Introduction
Procoal may not be a household name yet, but among ingredient junkies it enjoys a quiet cult status built on smart formulations and a clear no-nonsense ethos. The brand positions its new Pink Clay Face Mask as a quick ten-minute skin reset promising smaller pores, a brighter tone and that elusive post-facial smoothness.
The name itself feels straight out of a bubblegum daydream, yet the marketing copy reads like a mini lab report: probiotic technology for balance, vitamin C for radiance, AHAs for gentle polish and a pledge to keep the formula free from common nasties. Grand claims for something that washes off in minutes.
I spent a solid two weeks putting this rosy clay through its paces, reaching for it every other evening to see whether it could deliver results worth your hard-earned money.
What is Pink Clay Face Mask?
Pink Clay Face Mask is a rinse off treatment designed to sit on the skin for up to ten minutes then be removed with water. Products in this wash off mask category aim to give a quick concentrated boost without the prolonged contact of a leave on serum or cream. Because the active ingredients are removed rather than left to linger, they can be formulated a little stronger while still suiting most skin types.
This particular mask uses two clays, bentonite and kaolin, as its base. Clays are porous minerals that bind to excess oil and surface grime so when you rinse the mask away those impurities go with it. To offset the potential dryness that often follows clay use, Procoal adds glycerine and caprylic/capric triglyceride which act as lightweight moisturisers.
Beyond basic oil absorption, the formula layers in a few extras. A blend of alpha hydroxy acids provides gentle chemical exfoliation which should help dull cells detach more easily. Vitamin C in the form of kakadu plum extract and ascorbyl palmitate targets brightness while zinc oxide lends a soothing element. The brand also highlights a probiotic ferment said to support the skin’s natural flora, an angle increasingly popular in barrier focused skincare.
The mask is free from parabens, mineral oils and paraffin and is fragranced with a light citrus-green tea blend. It is intended for use two to three times per week on clean skin, making it a quick maintenance step rather than a full spa ritual.
Did it work?
I went full lab coat and shelved my usual wash off mask for a few days before starting, which felt very scientific of me. Fourteen days struck me as a fair window to spot any meaningful changes so I stuck rigidly to the every other evening schedule: cleanse, apply a thin veil, wait ten minutes, rinse, then follow with a lightweight moisturiser.
The first application delivered the textbook clay tightening sensation within three minutes. A mild citrus tingle popped up around my cheekbones but settled before the timer buzzed. Once rinsed, my skin looked instantly fresher, almost as if a matte filter had been switched on. Pores along the sides of my nose appeared a touch smaller and oilier zones felt comfortably balanced rather than stripped. Encouraging but early days.
By the fourth session that initial brightness had become predictable: pop the mask on, wait, reveal a calm subtly luminous complexion that lasted through the evening. I did notice a tiny flake patch on day six along my jawline, likely the AHAs nudging my combination skin a hair past its comfort zone, so I added an extra hydrating serum on mask nights and the issue vanished.
The second week mirrored the first with incremental rather than transformative results. No breakouts, no redness, no dramatic purging. Makeup sat a bit smoother and midday shine was dialled down for a few hours but my stubborn post acne marks and overarching tone looked about the same by day fourteen as they had on day one. The probiotic angle may well be doing quiet barrier support work under the surface yet nothing leapt out visually.
So did it make good on its promises? Partly. It definitely delivers a quick reset, a temporary pore blur and a gentle polish without the dry aftermath some clay masks leave behind. Still, the improvements are short lived and not sufficiently game changing for me to fold it into my permanent rotation. I would, however, keep it in mind for a pre event perk up or a post flight detox because those ten minutes do leave the skin feeling nicely rebooted.
Main ingredients explained
At first glance the formula reads like a greatest hits album of gentle yet effective actives. Bentonite and kaolin are the workhorses that physically mop up excess sebum and debris. Bentonite swells as it absorbs fluid which is what gives the mask that tell-tale tightening feel while kaolin offers a softer touch so the end result is refreshed rather than parched skin.
