Introduction
Soap & Glory has long been the cheeky yet reliable stalwart of British bathroom shelves, marrying playful product names with formulas that punch well above their pink drenched weight. If the brand has somehow escaped your radar, think of it as skincare that refuses to take itself too seriously while still turning out some surprisingly hardworking formulas.
Enter the pun loving As Clear As Clay Purifying Clay Mask. The name alone sets expectations sky high for clarity and calm but the company sweetens the promise with talk of rebalanced oily and combination skin, pores swept clean of grime and a complexion left smoother fresher and noticeably less shiny thanks to a double dose of kaolin and bentonite.
I slathered on this mask over the course of two weeks giving it ample opportunity to impress or disappoint. Below you will find how those sessions went and whether this jaunty jar of mud merits a spot in your routine or in the back of the cupboard.
What is As Clear As Clay Purifying Clay Mask?
This formula sits in the wash-off mask category, meaning it is applied, allowed to dry for around 10 to 20 minutes then rinsed away. Wash-off masks offer a temporary, surface level boost by letting ingredients work at concentrated strength before they are removed, making them a convenient option when you want quick results without leaving residue on the skin.
As Clear As Clay is aimed at oily and combination skin that feels congested or looks shiny. According to the brand the kaolin and bentonite clays draw out dirt trapped inside pores, absorb excess sebum and leave the complexion clearer, smoother and less slick. Routine use is claimed to help skin feel rebalanced, which in practical terms should translate to fewer obvious blackheads and a slightly longer window before midday shine returns.
The texture relies on water, glycerin and a couple of lightweight emollients to keep the clays from cracking uncomfortably while magnesium aluminum silicate and xanthan gum give the paste enough body to cling to the face. Fragrance has been added so it is not suitable for anyone who prefers scent-free skincare or who is sensitive to perfume.
The company suggests up to 12 applications per unit. Usage guidelines are straightforward: smooth on a thin layer, wait until it starts to set but is not fully rock hard then rinse thoroughly. Follow with the rest of your routine such as toner, serum and moisturiser.
Did it work?
In the name of rigorous skincare science I shelved my usual charcoal mask for three whole days before the first application, which felt incredibly noble of me. Over the following 14 days I used As Clear As Clay every third evening, slotting it between a gentle cleanser and a lightweight hydrating serum.
The first session delivered the classic clay mask rush: a cool, almost minty sensation and that telltale tightening as water evaporated. After rinsing my face looked undeniably matte and the stubborn shine that usually creeps across my T-zone after dinner was checked until bedtime. Pores around my nose also appeared a touch less obvious, although I suspect that was more optical illusion than genuine extraction.
By the fourth day I noticed a pleasant consistency. Each use tamped down midday oil enough that blotting papers stayed untouched until late afternoon and makeup gripped a little better. Importantly there was no uncomfortable cracking or post-mask redness, and my combination cheeks felt smooth rather than stripped. However the mask did not quite tackle the deeper congestion on my chin; a few closed comedones remained exactly where they started.
Halfway through the fortnight the results plateaued. Skin stayed respectably matte for longer stretches but blackheads were not budging and the promise of a truly clearer complexion began to feel optimistic. I introduced an extra application on day ten hoping for a final push yet the difference was marginal at best. On the upside my skin never felt parched which is more than I can say for some clay heavy formulas.
By the end of the two weeks I had a complexion that was smoother and marginally less oily yet still dotted with the same cluster of clogged pores that sparked this experiment. So did it work? Partially. It lived up to claims of surface freshness and short-term oil control but fell short on visibly decluttering pores over time. I will finish the pot but I will not be racing to repurchase, though I would happily recommend it to anyone craving an easy, non drying mattifying treat.
As clear as clay purifying clay mask’s main ingredients explained
The star duo here is kaolin and bentonite, two naturally occurring clays prized for their ability to sponge up excess oil while delivering a gentle detox. Kaolin is the softer member of the pair, making it ideal for combination skin that can swing from slick to sensitive in a heartbeat. Bentonite, which swells when wet, offers stronger adsorption so it pulls sebum and surface debris with more gusto. Together they give that satisfyingly matte finish without leaving cheeks feeling like parchment.
