Cleansing Masks
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August 1, 2022
By Lisa Petrison
Annmarie Charcoal Cacao Mask – $80
Performance Rating: Not Yet Rated
Ingredients Rating: 
(5 / 5)
The description of this product reads, “This activated treatment mask infuses your skin with potent antioxidants, gentle clays and cooling botanicals to reveal a smooth and clear complexion. Hydrating aloe vera works to lock in moisture, while coconut charcoal draws out deep impurities. Turmeric’s bioactive compounds leave your skin feeling calm, making this mask ideal for sensitivities. Cacao delivers complex nutrients for healthy skin, visibly improving texture, tone and radiance.”
I have yet to try this product but hope to do so soon.
Size: 1.69 oz.
Annmarie Rating: 4.9 Stars (52 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
EWG Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Aloe vera (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: Rosemary flower/leaf/stem, Theobroma cacao fruit powder, Turmeric root oil, Lavender oil, Lemon tea tree oil
All Ingredients: *Aloe vera leaf juice, Charcoal powder, *Glycerin (vegetable derived), *Rosemary flower/leaf/stem, Kaolin, Bentonite clay, *Theobroma cacao fruit powder, Aspen bark extract, Water, *Glycerin extract [*white willow bark], Turmeric root oil, non-GMO Xanthan gum (plant derived), Lavender oil, Lemon tea tree oil. *Organically grown or wildcrafted
Beekman 1802 Milk Foam Calming Bubble Mask – $13
Overall Rating: 
(3 / 5)
Performance Rating: (3 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (3 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
The description of this product reads, “Give your skin a self-Kindness spa day with Milk Foam. Oxygen bubbles in this give your skin an at home oxygen facial. These mighty molecules start to bubble when they come into contact with the natural oils on your skin to boost circulation, restoring skin’s natural plumpness & bounciness. Great for those with sensitive, uneven, or red skin. Instantly calms redness. Instantly soothes irritation. Instantly plumps & perfects skin.”
This is a rather unusual product that seems on the surface that it should qualify as clean beauty but that turns out to have some questionable ingredients in it.
It goes on as a gel but it very quickly turns into a white bubbly consistency (supposedly as a result of coming into contact with oils in the skin).
Many users have described the sensation while this is occurring as being similar to ants crawling on the skin, and I think there is some truth in that.
Ingredients that EWG considers to be concerning include cocomidopropyl dimethylamine (an antistatic agent derived from coconut oil that is considered to be safer when it is immediately washed off the skin); cocamidopropyl betaine (a lathering agent); methyl perfluorobutyl (a mild solvent); sodium hydroxide (which is lye); and sodium benzoate (which is a preservative).
The product also includes aloe and comfrey, which are generally thought of as calming to the skin but are considered by EWG to be of concern.
I tried using a sample of this mask a couple of times and while I’m not sure if it was helpful to my skin, at least I don’t feel that it had any noticeably negative effect on it.
I’m still not feeling all that comfortable with all the listed ingredients and with the fact that I don’t really understand how the mask works, and so doubt I will purchase it again.
Size: 0.5 oz.
Ulta Rating: 4.1 Stars (97 reviews)
Credo Clean: Unclear
Clean at Sephora: Unclear
Drunk Elephant Clean: Unclear
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
EWG Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Cocamidopropyl betaine (5), Methyl perfluorobutyl (4), Aloe vera leaf juice (3), Comfrey root extract (4), Sodium hydroxide (4), Cocomidopropyl dimethylamine (5), Sodium benzoate (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: Matricaria flower extract, Cucumber fruit extract, Blue thistle flower extract,
All Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Acrylates Copolymer, Methyl Perfluorobutyl Ether, Methyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Goat Milk, Colostrum, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactose, Milk Protein, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Matricaria Flower Extract, Cucumber Fruit Extract, Blue Thistle Flower Extract, Comfrey Root Extract, Whey Protein, Honey, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Betaine, Sodium Carbonate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Lecithin, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Evanhealy Clay Mask – $20
Performance Rating: Not Yet Rated
Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)
The description of the French rose clay mask from Evanhealy reads, “A natural exfoliating alternative to harsh acid treatments. French Rose Clay with rhassoul is a gentle, exfoliating and polishing treatment appropriate for all skin conditions. Its cleansing properties leave skin looking clear, clean, and refreshed. Clay is alive. It is rich in silica, calcium, iron and magnesium. It shimmers with electromagnetic energy. Used for thousands of years to treat skin, it is appropriate for all skin conditions. Clay loosens clogged pores and cleanses impurities without dissolving the protective epidermal layer. It exfoliates dry, dead skin cells increasing tone and clarity. It absorbs excess oil, refines and fades the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and scarring. Ideal for sensitive and congested skin. A natural exfoliating alternative to harsh acid treatments. Minimizes appearance of pores and absorbs excess oil, leaving skin looking clear and balanced.”
