I Finally Found a Clay Mask That Doesn’t Dry Out My Sensitive Skin

I know I’m not the only one out there who’s tried to put on a nice, relaxing clay mask in the hopes of clearing out my pores only to end up with skin that feels like it’s been stretched out over my skull. But with my go-to clay mask, the Innisfree color clay mask, that dryness and tightness is never a problem.

Like most clay masks, I find that this one gently exfoliates my skin, leaving it feeling smooth and glowy. But unlike most clay masks, it doesn’t dry my sensitive skin out on top of all that. Instead, the mask goes on thick and creamy, doesn’t dry too much while you give it time to work, and then rinses off easily.

My hunch is that at least some of this moisturizing power comes from the key ingredient in the mask: cica, short for centella asiatica, a plant that’s purported to have hydrating and calming powers. Technically, the mask contains madecassoside, which is an extract of the plant. And, technically, the science is still out on whether or not cica products are actually useful for these purposes. (The mask comes in different colors and effects, but I’m faithful to the green cica version.)

But I find myself continuing to come back to this mask a few times a month (basically whenever I feel like I’ve accumulated a layer of gunk that needs to come off). And I’m kind of amazed that, even with my sensitive, rosacea-prone skin, I never feel irritated after using it.

Buy it: Innisfree Color Clay Mask (Cica), $10, us.innisfree.com

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