Review and Giveaway: Montagne Jeunesse Clean-Up Mud

Face masks can be a fun way to bring a spa experience to your own home. I find regular face masks are a great way to keep my skin refreshed. They can also make great gifts. So I'm always on the lookout for cruelty-free options. I was intrigued by UK company Montagne Jeunesse, who offers a range of options that are readily available both abroad and in the U.S. I recently put their Clean-Up Mud (known as Blemish Mud in the UK) to the test.

Pros:

• Generous size (1-2 applications)
• Available in many retail stores
• Helps with blemishes
• Dries quickly (10-15 min)
• Many natural ingredients
• Easy to apply
  

Cons:

• Requires a little scrubbing to remove

Summary:
Clean-Up Mud left my normal/combination skin feeling clean and refreshed. Designed to help with blemishes, this mask is less hydrating than some, so I recommend following up with a good oil-free moisturizer. I left it on for about 15 minutes and found it easy to apply. One packet is plenty for two uses, which makes it perfect for a girls' night in. Removal was fairly simple, but it is best to let some water soak in to soften the mask before removal.

This product ranks about a 3 on the EWG Skin Deep scale, which is a fairly low hazard rating. It is great to see many recognizable ingredients such as sea salt, willow bark extract, and aloe leaf juice on the label. However, my biggest complaint with the ingredients is that there are a couple that are or may be derived from animal sources, including allantoin and lactoperoxidase. While this has the Vegetarian Society approval seal and a BUAV leaping bunny on the back, it is apparently not vegan. I'd love to see Montagne Juenesse take it one step further and make it fully vegan. However, it is admirable to see that this product is gluten-free.

Otherwise, it's a sold face mask option and a nice choice for those looking for cruelty-free choices, especially if you need something affordable and live in the U.K.

Product Ratings (out of 5)

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Performance
Presentation
Purity
Value

Ingredients:
Aqua, Kaolin, Hamamelis virginiana water, glycerin, illite, betonite, magnesium aluminum silicate, sea salt, salix nigra (willow) bark extract, glucose, rosmarinum officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, xanthan gum, allantoin, ale barbadensis leaf juice, camellia sinensis leaf extract, panax ginseng root extract, oenothera biennis (evening primrose) flower extract, citric acid, lactoperioxidase, glucose oxidase, limonene


Giveaway:
I have one Clean-Up Mud packet available to give away to one lucky reader! One winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries. Just leave a comment through the Rafflecopter widget below stating which ingredient you'd love to see in a face mask. Additional entries are available for posting this giveaway Twitter (this can be done daily for up to one additional entry each day, also using the widget so you get credit). Contest ends 7/13/12 at 12:01 AM EST. Best of luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure notice: This product was sent to me free of charge by the manufacturer for review. No additional compensation was accepted and the opinions are my own. Please verify any claims with the manufacturer, especially if you have any allergies or concerns.

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