This is part 3 of the Best Face Masks For a Steam Facial post, where I researched the ideal face masks to use after a steam facial. I analyzed 24 of the top face masks on the market today, not to find out which mask is my favorite, but to figure out which mask is best after a facial steaming session. Part 3 will be an in depth look at the second mask revealed in that post – the Majestic Pure Charcoal Mud Mask. 

This isn’t necessarily a product review, but rather an explanation of why the Majestic Pure mask is effective, and how it works. This isn’t my experience using the mask one time, but rather my assessment after combining the experience, as well as an appropriate amount of research.

I was pleased that this mask was one of the best choices, given the cost. Depending on where you shop, you can purchase a 250 gram container for under $15. Since you can use this container for around 15-20 facials, that makes the Majestic Pure charcoal mask a great value!

What makes it an ideal mask after a steam facial?

In part 1, I found that four of the essentials in an ideal face mask are: not harsh, easy to peel, natural ingredients, and the ability to remove blackheads.

Here’s a quick recap of why The Majestic Pure Charcoal Mud Mask meets all of these criteria.

Not harsh – This mask uses bentonite as the base which is very skin-friendly.

Easy to peel – Not much to peel here. You actually use warm water to dissolve the hardened mask, which you then wash off. Peel off masks do more harm than good; try to avoid them. They peel off more than just blackheads and impurities – like hair follicles and sebaceous filaments for example.

Natural ingredients – While this mask has a longer ingredient list than the Aztec clay, it is also all natural. It contains a plethora of natural oils and extracts that invigorate and hydrate your skin.

Removes blackheads – Most masks and peels don’t really remove the entire blackhead – they just treat the symptoms. Which is why most face masks aren’t ideal after a steam facial. The Majestic Pure mud mask utilizes bentonite clay, and activated charcoal to completely remove and treat blackheads. (More on this below).

The main active ingredients

When you open the container, you’ll immediately notice a strong earthy smell. Like the Aztec Indian mask, this also contains bentonite clay.

However, instead of apple cider vinegar as the main blackhead cleaning agent, it uses activated coconut charcoal. While these two ingredients provide that earthy aroma, they are also the muscle behind this mask.

Bentonite is commonly used in skin treatment applications. It has natural detoxifying properties, and is great at removing excess oil from the skin. It is also full of minerals which your skin absorbs from the mask.

What makes it so effective is that it has a negative charge. The debris and toxins on your face are positively charged. Since opposites attract, the clay picks up these impurities quite easily.

Activated charcoal (in this case coconut charcoal) can adsorb 100 times its own weight of outside materials. This makes it exceptionally effective as a cleaning agent. 

You’ve probably heard of digestive cleanses that contain activated charcoal for detoxifying. Well it works the same way here, except for your pores instead.

Why is the Majestic Pure Charcoal Mud Mask so effective against blackheads?

I covered what causes blackheads in this post, but here is a quick recap:

There are bacteria living inside your pores that keep your face clean by consuming the excess oil (sebum) that your sebaceous glands produce. 

When dead skin flakes fall inside your pores, the pores get clogged, and the bacteria starve and die. As they decompose, that creates an infection, resulting in what we call a blackhead. 

The blackhead that you see on the surface of your skin is just a plug. It’s just one part of the overall structure – called a comedone. When you remove that plug using a blackhead remover, or an inferior face mask, the infection still remains inside your pore, and a new black plug soon takes its place. So the only way to completely remove a blackhead is to clean out the entire comedone.

The bentonite clay and the activated charcoal work as a tag team to not only remove the blackhead plug, but to also clear out the infection below.

The clay – The bentonite clay is a natural astringent, which means it causes contractions. As the clay dries and hardens, it pulls your skin in different directions, tearing the blackhead plug away, which then sticks to the clay like velcro.

The charcoal – The coconut charcoal has a very fine texture. Much finer than the clay. Once the blackhead plug has been removed, the activated charcoal is able to dive in to the now uncapped pore, and remove the nasty infection inside via adsorption.

You may be wondering about the difference between adsorption and absorption. This graphic should explain:

As it adsorbs the infection, the charcoal sticks to the hardening clay, and so does everything else that it has captured. 

And that is why the clay and charcoal combination are so effective against blackheads. Not just to clear the plug, but to clear out the entire comedone.

Other ingredients

This mask is much more than just a blackhead treatment. It’s also great for reinvigorating your skin, making it more supple, and giving it a healthy glow.

While the clay and charcoal are the active ingredients for detoxifing and cleaning, the Majestic Pure Charcoal Mud Mask contains much more. Let’s take a look and these ingredients, and their benefits:

Organic aloe leaf juice – Aloe vera is a good source of antioxidants and vitamins. You may have noticed that many sun tan lotions contain aloe vera. That’s because it has been shown to negate the effects of UV radiation.

Organic olive fruit oil – Olive oil is rich in fatty acids. These acids are very effective at keeping your skin hydrated.

Organic Jojoba seed oil – Jojoba also moisturizes skin, but more importantly, it is an emollient – which means it soothes your skin.

Hyaluronic acid – One of the most trending skin care products over the past two years has been hyaluronic acid – and for good reason. This acid helps your skin maintain moisture, and prevents it from drying.

Rooibos leaf & green tea leaf extracts – natural antioxidants, which help keep your skin looking young and fresh.

White willow bark extract – This extract contains salicylic acid, which dissolves the pore clogging dead skin flakes. If salicylic acid sounds familiar, it should – it’s a common ingredient in corn/callus removers, chemical peels, etc.

Pomegranate seed extract – Not only is this extract rich in Vitamin C, but it also aids in skin regeneration.

Organic peppermint oil – soothes and calms the skin – especially useful after a hot steam session.

How to use it

Now that we know what makes the Majestic Pure charcoal mud mask effective, and what it contains, let’s talk about how to use it.

This mask is ready to go out of the container – no need to mix it with water or any other liquids.

Apply a thin layer to your skin, and allow it to dry – this will usually take between 5-10 minutes depending on how much you use. You’ll start to feel a tugging and tightening sensation as it start to dry – that’s completely normal.

Once it has dried, remove the mask by washing it off with warm water. I have found that if you press a warm wet towel against your face for a minute or so, it really softens up the mask, and makes it much easier to wash off.

The directions tell you to gently rub the mask in a circular motion when you remove it for an overall exfoliation, but I haven’t really noticed much of a difference when doing this.

If you had previously used a facial steamer, now is the time to splash your face with cool water.

Either way, follow up with your preferred moisturizer to complete the process.

Final thoughts

The Majestic Pure Charcoal Mud Mask is a really good option. It does what it says, it contains all-natural and powerful ingredients, and it’s quite affordable.

While I love the Aztec indian healing clay mask, the Majestic Pure is also very effective. It’s a very good option for those people who either have an allergic reaction to apple cider vinegar, or for those who find the Aztec mask too harsh for their skin. The Majestic Pure mask is also a better choice if you have dry skin.

What I really like about Majestic Pure products is that they are Made in the USA, using sustainable, natural, and organic ingredients. 

Have you tried the Majestic Pure charcoal mask? If you have, would you please leave a comment below and share your experience with it?