Deserves more than 5 STARS!
VERY IMPRESSED – First off, I’m easily pleased and I generally have a “glass half full” outlook.  I do extensive research before I buy a product off of Amazon. I even use the customer reviews on this site to determine whether or not to purchase items from brick and mortar stores.  Therefore, the majority of the time I’m happy with the things I buy because I already know what to expect. Once in a while, I get my hands on something truly exceptional that far exceeds my expectations. This deep sea mud mask by ERA Organics is one of those things! I woke up to an overnight ambush of vicious hormonal acne about 10 days ago. I tried my go to products but I wasn’t seeing any improvement and I have a tendency to pick at imperfections so that wasn’t helping matters either. So when I received my Era Organics mud mask I wanted to try it out right away since one of the things that it claims to help with is acne. I cleaned my face with my Murad exfoliating cleanser, and let my skin dry completely before applying the mask. I’m not going to try to sugar coat this so I will just put it right out there… The sensation of the mask is VERY INTENSE! So intense in fact, that my first instinct was to wash it off immediately because I thought the product might be defective. I recalled reading that people experienced a strong tingling sensation when first applied but I just didn’t expect this level of intensity. It was not painful, just surprisingly potent, but the sensation does subside after a few minutes. I let the mask dry while I soaked in a hot bath.  I ended up falling asleep so I’m guessing that I left it on 30 minutes instead of the recommended 10 - 15. I used a warm washcloth to gently remove the mask and applied my normal moisturizer. My skin felt fresh and had a slight pinkish tone. When I woke up the next morning and looked in the mirror I was surprised to find a noticeable improvement in the breakout! The pimples that looked angry and red the day before were drying up and not nearly as obvious. I knew right then that I had a new weapon in my arsenal! I applied it again the very next night however; I used my regular cleanser and not the exfoliating one. The tingling sensation was still present but not as bad as the first time I used it. My skin showed a marked improvement yet again! The breakout was almost completely gone! I was tempted to use it again the third night but decided to wait because I also have a “more is better” mindset that got me in deep trouble with a retinol product about a year ago. So far I’ve used the mask 5 times total and each time the sensation slightly decreases and I’m actually starting to enjoy the tingly feeling because I know it’s doing its job.<br /><br />The positives:<br /><br />+ This stuff stops acne in its tracks!  - I’m in my mid-forties and I’ve tried a lot of very expensive products. Some worked really well but I just couldn’t justify spending several hundred dollars every 6 to 8 weeks to keep it up. The acne fighting properties of this product, while not quite, the same level as the prescription products, are still very impressive and better that anything I’ve purchased without a prescription.<br /><br />+ Refreshing - I like the fresh, clean/ invigorated feeling you are left with after each use.<br /><br />+ Organic - Our skin is the largest organ our bodies have.  Skin absorbs numerous toxins from the polluted environment every day.  Certain airborne pollutants can be absorbed just as much through the skin as breathing them in. Therefore it is very important that we are not adding to this toxic problem by applying creams and lotions that contain pesticides.  Also, organic ingredients are made humanely.<br /><br />+ Detoxifying properties – Several of the ingredients have known detoxifying properties. In short, they pull impurities out of your skin (e.g. blackheads).<br /><br />+ Exfoliation – This Mask is a good exfoliator which is one of the most important aspects of a skincare routine. Exfoliation not only helps many skin problems, it also increases circulation, which in turn helps to achieve that healthy glow. It also reduces fine lines and wrinkles.<br /><br />+ 60 days to try the product - I like that the company offers a money back guarantee and they give ample time to try the product.<br /><br />Negatives:<br /><br />- I could see this product causing skin irritation in some people due to the potent ingredients. I suggest that you follow the manufacturer’s advice and try it on a small inconspicuous area before applying it to your entire face (like I did).<br /><br />- Moisturizing – It didn’t make my skin dryer (it’s naturally dry) but I didn’t notice any moisturizing benefits either.<br /><br />- Consistency – I try to read everything about a product before purchasing. I looked at the pictures that the other reviewers posted and in most of the pics the mud seems to have a semi-liquid, almost runny, consistency. My jar has a marshmallow consistency. I have to really dig-in to get the product out; which leads me to believe that there could be a problem with uniformity or the measurements of the ingredients. Or else it could have been in the warehouse for an extended period of time and dried out a little. I’m not deducting any stars for this because it is an all-natural product and Mother Nature is not always consistent in her creations. But I do think it might be something the manufacturer should look into.<br /><br />Overall I am extremely pleased with the ERA Organics Dead Sea Mud Mask. I will reorder when I finish this bottle and recommend it to my friends. I will try their other products also!<br /><br />Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to purchase this item at a discounted price in exchange for an unbiased product review.  The statements contained in this review are my own and they are geared solely toward helping the consumer.  I rely heavily on Amazon customer reviews to make educated decisions regarding my day to day purchases therefore; I value detailed and honest product evaluations. I hope that this review will help you make an informed purchase.
Rating: 5 stars