Here's A Pore-Vacuuming Clay Mask That I Actually Tried Before Telling You How Life-Changing It Is

Brighter, tighter, and even-toned all over!

Washpoppin?? I'm Patrice, beauty writer for BuzzFeed's As/Is. At 30-years-old, I've only just started getting into the very intimidating and confusing (and expen$ive!) world of skin care.

Patrice Peck/BuzzFeed

And by "getting into" I mean fearfully trying out a bunch of free shit that's sent to me (only after my own product runs out ofc) and praying to Angela Bassett, the goddess of poppin' melanin, that there's no adverse reaction.

My skin's relatively normal with an oily T-zone, so my biggest concerns are (1) preventing random blemishes and pimples, (2) keeping shininess at bay and (3) being pro-active rather than reactive about my skin's health, which includes double-cleansing twice a day and wearing (non-white cast) sunscreen. Basically, I'm on a mission to keep my skin healthy while also aiming to look like I get expensive bougie facials on the reg (without having to actually pay for said facials).

I know how overwhelming skin care can be, so I only recommend things that I absolutely swear by and use consistently, like my new holy grail: Brown Butter Beauty's Coconut Charcoal Purifying Mask!!!

Patrice Peck/BuzzFeed

Packed with a bunch of all-natural ingredients like Australian Black Clay, Rhassoul Clay, Activated Coconut Charcoal, and Organic Ground Fennel Seeds, this water-activated clay mask provides a deep, intense (but not drying) cleanse, drawing out toxins and excess sebum by negative electrical attraction.

It comes in dry powder form and is easy to prepare, requiring only a teensy bit of water to create a thick paste that won't run down your face but still spreads easily (I personally use about 2.5 tablespoons of product, VERY gradually mixing in 2-3 teaspoons of water.) Just apply the mixture to your damp or dry cleansed skin, wait for it to dry and tighten (about 5-10 minutes), and then rinse with warm water.

Get Coconut Charcoal Purifying Mask at Brown Butter Beauty for $24.

This magical clay goodness promises to decongest oily skin types and that's exactly what it did for me! I didn't expect to see much difference, especially not after my first try. But when I rinsed the masked off, my skin looked tighter, brighter, and more even-toned.

Patrice Peck/BuzzFeed

As you've prolly already figured out, I'm not (or rather, wasn't) really into masks, especially not the kind you had to manually whip together. They really just seemed like a waste of 10-20 minutes IMHO because I never really saw any immediate results. It just seemed more like a la-di-da self-care cliche that had a placebo effect more than anything. But BBB's Purifying Face Mask has rocked my world and I'm never going back. I've fully incorporated into my 10-step Korean beauty routine as a bi-monthly exfoliator, using it whenever my face is looking dull, rough, and uneven.

So after I've rinsed off the mask, I apply some toner and then put on...ANOTHER MASK! I know I said I wasn't about that mask life until the Purifying Mask, but I prolly should have put a little asterisk because I do eff with hydrogel ones, like MANEFIT's Bling Bling Hydrogel Mask.

Patrice Peck/BuzzFeed

Alright, if you're thinking "Well goddamn, Patrice! What happened to non-complicated?!" I don't blame you, but hear me out. I figure that the Purifying Mask mixing and application time already takes about 15 minutes total, so what's another 20-30 more minutes of added attention and care afterwards?

I prefer catching up on one of my TV shows and, honestly, having an excuse to simply sit still and do nothing while my skin gets pampered with Bling Bling Hydrogel Mask's seaweed and algae extract and hydrolyzed collagen. (BTW, when it comes to toner, I stan for the gel-water goodness that is Etude House's Moistfull Collagen Facial Toner.) Shout out to Diana Xiao of Soko Glam—an amazing online K-beauty retailer and low-key skin care school—for putting me on to these must-have products!!!

Get MANEFIT's Bling Bling Hydrogel Mask for $6 and Etude House Moistfull Collagen Facial Toner for $15 at Soko Glam.

Soooo DASSIT! To recap, the Purifying Mask + Bling Bling Hydrogel Mask = THE SHIT. Oh yeah, here's a #nofilter, makeup-free* photo I took the morning after my double mask routine. Y'all see why I can't stop talking about this stuff, right?! I'm officially a face mask believer.

Patrice Peck/BuzzFeed

*No shade to filters OR makeup, because I'm here for both of 'em!!! Oh yeah, did I mention that Brown Butter Beauty is Black women-owned (hey, Christina Gant!), cruelty-free, AND environment-friendly??? I mean, I just cannot!!!