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Just in case you're not already tired of my skincare reviews on the blog these days, keep in mind that I have like 4 upcoming blog posts related to skincare that I've already write halfway and keep them as drafts. Phew. I can't help it, skincare is definitely an obsession of mine these days rather than makeup (just how many times I've mentioned this already?) and also, recently I tweeted that I'm on a makeup ban until May which I think it's a good thing because at least, I got to use whatever I have in the kit right now and carry on with my panning project. God knows how desperate I am been wanting to buy the Glow Fleur Cheeks from Canmake (especially when Guardian made it on sale for 30% last month) and a few eyeshadow palettes like Tarte PRO to Go and Nubian 2 Palette. *WISHLIST WISHLISTTTTT*

Anyhow, today, let's talk about skincare.
I'm calling it "Facial Friday", so my next facial mask review would probably be posted on Friday too. Here I have another product from Freeman which is the Charcoal & Black Sugar Mud Mask. I bought it from Guardian some time ago after I finished with the Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask. I noticed that these days, Guardian has a good selection of Freeman products just like Caring Pharmacy.

So, okay here's what Freeman has to say about the mask,

"This velvety, jet-black mud mask works like magic to moisturise, remineralise, and make skin sensationally soft! Skin-loving mineral collected from the Dead Sea have a natural nourishing effect that boosts smoothness and overall skin health. Activated Charcoal locks onto oils and toxins, then gently lift them away without over-drying or disturbing skin. Black Sugar helps skin hold on to hydration, which helps smooth out roughness and fine lines. Perfect for normal to combination skin."

Packaging
Huge 175ml tube with affordable price! I got mine for RM15+ on sale. I really like the packaging because it's hygienic, doesn't dry out the product and the illustration on the tube is pretty. I think Freeman came out with a newly (and nicer) packaging but they have yet to reach Malaysia.

There's no expiry date engraved on the tube except a sticker showing manufacturing date from Malaysian's supplier. I don't prefer this way because how can you ensure that they don't lie to us? it could be shady right? *overthinking lol*

How To Use (according to the body label)
Apply mask to face and neck, avoiding contact with eyes. Let dry and rinse with warm water. Use 2 times a week or as often as needed.

How I Use
As instructed, except lesser usage. I have so many other products I rarely reach for this one, so I use this only once a week. My trial period is more than 5 months already. I put this on my clear face after I cleanse with a water-based cleanser (when my face is still damp) and follow up with a toner and moisturiser or face oil. Can you use the cold water coming from the sink? yes sure, go ahead, there's nothing wrong with that. Asalkan bilas bersih, ye dak?

Ingredients
Aqua, Bentonite, Kaolin, Glycerin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Carbon (Activated Charcoal), Maris Limus (Silt), Sucrose, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Diazolidinyl Urea, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Rubus Idaeus (Rasberry) Fruit, Methylisothiazolinone, Propylene Glycol, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthius Extract, Maranta Arundinacea Root Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Maranta Arundinacea Root Extract, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Aleurites Moluccana Extract, Fragrance, Iron Oxide (CI 77499)

Discussions
1) The main ingredient of this product is clay- Bentonite and Kaolin. These are good in sweat and sebum absorbing but they don't penetrate deeply into pores like AHA or BHA. However, since oil/sebum is one of the contributing factors to acne, I'd like to believe that the mask could help in preventing blackheads and whiteheads.

2) Bentonite clay consists of mostly negatively charge ions while toxins and heavy metals on the skin are positively charged. So, bentonite clay works like a magnet that bonds to them and helps in purifying the skin. Kaolin or china clay is obtained by the process of industrial mining from kaolinized granite and it has a 'hygroscopic' property (moisture absorbing), just like most mineralize clays. Therefore this mud mask could be a little drying to those with dry skin. This property is also the reason why clay mask will be dry after you put it on your face for few minutes.

3) I like the fact that glycerin is high up in the ingredient list. Glycerin is a humectant and moisturising agent so it will make your skin feeling moisturised even after the mask is being washed off from the face.

