Last week, when I shared with you what I kept in my shower, I briefly told you of the merits of MAC’s Volcanic Ash Exfoliator ($19.00). It’s such a great product that it deserves its own, official review. Volcanic Ash is both a foaming and exfoliating scrub, which makes it different from the typical exfoliator (most do not have any foaming action). The exfoliants the product use are the volcanic ash and sugar crystals. The volcanic ash is from the island of Vanuatu, and it contains minerals and sulfur from “deep within the earth.”
While all that fancy-speak may or may not be marketing (or some combination of marketing and truth), one usage and the results speak for themselves. The exfoliators dissolve as you gently massage it into your skin, and when you add a little more water, the cleanser will foam up. I personally like that they dissolve, because it helps you time your cleansing; plus, you don’t get little grains or beads stuck on your face post-use. The only downside of the product is that it is a messy/dirty product in the sense that it is black ash that you put on your skin, so it’ll turn your face a dirty gray/black. This in turn makes it difficult to wash over the sink sometimes. I tend to use mine in the shower, because then I don’t have to worry about dirtying up my sink area. It’s really a minor point, because after a few usages, you get pretty good at rinsing and not making a mess.
I love this product so much, I wish I could use it everyday, but alas, you are only supposed to use it one to three times per week. You can use this product on your face or body, which makes it a multi-tasker. To be honest, I love it too much (and it’s sold out everywhere near me), I save it for my face. It’s a good-size tub of product (4.5 oz), but if I started using it for my body, I’d go through it much too fast. I really hope MAC brings this back and makes it permanent–it could be such a cult product, I know it.
Bottom line, this stuff makes your face feel soft as buttery silk. Get it if you can get your hands on it! (C’mon, $19? It’s a total steal!)
whitney
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
anyone know where you can get this besides ebay
it sold out almost immediately everywhere i know of
Christine
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Hi Whitney,
Unfortunately, I don’t know :( The best is to call up some MAC stores, otherwise I’m out of ideas.
Kendra
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I have checked everywhere in Ottawa and Winnipeg (when I was visiting) and they all sold out almost immediately! I’m quite disappointed :(
Christine
Thursday, July 24, 2008
That really sucks, Kendra :(
Amanda
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I cannot get my hands on this!!! I’m so jealous!! Like you said maybe they will bring it back.
Christine
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Hi Amanda,
I am really hoping they will. It has gotten so many positive raves, and I think it would be great if they did, especially since it’s SOLD OUT practically everywhere.
Tekoa
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I have it, and I love it. The black-gloopyness made me pause, you wouln’t think something that looks like a tar pit would be in any way shape or form a cleaning agent. I’m hoping they bring it back.
Christine
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Hi Tekoa,
Oh, it made me pause, too. I was like, ‘WHOA!’ I hope they do, too, because I didn’t stock up on it (I don’t even know what the lifespan of it is), and I didn’t think I’d blow through the jar THAT quickly, lol. But yeah, totally want to keep using it!
Nell
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I love it too! So glad I snapped it up in NY at the pro store!
Christine
Thursday, July 24, 2008
I’m glad you were able to get your hands on it, Nell!
Simone
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
This is by FAR one of the best exfoliators out there now…We got ours at the NY Pro Store too!
Christine
Thursday, July 24, 2008
I definitely agree! Glad you got yours!
kellie
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Man, I’m jealous. With all the rave reviews, I wished I had purchased this. Did any of you try the lip exfoliator also?
Christine
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Hey Kellie,
I haven’t tried the lip exfoliator (mostly because I’m quite happy with my Peter-Thomas-Roth scrub and Sara Happ Lip Scrub), but maybe I will soon.
claudine
Friday, July 25, 2008
i bought two of the lip exfoliators
and i love it ….i apply it then i take a damp cotton pad and remove the grains….voila soft primed (because of the white part) lips
Gigi
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I know I’m supposed to comment on the VAE, but let me just say, the fact that you used “its” and not “it’s” makes me very very happy! I am such a grammar nazi when it comes to blogs; many of the make-up blogs I read use “it’s” incorrectly! Really irritates me. Thanks for the great grammar! :D
For those who can’t find it: “It’s such a great product that it deserves its own, official review.”
Awesome.
Christine
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Hi Gigi,
I try, LOL. I’m not great at mechanics and whatnot, but I’m glad I didn’t bumble that one!
Lil
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Yeah, I like it alot too.
Christine
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Good to see another fan, Lil!
Zsofi
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
oh,if only i would have bought it when i was a step away from it :-))))
but You know i want my Temptala review before any purchase :-)
i like this little rating thing,its very new and fun :-)
Christine
Thursday, July 24, 2008
I hope they bring it back so you can get it!
