Dead Sea Spa Magik Mud Mask

The Dead Sea Spa Magik range is an at-home spa treatment range which uses Dead Sea minerals which are (apparently) known for their 'exceptional beautifying and cosmetic properties'.

There are loads of products in the range, including moisturisers, salt scrubs (which I intend to try), shampoo, scalp treatments and body lotions, but I picked a mud mask as I have an oily t-zone that appreciates regular TLC.

Mud masks are great for oily skins in general as they help to draw out impurities, and this one also promises to retain moisture in the skin - often mud masks can be drying. You use the product once a week and it claims to deep cleanse, remove impurities, refine and soften skin texture and give your skin a fresh, healthy glow.

So I slapped it on, avoiding the eye area - as you should always do with all masks like this. The mud itself comes from the floor of the Dead Sea and is creamy in consistency, easy to apply, and very very dark grey in colour. You leave it on from between 1 - 5 minutes, or a bit longer if you've very oily skin.

I wandered into the kitchen to potter about for a few minutes until it was time to wash it back off. Himself caught sight of me, and began laughing and saying, "Hello Dave! You're my wife now!!". Yup, what I mostly resembled was indeed Papa Lazarou, the demented circus ringleader from the League of Gentlemen. Not such a good look.

But hey, I'm prepared to suffer for beauty - I'm obviously even prepared to resemble a ficticious wife-stealing maniac too, it seems.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand - after about 5 minutes I washed it back off, ruining a nice Kath Kidston face cloth in the process. I presume it'll come out in the wash - at least I hope so... You're recommend to use a natural sea sponge, but as I didn't have one, the face cloth had to suffice. You're also advised to follow the mask with their Spa Magik Moisturiser, but I just used my regular one. And the results? Yep, my skin felt smooth and clean, and also quite tight - but for me that's a usual result of a mud mask so it's not a problem.

This is a nice, easy to use mask from a range that has won two Pure Awards. The only thing I felt to be slightly disappointing about it was the inclusion of SIX parabens in the formulation - I understand why manufacturers use them, I just wish they wouldn't. If you're keen to give it a go, then you'll find Dead Sea Spa Magik products in Health Store branches, and it costs €9.35.