This is the second face mask that I will be testing. It comes in the most disenchanting packaging and costs a small fortune.
Instructions for use
Use once a week. Clean skin with cleanser and/or water. Apply a thin layer of Flavanone Mud to the entire dry face, avoiding the lower and upper eyelids. Leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. A strong temporary stinging sensation will occur especially after the product has been rinsed off.
What type of product is this?
This is actually a clay mask as the first two listed ingredients after water are clays (montmorille, kaolin). Other notable ingredients include:
- Bisabolol (anti-inflammatory and soothing),
- Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate (skin brightener/whitener),
- Reseveratrol (red grape anti-oxidant),
- Alteromonas Ferment Extract (reduces skin irritation) and also, there are a bunch of humectants (arginine, glycerin) which help reduce Trans-Epidermal Water loss.
You can read more about Natural Moisturizing Factors at this blog.
What am I expecting?
Skin brightening because of the second ingredient listed and skin tightening because this is a clay based product.
What does the product look like?
NIOD products are not mainstream and for want of a better word, are plain odd. This is no exception: its a red brown clay mix that has a slight smell.
And the clay mask is oily.
Obligatory before and after photo
Would I buy this product again?
There is no stinging on application but I can feel an ever so slight tingle and the mask tightening after a few minutes. At about the 8 minute mark the mask is positively stinging in places and has tightened sufficiently to not feel comfortable.
On washing the product, the stinging continues unabated. I had to reach out for both rose water and aloe vera to calm the stinging down. (fyi, I always keep rose water and aloe vera in the fridge, to help stall adverse skin reactions).
This is mask is available for sale at NIOD for US$45 for 50ml. Its currently available at a 23% discount for US$ 35. Here is the LINK
I am not going to be buying this product again because the stinging is both unexpected and quite vicious. I can suggest Sarah Chapman’s excellent red clay mask (here is my REVIEW) but unfortunately, this is the end of the line for me and this product.
See also: