Introduction
UpCircle is the kind of indie darling that eco conscious beauty enthusiasts rave about, though it may have slipped under the radar of anyone who buys the same cleanser out of habit. The London based brand has built its reputation on turning would-be waste into skincare gold, and I have to applaud its creativity in finding a second life for everything from coffee grounds to fruit stones.
Enter Face Mask With Kaolin Clay, a name that feels like it was pulled straight from the ingredients list rather than a glossy ad campaign. UpCircle calls it a multi award winning detoxifier that targets blackheads, keeps pores in check and leaves skin feeling balanced. The brand also highlights its use of finely milled olive stones alongside kaolin, coconut powder and baobab oil to give the formula an upcycled edge.
I spent two full weeks smoothing this pastel hued paste over my face, timing those ten minute sessions and rinsing away the evidence to see whether the mask lives up to its promise and, importantly, whether it merits your hard earned cash.
What is Face Mask With Kaolin Clay?
This product sits in the wash-off mask category, which means you spread a thin layer over damp skin, leave it to work for a short spell then rinse everything away. Wash-off masks are valued for giving a quick, targeted treatment without lingering residue, making them a straightforward option for an end-of-day reset or a pre-event clean slate.
UpCircle’s formula centres on white kaolin clay, a soft mineral known for absorbing excess oil and lifting surface impurities. The clay is paired with finely ground olive stone powder, a by-product of the olive oil industry that brings gentle physical exfoliation and anti-inflammatory properties. Coconut milk powder adds a creamy texture and mild sugars for extra softness while baobab seed oil contributes lightweight moisture to counter the dryness that clay masks can leave behind.
The brand positions the mask as a clarifying step that targets blackheads, helps pores appear smaller and calms budding breakouts. It is labelled suitable for all skin types and can be used several times a week, provided users listen to their skin’s tolerance for exfoliation.
Did it work?
In the name of skincare science I benched my usual wash off mask for three whole days before starting this trial, which felt wildly disciplined and possibly Nobel worthy. Fourteen days struck me as a solid window to spot any real change so I committed to using the mask every third evening, clocking a total of five applications.
The first session was pleasantly uneventful. The pastel clay spread smoothly over damp skin and never tingled or tightened uncomfortably. After the ten minute mark it rinsed away cleanly, leaving my cheeks soft and my T zone less shiny for the rest of the night. The scent, a gentle mix of herb and citrus, disappeared quickly which I appreciated.
By the end of week one I noticed subtle improvements rather than seismic shifts. The little cluster of blackheads on my nose looked marginally lighter and a hormonal visitor on my chin seemed to retreat faster than usual. Pores around my cheeks appeared a bit flatter for several hours post mask though by midday the next day they were back to their normal selves.
The second week mirrored the first: no irritation, no dryness and a consistent boost in post rinse smoothness. My makeup sat nicely on mornings after each treatment and midday oil slicks were tamer but not eradicated. Blackheads remained but were easier to coax out with a gentle scrub, which I credit to the olive stone powder’s mild exfoliation rather than any deep purging action.
So did it live up to the detoxifying, pore perfecting promise? Partly. It kept my skin comfortable and balanced and it offered a quick reset when things felt congested yet it stopped short of delivering a long term transformation. I will happily finish the pot for those moments when I want an easy refresh but it will not nudge my ride or die masks off the bathroom shelf. Still, for a fortnight fling it proved itself a reliably pleasant partner.
Face mask with kaolin clay’s main ingredients explained
The backbone of this mask is white kaolin clay, the gentlest member of the clay family. It works by binding to surface oil and debris, lifting them away without the intense tightness you get from heavier clays like bentonite. Because kaolin is pH neutral it suits sensitive skin and helps create that clean but not squeaky feeling I noticed after each rinse.
Sitting alongside the clay is finely milled olive stone powder, the upcycled hero that gives the formula its eco-credentials. These tiny particles provide mild physical exfoliation so dead skin loosens and rinses off more easily, which can help serums sink in later. The powder also contains oleuropein, a naturally occurring antioxidant with reported anti-inflammatory benefits, handy if your cheeks go red at the first sign of friction.
