Introduction
Novexpert tends to fly just under the radar for the average skincare shopper, yet insiders know it as one of those quietly confident French labs that marry dermatological rigor with a clean-formulation ethos. If you have ever tried their zinc-packed serums you will know they mean business when it comes to oily and breakout-prone skin.
Enter Masque Triple Black, a name that sounds like a futuristic espresso yet refers to the trio of activated carbon, black clay and lava powder at its core. The brand promises a purifying, mattifying and smoothing hat trick that supposedly leaves every single tester with skin looking more even and less shiny, almost instantly. Big claims, indeed.
I spent a full two weeks slathering it on, letting it dry, then rinsing it off to see whether it truly vacuums out grime, reins in sebum and buffs away roughness or if it is just another charcoal mask wearing fancy statistics. Here is what I found.
What is Masque Triple Black?
Masque Triple Black is a rinse off skincare treatment that sits in the wash off mask category. In practical terms that means you apply a thin layer, let it dry for a short spell so the actives can do their job, then remove it with water. Wash off masks are popular with combination and oily skin types because the brief contact time allows potent purifying ingredients to work without the prolonged exposure that can sometimes cause dryness.
This particular formula hinges on three key components that all happen to be black: activated charcoal for its adsorption capacity, black clay to soak up surplus oil and fine lava powder that provides a light physical exfoliation as you massage the mask away. Backing them up is Novexpert’s trio of zinc salts that target excess sebum production and an extract from sea lily aimed at calming inflammation linked to stress hormones. The brand positions the product for normal to oily skin whether or not breakouts are present, promising skin that feels cleaner, looks less shiny and appears more even in texture after a single use.
Did it work?
In the name of science I benched my usual wash off mask for three full days before starting this trial, which felt very grown up and professional of me, thank you very much. Fourteen days, or five applications in total, struck me as a decent window to see if the charcoal trio would strut its stuff beyond a one-off glow.
I applied a thin, even coat every third night after cleansing then let it sit for the recommended ten minutes. The texture spread easily and dried without that painfully tight plaster feeling some clay masks inflict. Rinsing involved a quick massage so the lava powder could do its scrub thing, followed by lukewarm water and a towel pat dry.
First impression: instant mattification. My forehead shine dulled right down and pores around the nose looked a touch blurred. By morning the effect had softened but my skin definitely felt cleaner and less congested than it usually does midweek. No redness or sting either, always a relief.
Application two and three delivered similar short-term wins. Sebum seemed to rebound a little slower through the day and spot activity on my chin calmed, though did not disappear entirely. Where I usually blot by lunchtime I could stretch it to mid-afternoon, a small yet noticeable victory for combination skin.
The back half of the fortnight told a slightly different story. While oil control plateaued, my cheeks began to feel a bit parched and the smoothness promised by the stats never quite reached baby-skin territory. I suspect the physical exfoliation is gentle enough for most but in my case proved too mild to shift the tiny bumps along my jawline. On the upside blackheads did not multiply and no surprise breakouts occurred, which speaks to a balanced formula even if it is not a miracle worker.
So did it deliver? Partly. The mask lives up to its purifying and immediate mattifying claims, less so the long-term smoothing or pore-refining bravado. I will finish the tube for quick pre-event oil control but I will not make it a staple in my already crowded cabinet. That said, if your main gripe is midday shine and you enjoy the ritual of a mask that rinses clean without drama, this could be a worthwhile pit stop on your skincare journey.
Masque Triple Black’s main ingredients explained
The headline act is activated bamboo charcoal, a form of carbon baked at high temperatures until it blooms with micro pores that can latch onto oil, pollutants and residual sunscreen like Velcro. Unlike harsher absorbents it tends to sit on the surface rather than yank water out of deeper layers so most skin types tolerate it well.
Next in line is a double clay blend of kaolin and bentonite. Kaolin is the gentler cousin, prized for its ability to mop up shine without stripping. Bentonite, formed from volcanic ash, swells in contact with water which is how it sponges up excess sebum. Neither ranks high on comedogenicity charts although very dry complexions can feel tight afterward. A quick primer: a comedogenic ingredient is one that tends to clog pores and trigger blackheads or breakouts. None of the clays here are notorious offenders but skin that dislikes any occlusive film should patch test.
