The Best Face Mask - Now With Glitter
I love a face mask. I'm partial to wash-off masks, but really, I'll try anything. I know sheet masks are super en vogue right now, but my typical mask routine is to
- Wait til a hair wash day (every 3-4 days)
- Take off all my makeup with Bioderma, if necessary
- Put on a wash-off mask, typically Origins, but I'm flexible
- When it's time to rinse it off, I just jump in the shower and stick my face in the water stream. It gets the mask off and I don't have to worry about getting my hair wet because I'm about to wash it anyway
- When I'm out of the shower, my hair has been washed, my face has been masked, and I'm ready to tackle anything.
I was running dangerously low on my favorite mask, Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, and it was the Sephora sale, so perfect timing. I made a beeline to the Origins area, and those crafty geniuses at Origins had a new mask next to my Clear Improvements just waiting for me to arrive.
The Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Honey Mask is a cousin to my beloved Active Charcoal mask, but this one has honey added, so it clears out your pores but also puts moisture and nourishment back in.
Another difference is that this mask comes in a tub instead of a tube. This might be a dealbreaker for many people. There are some beauty fans who abhor tubs, because they worry that they're not as clean (in terms of bacteria and also just getting your product all over the place) as products in tubes. To this I say sure, that's fair, but also 1) Are you not washing your hands right before applying any product to your face? and 2) Don't stick your whole hand in there like Pooh bear snackin' on honey. I apply masks with two, maybe three fingertips. I also screw the lid back on with my other hand, remaining clean fingers, or just wash my hands before putting the lid on. But follow your heart.
Besides being a more gentle pore clearing mask, the Charcoal Honey Mask is also metallic. If Effie Trinket wanted to do a mask, she'd reach for this one. Masking to me always feels luxurious, even when it's in your own bathroom, but when you add a gold shimmer it's even more so.
The Charcoal Honey mask is more expensive than the regular old Charcoal mask. And it's a smaller container. Financially, this new mask isn't really alluring. The Charcoal is $28 for 3.4oz ($8.24 per oz) and the Charcoal Honey is $34 for 2.5oz ($13.6 per oz). But, I have been buying the tube mask for years and I maybe buy one every 12-18 months. You use very, very little product per masking.
Left, Origins Active Charcoal Mask. Right, Origins Charcoal Honey Mask
I would say the Charcoal Honey mask is noticeably more gentle than the Active Charcoal mask, and while I like to mask on every Hair Wash Day, sometimes I'm not in the mood to really clear out my pores with the big guns. This is when I plan on using the Charcoal Honey Mask. Also, if I'm feeling glittery I know there's a product to help me out. Am I arguing for you to buy both? MAYBE. Now that this tub is in my life I have four Origins masks in my bathroom cabinet and I don't think that's too crazy (crazy, yes. TOO crazy, no).
