After going on vacation, my skin always needs a bit of a boost. With all the sunscreen, pool water, and sweat, my skin is usually look a little dull and plugged. Face masks are great for taking care of specific skincare problems. Today I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the Vichy Clarifying Charcoal Mask and the Vichy Soothing Aloe Vera Face Mask. I’ve really loved all the Vichy sun products I’ve tried and I was excited to give these two a go!
Vichy Clarifying Charcoal Mask
Vichy already has a pore refining mask in their line up called the Pore Purifying Clay Mask. The difference between the new Vichy Clarifying Charcoal Mask is that this one contains charcoal while the other mask contains bentonite clay. Due to the charcoal, this mask is much darker in color. The formula also contains Vitamin E, Spirulina extract and of course the Vichy Thermal Water.
There is a light scent to the product that reminds me of licorice. The formula spreads very easily creating a creamy film across the skin. For the photo, I used a thicker layer than I normally would. But in practice, you can use a thin enough layer that’s even and opaque across the skin.
The instructions say to leave on for 5 minutes but even after 15 minutes, the mask did not dry and crack. This actually made it more comfortable to wear and relax. But it didn’t have the satisfying imagery of pores making holes in the mask. My skin felt really soft and smooth after using. Especially around the nose area where I feel like dead skin accumulates. I didn’t notice any significant improvement to pore size, but my skin felt balanced, smooth, and radiant.
Overall, it was a really enjoyable and effective mask. It’s a more gentle charcoal mask. At the 5 minute mark, the whole mask will still be wet and there will be no crunching involved. This is a good pick if you are looking to refine pores without the mask tightening and drying your skin.
Vichy Soothing Aloe Vera Face Mask
The second new mask that Vichy released is the Soothing Aloe Vera Mask which is made to reduce redness on the face. My cheeks are always a little red although it has gotten better in the recent years. The two main ingredients to delivering a soothing effect are: aloe vera and Vichy mineral thermalizing water.
Out of all the face masks I’ve tried before, I’ve never used a green one. It feels like an avocado paste that I’m putting on my face (not that I’m complaining)! The smell is aromatic and a bit vegetal, it definitely reminds me of the spa. There is a cooling sensation while it’s on the face. It’s a fast acting product though as it’s also suggested to be left on the face for 5 minutes only. This makes it easy to fit into your normal nighttime routine.
The only downside to this product is that the formula is very slippery. When I was rinsing off the mask, it took longer than expected as water just glides over the formula. I’d recommend using a towel, or my favorite masking kit to remove this product.
Both of these masks left my skin feeling really hydrated and smooth! There was no sensitivity or redness at all. I’m liking the trend towards express face masks as it provides a fast way of giving your skin a boost. Between the two, I liked the charcoal one a bit more as it was the most comfortable clay mask I’ve used.