Mud, glorious mud. Borghese’s Fango Brillante Brightening Mud Mask is that, and then some. It’s also pink, but that’s only a minor detail in this product. Of the entire Borghese FANGO line, FANGO Brillante, deemed itself the most logical choice for my skin. At 25, I still suffer from monthly breakouts and my skin produces enough oil to sustain the local economy. Okay, not really, but it still is very oily. FANGO Brillante also aims to treat dull skin by leaving it appearing bright and clean.

The consistency of the Fango Brillante mud mask is…well, muddy but not as liquidy as you would think of when you think mud on the ground. It’s also lightly scented with a pleasant floral scent that fades over time after application. Application is rather easy and straight forward — layer it thickly over a cleansed face as avoiding the eyes and mouth areas. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes, then rinse off with warm water and a washcloth. Being one to leave masks on until the max. time and given my oil situation, I left the mud mask on for 10 minutes.

Immediately upon application, I felt a light cooling sensation all over my face that was rather relaxing. Then the mask started to harden around 5 minutes of having it on. At 10 minutes, the mask is completely hardened and ready to be taken off. The mask comes off easily with warm water and a damp wash cloth (or a mix of both).

After removing the mask, my face felt clean and noticeably brighter — as if I didn’t really spend the majority of my time indoors. For a product to work this well, the next step in evaluating this product was to take a good look at the ingredients. This is something I should’ve done before trying, but since other reviews for the FANGO mud mask line are relatively positive, I didn’t take that precaution.

Aside from the Vitamin A and Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, it turns out the chemical culprit behind the mud mask’s brightening effect is a chemical called, magnesium aluminum silicate, commonly known as talc. Or plainly, the stuff that’s in deodorant and baby powder. The effect of talc’s brighgtening on skin isn’t quite permanent or long lasting. At the same time, FANGO doesn’t promise that the effects of the brightening are long lasting to consumers. To me, FANGO Brillante is more of a rejuvenating pick-me-up for your face. And your body — FANGO Brillante goes both ways.

The effect of the brightening for me, was psychological. I saw that my face was brighter, I felt less tired and that put a little spring in my step. Another added plus is that it really does wonders for oily skin. I’ve used it within the past week and I’ve noticed my face not producing as much oil.

The Verdict: FANGO Brillante Brightening Mud Mask brightens only temporarily so it’s not ideal for people wanting to brighten their skin with a long-lasting noticeable difference. It’s soothing and a great pick-me-up for your skin. I’d recommend this to anyone with oily skin wanting to relax and feel fresh.

For more information or to purchase head to Borghese’s official site.

(DISCLAIMER: FANGO Brillante Brightening Mud Mask was provided to me courtesy of Borghese. This review does not reflect the opinions of Borghese but of myself. )