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PURIFY & BRIGHTEN
(42)
Benefits
  • Microbiome Balancing
  • Brightening
  • Mattifying
  • Complexion-Unifying
  • Purifying
  • Detoxifying
  • Hydrating
  • Anti-Wrinkle
  • Plumping
  • Clears Pores
  • Antioxidant
  • Exfoliating

The Biologique Recherche Masque Vivant is a purifying, rebalancing treatment mask for oily, congested and unbalanced skin. Combining bio-fermented actives with astringent botanicals, it mattifies, tightens pores and restores clarity without stripping.

Yeast Extract — the lead active — rebalances the skin's microbiome, regulates excess sebum, encourages gentle cellular turnover and reinforces barrier resilience, leaving the skin clearer, more balanced and less reactive over time. Cucumber Extract soothes and hydrates, reducing redness and inflammation, while Witch Hazel and St John's Wort Extract deliver astringent and anti-inflammatory action that tightens pores and calms irritation.

Cider Vinegar refines the skin's surface and supports pH balance, while Bentonite — a natural mineral clay — draws out impurities and absorbs excess oil for a visibly purified, mattified result. Together these actives leave the complexion clean, refined and rebalanced.

Read more

The Biologique Recherche Masque Vivant is a purifying, rebalancing treatment mask for oily, congested and unbalanced skin. Combining bio-fermented actives with astringent botanicals, it mattifies, tightens pores and restores clarity without stripping.

Yeast Extract — the lead active — rebalances the skin's microbiome, regulates excess sebum, encourages gentle cellular turnover and reinforces barrier resilience, leaving the skin clearer, more balanced and less reactive over time. Cucumber Extract soothes and hydrates, reducing redness and inflammation, while Witch Hazel and St John's Wort Extract deliver astringent and anti-inflammatory action that tightens pores and calms irritation.

Cider Vinegar refines the skin's surface and supports pH balance, while Bentonite — a natural mineral clay — draws out impurities and absorbs excess oil for a visibly purified, mattified result. Together these actives leave the complexion clean, refined and rebalanced.

Read less

100 ml

£99
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Is this for you?

For you if

  • Disrupted Microbiome
  • Dull Skin
  • Acne
  • Wrinkles
  • Loss of Volume
  • Blackheads & Whiteheads

Suitable for

  • Oily Skin
  • Acne-Prone Skin
  • Balanced Skin
How to apply
Apply Masque Vivant all over the face, neck and décolleté. Leave for 15 minutes, moisten the mask and rinse off with cold water and/or damp cotton pads. Use your treatment mask at least twice a week.

Extended Routine

  1. Eye Cleanse
  2. First Cleanse
  3. Second Cleanse
  4. Toner (Non-Exfoliating)
  5. Toner (Exfoliating)
  6. Mask
  7. Hydrating Serum
  8. Targeted Serum
  9. Eye Care
  10. Cream / Facial Oil
  11. SPF

Mask Routine

  1. Sheet Mask
  2. Cream Mask
  3. Cryo-Sticks

Period after opening

6 Months
Ingredients

Yeast Extract (Faex Extract), Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Bentonite, Kaolin, Alcohol Denat., Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Vinegar (Acetum), Lactic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract, Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum.


Please note: The ingredients listed in this product are subject to change as the formulation is updated. We aim to update the INCI list as soon as possible, but we encourage you to read the ingredient list on the product itself to ensure it's suitable for your personal use.

Smell & texture

Smell: A scent reminiscent of yeast, with earthy undertones.

Texture: Thick and rich, with the consistency of a dark brown paste


The Benefits

  • - + Microbiome Balancing
  • - + Brightening (Energising)
  • - + Sebum Regulating (Mattifying)
  • - + Complexion-Unifying (Anti-Blotchiness)
  • - + Purifying
  • - + Detoxifying
  • - + Hydrating
  • - + Anti-Wrinkle
  • - + Plumping
  • - + Pore Decongesting
  • - + Photo-Protecting
  • - + Chemical Exfoliation
  • - + Antioxidant
Microbiome Balancing

Microbiome Balancing skincare focuses on supporting the skin’s ecosystem through a precise combination of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics—each playing a distinct and complementary role. Prebiotics act as a targeted nutrient source, feeding and promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms to maintain balance within the skin’s microbiome. Probiotics then introduce and reinforce these beneficial bacteria, helping to strengthen the skin’s natural defenses and reduce the presence of harmful strains. Postbiotics, the bioactive compounds produced through this process, enhance overall skin function by supporting barrier strength, improving hydration, and calming inflammation. Together, this synergistic approach stabilises the skin environment, resulting in a complexion that is clearer, more resilient, and visibly healthier.

