OleHenriksen Cold Plunge Pore Mask-Retail $36

This is a relatively-newly launched product alone with their balance collection targeting combination to oily skin types. Since I personally have combo-oily skin I was so grateful to get a chance to receive one of these from the brand before their launch and test it out till now. I've used a lot of clay based masks in the past, so it was definitely cool that this was unlike any that I've tried before. 

Specs: 

• Size: 90 mL/3 fl oz
• Scent: minty toothpaste-y
• Color: Teal
• Type: Clay (to draw out impurities from the pores)+includes AHAs/BHA
• Packaging: Tube
• No: parabens, sulfates, or phthalates.

Claims: 

• Reduces the look of pores (pretty much all clay masks do this because they draw out impurities which makes pores look smaller)
• Deeply purifies pores (Again, pretty much all clay masks do this) 
• Mattifying oil controls for up to 8 hours

Ingredients: 

Aqua/Water/Eau, Kaolin, Glycerin, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Bentonite, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Menthoxypropanediol, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Sodium Chloride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Epilobium Fleischeri Extract, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Extract*, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract*, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract*, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract*, Tocopherol, Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891). 

Performance: 

I try to use this on my non-exfoliating days since this contains acids and I don't want to go overboard.The very first noticeable thing about this product is the teal color. WOW. That's so vibrant. I have a feeling that this was one of the main marketing strategies since they kept promoting that it was a fun, cool product that was instagrammable. Other than the color, the texture is very creamy and spreadable, and feels cooling  on the skin the entire time it's on. This really helps me cool down even when I'm not in a room with AC. After 15 minutes, this dries down, but doesn't overly dry your skin or harden when you're making facial expressions. 

It's a little difficult to rinse this off without making a mess, and that's sort of difficult when you're trying to look in the mirror to rinse thoroughly, but don't want the minty-ness to get into your eyes. Another thing I want to note is that it bubbles slightly when I'm washing this off. I'm not sure if this is intentional or what but it adds to making it more difficult to rinse off. Afterwards though, I feel fresh and clean after use not just because of the cooling effect but mostly because the Kaolin clay did the work in purifying the pores (without drying)! It's definitely nice to have something like this if you live in a humid and hot environment.

Verdict: 

Honestly I was on the fence about this product for awhile. I could totally understand if someone said, "I'd rather put that $36 towards a nicer serum/skincare product." But it is more unique clay mask, and if you're in the market to buy one, for $36 this will last you a long, long time. Regarding the AHAs and BHAs, I'd rather add that as a more concentrated serum into my PM or AM routine instead of using a mask to fulfill exfoliating needs. So if you were interested in this product mainly because of that, I wouldn't say that would be the reason to buy it. I don't have any huge gripes about the product and it has a lot more oomph than a traditional clay mask, so if you really want to try it out, do it! I think it's worth the money.

Save Some $: 

I haven't tried any other clay masks that are cooling and contain acids in them except for the Whish mask that I wrote a review one here (it's actually more expensive for less though). But for a cheaper option, check this Pixi Glow Mud Mask out.