Use magnetic face mask to get rid of acne

One of my favorite pastimes is to search the internet for new, unconventional, or downright weird beauty trends. So when I came across a magnetic face mask, I was immediately drawn to it (attracted? Polarized? ). I've seen just about every face mask at this point (bubble masks, bat masks, the very disgusting placenta face mask), and if there's one thing I've learned, it's that this is the beauty industry. It's full of gimmicks.

I was curious if this was one of them, so I decided to give these magical iron particles a whirl. The science is intriguing but simple: "These masks rely on the distinct advantage of the microcurrents generated by the iron particles when a magnetic tool is placed on top," says Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Westport, Connecticut. 'Debris in the pores will follow a gentle "tug". It deep cleans and allows products applied later to penetrate better.

I have super sensitive , combination , and acne prone skin, and since it was suffering from a serious case of the mask, my skin was ready to test the inflammation relieving and pore purifying benefits of the mask for real. The magnetic face mask I chose was the AL'IVER Black Luster Mask ($19; amazon.com ), which claims to "clear pores of dirt, impurities and excess oil, leaving skin smooth, radiant and youthful. It is also enriched with 24 skin-protecting minerals, thanks to the use of Dead Sea mud.

Skin Preparation

I was so excited to try this that I initially missed the no water rule (you're not supposed to use water to cleanse the magnet). Needless to say, iron and water equals rust - and given that this mask is made of iron particles, the combination was not ideal in my sink.

After finally noticing the instructions to place a tissue or paper towel on top of the magnet, I got back on track to prepare my skin. To get the most out of a magnetic (or any) face mask, it's important to wash off all of your makeup and rinse your face with warm water to open up your pores.

Application

After drying my face with a towel, I moved on to application. The first thing I noticed was the funky texture of the face mask. If you've ever felt Kinetic Sand, it's almost exactly how the consistency of this formula feels. The tub comes with a small applicator that sprays the black gunk onto your skin. This went surprisingly smoothly. I wanted to get the most out of the mask, so I opted for two layers instead of one, taking special care not to get it in my eyes (I don't know what would happen if I got iron in my eyes, however, I don't want to think about it).

To be honest, the application process was no different than a traditional face mask. For starters, it did not smell like iron, which I was totally expecting. The mask also doesn't dry out hard like a clay mask, so the whole experience felt very comfortable and moisturizing (no stinging or burning).

Removal

Fast forward 10 minutes and it's time to see if the magnet is as magnetic as the Amazon reviewer said it was. Even with a thicker coat, it only took a few seconds for the magnet to pull the mask away from my face. Not only did it slide off painlessly (this part was very trippy), it left the baby's skin soft afterwards.

I had to change the tissue at least four times (again, probably because of the layering), but it was easy to slide it off the magnet and transfer it to a new tissue. When I was on the last tissue, I gently moved the magnet across the skin to make sure everything was removed. Once I was confident that I had removed all remaining traces of the mask from my face, I rinsed with cold water and continued with my normal skin care routine.

The takeaway? I was impressed. The magnetic face mask is the real deal, evident by the fact that my tissues are chock-full of dead skin and acne remnants. Sure, peel-off masks will do this too, but I can't imagine that pulling would be great for your skin.

Magnetic Face Mask Review

Not only is this application and removal process great fun, but it really delivers on the promise of skin care. This particular magnetic face mask seemed to be more effective than my trusty acne removal strips. My nose acne isn't completely gone, but it's pretty sparse. In the end, I would have said it's worth trying just for the cool factor, but it's honestly an excellent way to deal with congestion buildup.