Clay is one of those beauty staples I never go without and, in my opinion, a must have in any beauty cabinet. 

It is so versatile - You mix it with water and you have a deep cleanser; in case of a pimple attack, dab a bit on the intruder and it will dry it; and, when used as a mask, it gets rid of all the annoying blackheads we seem to fight all the time. 

I have always been a fan of  the Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep pore cleansing masque, and I always have it in my beauty drawer. So, when I was introduced to the Multi-Use Exfoliating Clay from Diptyque, I must say it piqued my interest. 

Now, a little back story on the brand: Diptyque is widely known for their scented candles (try burning Figuier with Menthe, heaven on earth) and they came out with their own skin care range called L'art du soin a couple of years ago. The entire range is rather small but comprise of the essentials. I first noticed the packaging - one that will make any bathroom feels luxurious and inviting- but I could not get my head around the fact that they were candle and scent makers. I mean, what would they know about skincare, right?

Well, that was until I tested the range in the boutique and got many handy tips from the sales assistant at Escentuals. I must say, I was completely sold. 

I decided to purchase the travel kit. The excuse I gave myself is that I was due to travel out of Singapore that coming weekend. And, boy, was I glad I got it. 

First of all, everything smells divine and, that alone, puts a big smile on your face. It is as if some aromatherapy secrets were infused in each of their products. The kit comes with a radiance boosting powder (cleanser), an infused facial water, a nourishing cleansing balm, a protective moisturising lotion and, the one that stood out the most to me, the multi-use exfoliating clay. What can I say? Once I tried it, I simply can’t get enough of it.

This clay is slightly different as it won’t dry hard as the classic one, but it will still provide the gentle pore cleansing while at the same time providing a smooth exfoliation. This is due to the presence of small particles in the cream.

This means that when the mask sits on your skin, it begins to absorb all the impurities and when you rinse off, it will exfoliate your skin. Having little time in the morning to do all the recommended beauty steps, I'm so grateful that all these can be done in one simple step.

But then how about the result? I felt that my skin was deeply cleansed and smoother but did not feel dry. I have to say, I am hooked to the  point that I wonder how often I could use it, and how long will the travel tube last.

Lately I've been having lots of long day and late nights. This is when I feel that the Multi-usage exfoliating clay comes in super handy. I put it on to give my skin the little boost I need before heading out again. And, yes, it is perfect for when you don't get enough sleep as well. 

I love the fact that it does not dry up your skin, so makeup glides on your face smoothly. With other clay products, I always feel that it strips my skin from all the oils - even the good ones, leaving it very dry. So, after the classic clay, I always needed to moisturise a little bit more and for that I need more time. 

The fact that when I use it I feel that I am giving myself a little treat can only be a plus. The tip here is that you can hop in the shower with it as it does not need to dry… again, this saves time. Sure, it is a splurge to invest in a product like this but it is something that I will be using over and over again. 

If you are still not convinced that it is a multi-use product, note that this clay can also be used as a classic scrub thanks the particles and, according to the Diptyque site, if you mix it with the infused facial water from the range, it will give you the extra glow. 

So if you are looking for something that cleanse your skin and exfoliates while putting you in good mood, head to the nearest Diptyque distributor and treat yourself!

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The travel kit L’art du Soin, 99 SGD
The multi-usage clay pot, 100 SGD