deep impact

Years ago, my older sister told me, "to know whether a skincare product works, try spending a couple weeks without it."

I had the chance to properly test this theory recently, because owing to bad planning and bad memory, I never got around to buying a new jar of my favourite clay mask for weeks. To be precise, since the last week of June. I've been using a clay mask for years, every ten days or so, so it's was quite a break in routine.

I could tell my skin was unhappy, but I didn't think it was that horrible exactly - some breakouts but not serious ones. A couple weeks back, I finally got round to buying some, and after a shower I could not slap it on fast enough.

Even with my eagerness, I was surprised by the actual effect. My skin felt so much cleaner and it was softer and smoother to the touch. I could tell I probably need a couple more rounds to get cleaned up but it was enough. Unless I want to start going to facials on a regular basis, or move somewhere with only the purest of air and water, a clay mask shall never be missing from my bathroom cabinet again.

If you live somewhere sticky and humid with a fair amount of pollutants in the air, get a clay mask pronto. Mine is from Kiehl's but lots of companies make something like this and there is surely one that works for everyone's skin type.