4) Magnesium Aluminum Silicate is a naturally occurring mineral derived from refined and purified clay. It is used in the mask as a thickening and filler agent. It cannot be absorbed into the skin because of its large molecule.

5) Other notable ingredients worth mentioning here are carbon (activated charcoal) and sucrose (sugar) because these are basically what giving the mask its name. Checkout Labmuffin post on charcoal, she wrote a nice scientific-based article for this ingredient! Meanwhile, sucrose is like glycerin, a humectant, therefore it plays a role in bringing hydration and moisturising effect to the skin. I'm a bit sceptical on how it can reduce fine lines and roughness of the skin though, because as far as I noticed, this mask is gritty free.

In my opinion, this Freeman Charcoal & Black Sugar Mud Mask generally has so many good ingredients.

Sources:
1) Murray, Haydn H. Applied Clay Mineralogy: Occurrences, Processing and Application of Kaolins, Bentonites, Palygorskite-sepiolite, and Common Clays. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2007. Print.

2) Elmore AR, Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Final report on the safety assessment of aluminium silicate, calcium silicate, magnesium aluminium silicate, magnesium silicate, magnesium trisilicate, sodium magnesium silicate, zirconium silicate, attapulgite, bentonite, Fuller's earth, hectorite, kaolin, lithium magnesium silicate, lithium magnesium sodium silicate, montmorillonite, pyrophyllite and zeolite. International Journal of Toxicology, 2003.

Verdict
I would like to think this is a good facial mask. It's meant to be moisturising and smoothen your skin and in my opinion, it stays true to what it claimed. My face becomes hydrated and indeed very smooth after using. Even though the mask is formulated with moisture-absorbing clays, there's no excessively drying experience I encountered, therefore I'd gladly recommend this especially if you have oily-combination skin. It would 'suck out' the greasiness from your t-zone but at the same time, it won't cause dryness on the other parts of your face. Sounds good right?

Another thing I really like about this face mask is the scent. I wasn't expecting it to smell good but it does. It has a slightly sweet smell to it, not anywhere near overwhelming. I prefer the scent coming from this mask a lot more better than the previous Freeman mask I've reviewed. I also like the fact that the mask doesn't leave me tingling sensation because personally, I find that clay mask can be too intense sometimes once I gave it a try. This is nice and comfortable to wear.

The mud mask is grey in colour and it looks like.....mud.

Usually, I apply this mask using fingers but I'd totally recommend you getting a mask brush to get an even layer. I've seen some mask kit selling at MR DIY and other beauty shops. Tak mahal pun, it should be less than RM5. The consistency of the Freeman Charcoal & Black Sugar Mud Mask is smooth while the texture is soft but not super thick and hard.

Meanwhile, the application is easy BUT can be messy. Freeman doesn't recommend any specific duration for how long we should leave the mask on, so I allowed it to dry for 15 minutes before washing it out as I cannot go any longer. Overly dries mask would make my face goes itchy. The mask can be slightly difficult to wash and if you're not careful, it may stick to your hair and clothing.

Overall
This is a perfect mask for those with normal to oily combination skin who want a deep cleansing product that will still provide moderate moisture to the skin. The price is affordable and it's widely available in this country. I'd rate the mask 8/10. It's not something I'd consider as 'holy grail' yet, but I do like it and would highly recommend.

Which Freeman mask should I try next?!! Thank you so much for reading and don't forget to follow me on my social medias!

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Product Info;

Name: Charcoal & Black Sugar Mud Mask

Brand: FREEMAN

Type: Wash-off Mask

Country of Origin: Made in USA
Content: 175ml

Shelf life: 36 months

Limited Edition: No

Price: RM23.21

Availability (Malaysia):
(1) In store- Leading pharmacies like Caring, Guardian & Watsons
(2) Online- Guardian [here]

Official Website: https://www.freemanbeauty.com/

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