Brightening (Energising)

Brightening skincare involves using active ingredients to boost your blood circulation, detoxification and cellular energy. Improved blood circulation brings more essential nutrients and oxygen to your skin, while detoxification helps eliminate cell waste and impurities that can make your skin look dull. Certain active ingredients also enhance your skin's metabolism and regeneration. These combined actions restore your skin's vitality and radiant appearance, giving you a fresh, energised complexion.

Sebum Regulating (Mattifying)

Sebum regulation involves normalising oil production in your sebaceous glands to reduce shine, oiliness and breakouts, restoring your skin's natural balance. Overactive sebaceous glands can be triggered by internal factors like genetics, hormonal changes and stress, as well as external factors such as using stripping or overly active skincare, climate, pollution and diet. Excessive sebum production can lead to enlarged pores, acne and an oily, shiny appearance. Effective sebum regulation means using skincare products that balance oil levels without over-drying your skin, helping you achieve a clearer, more matte complexion.

Complexion-Unifying (Anti-Blotchiness)

Evening skin tone is all about reducing blotchiness and achieving a more uniform complexion. Skincare products designed for this purpose use a blend of active ingredients, including soothing agents, anti-pigmentation compounds, antioxidants, and skin-restoring elements. These ingredients work together to diminish redness, inflammation, and pigment irregularities caused by inflammation, while also strengthening and protecting your skin against environmental irritants and future damage. This promotes healing and resilience, leaving your skin more balanced, radiant, and beautiful.

Purifying

Purifying skincare is designed to deeply cleanse and decongest the skin by targeting excess oil at its source—within the pores. Rather than simply removing surface shine, these formulations work to dissolve and dislodge sebum, debris, and impurities trapped inside the pore lining, helping to prevent congestion, blackheads, and breakouts. Actives such as exfoliating acids and oil-regulating ingredients penetrate into the pore to effectively “strip out” excess oil, restoring clarity and refining skin texture. By clearing buildup from within, purifying treatments leave the skin feeling exceptionally clean, balanced and visibly smoother.

Detoxifying

Detoxifying skincare focuses on clearing the skin of accumulated pollutants, toxins, and metabolic waste that can dull the complexion and disrupt healthy function. Daily exposure to environmental aggressors such as pollution and oxidative stress can overwhelm the skin, leading to congestion, imbalance, and premature ageing. Advanced detoxifying formulations work to neutralise these impurities, support the skin’s natural elimination processes, and reduce the buildup of harmful particles within pores and on the surface. By restoring clarity and balance, this approach leaves the skin feeling purified, refreshed and visibly brighter.

Hydrating

Hydration is a fundamental part of healthy skincare, focusing on maintaining and restoring the skin’s water content. Well-hydrated skin appears plump, smooth and radiant, while dehydration can lead to dullness, tightness, fine lines and increased sensitivity.
Hydrating the skin can work through a fascinating mix of ingredients with different roles. Humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin act like water magnets, pulling water into the skin to instantly plump and smooth, while Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMFs)—such as urea, amino acids and sodium PCA—mimic the skin’s own hydration system, helping it hold onto water and stay balanced from within.
Adding humectants like hyaluronic acid to your routine will restore your skin's healthy glow, minimize fine lines, and provide a plumping effect.

Anti-Wrinkle

Anti-wrinkle skincare is focused on both preventing and visibly reducing the formation of lines by targeting the structural and dynamic causes of wrinkles within the skin. Fine lines and deeper wrinkles develop as collagen and elastin decline, cell turnover slows and repeated facial movements create creases that become etched over time. Advanced formulations address these mechanisms through a combination of elastin-stimulating actives, smoothing peptides that help relax the appearance of expression lines, and deeply hydrating ingredients that plump the skin from within. By reinforcing the skin’s architecture while softening surface contractions and improving elasticity, anti-wrinkle skincare delivers a visibly smoother complexion.

