Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque Review + clay info

It's been a while since i get to do a full blow by blow review. Hope you'll like this post.

After my Clay Mask post, it's time for the review of the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque. Sorry if i took a while in making this, i told you before that i do a QA test for my product reviews before i post & i never seem to be satisfied with what i wrote. Plus i have to do a lot of field research..lol

When i checked drugstore.com it's just $3.99. So, after knowing the good effects of clay mask, it's time to take a look at one of most popular.

This is description from the Queen Helene website:

Mint Julep Masque is the original natural home treatment to help dry up pimples, rinse away blackheads and shrink enlarged pores. Simply apply Mint Julep Masque to your clean face and neck. As it firms and hardens within minutes, it draws out impurities from your pores. After the masque is removed, your skin will feel clean, refreshed and smooth. Even for individuals who are fortunate to be free of skin problems, Mint Julep Masque is a refreshing facial treatment that helps relax tired muscles and ease tension lines on the face and neck.

One thing that i have to say is that the tube is big. Feel free to apply liberally because it sure would last you for weeks & weeks! It's in a squeeze tube which makes it hygienic & easy to control the amount that you would use.
You might want to take a look at the back label. You'll get to see that it contains Kaolin, Bentonite & Sulfur, on which are known for absorbing toxins & treating any kind of skin problems. Bentonite came from volcanic ashes that are known for its highly absorptive properties.

fyi: Kitty Liters are made from bentonite clay...so for those who are wondering yes, i have read reviews from people who swears that the use of unscented plain 'ol bentonite kitty liter used as a face pack works just like how clay masks works.

It has a wide opening which is nice because you get a good control of how much product you have squeezed out. So far so good!
This is how it looks like. It's a green clay. You might want to check what green clay is HERE

You can use your fingers in applying it or a face brush. I just use my fingers since i don't want any additional brushes to wash. Feel free to use a brush since using brush can make application even compare to fingers.

It smells like a regular toothpaste & feels like one too when you put it (minus the super-menthol feel) because it feels a bit cool. Have you ever tried putting toothpaste on your face? I did! I do it when it's really so hot. Then i wash it with a facial wash afterward, i just want to cool my face.


I forgot to say that this is a wash-off mask. Anyway, i think most clay masks are actually wash-off types. You have to apply it after washing your face so that you can be sure that what it would be absorbing are the impurities that are left behind, not the one that are just sitting at the top layer of the skin.

Just apply it on your face, avoiding the eye area. Wait for it to dry. You'll feel it tightening as it dries up. & you'll get to see the oils that are being absorbed by it. Look at my nose! It looks damp, but it's not because the clay is still wet, it's just the oils that are from my skin.

You have to remove it using a warm, wet towel. Just Put it over your face, then massage your face in a gentle circular stroke to remove it. Make sure that you take everything off, especially the ones at the sides of the nose.

Now you might ask me about toning. I think for some they tone the face before applying the mask, to just make sure that the face is thoroughly cleansed. Again, it's a must to make sure that the face is clean. Personally i think that if you have a very oily skin, you can use toner after it. But then again, it's your own personal preference.

The first time i used it, i was amazed!
I had a big zit that night & i did not expect that it would actually dry out my zit that instant so i did not bother to take a pic.

This time i took a pic of the before & after so that you can see for yourself. Last week my acne went from worse to worst. That is when i was so stressed out because of lil bro's condition & i don't get enough sleep. *sigh* When will my acne clear out?! Sorry for the next pic...

note:
prior to taking a pic, i used Dickinson's toner in the before & after. Just to make sure that it's thoroughly clean, i apply it in a circular motion.

I already put the before & after, i did not bother to mark it because i want you to notice my pores too. Looking at the before pic, you will see the nasty red bump at the top right of the pic. After using it you will see that there is change, it's like the size just drastically decreased. Plus the redness on my skin also decreased. If you bother to take a closer look, you'll get to see that the before pic's pores are more visible, but the after pic's pores are less visible & seems like actually closed my pores.

• helps dry up pimples - CHECK
• rinse away blackheads - CHECK
• shrink enlarged pores - CHECK
  

Use this mask once a week for deep cleansing. For those who got very oily skin i guess you can use it 2x a week. But be warned that this can dry the skin so you have to moisturize after every use.

Pros:

• cheap
• big tube
• hygienic packaging
• available locally (yes!)
• it works!
  

Cons:

• can dry the skin if used excessively

Although it says on the label that it dries up acne & might be best suited for oily/acne-prone, it doesn't mean that other skin types can't use it. As what i said before, clay mask can neutralize the skin & absorb any build-up that has accumulated on the skin so it's beneficial. Just be sure that you apply moisturizer or rather yet go for emulsion afterward & you can just skip toning.

Extra note:

• You might want to open up your pores first to maximize it. Apply warm towel over the face or do a facial steaming.
• After removing it you might want to close your pores by applying cold towel or splashing your face with cold water. No sense in keeping it open after cleaning it,right?
• Make sure that you keep the cap tight because if not it will just dry out.
• Some girls use this a spot treatment. I think you can actually do that too.
• It's better to apply it thickly making sure that there is no visible skin. So that you have enough clay to absorb oils from your skin.
• Green clay is the one that is used for body detoxification. You can use this in any part of the body too. Julep Masque indicates that you can use this in the neck area. Feel free to do so, just apply lotion afterward.

For those who are not sure about green clay masks & is from US & Canada, you might want to check Etsy, i found a couple of sellers who are selling some trial packs, although they are in powder form. Actually i think it's better because you can get to drop some extracts or anything for an added benefit.

For my fellow filipinas, you can purchase this at Healthy Options for Php 329.50 (i think). It's way cheaper than buying it online! Yay for that!

I'm not sure when I'll be able to use another clay mask, but i tried researching & dropping by at several stores to find out the available clay masks out there. These are some of the brands that i found:

1. St. Ives Firming/Mineral Clay Mask - available at Watsons for Php 194
2. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay - available at Healthy Options for Php 479 ( i think, but im sure it's below Php 500)
3. Himalaya Herbals Purifying Mud Pac - available at Watsons for Php 199
4. Himalaya Herbals Neem Face Pack - available at Watsons for Php 199
5. Montagne Jeunesse Face Packs - different variety to choose from - available in Watsons for less than a hundred (Php 59-89)
6. Garnier Skin Naturals Mask - available at Watsons for Php49

Most of the deep-cleansing facial Mud Pack available has Kaolin & Bentonite on it. So you are sure that any deep-seated impurities will be absorbed.

You might want to give clay mask a try. Lie down while you're waiting for it to dry & think of happy thoughts. Im sure that it will rejuvenate & refresh you. I know that it did all of them for me. So i'll be buying some again once i'm done with this.

Hope you find this helpful!

Jaa ne~!
^_^