Continuing with our beauty review series, we have a bubble pore mask by that’s sure to be a hit in a skincare regimen. The blackhead O2 bubble pore pack by Caolion works hard and leaves behind soft, clean-feeling skin. While there are many positives with the mask, there are a few warnings to consider.
Packaging
The dark packaging gives the product a mysterious feel. The jar is a nice, sturdy plastic that has a good weight to it and nicely sealed to protect its integrity. When I received mine, there were multiple seals on it: One outside the jar and two inside. Even though the jar isn’t too large, there is a decent amount of product in it, so users can easily get at least several months of use if used only once a week (recommended). The mask even comes with a small plastic spoon so wearers can scoop out the product without oily or damp fingers causing the mask to bubble inside the jar.
Ingredients
Water, Cyclomethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethyl Perfluorobutyl Ether, Ethyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polysorbate 60, Polyethylene, Dimethicone, Avena Sativa (oat) Kernel Flour, Charcoal Powder, Allantoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panthenol, Peg/ppg-18/18dimethicone, Peg-100 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, C12-16 Alcohols, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Hyaluronic Acid, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (licorice) Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Rhus Semialata Gall Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Trideceth-6, Disodium Edta
Use
To use, wash and dry face as usual. Then, use the spoon to scoop out some of the product. Then, gently massage the mask onto skin in circular motions to activate the exfoliators. Take care to avoid the mouth and eyes. Leave the mask on a few minutes until it carbonates and your face is full of tingly bubbles. Massage the product into skin again once bubbles form. Let the mask sit on your face between five to ten minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Pat dry and finish up with your regular skincare routine.
Impressions
The bubble pack is one of the strangest products I’ve used to date, but it’s strange in a good way. The bubbles tingle and sting a bit which caused my face to feel a little weird as the bubbles formed. After a minute or two, it ceases to feel odd and the mask starts to have a cooling effect. The exfoliating properties in the mask also feel like they do a nice job removing dead skin and cleansing the skin. I like this element best because it feels like it does a better job than my usual exfoliator.
I mostly love how easy-to-use this product is during the application and removal stages. With these two steps, the mask is foolproof.
One of the main ingredients for the mask is charcoal. Charcoal is making its way into a lot of cleansers these days because it works as a neutralizer for getting rid of trouble spots, extracting blackheads, and for exfoliation. Naturally, the main purpose of the mask is to exfoliate and remove blackheads. On the exfoliating front, I give the pack a solid ten out of ten because it feels like it’s working. Once the mask is washed off, there is a smoothness and a brightness left behind. As for blackhead removal, it works well on the chin area, but not so much the nose area. For this, I recommend the Milky Piggy Hell Pore peel-off mask.
When used correctly, the blackhead mask does its job well.
Warnings
Take note of the three key words above: When used correctly. What does that even mean? Well, I managed to somehow use the mask incorrectly, so there are some important lessons to learn.
I figured that once a week wasn’t enough to get the full benefits of the mask. Instead of doing my usual routine of switching moisturizing masks daily, I used the blackhead pack two days in a row. On the second day, I also thought “if ten minutes is good, 15 minutes would be better.” I was wrong on both accounts.
First, using the mask two days in a row does not improve skin; in fact, it has the opposite effect because there isn’t enough of a recovery period since charcoal tends to be a bit harsh depending on skin type. Leaving the mask on for a few minutes longer also has a negative impact. With both ill-advised decisions combined, I ended up with skin that was the equivalent of sandpaper because I sucked out every ounce of moisture I had in it. The brightness I had gave way to redness, so instead of looking fresh and exfoliated, I was one-step away from looking like the walking dead. Take my advice: Once a week is good and so is wearing the mask for under ten minutes.
Another element to keep in mind is to not, under any circumstances, stick your fingers (or any water) into the jar. Doing so will activate the bubbles and may ruin the product.
Verdict
Caolion’s blackhead O2 bubble pore pack is a nice addition to a skincare routine if used correctly. It does have a lot of benefits if not abused, and it can help skin look luminous. It’s strange at first, but that’s part of the cool factor with this product. The bubble pore pack earns a solid 4/5.
Caolion’s blackhead bubble pore pack can be purchased at Sephora for $26.
—-Joelle Halon