Plumping

Plumping involves using active ingredients to boost the production of key structural components like collagen, the dermal-epidermal junction and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), giving your skin more volume and density. Collagen provides structural support and firmness, while the dermal-epidermal junction, a thin connective layer, ensures smooth, wrinkle-free skin by facilitating cell communication. GAGs, like hyaluronic acid, keep your skin hydrated and plump from within. By stimulating these components, active ingredients help restore your skin's plumpness and radiance.

Pore Decongesting

Pore decongesting focuses on both clearing and minimising the appearance of enlarged pores. Enlarged pores often result from excess oil production and the build-up of impurities within the pore, which can stretch them over time, while ageing further contributes as reduced elasticity makes them more visible. Effective formulations work first to clear the pores—dissolving and removing trapped sebum, debris, and congestion—before regulating oil production and supporting collagen and elastin to improve skin firmness. By addressing both internal build-up and structural integrity, pores can return to a clearer, more refined, and less noticeable state.

Photo-Protecting

Photo-protecting skincare at a cellular level focuses on defending the skin against the internal damage triggered by UV exposure, rather than simply blocking rays at the surface. Ultraviolet radiation generates free radicals and disrupts cellular DNA, accelerating collagen breakdown, inflammation, and premature ageing. Advanced formulations work by neutralising oxidative stress, supporting DNA repair mechanisms, and strengthening the skin’s natural defence systems to limit long-term damage. By preserving cellular integrity and maintaining healthy skin function, this approach helps prevent visible signs of photo-ageing—such as wrinkles, loss of firmness, and uneven tone.

Chemical Exfoliation

Chemical exfoliation uses acids to dissolve the "glue" holding dead skin cells together, promoting skin cell turnover and replacing old cells with new, healthy ones. Acids like AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs not only help shed skin but also offer benefits like brightening, clarifying, and anti-ageing, depending on the type used.

Antioxidant

Antioxidant skincare is dedicated to protecting the skin against oxidative stress—one of the primary drivers of premature ageing and cellular damage—while preserving overall skin integrity and vitality. These formulations rely on potent molecules such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and polyphenols, which neutralize free radicals generated by UV exposure and environmental aggressors before they can compromise cellular structures like lipids, proteins, and DNA. Beyond defence, many antioxidants also support repair processes and enhance collagen stability, contributing to improved firmness, brightness and resilience. The result is skin that is not only shielded from ongoing damage but maintained in a healthier, more luminous state over time.

  • - + Microbiome Balancing
  • - + Brightening (Energising)
  • - + Sebum Regulating (Mattifying)
  • - + Complexion-Unifying (Anti-Blotchiness)
  • - + Purifying
  • - + Detoxifying
  • - + Hydrating
  • - + Anti-Wrinkle
  • - + Plumping
  • - + Pore Decongesting
  • - + Photo-Protecting
  • - + Chemical Exfoliation
  • - + Antioxidant

Active Ingredients

  • - + Yeast Extract
  • - + Cucumber Extract
  • - + Witch Hazel & St John's Wort Extract
  • - + Cider Vinegar
  • - + Bentonite
Yeast Extract

Yeast extract is a bio-fermented active that helps rebalance the skin’s microbiome while regulating excess sebum and reducing congestion or dullness. By supporting a healthier microbial environment, it limits the growth of unwanted bacteria on the skin’s surface, helping to purify and refine texture without stripping or irritation. Its enzymatic action also encourages gentle cellular turnover, which helps lift away built-up dead skin cells and improves clarity, contributing to a brighter and more even complexion. Furthermore, yeast helps to reinforce barrier function so the skin remains more stable, resilient, and less reactive over time. This makes yeast extract especially effective for skin that is unbalanced, oily-tendency, stressed by urban pollution, or in need of both soothing repair and a clearer, healthier surface environment.

Cucumber Extract

Cucumber Extract is rich in Vitamins and minerals. Having a variety of benefits, this ingredient is incredibly gentle and multi-faceted. It is softening and hydrating, as well as calming and refreshing. Furthermore, it also has some astringent and purifying properties, making it suitable for sensitive skins, oily skins and dehydrated skins.

Witch Hazel & St John's Wort Extract

Witch Hazel & St. John’s Wort Extract are rich in tannins and flavonoids, delivering powerful astringent benefits that help tighten tissue, refine pores, and smooth the skin’s surface. They are especially effective for regulating excess sebum while also soothing and calming damaged or irritated skin. While St. John’s Wort naturally contains hypericin, a compound with photosensitising potential, in cosmetic formulations it is carefully refined and used at safe levels, making it suitable for daily use.

