Elemis Herbal Lavender Repair Mask
Mask Skincare

Review: Elemis Herbal Lavender Repair Mask

by Patsy

// This post contains affiliate links. You can read my full disclaimer here

Years ago, (I’m talking about maybe a decade or so!) Elemis was one of the few brands I used at the time because the beauty salon I went for my monthly facial stocked this brand. At the time, my main concern was to treat my adult breakouts which seemed to appear out of nowhere, I had pretty clear skin growing up, maybe the odd breakouts but nothing serious. I was recommended to a few products from the brand and none of them was stripping or had acids as you would expect from products that are used for treating spots, and they all worked! Since then, I’ve expanded my skincare horizons but I still have a few that I keep repurchasing to this day. This mask is one of them!

What is it?

Soothing clay mask.

What it does

Helps to purify, soothe and rebalance the skin using these key ingredients:

  • Kaolin: This mineral-rich clay absorbs oils and impurities but it’s not very drying, quite gentle on the skin, so it’s ideal for dry and sensitive skin types. (Learn more about this from Choose the right clay for your skin type post)
  • Lavender: Lavender oil has some anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties. It also has some local pain-relieving effect. In aromatherapy, it promotes calming and relaxing effects.
  • Rosemary: A potent antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. It has anti-bacterial, astringent and toning properties.
  • Thyme: Contains anti-septic and cleansing properties, good for acne.

Full Ingredients list

Aqua/Water/Eau, Kaolin, Propylene Glycol, Vegetable Oil (Olus), Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Ethoxydiglycol, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Methylparaben, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Dichlorobenzyl Alcohol, Propylparaben, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf Extract, Linalool, Tocopherol, Limonene.

There are a few essential oils on the ingredients list so if you are sensitive to those, then be careful.

All products are formulated without Aluminum, Artificial dyes, Coal Tar, DEA, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde donors, Hydroquinone, Ethylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Mineral Oil, Oxybenzone, Parabens, Retinal Palmitate, SLS/SLEs, Talc, Triclocarban, Triclosan

Who’s it for

Good for all skin types but those with sensitive, blemish-prone skin, dull or congested skin will benefit the most.

Elemis Herbal Lavender Repair Mask

Everything else

Packaging

A very convenient plastic squeeze tube.

Colour, Texture & Scent

This mask is very creamy, not particularly thick, probably no thicker than a rich nighttime moisturiser. It’s very spreadable, so you can easily apply a thin layer if you prefer. Since it’s so emollient, it really feels like a little can go quite far and the tube can last a while. There’s a noticeable botanical scent coming from the lavender and thyme, I don’t mind it as it smells natural enough to my nose and it’s so calming. But if you are sensitive to scent, you might want to find a sample first.

How to use it

Warm into the palms and apply onto a cleansed face and neck, leaving it on for 10-15 minutes. Remove with warm water and follow with your regular Elemis toner and moisturiser. Use twice a week.

Elemis instruction

I tend to leave it on more than 15 minutes, probably 30 minutes or so. Once it’s dried on the face, it feels slightly tight but not uncomfortable. If I have a thicker layer on and some dusty powder might fall off. I remove this with a warm washcloth, it’s quicker and more thorough that way.

Sometimes when I use this to spot treat and leave it on overnight, it works wonder.

My thoughts and experience

As I mentioned earlier, I started out with the expectations to clear my breakouts which worked very well. In recent years, my skin has gotten quite sensitive so having a product that works for breakouts but also gentle enough for sensitive skin is a challenge. A lot of the masks on the market are loaded with strong actives that can irritate my skin. This mask is active enough to calm my breakouts and decongest my pores but at the same time soothe the redness (from breakouts as well as sensitive patches) and inflammation. I also like that this is a clay mask but not drying in anyways. My skin looks smooth, clearer and calmer afterwards, some masks when you remove them, you feel like all the moisturise has gone but this doesn’t give me that stripped feeling. I’m honestly amazed how well this mask has adapted to my skin needs.

Would I repurchase? For sure. It’s one of my holy grails.

Available: £36/75ml -UK (LookFantastic | FeelUnique | BeautyExpert)*

Have you tried this before? What is your experience?