As I wandered through the aisles of Superpharm, I casually stopped to check out the skincare section to pick up my usual items. My eyes fell on the Shea Moisture African Black Soap Clarifying Mud Mask, and the sleek black packaging made me reach for it.
Reading the label I thought it looked promising, I pondered for a while but proceeded to put it back, remembering how moody my skin behaves. My friend Gis who was in the other aisle came up as soon as I was setting the mask back on the shelf and asked me if I was going to get it. Feeling doubtful even though I wanted to try it, I debated for a while until she talked me into getting it. I can't exactly remember the price of it, I'm thinking it was around TT$150. It is labelled as a clarifying mud mask with tamarind extract and tea tree oil, specifically formulated for blemish prone skin.
Key Ingredients and Their Benefits
All the details of the main ingredients are conveniently located on the jar along with the uses, benefits and directions which are:
- African Black Soap: Clarifies oily, blemish prone skin.
- Tamarind Extract: A natural astringent that helps exfoliate skin.
- Tea Tree Oil: Gently purifying essential oil helps to soothe and mattify skin.
Uses: This clarifying mud mask, blended with African Black Soap and Fair Trade Shea Butter, helps draw out dirt and congestion while helping to absorb excess oil. Blemish-prone skin feels balanced, purified and refreshed.
Directions: Apply a thin layer of mud with fingertips to clean skin, avoiding eye area. Keep on for up to 10 minutes. Remove with damp face cloth. Use weekly or as needed.
Read also: African Black Soap Ingredients
The product is formulated without parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, sulfates and is not tested on animals.
First Impressions and Application
I was looking forward to trying the mask so I did the same evening. As I opened the jar I was quite pleased to see that it was full. I immediately noticed the refreshingly pleasant scent and the dark gray mud was so smooth, I couldn't wait to dig in.
The consistency of this mask is notably smooth and buttery, it applies quite effortlessly to the skin with your fingertips or a brush. Immediately as I began to apply the product on my freshly washed face, I noticed a slight burning sensation on my skin, I continued with the application regardless of this. By the time I covered my entire face, avoiding the eyes, it was burning quite a bit. The sensation subsided as soon as the mask started to dry. At this point I felt like my pores were open and as it dried some more it stiffened slightly.
I could feel a dull pulling as it stiffened and I could tell it was really clarifying my pores. Looking into the mirror I noticed oily spots where my large pores are located on my face, particularly on my cheeks and nose. The mask seemed to have sucked the oil out of my pores so I was thrilled about that. I followed the instructions by removing with a damp face cloth. The face cloth I use is actually the Makeup Eraser towel which is gentle on the skin.
Post-Application Effects
After wiping off the mask my skin felt refreshed and definitely appeared brighter as well as smoother than before the application. I can't exactly say the mask has a pore minimizing effect, however, because it was so clarifying, my pores were de congested enough to where they were less noticeable.
Read also: Shea Butter for Skin and Hair
I have used this mask at least nine times within the last few months and I'm not halfway through the jar yet. If I'm having an acne flare up I do stick to the instructions of using weekly, otherwise I reach for it whenever I think my skin needs a little boost or when my pores are congested to the point where my skin is bumpy to the touch. The results are pretty much the same as the first time.
I must make mention that I used this as aftershave skincare on my cousin's face and his review was pretty much the same as mine, he experienced the initial burning as well but was eventually pleased with the results.
Review | Shea Moisture African Black Soap Problem Skin Facial Mask
Additional Key Ingredients and their Properties
To provide a more complete understanding of the mask's benefits, let's delve into some of its other key ingredients:
- Allantoin: This ingredient is known for its soothing, protective, and moisturizing properties. It's often added to products with strong active ingredients to help mitigate potential irritation.
- Bentonite: This aluminium phyllosilicate clay boasts excellent absorbent properties. It's commonly used to soak up excess oil and exfoliate the skin. Studies also suggest it possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities.
- Bisabolol: Celebrated for its skin-soothing abilities, bisabolol hinders inflammatory signals, thereby diminishing the body's response to irritation. It also plays a role in reducing dark spots and promoting a more even skin tone.
- Dehydroacetic Acid: Serves as a fungicide and bactericide, acting as a preservative in cosmetics to extend the product's shelf life.
- Glycerin: Naturally present in the skin, glycerin is a powerful humectant, drawing moisture into the skin to keep it hydrated and protected.
- Kaolin: A clay known for its oil control and pore-minimizing effects. It absorbs excess sebum, helping to cleanse pores and mattify the skin.
- Salicylic Acid: A beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within pores. It helps to clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.
- Sulfur: An element with antibacterial, sebum-reducing, and exfoliating properties. It's effective in reducing breakouts and combating acne.
- Water: The most common cosmetic ingredient, serving as a base for the product.
Pros and Cons
Here's a quick summary of the pros and cons of the Shea Moisture African Black Soap Clarifying Mud Mask:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Significant clarifying effect | Initial burning sensation for some users |
| Suitable for sensitive, acne-prone skin | Scent may be off-putting for some |
| Good value for money |
Final Thoughts
All in all the mask surely lives up to its claims, the clarifying effect is significant. Its compatibility with sensitive, acne prone skin is a big deal for me. It has a lot more pros than cons, actually the only con that I can't point out is the burning sensation which is the reason I deducted 2 points for a rating of 8/10... Another thing that could possibly be a con for someone else but it wasn't an issue for me is the scent since some people find a high scented skincare product to be off putting.
Read also: Shea Body Butter Review: Tree Hut Moroccan Rose
I definitely consider it to be value for money since the 6oz jar can last 3-5 months even when being used weekly. I do recommend this mask for anyone who is looking to amp up their skincare routine or if you have sensitive skin like me and you're looking for a mask that your skin can tolerate. I do see myself repurchasing in the future, however, if I come across a 9 or 10/10 product that contains the same benefits and agrees with my skin so well, minus the burning sensation I will reach for that instead.
Shea Moisture is well known for their amazing haircare products. They’ve been branching out lately and dipping their very creative hands in beauty and skincare. They released a range of skincare masks (anyone notice they correlate with the haircare line? I picked up the African Black Soap Clarifying Mud Mask from My Luxe Beauty a while back and been testing out ever since.
The African Black Soap Clarifying Mud Mask has been formulated with African Black Soap, Tamarind Extract and Tea Tree Oil and it targets blemish prone skin. It has no parabens, phthalates and mineral oil among others and made with natural organic ingredients.
My skin- I have normal to combination (oily) skin. More towards the normal side of the scale. At £14.99, I found the mask a bit pricey but it’s in the same price range with all the other SM products. For a mud mask, I found the consistency quite thin but the texture is very smooth. I leave it on for 10-12 mins or till it dries on my skin (face and neck). It doesn’t dry into a hard mask unlike other mud masks on the market. After washing, my skin feels very nice and looks de congested- pores look minimised.
In terms of improving the skin’s appearance, I haven’t noticed any difference due to using the mask. I found the mask pricey but you do get a lot for your money 177ml and its filled to the top! I love the ingredients and the fact that its mostly natural.
Its worth nothing its black soap mixed a few other ingredients as authentic black soap is not black.
