First Impressions: Avocado & Oatmeal Clay Mask

Good morning! 

While I was drinking my favorite morning coffee (AKA sugar and creamer with a splash of Folgers Hazelnut coffee), I decided to do a face mask during my morning skincare routine. In my medicine cabinet, I have 2 sample clay masks from CVS Pharmacy, several tubs of various clay masks, and a tube of cucumber peel-off mask. Unfortunately, I had to return the other samples that I had purchased from Ulta and Walgreens because my husband was mad at me for spending too much money. The funny part is that one of my bosses at the Chinese restaurant ended up buying the mask samples off me before I could make it to the store to return them. Whatever works. I do plan on repurchasing the same items when we have more cash flow.

For today I decided to go with one of my CVS samples even though they don't really jump out at me. The actual product comes in a tube for around $5.

The Avocado Oatmeal mask claims to be balancing, to give you ultra soft skin, and to give a deep clean. I did notice that my face felt really clean more than anything else, but my skin didn't feel as soft as it does after I use the Shea Moisture Rose or Frankincense and Myrrh masks.   

This mask smells really good and it probably is the oatmeal ingredient since it also smells pretty natural. In my opinion, scent is important because that can really make or break a product. If it smells awful, you probably won't use it at all or as often as you would if it smelled good even if the results were breathtaking. Even if I don't notice a big difference in my skin, if the scent is nice then it seems more like a relaxing aromatherapy de-stress session. This mask seemed to fit more into that category than the one they were aiming for.

It's a thick consistency and tingles after you apply it. It almost feels like it's cooling on the skin; I feel it mostly on my nose and a tiny bit on my forehead. I'm not sure if it's because the packet has been in my cabinet for maybe a month or two, but the clay separated a bit which made it way messier and challenging to apply. This also made it dry uneven.

The packet said to let the mask dry completely, which totally goes against how I was taught to use clay masks. The way it felt when it dried was awful because I could feel the tightness and cracking. It also came off really chunky, so overall I'm not particularly impresses/

Would I repurchase?
Ehhh... I probably would not buy this again.

I would consider trying it again in a trial size to see if I got a dud or not. If I had purchased the bottle from CVS Pharmacy originally, I would use it, but it wouldn't be a mask I would reach for often.


The other CVS sample mask I have is the Dead Sea Minerals Anti-Stress Clay Mask, which sounds promising. Hopefully that one is a heck of a lot better than this one.

After hearing that clay masks are great for oily skin, I have become absolutely addicted to them. I love that you get that 15 minutes of me-time, they are usually cooling or tingly, and I can tell my skin loves them from how my skin feels after using them. If you also have oily skin or just want to take some time for yourself, then find a mask that smells good, claims to be for your skin type, and or says it will help with a skin concern that you have. A lot of samples are between $1-$2, so there is no real commitment required.

Have an awesome day and rest of your week!