Lareese - Editor
I've just taken a test to see how much of a granny I am - the result? Yep, as I suspected, I'm well on my way to grannyhood and I'm ok with that. One of my favourite 'granny' tasks is to light a candle and dedicate a good 30 minutes of my time to sorting my skin out, usually a Sunday but I better spare you the rest of the step by step details and hold on to what little mystery there is surrounding my reckless life left.
I'm usually a 'the gentler the better' kinda girl when it comes to skincare, so I've steered clear of the charcoal peeling mask trend as well as anything else that's going to make me look like Mrs Doubtfire in that face mask scene. All the applause then to T-Zone who made sure that didn't happen - my neighbours will thank you later.
I don't tend to suffer with blackheads too much, which would be fortunate if I didn't suffer from plenty of white, under-the-skin bobbles instead. You win some, you lose some. Spots aside, my skin is also prone to congestion and a build up of impurities under the skin thanks to the daily commute, so a declogging session is always a good idea.
T-Zone's new Charcoal & Bamboo Black Peel Off Mask purifies the pores without causing unnecessary stress on the skin thanks to its moisturising properties. That said, I probably wouldn't use it every week but it's a great addition to my beauty arsenal for when my pores need to be put through their paces. Plus, it's a good excuse to put your feet up for 30 mins and indulge in some TLC and, granny or not, who can say no to that?
Victoria - Community & Product Reviews Manager
After hearing all the horror stories about charcoal face masks peeling off a few too many layers of skin I decided to stick to using the T-Zone mask to just my chin, nose and forehead. Nobody wants to be pulling like that at the skin around their eyes.
As per the instructions, I applied a warm flannel to my face before smoothing the mask over my T-zone and then waited 30 minutes, while watching Love Island of course, before gently peeling it off. The texture of the mask is a thick gel so is a little difficult to spread but if you are also sticking to small areas then this shouldn't be too much of a problem.
The mask took a while to dry but after about 20 minutes it had dried completely and about five minutes later I could feel it start to come away from my skin at the edges. Thankfully, I could peel away the mask with no pain at all. I didn't see any black heads come away with it but I think that would have been a bit too much for me to face anyway. If you're one of those people who gets enjoyment from watching spot-squeezing videos then you may feel a little disappointed. But that's your sick problem. The skin around my T-zone felt smooth afterwards thanks to the added moisturising ingredients which many of the masks that went viral (essentially PVA glue and charcoal) did not have.
If you're interested in trying out the charcoal peel-off mask trend for yourself but want to reap the skin care benefits then definitely give this one a go.
Pascale Day - Staff Writer
I bloody love a face mask. Well, actually that could be wrong - I might actually just love being able to lie down in a dark room with the sound of rain splashing through my headphones, and SPECIFICALLY telling my boyfriend not to disturb me 20-30 minutes. I dunno, it could be either. Or both, maybe. Either way, I love the process of applying a face mask, thick and wet on my mug, and doing all of the above until it's dryed into a dellightfully crusty layer that leaves me looking like Peeta Mellark trying to blend into his surroundings in the first Hunger Games. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, please click here - you won't regret it.)
What I'm not into, though, is those viral videos of people ripping a couple of much-needed layers of skin off their face trying to get a charcoal blackhead remover mask off. Unlike these guys, I don't do anything for the 'Gram. The 'Gram is for pictures of heavily edited landscapes and other people's cats. So I wasn't really up for trying this Charcoal & Bamboo Black Peel Off Mask if I'm gettin' real with you. But rules are rules, and I must do it to tell you whether it's worth trying.
Anywho, long story short - this face mask is nothing like that Instagram famous one. It's gentle and peels off without a hitch. Guys - I still have all my skin, and that is not something I thought I would be able to say at the end of this. As someone who gets a lot of blackheads around my jawline I think this is a good investment product for me, although I wouldn't use it a ton. But taking an hour out of my busy evening schedg every week to listen to the rain in the dark with a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the bedroom door, I can do, my friends.
Helen Turnbull - Social Media Editor
Everyone's seen the viral videos of charcoal, peel-off masks gone wrong so you can imagine my reluctance to try one for the first time. That said, blackheads are one of the (many) banes of my life and with the promise of 'peeling away' those pesky dirty dots that decorate the T-zone, I was willing to put my trust in T-Zone's Charcoal & Bamboo Black Peel Off Mask.
The box recommends to apply the mask to areas prone to impurities but I figure more is more so slathered all over without thinking of the inevitable regret in 30 minutes time. It felt soothing on my skin but I quickly grew impatient and ended up peeling it off and washing the excess off after 20 minutes.
I'm pleased to report no actual blackheads came off with the mask residue for the selfish reason that facial mucus makes me gag but the product failed to live up to its promise so you may be disappointed with this result. That said, the blackheads I am so unfortunate to have appeared less visible and my skin felt smoother overall so I was reasonably happy. If you're willing to commit an hour a week to this skincare step, this is definitely worth a try.
Rose Adams - Social Media Assistant
When I think of charcoal and bamboo infused beauty, my mind wanders to those cringey #ad posts for black toothpaste reality stars are famous for, but I am pleased to report that this T-Zone charcoal & bamboo peel off mask has given me new associations for these wonder ingredients. I was quite sceptical about the potential pain factor involved in removing it from my skin, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared. Obviously there is a little discomfort, you're literally peeling away something that's stuck to your skin, but it's over quickly and if you've ever had your ears pierced you'll be ready.
Blackheads are known for being extremely hard to shift, and I have to admit the mask didn't quite get them all, particularly at the side of my nose, but my skin certainly felt smoother and more moisturised and the marks on my face looked less visible and that's still a result in my book.
What I will say is don't be fooled by the photo on the box of the model pulling the whole mask away at once (and with ease) as it comes away in bits and you have to wash your face again to remove all the residue. Give this a go on Sunday evening when you've got time to spare and your skin needs a little pick me up after a busy weekend.
We will be giving away 100 T-Zone Charcoal & Bamboo Peel Off Masks to be tested this week on Experts Club!
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