Face masks: discuss. Do they do anything? Is a moisturising mask basically a moisturiser? Is a cleansing mask basically a cleanser? Is the extra level of commitment they require — in terms of both time and mess — directly proportional to the results?
I grabbed Bliss’ Multi-‘face’-eted Clay Mask out of panic when I suddenly noticed how overcast my autumn skin looked. I didn’t have time for a facial but needed to chuck something into my at-home regime to shake things up a bit. To put a rocket up my skin’s arse, if you like. Which you probably don’t. Reading that back I’m not sure I do either. Sorry.
The multi-‘face’-eted wink (Bliss is always pun-tastic) comes from the fact that this is an ambitious product aiming to correct all the signs of ageing. It’s a proper worker bee, and you can tell it’s active from the moment you smear it on because it stings slightly. It is amusingly black and scare-the-children-y, and turns the bath water and the flannel (best way to remove) coal-miner grey, so don’t use it if you mind the murk.
After ten minutes my pores were tighter and cleaner, thanks to the quartz and carbon. Jojoba oil had softened my skin. Glycolic acid had smoothed the texture, while kojic acid brightened my complexion. I was a bit pink immediately afterwards (do not use minutes before a date) but by the next morning… well… I was a believer.
Bliss Multi-‘face’-eted All-In-One Anti-Aging Clay Mask, £35 (blissworld.co.uk)