Sunday, February 3, 2013

Review: Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask with scoria and green complex



I've been wanting to try this clay mask for a long time. I've heard lots of reviews about it being great and I've always wondered how it compared to my favorite clay mask, Origins Active Charcoal Mask at clearing my pores, brightening my face and preventing breakouts. I was lucky enough to find it at a reasonable price on eBay a few months ago so I purchased it! 

Description (taken from the box that it came in):
  • This Jeju volcanic scoria clay mask intensively adsorbs sebum and clarifies skin pores
  • About Jeju volcanic scoria: this pure and rare ingredient, formulated with solidified java caused by volcanic eruptions in Jeju island, adsorbs impurities and sebum that are deeply embedded within skin pores
  • Directions: after cleansing and refining skin with toner, gently smooth over entire face, avoiding the eye and lip area. Rinse off with lukewarm water after 10-15 minutes. Use 1-2 times per week
My impression:

I've been using Origins Active Charcoal Mask for the past 6 years at least and it has consistently worked wonders for me. I've probably used 4 tubes already and am on my fifth. So the bar is pretty high for Innisfree.

I'm also using Skinfood Egg White Pore Mask, which I find helps more with refining the size of my pores when they're already pretty clean. I bought a few samples of the Etude House Wonder Pore Clay Clear Pack/Mask but felt that it wasn't as effective in removing the impurities off my face.

Some have complained that clay masks dry up while on your face and are really hard to get off. Origins Active Charcoal Mask is one of them. The clay mask cracks if you try to move your face once it dries and it takes awhile to get everything off. I don't mind this part about the Origins mask but I agree that it takes time to get off. This mask definitely did not have that problem. It was easy to put on, it didn't dry up to literally become a mask stuck on my face, and I felt comfortable moving my face without cracking the mask. It was also very easy to rinse out afterwards.

As for effect, I once again feel that it isn't as effective at removing impurities off my face and clearing my pores as Origins. When I wash rinse off Origins, I see an instant brightening effect on my face. My pores are clean and when I touch my face I feel that all the cream that I put on (and whatever residue that may have accumulated throughout that week) are effectively taken away. With this mask, there wasn't that brightening effect when I rinsed my face and when I touched my face it didn't have that same clean feeling.

I haven't broken out since using this product, so it isn't INeffective by any means. But like I said before, the bar is set pretty high since Origins has been so effective for me.

I would say that this mask is less effective than Origins but more effective than Etude House Wonder Pore Clay Clear Pack/Mask and Skinfood Egg White Pore Mask at removing impurities and unclogging those pores from dirt and sebum.

Price-wise it's pretty good though. It's $13 for 100g on eBay whereas the Origins Active Charcoal Mask is $23 for 100ml on Sephora. But the difference in effectiveness it too much for me to be ignored. I'll finish this jar but I'll be sticking with Origins.

Summary:

Helps clear pores and adsorb sebum (no breakouts since using this product)
Not as effective and no instant brightening effect that I see with Origins
Doesn't dry up and crack when your face moves, easy to rinse off
$13 for 100g on eBay

Quality: 4/5 because it works but isn't as effective as Origins Active Charcoal Mask, doesn't dry on the face making it uncomfortable, easy to rinse off

Value: 4.5/5 because it's a pretty good deal..almost half the price of Origins

Repurchase? Nope

9 comments:

  1. I have this, too!
    I'm sad that it didn't brighten your face 'cause it did for me. :(
    But, you're making me want to try the Origins mask! (Does seem a bit pricey though...) I agree that this mask doesn't do as much as I expected it to.

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    1. Yeah it's a pretty popular product judging by the number of reviews online. That's one reason why I bought it to try. It may have brightened my face a bit..but not enough for me to notice, which may be because I'm so accustomed to the brightening results after using Origins.

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  2. I'd always wanted to buy this product. thanks for the review!

    xx

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  3. Hi sis..
    I'v been trying this mask too & Innisfree jeju facial foam for 1 week, so I can say the foam worked so much better than the mask. Not for its oil control just for 1 hour, but the foam gave me such an instan brighter looks & instan tightening pores definitily so so so goooood.seriously!!!it must make you so happy to see your face so clean with some shrinking pores there at you face,though to me.I hope you can try it soon dear

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    1. Really? Anything instant brightening and tightening pores sounds fabulous to me! Okay, I'm gonna check that out. Thanks for the tip! :D

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  4. Thank you for the review! I think I'm going to try this mask too ^.^ My skin has been becoming oilier again now that the weather is warming up :C

    la-petitetortue.blogspot.com

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  5. I have also been using the active charcoal mask by origins so I understand where u r coming from! I have used it for abt a year.and am now contemplating whether to change to a cheaper version Innisfree. great minds think alike!
    I like the warming sensation of origins and I don't mind the tightness of it on my face. But I agree, it does take some time to get it off your face. I usually.use a scrub first, wipe my face with hot towel, apply origins, then use warm towel, remove everything once it dries up. The procesd can be arduous man, ESP when u r dying to get on your bed after a hard day.
    Results.wise, the first few.times of using origins was really gd, nose was completely clear.of blackheads...after a yr, I notice three warming sensation was lesser, and I dunno, but I feel it does clear, but the blackheads still come back real fast. Haiz. It doesn't help me get rid ofthe very stubborn plugs on my cheeks, those with enlarged pores,I suffer from those for many yrs and counting. I did my research, I guess.no skincare product can get rid of those stubborn dry plugs, maybe Retinoids. Now I still use,origins once or twice a week, for maintenance regime. And slap on a soothing moisture mask or hydrating stuff after that.
    Conclusion for me:origins is gd but drying, do use something moisturising after. Origins doesn'thelp with stubborn whiteheads and plugs. And its.expensive. But depending on your usage for once or twice a week, it can last u half a yr at least.

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    1. Thanks for your detailed comment! Yes I totally agree with you, it's definitely not the answer to everything and it is quite expensive (compared to Korean products anyway). And yes, it's drying and definitely a moisturiser is needed after. I don't use it too often so I guess I can justify my use of it..until I find a better product to replace it!

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