By far one of the best out there. My teenage daughter uses it and I swear by it as well. It's great for break outs but also a fantastic rejuvenating product. I've used this after the Clean Dirt and love ending the evening with the Youth Dew. It may seem pricey but it actually is not - you're not paying for water so what you end up with is a lot of product. I use about 2 teaspoons for my whole face. Just remember not to get your face too close when you're mixing it up. I accidentally breathed in the powder the first time! It also poofs up when you first add water so make sure your container is big enough.

The Problem Solver is kind of the opposite of Tata Harper's mask, though I love them both; the TH mask dries clear and barely feels like anything while it's on, whereas this one is jet black and trust me, you'll feel it! So, if you want a mask that you can actually feel pulling the grime out of your pores, you might want to try this one. Its intensity is a pro or a con depending on your skin's sensitivity, so you might want to do a patch test. For me, it's a tingling bordering on burning sensation but my skin isn't red or sensitive once it comes off. I don't really time it for 45 minutes; I just take it off once it's all dry. Speaking of taking it off, I suggest doing that in the shower; otherwise, stand over the sink and make sure there's nothing white or light colored around since it may stain. It's a good thing this mask will keep for a long time since I foresee it lasting me the better part of a year at least. Make sure you clean or steam your face beforehand. After the mask, my skin is happy with just a few spritzes of rosewater and I have a nice glow afterward.

I was very excited to buy this, has great ingredients. However the mask stung and burned my face so bad I could not get past 15 minutes. After I washed the mask off my face looked and felt sunburned and this lasted for 24 hours. I know it said to expect a slight tingling, but this was beyond that. This really puzzled me because I do not have sensitive skin and generally welcome that some products may sting a little due to effective ingredients. I feel this is a quality product, just not for me

I was very excited to buy this product, it has a great ingredient list! Unfortunately, the mask stung and burned my skin so bad I could not even make it past 15 minutes with it on. I know the package says you may experience a slight tingling, which I welcomed because that normally means it is working. However, this was completely painful and burned very bad, which surprised me because I do not have sensitive skin. When I washed it off my whole face looked and felt severely sunburned and this lasted a whole 24 hours. I do feel that it is a quality product, just unfortunately not for me.

I bought this and the Clean Dirt a few weeks ago, and the Problem Solver is my favorite. It sucks out everything nasty that's built up in my face (so gross) but doesn't strip my skin of the good stuff. It also seems to stimulate my skin so that it's fresher and smoother. I've only been using it for a few weeks (use it just a bit more than once per week - like three times every two weeks), but my skin tone is more even, my blackheads have been drastically reduced, I haven't had a normal pimple, and my huge pores are now tiny. It's awesome. The only thing that this mask doesn't do (at least in just a few weeks of use), is get rid of the hormonal acne on my neck/jaw line (which is almost impossible for me to treat), but I think that it might help in the long run.

I wanted to LOVE this product. I bought this, along with the clean dirt. I returned the clean dirt because I don't think my skin handles exfoliation well (in general-- not the product's fault) but I kept the mask, since I assumed it would rinse off normally... WRONG! Every single time I used this mask, whether I left it on until it dried or even when I only kept it on for 20 mins or so to see if that would change thngs, it would take forever to get it off and LITERALLY my face would be stained coal color... my pores would be filled in with the "dirt" of the mask.. and I'd end up literally having to use a powerful cleanser and wash my face a few times after to get it ALMOST normal.. though the dark tint wouldn't fully leave for another day or so..

I am in shock that no one else experienced this?? I'm sad too because the product and ingredients seemed promising. What did I do wrong... smh



SBL RESPONSE: So sorry, Amanda! Charcoal should definitely not stain the skin! Please try cleansing before using the mask, to make sure any excess oil isn't trapping the mask in the pores, and let us know if that doesn't help! Our masks are generally not formulated to be easy to remove per se, they're formulated to improve your skin, first and foremost. We try to chose and rate them based on results, rather than ease of removal :), although we know that part can be a pain, sometimes it's no pain = no gain! Still, let's get this to work as expected for you!