Procoal then tempers the clay duo with skin-cushioning helpers. Glycerine pulls water into the upper layers to counteract dryness and caprylic/capric triglyceride creates a light occlusive film that keeps that newfound moisture from evaporating too quickly. Both are considered safe for most complexions although caprylic/capric triglyceride and the fatty alcohol cetearyl alcohol carry a mild comedogenic rating (around 2 on a 5-point scale) which means those prone to clogged pores may want to patch test first. Comedogenic simply refers to an ingredient’s tendency to block pores and potentially trigger breakouts.
The exfoliation side of the promise comes from lactic acid, a larger alpha hydroxy acid that dissolves bonds between dull surface cells while keeping irritation risk relatively low. Supporting players like lime fruit extract and kakadu plum add a surge of naturally occurring vitamin C to help even tone. These botanicals sit alongside pure tocopherol for antioxidant backup which can help neutralise free radicals generated by environmental stress.
What sets the mask apart is the inclusion of a lactobacillus ferment lysate filtrate plus a radish root ferment. These probiotic-inspired ingredients feed the skin’s microbiome by delivering postbiotic compounds that can calm reactivity and strengthen barrier function over time. Zinc oxide quietly lends anti-inflammatory and sebum-balancing benefits making it a sensible choice for combination or occasionally blemish-prone skin.
One ingredient worth pausing on is retinyl palmitate, an ester of vitamin A revered for encouraging cell turnover yet flagged for caution during pregnancy. While the concentration in a wash-off treatment is likely low it is still best practice for anyone pregnant or breastfeeding to consult their doctor before using products containing retinoids.
The blend is free from parabens mineral oils and paraffin and there are no obvious animal-derived components so it appears suitable for both vegans and vegetarians, though the brand does not carry an official certification. Fragrance is present via a light citrus-green tea scent so ultra sensitive noses may want to keep that in mind. All in all the ingredient list strikes a thoughtful balance between purifying immediacy and barrier-kind maintenance which explains the mask’s reliable short term glow-boosting performance.
What I liked/didn’t like
After two weeks of masking here is the straight up scorecard.
What works well:
- Delivers an immediate matte glow that makes skin look fresher in under ten minutes
- Clays balance oil without the tight squeaky aftermath thanks to added humectants and lightweight lipids
- Citrus green tea scent is subtle and rinses off cleanly for those who enjoy a hint of fragrance
What to consider:
- Results are short lived so those seeking lasting brightening may need a stronger leave on treatment
- Contains AHAs fragrance and a retinyl ester which could challenge very sensitive or expectant skin
- Price sits in the mid range so you may weigh the cost against its temporary payoff
My final thoughts
After fourteen days and seven applications I feel I have given Procoal’s Pink Clay Face Mask a fair hearing alongside a roster of other wash off workhorses that live in my bathroom. For me it sits comfortably in the “nice to have” bracket rather than the “cannot live without” tier. If you want a quick pick-me-up before dinner or an on-camera meeting it earns its 7/10 by reliably toning down shine and giving pores a short holiday. If you are chasing longer lasting fade-the-hyperpigmentation results you will still need your leave-on acids or a vitamin C serum doing the heavy lifting.
I would recommend it to a friend whose skin is combination, leans oily or simply loves that freshly clarified feel yet also appreciates a formula that will not leave the face feeling like cardboard. It is less suited to the ultra sensitive, the currently over-exfoliated or anyone looking for a single product solution to stubborn dark spots. Value wise it is mid field; you pay for a well balanced cocktail of actives but you are also paying for an effect that will largely have vanished by the next morning.
For those open to other options that I have put through their paces, Deascal’s Pink Clay Glow Mask is an excellent all-rounder; it marries exfoliation, pore down-sizing and brightness in one fuss-free formula and the price is friendly for the payoff. Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque goes harder on oil absorption so it is a great standby when humidity spikes. Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask swaps the classic clay feeling for a gel-like texture packed with gentle enzymes which makes it a solid choice for dull dry days. Finally NIOD’s Flavanone Mud takes a more avant-garde route using bio-active complexes to coax clarity and is the pot I reach for when my skin is acting particularly rebellious.
Before you rush off to mask, a few housekeeping reminders. Always patch test, yes I know I sound like an over-protective parent but ten minutes on the inner arm can save a week of irritation on the face. Keep in mind that wash off masks give transient results so consistency plus a good daily routine are key if you want to keep that just-masked glow hanging around.