The Revision Black Mask came to me as a sample at work. Combination skin gives me plenty of chances to test out oil absorbing, pore clearing, purifying masks so I was excited to try it.

Here’s what they have to say about it at their (slow loading, flash based) website (under the 3rd key if you’re looking to dig it out yourself):

This intensive, purifying facial treatment deep cleans the skin ridding it of impurities, excess sebum and other toxins leaving skin feeling clean, soft and polished. Two types of clay, Kaolin & Bentonite, unclog pores and absorb oil an dimpurities. Silt derived from the freshwater lakes of Eastern Europe nourish and heal your skin, and Salicylic Acid encapsulated in nanospheres increases cell turnover that smooths the skin and reduces the apperance of fine lines and wrinkles. Squalane surges needed hydration into the skin. Anti-inflammatory agents soothe and heal the skin. Naturally scented with cool and invigorating peppermint.

Here’s how I use it:
Like other oily skin masques, I make sure to wash my face first and not leave the masque on for too long. Stripping the skin of too much oil too fast will make the sebaceous glands overproduce oil so as to replenish it’s dryness. A good guideline is the manufacturer recommended duration or, leave it on for about five minutes and then get in the shower, do your thing without getting your face wet, then rinse. The water and steam from your shower will keep the masque from drying out.

The upsides:
It feels really great while it’s on – a cool tingle that has some tightness without feeling dry.
It doesn’t dry out in the 15-30 min recommended for it’s use.
Smells nice.
It’s kinda fun to use a mask that’s black.

The not so upsides:
I must say that I didn’t notice much by the way of purification. Pores were still blocked afterwards and I didn’t really feel that just-used-a-clay-mask tightness.
I felt like my skin was coated in a layer of wax after I rinsed it off. So much that I actually cleansed my skin afterwards, which was not in the instructions.
You can only get it from a Doctor or Medical spa (sorry, dermalounge doesn’t sell it. We sell their product Teamine Eye Complex [more on that later] and they always send us samples of their other offerings, in hopes that we’ll add it to our retail repetoire.)