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Beauty: Dr. Dennis Gross Acne Solutions Clarifying Colloidal Sulfer Mask







I may not have been blessed with thick, beautiful hair, or long, amazing lashes, or the height of an average person (Yay 5'3!) But, I did get really lucky in the skin department, and that is thanks in part to genetics, as well as my skin care routines. I say lucky because even as a teen I didn't have a ton of skin issues in terms of acne. I would get breakouts, but not awful. I mention my skin care routine because I have very fair skin, and while I have absolutely been stupid, and had my fair share of awful sunburns, I do a lot to keep my skin healthy and happy. It's a big part of why I don't look my age, which is almost 34. Sunscreen is your friend, ya'll. 

Anyway, as an adult, I do still get breakouts, and I've tried a number of different products to treat them. A challenge I face is that my skin can be on the sensitive side, so a lot of acne products can be overly drying which only makes my skin worse. Most of the time, I'm lucky enough to be able to spot treat, and so when I saw this product on Sephora online, I decided to try. I was new to the Dr. Dennis Gross product line, but I was intrigued that it could be used as a spot treatment during the day under makeup, but also as a nighttime mask, and at $15, I figured, it was worth a go. 

So, what's in it, and what's it supposed to do? According to Sephora's product description: "This nighttime mask absorbs over time to draw sebum, pollutants, impurities, and bacteria out of skin while you are sleeping. It features an array of powerful yet gentle active ingredients that calm redness, smooth the look of wrinkles, and deeply hydrate. Great for all skin types, it reduces the appearance of pores, minimizes blackheads and blemishes, and enhances overall clarity for a refreshed complexion by morning. "

The product is also cruelty free, and suitable for vegans. 

I've now been using the product for a little over a month, and I like it. I will say that I have two complaints though. The pump on my little jar has never seemed to work properly, and I think aside from my own being faulty, it's a bit of a crap applicator anyway. Also, I discovered several weeks into using the product that mine had expired in September 2015. I'm working with Sephora on this, but otherwise I've been pretty happy. 

I use this product mostly as an overnight mask on trouble spots. A little bit goes a long way, and you can use a small amount right on zits as they pop up, or a bit more to cover areas where you typically have breakouts (for me, that's my forehead, and chin.) You can barely see it - the product is a kind of taupe color with the texture of a mud mask.

Here I am wearing a thin coat on my forehead, and a thicker coat on my chin area. You can go ahead and sleep with the mask on and I do like the mattifying qualities it has. It also seems to help reduce the size and redness of breakouts overnight, which is great. They may not completely disappear but there's a noticeable difference. With a thin application, you don't get any flaking but with thicker applications you may see the mask flake off in places as you sleep, and as it dries. 

I like that it's not overly drying, and hasn't caused any side effect issues with my skin while using it. It's currently not in stock on Sephora's website, but you can sign up to be emailed once it's back.  If you're looking for a gentle, but powerful mask or spot treatment, this could be your new go-to. Because you don't have to use a ton of product, at $15 this is also a decent buy. If you give it a try, let me know what you think! 

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