Cider Vinegar

Cider Vinegar is extracted from fermented apples and contains high concentrations of fruits acids. Particularly potent in Acetic Acid, Citric Acid and Malic Acid; Cider Vinegar contains powerful exfoliating, purifying and renewing properties. High in Polyphenols, this ingredient also has significant antioxidant effects, combatting damageing photo-induced free-radicals.

Bentonite

Bentonite is a clay which contains highly absorbent properties. It carries a powerful negative charge, which bonds to the positive charge in many toxins and impurities. This mechanism therefore allows it to absorb the toxins and impurities and eliminate them. Furthermore, this ingredient supplies the cells with oxygen by absorbing excess hydrogen. Bentonite is adept at purifying and detoxifying the skin without stripping it too much.

  • - + Yeast Extract
  • - + Cucumber Extract
  • - + Witch Hazel & St John's Wort Extract
  • - + Cider Vinegar
  • - + Bentonite

Spotlight

Non Active Acne

Clogged pores result from the accumulation of excess sebum and keratinized dead skin cells within hair follicles, leading to various dermatological manifestations.

Blackheads, or open comedones, form when a pore remains open, allowing the contents to oxidize and darken, resulting in their characteristic black or dark brown appearance. In contrast, whiteheads, or closed comedones, occur when a pore is occluded and sealed by a thin layer of epidermis, appearing as small, raised, white or flesh-colored bumps due to the lack of oxygen exposure.

The broader term "congestion" refers to the buildup of debris within pores, commonly observed on the face and presenting as blackheads, whiteheads, or other blemishes, often serving as precursors to inflammatory acne lesions.

Clinical Proofs

Clinical Proofs

EFFICACY TEST:
Test conducted on 10 volunteers aged 21 to 53 years with oily and/or acne-prone skin, with 3 applications
per week for 4 weeks on the face, neck and décolleté.
Measurements were taken on D0 and D28 to compare the results:

Face has an oily appearance -11%
Face has a shiny appearance -13%
Size of pores -8%
Radiant complexion +14

USAGE TEST:
Test conducted on 20 volunteers aged 29 to 59 years with oily skin, with 3 applications per week for 3
weeks on the face, neck and décolleté

95% of participants said their skin was cleaner
95% of participants said their skin was healthier
95% of participants said their pores were tightened
90% of participants said sebum secretions were less abundant
90% of participants said their T-zone was less shiny
90% of participants said their skin was regulated
100% of participants said their skin was purified
100% of participants said their skin had fewer skin blemishes
95% of participants said their skin had less diffuse redness
90% of participants said their skin was more beautiful
100% of participants said their skin texture was refined
95% of participants said their skin was revitalised

* The above information has been supplied to the Embassy of Beauty by the brand manufacturer. Embassy of Beauty takes no responsibility for these claimed studies and or results.

Why I love it

  • "The efficacy of Biologique Recherche relies not only on its science-driven approach to balancing and curing the skin, but on its prescriptive and tailored nature."

    X Natalie K-F

    Founder, Embassy of Beauty

  • Customers praised this purifying mask as 'facial in a bottle' that deeply cleanses, balances, and brightens skin. Most loved its effectiveness for acne, oily, and combination skin, noting it reduces pores and breakouts without stripping moisture. However, some found the smell unpleasant (described as yeast-like) and price high. A few reported no results or irritation on sensitive skin.

    • Facial in a bottle for sure! My skin looked so fresh like I just had a facial
    • From the first use my skin felt deeply purified but still balanced
    • Best mask ever it moisturises, gets rid of blackheads and makes my skin look glowing and younger
    • 5 stars: 40 (95%)
    • 4 stars: 0 (0%)
    • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
    • 2 stars: 1 (2%)
    • 1 star: 1 (2%)
    R
    Radhika

    I'm not sure if it's too soon to say but I've used this product 2-3 times yet didn't notice any significant differences. I'll keep trying it out but so far not sure if I'd spend that much on a mask that doesn't make a huge difference.

    L
    Lindsay

    Facial in a bottle for sure! This has a cult following so I was so excited to try it. I was having a few pregnancy related breakouts so figured it was the perfect time to test it out. It has a rich brown colour and is also sticky/tacky texture that was somewhat difficult to apply with a masque spatula (fingers proved better in the end). Beware those sensitive to smells, it does smell like yeast/marmite (and looks quite like marmite as well). I left it on for the full time recommended and my skin looked so fresh like I just had a facial and breakouts were reduced after rinsing and gone by the next day. Very impressed and will be using on a weekly basis for a skin refresh.