Bea
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I love it. I heard that it was being made permanent so look for it in a few months or so…It may be a rumor or wishful thinking, so don’t hold me to it yet!
Christine
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Hi Bea,
Let’s hope so!!
claudine
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
this stuff is just great
i got two jars and finished one two days ago
i wish it was permanent
Christine
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Wow! At least you got a backup :D
luv4quest
Saturday, January 17, 2009
so jealous you have a back-up….. i love this stuff.
Jade
Thursday, July 24, 2008
This exfoliator sold out sooooo fast in SC. I got a sample first and a couple days later went back….bad idea they were all out! I really hope they do make it a permanent. MAC doesn’t have a perm. exfoliator does it?
Christine
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Hi Jade,
I can only imagine! Aye. I think they do, actually!
claudine
Friday, July 25, 2008
they do have a perm one
called microfine something
but i prefer the volcanic ash one
Christine
Friday, July 25, 2008
Yep, that’s the one!
Tekoa
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Shower is definatly the place to use this. It foams much better in there.
Christine
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Agreed!
brandye
Thursday, July 24, 2008
I use mine in the shower too but the only downside is DON’T DROP THE LID!!! I dropped mine the very first time I used it and a giant chunk broke off the side and now it doesn’t close properly :( wahhh.
Christine
Friday, July 25, 2008
Hi Brandye,
OH NO :( That sucks that it broke so easily!
ashi
Thursday, July 24, 2008
i got a tad sample sometime ago but haven’t used it yet.is it good and safe for all skin types?and does it do anything extraordinary?
Christine
Friday, July 25, 2008
It should work for your skin type! It makes your skin feel so soft.
trojanchick99
Thursday, July 24, 2008
I love this so much I bought 2 backups. It is the perfect exfoliator for my skin.
Christine
Friday, July 25, 2008
Oh, awesome! Good thinking ;D
Candace117
Thursday, July 24, 2008
I thankfully stocked up because I foresaw this being too big of a hit for words, but I’m still upset because I should have bought even MORE! :-/ As a result, I am using sparingly and trying to use more of my Kiehl’s (the pineapple papaya scrub is amazing in a different way than VAE).
Christine
Friday, July 25, 2008
Hi Candace,
You are too smart ;) Do you use it all over your body?
claudine
Friday, July 25, 2008
uhhh ohhh one of my counters still got them yay
have to get another one
the lip thing is great too
Christine
Friday, July 25, 2008
LUCKY YOU!!
Rhian
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Thats a bummer that its sold out in loads of places in states — there was loads in my MAC the other day and its available on the UK site
Christine
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
You’re definitely lucky, Rhian!
Socaltrojan
Friday, January 2, 2009
I finished one jar of this! Luckily, I had the Nordstrom beauty hotline track down the last 2 in their system over the summer and they shipped them to me! I have yet to open the 2 jars I have remaining. I am worried that I will run out of it so I have been using philosophy’s salt scrubs which are amazing.
Christine
Friday, January 2, 2009
You are so lucky to have gotten two more! It makes me sad — it was SO raved about, so why is it not coming back yet?!
Here’s to hoping it makes a return in summer ‘09, but by then… maybe I will have found a permanent replacement.
Whitney
Friday, May 29, 2009
I am so sad because I just ran out….. where do I get more?
Christine
Friday, May 29, 2009
It was LE so it’s not available any more, unfortunately!
glitter princess
Monday, August 17, 2009
gr8t review so looking forward to this realsing with style black ! do they realse this every summer?? X
Christine
Monday, August 24, 2009
Nope, not every summer :(
Lteefaw
Friday, September 18, 2009
One more week and we’ll be able to get this product again. I can’t wait
Christine
Friday, September 18, 2009
Yayyy!
Whitney
Sunday, December 13, 2009
so are they bringing it back then? I looked on ebay and it has something volcanic ash from MAC, but it comes in a tube, I think it’s like a facemask, is that the same thing?
Christine
Monday, December 14, 2009
They brought it back a few months ago, but now it’s sold-out in most locations!
hidaya
Saturday, January 9, 2010
type
google product search
into your search engine.
type
MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator
you will see places to purchase it.
taci
Sunday, February 7, 2010
I saw that soap and glory (found at target) has somthing like this. And by like I mean that it heats up and exfoliates. I never tried it yet but it is def a cheaper alternative that you could use on the rest of your body.
Christine
Monday, February 8, 2010
Do you know what the name of it was?
ashley
Monday, February 15, 2010
Just to let all of you guys know. I visited the mac website. I used the live chat there to ask about their volcanic ash exfoliator. The girl that assisted me told me that the product was only a life limited product.
So they will no longer be selling any more of those.
GET THIS: IT WAS A LIFE-LIMITED PRODUCT….ONLY!
That really sucks because i really wanted to try it out! =[