How my skin looks has a really big impact on my self esteem, so having skin that looks good helps me to feel good. After a summer of swimming in the lake, lazing about at the beach, going out walking when it was windy and all of the intense humidity that we get in Auckland, my skin was ready for some serious TLC.
I went to a Dermalogica media event last year and they mentioned that they were bring out the Charcoal Rescue Masque, and I’ve been hanging out for it ever since because I knew it would be the perfect addition to my skincare routine. At the end of summer and with the change of seasons, my skin concerns include dullness, breakouts and sensitivity, and this masque (which is suitable for all skin types) helps to deal with all of those as it detoxifies, brightens and invigorates the skin.
What’s in it?
Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque has a bunch of active ingredients that work together to draw out excess oil and impurities, refine pores, calm redness and improve skin texture and smoothness. I will freely admit that I don’t know a whole lot about what some ingredients do for your skin, but luckily the team at Dermalogica were able to break it down for me:
- Activated Binchotan (aka Japanese Ubame Oak) Charcoal is a key ingredient – it’s used to draw out excess sebum, toxins, and other impurities. Charcoal has been used in medicine for the emergency treatment of poisoning for a long time because Activated Charcoal – which has a negatively charged surface – attracts and binds itself to positively-charged toxins (if you’ve ever been to the hospital with alcohol poisoning you’ll know about this).
- Sulfur promotes cellular turnover for dramatically brighter skin. It’s renowned for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties when treating acne, and is also ideal for calming rosacea, eczema and sebaceous dermatitis!
- Volcanic ash, hot spring, marine silt (mud), and Bamboo stem extract are physical exfoliants (aka the gritty bits in the masque) that leave your skin smooth and revitalised.
- Phytic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid are chemical exfoliants that speed up cellular turnover, increase collagen production and make your skin brighter.
- Niacinamide reduces redness and inflammation.
- Chilean Wild Mint clarifies skin and helps refine pores.
How do you use it?
I started by washing my face so I could apply the masque to a clean surface, and then applied it all over my face and down my neck. It felt a bit tingly on the bits that were super sensitive and smelled a bit like charcoal mixed with lemons. I let it dry for about 10 minutes and then it was time to wash it off. One difference between this and other masques I’ve used is that to remove it you need to wet your hands and lightly massage your face – this exfoliates your skin as you’re removing the masque – and then rinse it off. I have tried doing it over the sink but to be honest it’s way too messy and I prefer to do it in the shower so that I don’t end up covered in charcoal water. Is it just me that is super messy? Yeah, probably. I’ve been using the Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque weekly (sometimes twice a week), but you can use it whenever your skin needs a bit of TLC, up to four times a week.
What did it do to my skin?
To start with my skin was quite dull, I was getting some serious breakouts in my T-zone and around my jawline, and my skin was feeling really dry in some parts but was oily in others. My pores have been really noticeable, especially on my cheeks and on my forehead and my skin was just looking really tired.
Before using Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque
After using the Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque once, I noticed that my skin was looking brighter straight away and it felt much smoother. Most of my breakouts cleared up a couple of days later and my skin evened out a bit and returned to it’s normal-dry state rather than having oily patches. I’ve still got a bit of congestion between my brows, and I’ve got a couple of spots at the moment thanks to shark week, but overall I’m pretty pleased. After using it a few times I’ve noticed that my skin has a bit more of a glow and my pores aren’t quite as noticeable. I’d even go so far as to say that my complexion has returned to its youthful dewy state.
After using Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque
My verdict
For me, one of the key benefits of this masque was how it took my skin from dull and blah to bright and fresh looking the first time I used it. It was such a great pick me up for my skin and every time I’ve used it since it’s had the same effect!
SHOP IT: Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque comes in a 75ml tube and is available for RRP $89 from their website and at authorised Dermalogica skin centres.
WIN IT: The team at Dermalogica have given me one tube of Charcoal Rescue Masque for one of my lucky readers – all you need to do to get in the draw is leave me a comment below letting me know what your end of summer skin is like, then click here to subscribe to our free fortnightly updates. You can unsubscribe at any time if you change your mind – it just makes it easy for us to contact you if you win (plus it means that you get style, self love and other awesomeness directly to your inbox!). If you’re already a subscriber then great – all you need to do is comment below.
Congratulations to our winner, Chloe Hook
What is your end of summer skin like? Tell me your skin woes!
Disclaimer: I tried this product courtesy of Dermalogica but all opinions are (as always) my own.
Hi Meagan, thank you for the review đ My end of summer skin is irritated from all the different sunscreen and other products that I have been using over summer, which I usually don’t use (sunscreen at a cafe or with friends at the beach and I didn’t have my standard sunscreen with me – my skin is very sensitive). I am having a very uneven tone and spots and it feels like it needs a rest.
Thanks, Cristina. đ
My skin is quite dry after the summer
In need of a lift after a week of a summer flu! This is just what the doctor needs to order!