Lava powder serves as the mechanical scrub. The particles are noticeably finer than old-school apricot kernels yet still gritty enough to loosen dead cells when you massage the rinse off. Those with active acne or very sensitive skin might prefer to skip the rubbing step and simply rinse to avoid micro tears.
Backing up the black trio is Novexpert’s zinc cocktail: zinc gluconate, zinc PCA and zinc lactate. Zinc is beloved in oily skin formulas because it can reduce 5-alpha reductase activity, the enzyme that fuels sebum production. These salts are water soluble so they rinse clean and are unlikely to pile up in pores.
Gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid, sneaks in a mild chemical exfoliation while delivering humectant benefits. It is less photo-sensitising than glycolic or lactic acid making it handy for daytime users though you still need SPF after any exfoliant.
Lactobacillus ferment works as a biotechnological preservative and may offer a touch of microbiome support by crowding out opportunistic bacteria. Aloe leaf juice powder provides a soothing counterbalance though it sits mid list so think supporting actor, not star.
Fragrance lands about halfway down the INCI which is important for reactive noses. The scent is fresh but if you are prone to dermatitis around perfumed products keep that in mind. Otherwise the formula is free of drying alcohols, silicones and mineral oil which will please the clean beauty crowd.
Good news for plant-based lifestyles: every ingredient is of mineral or botanical origin and Novexpert confirms the mask is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. As for pregnancy, charcoal and clays are generally benign but the presence of essential oil components hiding in the fragrance plus the mild exfoliant means expectant or nursing users should run it by their doctor first. When in doubt pressing pause on actives is the safer route.
Finally, the pH sits around the skin-friendly 5.5 mark so barrier disruption is minimal and the preservatives are COSMOS approved which supports the brand’s eco-conscious credentials. All told the ingredient list reads like a well assembled toolkit for oily and combination skin with very few red flags beyond the usual fragrance caveat.
What I liked/didn’t like
After five rounds of trial I jotted down some straightforward pros and cons.
What works well:
- Instantly cuts surface shine and leaves skin feeling fresh without the tight, chalky aftermath common to clay masks
- Rinses off clean in under a minute and the fine lava powder offers a quick buff that never feels scratchy
- Formula leans on well studied purifiers and zinc salts with no drying alcohols, silicones or mineral oil which will please ingredient purists
- Vegan friendly and only a light application needed so the tube should stretch over a good number of uses
What to consider:
- Mattifying effect tends to fade by the next day so those seeking multi day oil control may want a stronger sebum regulator
- Repeated use left my normal areas lightly parched suggesting drier combinations could need an extra moisturizer step
- Contains added fragrance which may not suit highly reactive or scent sensitive skin
My final thoughts
Masque Triple Black did what it said on the tin: it swallowed up shine, left my T-zone feeling lighter and gave me a temporary “I drink three litres of water a day” look. Over five uses I saw quick wins in purity and a small dent in congestion but the smoothing promise felt a bit optimistic and the matte finish clocked off after roughly 18 hours. On balance I land at a solid 7/10. I would recommend it to friends who mainly battle midday oil or want a pre-event reset, less so to those chasing lasting pore refinement or who lean dry.
Having cycled through more wash-off masks than I care to admit, I can say this one sits comfortably in the “reliable support act” tier. It is a good choice for combo and oily skin that prefers straightforward routines and is happy to top up results with other actives in between. If your skin is sensitive to fragrance or you crave weeks-long oil reduction from a single treatment, you might find the performance polite rather than impressive.
For anyone curious yet unconvinced, a few alternatives I have put through their paces might help you find a better fit. Deascal’s Pink Clay Glow Mask is a crowd-pleasing all-rounder that exfoliates, clears pores and perks up dullness without leaning too drying, and its price tag is refreshingly down to earth. Fresh’s Umbrian Clay Pore-Purifying Face Mask offers a slightly creamier feel while still tightening pores and calming redness. If you prefer a chemical angle, The Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid 2% Masque pairs oil absorption with true exfoliation for stubborn congestion. Finally NIOD’s Flavanone Mud brings a more high-tech flair, delivering a deeper detox that lingers for a couple of days longer than most.
Before you dive into any new mask, remember the basics: patch test first (yes, I know I sound like an over-protective parent), follow with hydration and sunscreen and keep expectations realistic. Results fade without consistent use and no single product can do all the heavy lifting. Treat a wash-off mask as a useful tool in a broader routine and it will serve you well.