Argile verte

Packaging and what the product is

The quoted photo from cattier-paris.com shows a white tube that turns pale green towards the bottom, with a brown “Cattier Paris” band at the top, the words “Argile verte – Green clay” and NAT (COSMOS Natural) and Vegan logos. The brand sells this “petit format” as 100 ml; a larger tube and a jar also exist. It is a multipurpose clay paste: the brand presents it as pure green clay for body use, and it is commonly used as a face or body mask that is applied, left for a short time and rinsed off.

Ingredient analysis

Our database lists Aqua, Kaolin, Illite, Montmorillonite, Propanediol and Glyceryl Undecylenate. Illite (the mineral behind “green clay”), kaolin and montmorillonite are absorbent clays that take up oil and impurities from the skin surface and give the typical matte, “clean” feel. Propanediol is a humectant that keeps the paste soft and slows drying on the skin; glyceryl undecylenate is a castor-oil-derived ester with antimicrobial properties that supports preservation.

The current list published by Cattier is Aqua, Illite, Kaolin, Propanediol, Montmorillonite, Benzyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Undecylenate – i.e. benzyl alcohol has been added as a preservative and the order differs slightly from our record. There is no fragrance and no added plant oils. The brand states COSMOS Natural certification (Ecocert Greenlife) and 99% ingredients of natural origin.

What to watch out for

Clay masks can feel drying, especially on dry or sensitive skin; letting the paste dry completely and crack tends to increase tightness, so many people rinse while it is still slightly damp. Keep it away from the eyes. Benzyl alcohol, in the current formula, is an EU-regulated preservative. Close the tube well so the paste does not dry out.

What users say

There are few reviews of the current formula. On cattier-paris.com the tube shows 5.0/5 from 6 reviews (checked 30 Oct 2026); the review texts did not load without JavaScript, so we cannot summarise them. On Wizaż a “ready-to-use green clay” face mask from Cattier averages 4.6/5 from 7 ratings, but those reviews date from 2009–2012 and the INCI shown there (with parfum and other preservatives) differs from today’s product.

In those older reviews, users with oily, blemish-prone skin praised the deep-cleansing, pore-tightening feel and the convenience of a tube compared with powder; one critical reviewer disliked the consistency. Treat this as background rather than a verdict on the current formula.

Who it may suit

Oily or combination skin, or anyone wanting a simple, fragrance-free clay paste for occasional masks on the face or body without mixing powder. Dry, reactive skin may prefer gentler clays or shorter application times.