Herbivore Botanicals – Blue Tansy Mask

Where do I start?

Herbivore Botanicals has to be one of my favourite skincare brands. From the product quality, to the packaging design, to the range available – they’re just perfect for me!

I had a bit of a buying spree of Herbivore last year and I definitely don’t regret it. I found some staples for my collection in doing so and I expect them to stay there for a long time.

If you’re interested in finding out what I’ve tried and tested from the brand, stay tuned as I’ll be updating as I go along and try more of the products out.

First up, we have the Blue Tansy Mask. This has to be one of the brand’s most popular products, and for good reason. It’s an exfoliating mask made up of BHAs from willow bark, fruit enzymes and Aloe. The key ingredient, however, is Blue Tansy Oil which benefits skin with its calming, anti-inflammatory properties.

What it’s like

The colour ranges from a deep aqua-blue to mossy green. Mine started off with a gorgeous blue hue, but then soon after turned mossy. I know there’s a lot of concern about this out in the market as people think the product has gone off. I have been assured both by Cult Beauty as well as Herbivore Botanicals themselves that there is nothing to worry about, and it’s just that the natural ingredients change over time but are still safe and effective when used.

The smell is quite difficult to describe, and the Herbivore site’s description of ‘deeply herbaceous and slightly medicinal’ is probably best! It’s by no means unpleasant, but it reminds me ever so slightly of Vicks. I’ve come to really love it – it feels really refreshing!

The texture is gooey and gloopy (think a less sticky syrup), and you definitely need a cloth to fully remove the mask as it stays on pretty well when washing it off. Otherwise, just rinse and gently rub your face enough to be sure that the product has been completely removed.

Application

When it comes to applying the mask, less is more. As I’ve mentioned before, my skin can be quite temperamental, so if I apply too thick a layer then it tingles and gets hot, leaving a nice red ‘mask’ on my skin afterwards. It settles down really fast, but it doesn’t do this when I apply just a thin layer. It’s always best to test these things out before going full-throttle with them.

You can apply the mask using the little plastic spatula, which doubles as a tool to pick up the product without contaminating the rest of the jar with your hands, and a tool to spread it onto your skin. I often just use my hands once it’s on my skin, though, as it’s just easier to get a more even application this way.

I would use the mask 2-3 times a week and it lasted a fair while when doing so.

Results

I was really pleased with the results. Aside from the initial redness after using too much at one time, my skin looks and feels more smooth and even. It also seemed less oily and blemished overall. Whether or not this had anything to do with the mask or just drinking more water/time of the month, I can’t say for definite. But what I can definitely say is this mask has had a very positive impact on my skin as a whole, and I have already bought another since this was almost out…

This is a very gentle mask compared to a lot on the market, so if you’re used to a higher-intensity chemical exfoliant, you may not notice that this does as much as you’d like it to. Alternatively, if your skin isn’t used to too much strength in a product, then this is a good option for something to try in the early stages of skincare.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the Herbivore Blue Tansy mask, or even the brand overall. I’d definitely recommend giving this a try if you’re looking for a new product! Of course these thoughts and opinions are just my own observations, so as usual please seek professional advice to find the most suitable products for you and follow the guidelines for each product.

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