This is a once a week face mask by NIOD.
Instructions for use are:
Use once a week on clean, dry skin. Apply a thin layer to the entire face. Leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
What does it look like
Yeasty moderately disgusting smell but strangely familiar to Indians as it smells of mehendi. As soon as I smelt the product I knew I had encountered it before. A Moroccan brand, Belara cosmetics make a Henna body pack, which smells pretty much the same. It is the most effective skin lightener that I have used and therefore, my working assumption about the Myrhh clay mask is that this is a skin lightener and lets see if I am proven wrong or right
Obligatory before and after photos
I forgot to take the before photo (schoolboy error). This is the after photo.
Closing remarks
You only need a very thin layer of the product. There is no stinging at all and it dries out after 15 minutes, but in the way that (e.g.) multani mitti does by drawing out excessive water. In this respect, while this is technically a clay mask, I feel its a bit insulting to call such a superior performing product just a clay mask.
This is probably the no 1 skin lightening face mask that I have used. There is no speculation in mind about this. The other two unexpected benefits are first, it left my skin as soft as a baby’s bottom. Second, it really evens out my skin by tightening whatever open pores there were.
Its ordinarily priced at US$ 44 and because of the current discount on NIOD (US$33) its out-of-stock. Boohoo. However, I can see this easily becoming a permanent addition to my skincare routine.
Link to NIOD‘s website
Details of Belara Cosmetics product.
The Oud & Henna product is a full body mask (which I cheekily used on my face…), which works at at about US$34 + shipping + import taxes. The best way to order from Belara Cosmetics is via Facebook. You message them and they will help you place an order on their website (in French) and deliver products to you. I will be honest, I bought their products at a trade show for about US$ 15 or US$ 20 when they were first starting out. Once pandemic travel restrictions are over, the cost of the product will come down.