Moisture support comes from a trio of plant butters and oils: shea, cocoa and baobab. They stop kaolin from over-drying the skin and leave behind a soft slip rather than that chalky post mask feel. Fair warning for acne-prone readers: coconut milk powder, cocoa butter and shea butter rank around the middle of the comedogenic scale, meaning they have a moderate likelihood of clogging pores if your skin already struggles with congestion. I did not break out during testing but anyone highly sensitive to rich oils should patch test first.
The citrus-herbal scent stems from essential oils like lemon peel, rosemary and cedarwood plus a touch of turmeric root oil that lends an anti-inflammatory punch. Essential oils bring pleasant aromatherapy yet they also introduce potential allergens such as limonene and linalool which can irritate reactive complexions. UpCircle balances this with soothing aloe leaf extract and glycerin so the overall formula stays gentle in use, though very sensitive skin may still prefer a fragrance-free option.
Preservation is handled by benzyl alcohol and dehydroacetic acid, a modern blend accepted by natural-leaning brands. The entire ingredient list is plant-derived so the product is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Regarding pregnancy safety, essential oils like rosemary and cedarwood are sometimes flagged for cautious use while expecting, so it is best to hand the INCI list to your healthcare provider before incorporating the mask.
One final note: the absence of added silicones and mineral oil will please those pursuing a minimal-synthetic routine, yet the formula still feels creamy and non-stripping which speaks to thoughtful balancing of absorbent clays with nourishing lipids.
What I liked/didn’t like
After five rounds with UpCircle’s clay mask, these are the simple pros and cons that stood out.
What works well:
- Leaves skin feeling clean yet comfortable thanks to the balance of kaolin and nourishing plant oils
- Olive stone powder offers a gentle physical polish that makes subsequent skincare glide on
- Ethical edge of upcycled ingredients will appeal to anyone trying to shop more sustainably
What to consider:
- Results are short lived so you will need regular use to maintain the smoother, decongested feel
- Mid range comedogenic butters may not suit very acne prone skin
- Essential oils included for aroma could trigger sensitivity in reactive complexions
My final thoughts
Finding a wash off mask that fits seamlessly into an already crowded routine is trickier than it sounds, which is why I approached UpCircle’s Face Mask With Kaolin Clay with cautious optimism and a healthy roster of past clay favourites to measure it against. After two weeks of diligent use I can confirm that it earns a solid 7/10 in my book: dependable, gentle and certainly good at pressing the reset button when oil and urban grime start overstaying their welcome. It never irritated or over dried my combination skin and those post rinse hours of velvety smoothness were consistently pleasant, just not mind blowing.
So who will enjoy it most? Anyone craving a mild, planet friendly pick me up that slots between active heavy nights and barrier nurturing evenings will be well served. If you rely on a mask to tackle deeply stubborn congestion or you prefer fragrance free formulas you will probably want to look elsewhere. I would recommend it to a friend with normal to slightly oily skin who values sustainability and does not mind repeating a treatment to keep results alive.
Speaking of elsewhere, a few alternatives deserve a mention. Deascal’s Pink Clay Glow Mask is my reigning all rounder thanks to its ability to polish, decongest and brighten in one swift session while staying kind to every skin type I have tested it on, plus the price feels refreshingly reasonable. Those needing a deeper detox might prefer Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque that leans on Amazonian white clay for a more assertive oil mop up. If blackheads are your chief nemesis Innisfree’s Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask delivers surprising refinement for its budget friendly status. And when my face throws a full scale breakout tantrum The Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid 2% Masque steps in with chemical backup that mud alone cannot match. I have rotated all of these through my cabinet and can vouch for their individual strengths.
Before you slather anything new, consider your current exfoliation load, existing actives and how much time you are willing to invest in repeated masking to keep the payoff visible. Results from clay formulas rarely last forever so consistency really is key. Lastly, please do a quick patch test first (sorry for sounding like an over protective parent) and listen to your skin if it votes no. Good masking habits today spare you from unwanted drama tomorrow.