This 4-Ingredient Purifying Mask Helped Brighten and Hydrate My Dull, Acne-Prone Skin After One Use

While we often love the thought of superfoods (aka, foods that are rich in nutrients) in our diets, they also can be found in our skin care. Case in point: Golde Clean Greens Face Mask.

For those unfamiliar, Golde is a Black-owned wellness brand that prides itself on using ingredients that are natural and rich in minerals and antioxidants. They supply a range of dietary supplements to help boost relaxation, collagen production, and gut health. But it’s the brand’s Clean Greens Face Mask that caught my attention, thanks its promise to clear and offer “glowing skin” after usage.

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Golde Clean Greens Face Mask — $34.00

Described as a “green smoothie” for your skin, its formula includes mango juice powder, marshmallow root extract, spirulina powder, and chlorella powder. That’s it. These work together to help hydrate, nourish, and help cleanse your pores. But it’s really the use of chlorella powder that helps the formula stand out. Chlorella contains chlorophyll (aka, the same ingredient that gives plants their color). It’s packed with vitamins A, B and C, which help increase collagen, protect your skin from long-term sun damage, and reduce redness. Moreover, a 2015 study found that using a topical chlorophyll was an effective “treatment of mild-moderate acne and large, visible pores when used for three weeks.” With all that said, I was eager to see how this green solution would fare on my skin.

How it works

The mask comes in powder form, but turns into a gel-paste substance you can rub onto your face after adding a few drops of water and mixing.  Just be careful with the amount of water you mix in. Too much can produce a super thin solution that doesn’t apply well. If this happens, just add a little bit more powder. 

Once the mask is on, it doesn’t take long to feel the effects. I felt my face begin to tighten within two or three minutes, but not uncomfortably so. FYI, this tightening sensation is common when applying purifying masks (especially ones with clay), since the ingredients are working to extract excess dirt, oil and other impurities in your pores. Just beware of keeping these masks on your face for too long. After a certain point, they may do more harm than good, as they may strip away your skin’s natural moisture and potentially leave it irritated. 

That said, I kept this mask on for about 10 minutes, per the brand’s instructions. I then washed my face after with warm water, and the solution came right off—there was no green residue left on my skin or on the towel I used to dry my face. It was 100 percent mess- and stain-free. Plus, I was able to add my moisturizer and other skin-care products shortly after without causing any irritation. 

The Immediate Results

While I was hoping the mask would address my skin’s dullness (and that it did), I noticed a significant change in my skin’s texture immediately.  Granted, my skin wasn’t super rough to begin with, but thanks to the mask, it had become much smoother than it had been in the last several weeks.  I also saw an increase in brightness around my eyes and forehead, which is most likely due to the brightening powers of the vitamin A and C in the mango juice powder. Just an FYI: The mask has a strong scent that faintly lingers even after I washed it off. It’s not a dealbreaker, but something worth noting if you have sensitive nostrils.

All things considered, the mask helped give my skin a major boost by softening its texture and reducing the patchy areas around my jawline. I also LOVE the simple formula. As someone with acne-prone skin, I often find too many clinical ingredients can irritate my skin and cause a breakout.

As far as the mask’s ability to minimize pores, multiple reviewers sang its praises. “From the first use, this full-of-goodness facial mask cleared a lingering blemish, tightened my pores, and left my skin with a healthy glow,” one five-star reviewer wrote. “Even my hyper-critical mom immediately noticed a visible improvement in my skin during the first week of use.”

Another shopper raved that the mask served as “total reset” for their skin. “My skin has felt so dull and my pores felt clogged so I got this mask to detox and it’s amazing. My skin looks luminous and feels so soft! It’s one of the best masks I’ve used!! I have really sensitive skin too and this didn’t cause any irritation or breakouts. I really want to try their papaya mask now.”

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