Introduction
ESPA has long been the quiet achiever in luxury skincare circles, loved by spa aficionados yet still unknown to some bathroom shelves. The brand’s reputation for sensorial formulas and plant forward science is well earned, and I have to admit a soft spot for its no fuss sophistication.
Enter the Clean And Green Detox Mask, a name that sounds more like a juice bar order than a skincare step. ESPA promises a brightening clay treatment powered by a veritable farmers’ market of broccoli seed oil, spinach, kale and spirulina, all working alongside green kaolin clay to lift dullness and sweep away congestion while leaving skin calm and refreshed.
Curious to see if this leafy cocktail could actually deliver, I committed to a full two week trial, using it religiously every other evening. Below is what I discovered about how it behaves on real, slightly stressed skin and whether it deserves a spot in your routine.
What is Clean And Green Detox Mask?
This is a plant based wash off mask designed to be applied as a ten minute treatment, then rinsed away. Wash off masks sit on the skin for a short period to deliver a concentrated dose of ingredients before removal, which makes them a good middle ground between a quick cleanser and a leave on treatment. They can help lift surface debris, give pores a temporary purge and leave the complexion looking a touch brighter.
ESPA’s formula combines green kaolin clay with a blend of broccoli seed oil, spinach, kale and spirulina. The clay acts as the absorptive engine, drawing out excess oil and loosening dead cells, while the leafy oils and extracts supply essential fatty acids and antioxidants to offset the dryness many clay masks can cause. The mask is billed as suitable for both morning and evening use, though the brand suggests every other day if you plan to use it regularly.
Did it work?
In the name of very scientific research I benched my usual wash off mask for three days before starting, convinced this temporary exile would give the greens formula a clear stage to perform. Fourteen days felt like a fair window to see beyond first-use novelty, so I slotted the mask in every other evening after cleansing and before my trusty hydrating serum.
Application was pleasant enough: a faint spinach-meets-spa scent and a cooling touch that never crossed into menthol territory. The clay behaved kindly, staying creamy rather than cracking into a desert crust. After ten minutes and a rinse with warm water my skin looked gently refreshed, the kind of post-exercise flush without the sweat. So far so good.
By the fourth session my t-zone did seem a little less congested. Blackheads around the nose were not eradicated but they looked shallower, and the faint roughness on my chin felt smoother under fingertips. Importantly I never experienced the tight, squeaky aftermath some clay formulas inflict. The leafy oils appear to do their cushioning job quite well.
Week two told a more balanced story. The quick hit radiance kept showing up right after removal yet by the next morning my complexion settled back to its usual baseline. Pores stayed clearer than usual and there were zero surprise breakouts, but any promise of lasting brightness never fully materialised. Dryness flirted with my cheeks after the sixth use, nothing a thicker night cream could not solve yet worth noting for the drier-skinned among us.
On the final evening I compared photos from day one and day fourteen. The difference was subtle: marginally smoother texture and a calmer overall tone but not the lit-from-within result implied by the marketing copy. As a twice-weekly maintenance mask it delivers a comfortable cleanse and a short-term glow. It does not, however, feel essential enough for me to grant it permanent residency on my shelf. I will happily finish the remainder whenever my face feels city-grimy though, because few things beat that cool leafy hug at the end of a long day.
Clean and green detox mask’s main ingredients explained
Green kaolin clay takes centre stage, lending the mask its gentle purifying power. Unlike harsher white or bentonite clays, green kaolin contains a higher percentage of montmorillonite, meaning it absorbs excess oil while still leaving some moisture behind. That delicate balance is why skin feels refreshed rather than parched after rinsing.
The recipe then reads like a salad bar: broccoli seed, spinach, kale and spirulina extracts. Broccoli seed oil is rich in erucic acid, a fatty acid that gives a silky slip similar to silicone without the synthetic finish. Spinach and kale contribute vitamins A, C and K alongside chlorophyll, which can help soothe post-pollution stress. Spirulina, a blue green algae, brings a dose of phycocyanin, an antioxidant often praised for neutralising urban free radicals.
Caprylic/capric triglyceride, soybean oil and grape seed oil round out the emollient blend. They cushion the clay, cut down on potential dryness and add a subtle glow. For those keeping score on the comedogenic scale (how likely an ingredient is to clog pores) soybean oil can sit around a 3 of 5 while caprylic/capric triglyceride hovers near a 2. In practice the percentages here are low and balanced by clay but if you are extremely blemish prone you may want to patch test first.
The scent comes from an aromatic cocktail of lavender, ylang ylang, geranium and rosemary oils. All are 100% natural yet they carry their own fragrance allergens such as linalool and geraniol so highly sensitive noses or skins should tread carefully. Because the formula relies on essential oils rather than synthetic perfume it is technically suitable for vegans and vegetarians, though anyone pregnant or nursing should avoid essential oil heavy topicals unless cleared by a healthcare professional.
Preservation is handled by benzyl alcohol and potassium sorbate, both widely accepted in eco formulations. No silicones, mineral oil or synthetic dyes appear on the label, instead the leafy green hue comes from a chlorophyllin-copper complex. Taken together the ingredient list reads clean, thoughtfully cushioned and spa friendly yet still powerful enough to whisk away midweek grime without stripping the skin’s barrier.
What I liked/didn’t like
After two weeks of consistent use, here is the straightforward rundown.
What works well:
- Creamy clay texture feels cooling and stays flexible instead of drying to a stiff crust
- Delivers an immediate post rinse glow and noticeably smoother t zone for combination skin
- Purifies without the telltale tightness many clay masks leave, likely thanks to the blend of nourishing oils
What to consider:
- Radiance boost is fleeting and tends to fade by the next morning
- Essential oil fragrance may not suit very sensitive or reactive skin
- Results can feel modest for the investment, especially for extremely dry or very oily complexions
My final thoughts
A good wash-off mask should feel like a quick reset button, lifting away the day’s pollutants without bullying the skin barrier. ESPA’s Clean And Green Detox Mask mostly ticks that box. Over two weeks it gave me smoother pores, a pleasant cooling ritual and a fleeting brightness boost. It never quite crossed into game-changer territory though, which is why it lands at a respectable 7/10 on my personal scoreboard. I would recommend it to combination or mildly oily skins that enjoy a spa-like scent and want maintenance more than miracles. Very dry complexions might crave richer nourishment and serious congestion sufferers may need something with stronger actives.
If you are shopping around, a few other formulas I have rotated through my cabinet might fit the bill. Deascal’s Pink Clay Glow Mask is an excellent all-rounder that exfoliates, clears pores, brightens and refreshes in one go while keeping every skin type happy and the price refreshingly sensible. Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque offers a deeper vacuum effect when blackheads refuse to budge. Innisfree’s Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask adds gentle physical exfoliation and a satisfyingly matte finish without over-drying. For a more luxe resurfacing hit Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask leans on natural BHAs to coax out a lasting glow. Having put each of these through multiple cycles I can vouch for their efficacy even if their textures and price points vary widely.
Before you slather anything green, pink or volcanic on your face a quick reality check never hurts. Always patch test behind an ear or under the jaw first (sorry for sounding like an over-protective parent) and remember that any clarity or brightness you gain will fade unless you keep up regular use. Consistency, as ever, is the unglamorous secret to happy skin.