I took a wash rag and got it all off. I looked at my face and didn’t see much of a difference from before. However, the next day, I did feel my face looked a little brighter and my t-zone didn’t get oily as quickly.
All in all, I give this mask a 3.5 out of 5. I didn’t find it effective for removing blackheads, but I did like it for controlling oil. For .99, I definitely got my money’s worth.
While you can’t get it for .99 online, I did find 3 for $6.00 at WalMart.com. Have you tried this mask before? What’s your experience? Do you have a favorite charcoal mask? Tell us in the comment section!
