If you still remember my post on Freeman mask about two years ago, today I have more love towards Freeman mask and it did not stop at Lemon and Mint. In fact, I have almost all of them in my bathroom. But today I'm going to write on these two, which are among my top favorite. 

What are the differences between these two despite the similar name on the packaging? 

The Charcoal + Black Sugar Mud Mask (referring to Mud after this) is made of mud and more gentle on the skin, creamy consistency and combat impurities just as good as the other one, while the Charcoal + Black Sugar Polishing Mask (referring to Polish after this) is in the form of sugar granule and it works two ways or dual action; as mask and as scrub. Both contains activated charcoal as the active ingredient, sourced from the Dead Sea - according to Freeman though. 

How to choose between the two? 

I did not choose. I buy both because I love all Freeman masks. But if budget is your concern.. you know sometimes you only have a limited amount of money but you still want to splurge the very last cent for a beauty product.. Hehe.. so back to the topic, how to choose between the two? 

Well, personally I think the Mud is more suitable to those with sensitive skin because it's more gentle on the skin. You just have to slap the mask on and leave it for 7 to 10 minutes then rinse with lukewarm water. To avoid over drying, please do not leave it more than 10 minutes. You still want to keep the moisture under your skin intact while the mask absorbs all the impurities. And you may want to apply it thinly so you don't have to wait longer. 

For those with other than sensitive skin type, you can choose either one. Both works perfectly fine. Slap the Polish mask on, leave it for 5-7 minutes, gently massage your face with the sugar granule for another 1-2 minutes then rinse with lukewarm water. Again, never leave your mask for more than 10 minutes, there's a reason why Freeman wrote there to wear for recommended period. The reason is, to avoid over-drying; especially to those with dry skin. 

I keep both because when I feel my skin slightly dull and need to be polished, I'll be using the Polish one and for when I feel the skin need some detox after a long tiring day at work or been outdoors for long hours, I'll be using the Mud. That's why I have both. So let's recap. 

Mud vs Polish 

Mud

Scented but very mild, dry on skin after several minutes, can be over drying of you leave too long, suitable for all skin types especially sensitive skin. The activated charcoal collected from the Dead Sea locks in oils and toxin then gently lifts them away without being over drying. The black sugar helps hold on the moisture, which helps to smooth out roughness and fine lines. I heard this mask is a dupe for GlamGlow YouthMud? I should try the GlamGlow then to test it. 

Polish 

Quite a strong scent, did not dry on skin, the sugar granule will work as scrub - exfoliate away the dull skin cells for softness and clarity, leaves your skin squeaky clean and brighten you complexion a little - but the effect is just temporary. I found this is actually perfect dupe for MAC Volcanic Ash and the Origins Clear Improvement mask extremely similar to the Mud version of Freeman. I've tried and comparing the Origins to the Freeman Mud, and yes, it's nearly identical especially on the consistency and texture of the paste, they are almost the same thing. 

So now you know which one to pick, let's talk about when to apply it. Personally I love to apply my mask at night while watching my favorite dramas on TV. That's the only time I think I can relax and have my face done. Not only I do it after a long day at work/school, I actually prep my skin for the night beauty rituals. After some detoxifying, I am preparing my clean skin to reap all the benefits from the skincare goodness in the serums and night cream. Forgot to mention, I normally do double masking - whereby after using the wash off mask, I'll put on my sheet mask to put back the moisture into my skin. I believe by doing so, my clean skin would benefit from all the star ingredients in the sheet mask. Let's talk about double-masking some other time. Till then, see you in next post though.