Last year, the Style Coalition paired up with Elle magazine.  Because I don’t live in NYC, I haven’t been able to enjoy the parties, insider access and other extras that this partnership provides.  (But I’m not bitter, not at all *wink*.)  

Then, last week, a box arrived with a copy of Elle and a gift from the magazine’s beauty department: Borghese Active Mud for Face and Body ($35).

Now, I’ve tried a few purifying mud masks in my day.  But I’ve never found one that wasn’t either a) dried my skin out beyond all recognition, b) caused more problems than it solved or c) smelled like it was harvested from the bottom of a Chinatown sewer.  Until this one.

The mask is meant to be used once per week for just a few minutes.  Not for an hours-long marathon treatment session.  So that really cuts down on the drying.

The mask has no smell that I can pick up, and it’s texture is very smooth and rich.  Once you smear it on, it even gives you a slight cooling sensation.

After three uses, my skin had cleared up a bit. Which, for Ms. Cystic Acne over here, was a big deal.  And, more than anything, it seemed to even out my skin tone quite nicely.  (I have a heart-shaped blotch on one cheek.)

$35 may seem like a lot to spend on a beauty product, but Borghese really isn’t skimping on the amount.  So you get a good bang for your buck.  And since you can use it on your body as well, I think it’s a must for bikini season.  

So if you’re looking for a detoxifying mask that hydrates without clogging pores, give this one a try.  It’s officially been added to my Sunday night routine.