Not much different to usual, as I try to keep out of the sun as I have such fair skin. But I get breakouts and I’m sure the texture of my skin could be improved. This product sounds likes it’s amazing and would do the trick to help me look after my skin.
Congestion on the chin and sad looking under eye bags! đŖ
My end of summer skin is looking a bit random, glowing forehead, dry cheeks, the odd spot visiting my t-zone. But to be honest I love that I have more colour and look a bit less like a ghost xx
Love my end of summer glow but my chin is covered in spots đ
break outs at age 32! And broken capillaries
My end of summer skin is very crappy I must admit, it’s currently break out central, I look like a 14 year old girl rather than a 31 year old woman!
Woah your skin looks alot fresher and glowing in the second picture xx Mine has been acne covered for about a year now. Big bright red blind sore breakouts all over my chin, jawline and lower cheeks. As soon as I heard about this masque I wanted to buy it, until I noticed the $89 price tag, ouch! Xx
My skin isn’t too bad a few darker spots that bug me but would love to win this for my daughter (teenager years) who is having an absolutely horrible time with her skin.
Mine is very very dry now & the humidity has totally sent it into a spin.
My skin is combination, Im almost 40 (gosh that was hard to say!!!) but I still get pimples!! Whats that about?!?!
Mine goes very very dry and I have to moisturise like crazy to get back to normal
Mine has been pretty good since I don’t wear a lot of makeup. Saying that I did wake up with a lovely pimple on my chin đŗ
End of summer skin for me means eeeeeeek… break-outs! And who wants that?!
I guess I’m fortunate in that my skin is pretty good, but I have problem areas, I get little breakouts on my cheeks and my pores are showing up on my cheeks, not the look I’m going for at all, and wearing makeup makes these stand out even more. đđđđâšī¸đŖ
ONG I am too scared to even look in the mirror to check mine.
Your skin looks amazing. I can’t wait to try this. My skin is really dry right now.
Yay for giveaways! My skin’s gone dry but has spots of congestion, yay for hormonal breakouts :/. I’ve seen lots of good writeups for this mask so I’d love to try it. xx
Wow Meagan! Your skin looks amazing!
The masque really brightened your skin up. Did it reduce a bit of redness too? I have a problem with redness over summer and some times masques make it even worse!
Thanks Sam! I don’t have much of a problem with redness so I’m not to sure about that, sorry! I guess it depends on what is causing your redness?
Mine is usually pretty oily on my forehead and nose but my cheeks are always too dry! đ Im abit of a mix when it comes towards the end of the season.
Mine is oily especially on nose, with obvious pores on nose. Would love to wine this đ
I am already subscribed. My end of summer skin is a bit dull & rough due to acne, sun damaged and being a little bit dehyrated. I would love to try this new Charcoal Masque. I am very temping to try it out after reading this review. Thanks Meagan XO
Your skin looks so gorgeous Meagan!
Mine is a combo of sand dirt, kid dirt and life dirt resulting in dull lifeless greasy dry yuckness..please please share the love my ways đ
Congratulations Chloe, you are our winner! Keep an eye on your inbox for an email from me xx
Aaaaah Meagan! You made my night/week/year đ thank you thank you thank you xx
Woohoo, so glad you’re stoked!
Mine is oily , I’m using a mattifying moisturiser but this would be amaze balls
I believe you can also use charcoal to clean and whiten teeth. Haven’t tried it but would like to try the mask!
Dry and slightly sunburned! I used the Dermalogica sunscreen but didn’t reapply, oopsie! Needs some serious TLC!
Mine is ick..combination of oily and dry. I’m a bridesmaid in 3 weeks and dreading getting my makeup done at the moment…Help please!
Well I’m preggo so… Hah! My skin has been through so much for these past 9 months. First it was some sort of dermatitis around my chin and then it became oily… Which it is now. HALP! X
Meagan I thought your before picture was the after! Your skin is so clear and glowy. Mine is generally really good, but lately has been breaking out a bit and been quite greasy which is frustrating. I’ve used a charcoal mask in the past with good results would love to try this one!
Aw jeez, thanks Imogen! I wish I’d taken a photo of the few days my skin was really bad – honestly, it was all covered in tiny pimples (and some not so tiny ones). It was so bad!
My end of summer skin is not too bad. A little patch of breakout and my t-zone is quite oily but not too bad actually.
Sounds amazing! My skin is dull, dull, dull. I am stuck in the same old routine and would love to try something new!
Mines really dry.
Could be because im neglecting it a lot lately though (return to work after having a baby and juggling way to much means skin has been forgotten)
Hey Meagan! My skin is crazy right now, loads of post summer / post wedding break outs, I think from having so many different make ups and products on my face leading up to my wedding… My tone is all uneven and my chin is showing the worst signs of neglect. I have sensitive skin so am hesitant about trying new products, but this one looks great đ Julia