I haven’t tried this product yet but hope to do so soon.
Size: 1 oz.
Evanhealy Rating: 5.0 Stars (5 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
EWG Overall Rating: 1 (green)
EWG Problem Ingredients: None
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients (French Rose): Pink Clay (Kaolinite), Rhassoul Clay (Moroccan Lava Clay).
All Ingredients (Green Tea): Green Clay (Montmorillonite), Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) Leaf*. *Organic
Shopping List
This section lists products that seem that they may have potential and that I am hoping to try in the near future.
Readers are highly encouraged to bring other relevant products that they have tried to my attention so that I can add them to this list.
Beekman 1802 Milk Mud Warming Clay Mask – $16
Cocokind Organic Ultra Chlorophyll Mask – $20
Cocokind Sea Kale Clay Mask – $19
Honest 3-in-1 Detox Mud Mask – $20
Mad Hippie 2-Minute Polishing Mask – $18
About This Website
The Living Clean in a Dirty World shopping website is designed to provide guidance to those seeking out products that are relatively low in toxicity and that provide generally positive user experiences.
Although the skincare and makeup sections have a particular focus on products appropriate for women who are in their 40’s or beyond, the information provided may be useful for other people as well.
The products are curated by Lisa Petrison, who has been focused on helping people to improve their health by avoiding toxicity since 2008 and who heads the Paradigm Change organization.
Her Living Clean in a Dirty World blog site discusses a variety of topics of relevance to those who are working to pursue a more natural lifestyle with less exposure to harmful toxicity.
Lisa is the author of several books, including A Beginner’s Guide to Mold Avoidance(co-written with Erik Johnson).
She also runs the Paradigm Change website (focusing on issues related to toxic mold illness) and the Mold Avoiders Facebook group (designed for the discussion of all topics of interest to those pursuing the mold avoidance approach described in the Beginner’s Guide).
Lisa was born in August 1964 and has yet to try cosmetic surgery, Botox or other cosmetic treatments requiring interactions with a physician, or beauty products containing retinoids.
In her former life, Lisa worked as a business school professor, as a marketing consultant to a variety of large companies, and as a reporter covering the advertising industry.
She holds a Ph.D. in marketing and social psychology from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University as well as B.S./M.S. degrees from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern.
Lisa would like to extend a special note of appreciation to Ellen Kleiman-Redden for her help in trying out products and discussing issues related to this project.
She also would like to thank the many members of the Mold Avoiders community who have shared suggestions of products to be included here.
About The Products
Products that I have tried or researched and that I have not found to be acceptable from a toxicity standpoint have been omitted entirely from the discussions on this website.
However, since a goal of this project is to introduce people to a range of options in terms of price and functionality, some products discussed on this site include ingredients that may not be appropriate for everyone.
It’s my hope that all individuals making their way to this site will find at least a few options from each product category that meet all of their own needs and wants from a variety of perspectives.
The vast majority of cosmetics marketers now offer affiliate programs in which Internet content creators may earn commissions if people who are referred to the companies’ sites by clicking on links end up making purchases.
I participate in quite a few individual affiliate programs as well as in the Sovrn/Viglinks program (which automatically converts regular links into revenue-generating links).
Links on this page that may result in affiliate income may include – but are not necessarily limited to – those from the following companies: Annmarie, Beekman 1802, Cocokind, Evanhealy, Honest, Mad Hippie, Pharmaca, Ulta.
Reader comments (positive or negative) about products discussed on this website are very welcome.
Thoughts may be shared either by posting them in the comments section at the bottom of this page or by sending them directly to me at the following email address:
info at paradigmchange dot me
Companies that would like to offer me complimentary products to try out may contact me at this address as well.
Individuals who are seeking out less-toxic products or who are interested in pursuing a cleaner and healthier lifestyle may want to sign up to receive occasional email newsletters from Living Clean in a Dirty World.
Those signing up will receive a free PDF copy of the book Back From The Edge(describing the extraordinary life of mold avoidance pioneer Erik Johnson) and also will be automatically entered in sweepstakes giving away a variety of cleaner products.
Thanks very much for visiting the Living Clean in a Dirty World shopping site!
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