May Lindstrom Responds:
Hi Amanda! So sorry to hear about your experience. This is definitely a very rare concern, but skin is very personal and we all respond differently to different products and rituals. Normally, I either use The Clean Dirt prior to The Problem Solver or at least do a good thorough rinse and gentle massage with my fingertips and water to eliminate the oils and debris of the day. This also open pores to receive the treatment masque - starting with a clean canvas is key. I find this helps both in creating a more powerful and effective result and eases the removal. Best yet - hop in the shower after and let the masque naturally soften in the steam and rinse right down the drain with no fuss at all. Follow immediately with The Youth Dew on still-damp skin.

I've been using this mask and the Clean Dirt for a few months now and I can safely say that this is less harsh on my skin than the Clean Dirt since this involves no abrasion. It is a little strong because of the cayenne and I've found myself choking every once in a while when the powder gets in the air. I now use a small bowl and a mask brush to apply and it's made my life easier. That being said, this mask really does an excellent job in drawing out skin impurities. I have really deep blackheads on my nose and cheeks and this has help my pores look cleaner. I would highly suggest this mask over the Clean Dirt. I use this mask weekly while I've relegated the Clean Dirt to once a month because it was just too harsh!

This stuff really does have a unique texture. I have been using it a few times a week for only a week and already I notice that my blemishes heal more quickly and my acne scars are fading more quickly. It is not drying. I will definitely repurchase - the jar will last a long time.

At first I wasn't sure of this, but after I adjusted the amount and time, I look forward to using this once a week. I use the Clean Dirt, then the mask and then the Youth Dew. I love these products. Smell wonderful and really perform.

I just bought this and I've used it twice and I've already noticed a difference. My skin looks and feels softer and my blackheads are disappearing. I would recommend using only 1 tablespoon instead of 2, it's expensive so I want it to last.

I love that this product is intense without irritating my skin. The powder can be a little messy when mixing it with water, but it is easy to apply. I wasn't sure if I should splurge on this because of the price, but there is a generous amount of powder in a beautifully packaged glass jar that I think will last for a while.

This mask is perfect for acne, it is more potent than the Clean Dirt being that it is a treatment mask. I use this once every 2 weeks of whenever my skin says I need it because it is VERY potent. Gets rid of acne in a zap, I can see improvements as soon as I wash off the mask. Blackheads are also gone in an instant (although not all of them!). I recommend to steam your face first to really soften the blackheads because this mask is amazing at lifting them up and healing the whiteheads as well. This has a similar scent to the Clean Dirt and the scent stays until you wash it off again the next day.


It is the type of mask that is being left to harden for 45 minutes, perfect for a Sunday night when you want to spend on relaxing for long. However, it is hard and messy to remove but given the results it's so worth it.


Also, this mask really helps to even out my face! and washing it off I can see my fine line on the forehead looks smoothen out. It's weird isnt it because it feels like a drying mask but it's actually not? Your face will in fact is going to be left moisturized.

I am not sure which one I should recommend if you want to get the feel of the skin care range, because I really like BOTH the mask and the cleanser they are so effective!

I've been contending with acne after accutane for quite some time now. Nothing seemed to work. But now this is clearing up my skin. It's amazing. I'll continue to buy it when I run out.

This is an interesting and fun product to use. Smells great to me but to my sister its a bit too strong. I feel like it has helped my skin to heal faster and my pores to look smaller. The only issues I have are the price and the fact that you have to keep it on for 45 min.

I had a really hard time trying to get the proportions right for the water and powder the first time. And its extremely messy! I now only use it before I get in the shower, so the mess can be in there. But my boyfriend just commented on how soft my skin was after using it!!

I have this mask on right now. Love the warm, tingly feel it creates. The charcoal in combination with the other ingredients really seems to draw out toxins. Also like how smooth and comfortable my skin feels once I rinse (not dry at all). Yes, like the cleanser, this mask is a bit messy but the results are worth it. It could be less expensive but if results and product integrity speak to you, you'll reorder.

Avoiding blackheads is one thing - getting rid of them is another. This frothy masque has ingredients that draw out & soak up excess oil and trapped nodules that don't want to be extracted, but doesn't leave your skin feeling completely stripped and sucked dry.