    S
    Sach Trikha

    An OG. Deeply purifying and balancing, I don’t find this too much for my dry skin either. Incredible post-flight or big weekend to reset the skin.

    E
    Erin

    Facial in a bottle!

    A
    Ada Yereskovska

    Maybe not for my skin type(I have combined/sensentive skin) it smells terrible, colour is bright brown too, and after it my skin was irritated/red

    L
    Luna

    This mask is incredible. From the first use my skin felt deeply purified but still balanced. It helped reduce the look of pores and my complexion looked clearer and smoother the next day. I love that it works without stripping the skin. It feels like a real detox treatment and leaves the face fresh and refined. One of the best purifying masks I have tried.

    M
    Marie H

    Fantastic mask for blemish-prone skin. Gentle yet efficient on sensitive skin.

    R
    RB

    This is the best mask ever it moisturises, gets rid of blackheads and somehow makes my skin look glowing and younger

    H
    Hannah

    Buy over and over it’s a staple for me now

    H
    Hannah

    Just amazing and I couldn’t be without it it’s a commitment of course but oh so worth it

    C
    Chanayla

    Best mask i've ever used!

    H
    Huma Majeed

    Amazing product. Not the nicest smell but not too off putting. Really brightens and glows your face and for longer than just a day

    L
    Laura
    Best mask

    Best mask on the market, skin feels amazingly soft after!

    S
    Sana
    Amazing mask

    I have very oily, congested, acne prone skin and this mask definitely brings all the sebum buildup out. Definitely recommend

    S
    Stefania
    Best mask I tried for acne skin

    I’ve tried many masks from many brands, but this one is working best for my acne skin. Was recommended this mask after a consultation with a BR expert

    O
    Odileb
    Miraculous mask

    Everyone with combination to oily akin should use this mask if only it wasn’t so expensive. I wish there was a smaller version of it as I never finish it before the expiry date comes. Saying that, this product really keeps redness flare ups all kind of reactions in skin under control. Whenever I forget using it I’m always reminded by it as my skin needs this to look good. Really good but expensive mask

    T
    Tash
    Lovely mask

    Really helps to keep my oily skin at bay

    Y
    Yana
    Great

    Works greatly when you use it twice a week

    H
    Hannah
    Holy grail

    This is the most wonderful product, I know I could not be without it. It’s wonderful . Clears the skin so beautifully.

    S
    Stefania
    Best mask!!

    I have acne skin and this mask really helps revitalise it!

    L
    Lena Orfali
    Amazing product

    This is the best face mask I have ever used. Yes the smell is bad but that’s a small price to pay compared to the mask effectiveness, clears ski , non drying

    A
    Anastasia Nikiforova
    Good clearing mask

    I'm ordering 4th bottle in a row and using it twice weekly. It smells like fresh bread. I leave it for up to 20 mins and rinse it with warm water. Skin is less oily and clear.

    O
    Olha
    Amazing

    after this mask, my skin looks well-groomed and radiant

    A
    Anonymous
    The ultimate mask

    I've always heard about this product and thought it would probably be overrated. I was so wrong. It has a smoothing and tightening effect without leaving your skin stripped of its moisture. Everyone says it stinks and yes it does, but you get used to it after a while. Another win from Biologique Recherche!

    S
    Sayara Rai
    Best mask I ever used

    My holy grail product. I use it twice a week and since using it my skin texture has gotten so much better. I also mix it with vip o2 mask when skin is a but dehydrated.

    G
    Gaby Cruz
    Great mask!

    Wonderful mask for combo skin, really see a difference after using

    D
    Dana Ce
    The best

    Skin looks amazing after!

    I
    Inna
    Rebalancing mask

    Again and again can say it is a must have mask with high concentration of purifying active ingredients x highly recommend

    J
    Jana Stabina
    Spa at home

    Perfect for combination skin.
    After this mask my skin looks more fresh and I can see it’s glowing.

    A
    A K
    Unique and just one and only mask for me!

    Unique and just one and only mask for me!

    I
    Inna Hepburn
    Must have

    This facial mask is a must have. Love if for its smell, texture. It does oil control, bacterial control.
    X

    D
    Dana Ce
    Love it!

    After only one use my skin looked so much better. I will definitely buy again.