Supporting the clays is glycerin, a classic humectant that latches onto water and keeps tighter feeling dryness at bay once the mask is rinsed. Isononyl isononanoate and PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil add a touch of slip so the paste spreads evenly and doesn’t crack into a chalky sheet. A quick heads-up: isononyl isononanoate sits around the mid-range of the comedogenic scale, meaning it can clog pores for some acne-prone users. If you have a history of reacting to rich esters keep an eye on any new breakouts. (Comedogenic simply means an ingredient has the potential to block pores and trigger spots.)
Magnesium aluminum silicate and xanthan gum act as thickeners while sorbitan stearate helps keep the water and oil loving parts of the formula happily blended. Preservatives phenoxyethanol, chlorphenesin and ethylhexylglycerin keep the mask free from microbial gate-crashers. The fragrance blend, which contains limonene, linalool and other potential irritants, is what gives the mask that spa-adjacent scent but can be a sticking point if your skin dislikes perfume. Salvia officinalis (sage) leaf extract brings mild antioxidant and antimicrobial credentials yet can tingle on very reactive faces.
Colour is courtesy of titanium dioxide and iron oxides, both inert minerals that also make the mask look photo-ready. The entire ingredient roster is free from animal-derived materials so vegans and vegetarians can use it without compromise. As for pregnancy, nothing leaps out as a red flag in the concentrations typically found here, but because essential oil components and preservatives can be sensitising during hormonal swings it is always safest to hand the INCI list to your healthcare provider before slathering anything new across a baby-on-board complexion.
One last note: there are no trendy exfoliating acids or retinoids tucked into this formula, which explains why the mask excels at surface oil control yet stops short of deep pore decluttering. If persistent congestion is your main gripe you will want to pair this with a leave-on BHA product for a more thorough cleanup.
What I liked/didn’t like
Here is the quick rundown after two weeks of use.
What works well:
- Instantly takes down surface shine and leaves skin comfortably matte for several hours
- Clays do their job without the tight, chalky aftermath so cheeks stay smooth instead of squeaky
- Plays nicely under makeup which applies more evenly and lasts longer on calmer T-zones
- Good cost per use and the vegan formula is a plus for those with ethical shopping lists
What to consider:
- Fragrance adds a pleasant spa note but could be a stumbling block for very sensitive skin
- Oil control plateaus with continued use and deeper congestion remains largely unchanged
- Includes isononyl isononanoate which may not suit acne-prone users who react to mid-weight esters
My final thoughts
After fourteen days of faithful mud time I can comfortably place As Clear As Clay in the “good but not game changing” column. As a wash-off option it does the immediate jobs you want from this category: it reins in oil, leaves skin touchably smooth and never swings the pendulum toward that overly tight squeak. Those quick wins are valuable if you are combination or moderately oily and want a pre night-out reset without risking rebound shine two hours later. Where it stumbles is in the deeper detox department; stubborn blackheads and closed comedones hang on and the results plateau once your skin adjusts. My score sits at 7/10 which is respectable yet not enough to make me pester a friend to rush out and buy it unless their only gripe is shine control.
Having cycled through more clay concoctions than is probably healthy for one face I feel confident I gave this formula a fair shake. The take-home is simple: if you are already using a leave-on BHA or retinoid and merely need a weekly matte-maker, this fits. If you are hoping for a standalone congestion crusader, you may want something with a little more firepower.
Speaking of options, a few masks have impressed me in similar scenarios. Deascal’s Pink Clay Glow Mask is an excellent all-rounder that exfoliates, brightens and clears in one tidy step while staying friendly to every skin type and wallet. Fresh’s Umbrian Clay Pore-Purifying Face Mask brings gentle mineral richness that noticeably calms angry spots. The Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid 2% Masque pairs budget pricing with exfoliating muscle so pores look clearer after a couple of uses. Innisfree’s Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask offers serious sebum mop-up without stripping and is ideal for humid-weather days. I have rotated all of these through my routine and each brings something extra that Soap & Glory’s formula only hints at.
Before you grab any of the above remember the basics: do a patch test first (sorry for sounding like the over-protective parent) and keep expectations realistic because wash-off masks deliver temporary boosts, not permanent miracles. Consistency is what keeps the payoff rolling.