Actually am confused where to put this review since I am reviewing the 'water splashing' method instead of the actual 'Erno Laszlo' product.
This splashing method worked so well I can not believe it!!Up till now I still havent use EL product, but seeing the great result only with water, I decided to ordering some and they are on its way now.
first of all, I have acne my entire life. I've tried every single OTC products, accutane, Benzoil Peroxide a la acne. org. Accutane and BP really controls my acne but at the same time 'kills' my skin. It looks old, wrinkly and dry.
Then I had enough of it. I stopped all the medication. Sure enough, my face explode wth big cystic acne, pustules, comedones, like all over my face. It was soooo embarassing, everybody keeps asking me what is wrong with my face, even strangers!! But I tried to put up with it with only using SKII line. SkII doesnt help lessen my acne at all, but it soothes my irritate skin enough so I still am using them. My face has been like this for like, almost 3 months :(
Then I read about EL and tried his water splashing method. Using SKII oil cleanser rub on my face and fill in my sink with the hottest water I can stand (I am desperate, lol) - then rubbing SKII gentle cleanser over the oil on my face - and proceed by sudsing the cleanser on my palm and rub it on my face. After that, I splashed my face 90times with that hot-warm water in the sink(yessss, I am THAT desperate). Proceed with splashing my face with running hot-warm water 30times and cold water 20 times.
The next morning, I can not believe it. My cystic acnes shrunk, my comedones lessen, and overall tone of my skin gets better. Only with one time trial!I kid you not.
Now I have tried this method morning and night for one week, the result : acne has diminished by 80%, and comedones that clog my pores has gone down almost to nothing and my skin is glowing...
Upon trying EL splashing method, I am very much interested in trying the product itself. But surely, water does heals, big time :). Thanks EL, your method alone works incredible!

About two months ago, my acne prone skin had yet another freak out and started breaking out in huge, painful, never-go-away zits on my cheeks. Up until that time, I was using Panoxyl soap with fairly good results but for whatever reason, even that wasn't working for me anymore. As a result, I had to go on another quest to find something to help.

After a bit of internet research (and reading seemingly hundreds of reviews on different products), I finally decided to try the Erno Lazlo Sea Mud Soap. I was a bit hesitant at first after I learned the soap is part of a "system" because as a student, I'm rather strapped for cash and can't really afford an entire pricey system let alone a $40 bar of soap. Instead, I opted to buy a small (and I do mean small) travel sized bar on eBay for about $11. Needless to say I'm very glad I did. This soap is nothing short of amazing!

I've been using twice a day for about a month and a half and my skin has cleared up almost entirely! If I do get a zit, it is usually small and clears up within a day. No more huge, painful embarrassing zits that take two weeks to heal. Yay! The overall tone of my skin has also improved which is nothing short of a miracle. I even took the plunge and bought a bigger bar of the Phelityl soap for dry skin after doing the EL skin care analysis online. I typically use the Phelityl soap in the morning, and the Sea Mud Soap along with a Neutrogena toner and the Pro Activ repairing lotion at night. So far, this routine has worked well for me.

That said, I did find the whole recommended splashing technique to be a bit weird and a little time consuming, but I still do it. Overall, this soap seems to be quite a good investment and I'm tempted to splurge on the rest of the system as soon as my sample bar runs out.

I have used this soap and actually the total line since you had to be a card carrying member to purchase the products (that's a long long time). Years ago Dr. Laszlo asked that you use the soap in the hottest water your hands could stand. Now that has changed to warmer than lukewarm. He watched his mother who was wrinkle free at an elderly age always wash her face in very hot water. I started that way and continue to this day. At 69, I am often taken for 50 and have been refused senior discounts. I'd rather have the great skin than the discounts anyway. I have strayed, but not for long. This is the best soap you will ever find to make your skin look clear, moist and healthy. I just wish they would bring the original fragrance back and the marble soap dish it used to come in.

Years ago, this soap changed my life.
Well, maybe not my life, but my skin certainly. It was more than 15 years ago, but I remember looking in the mirror after washing my face with the Sea Mud soap for the first time and thinking that I looked better. Just by washing my face.
I no longer use the sea mud soap on a regular basis, but I do keep it around for serious detoxing and spot treatments. (As an aside, I think the Queen Helene Mud Mask is a fabulous cheap mask alternative). Even without doing the entire proper splashing technique, this soap is amazing at truly removing deep impurities.
There are quite a few other sea mud soaps on the market now. But I still think Laszlo's is the best. None of the others have had the same amazing transformative effect.
My biggest complaint: I wish they would bring back the old packaging, with the proper soap dish and strainer. Oh, and I wish I could buy the travel size at Saks. It's irritating ordering via the web site, and since I'm only a casual user these days, I only need a small soap. It really does last a long time, so the price isn't as crazy as it might first seem.

I have been using this soap for ten years and continue to love it! Truly the best facial cleanser I have ever used, and only buy others to make this last longer. I apply it to my face at the beginning of my shower, and when I rinse it off at the end, I rub off lots of dead skin in places where I get flaky. Yet I never feel dry or tight after using this (I have combo skin that needs regular exfoliation, and I live in a very humid climate). This soap is both a wash and a treatment, and always leaves my face feeling super clean and flake-free. I'm a 1:00 skintype on the Erno Laszlo typing system, which means very slightly oily (noon is neutral), so it might be too drying for those with drier skin types. As for the price, I cannot emphasize enough how long these bars last - I using up the last bits of a bar that I bought about 2 years ago!!! Seriously, these bars are very high quality and in my opinion entirely worth the initial investment.

I think many people's skin problems would disappear if they went back to facial soap for cleansing, as I recently have. Soap doesn't just clean the surface of your skin but actually cleans within the skin tissue. It's made my face feel so much cleaner and really improved the translucence.
But, as to this soap specifically, all I can say is Emperor's New Clothes. Seriously this soap is no better than Clinique's, has an odd smell, and is preposterously expensive (and that's coming from someone who doesn't blink at 3-figure treatment products). And that whole splashing thing? I seriously think it was probably intended as a joke. Although I also believe that most complaints about soap in general are likely due to insufficient rinsing. If calling thorough rinsing a "beauty ritual" is what it takes to get you to do so then by all means!
This soap is great and if you just don't give a sh*t about price go for it. But honestly, the soap from Clinique (and the one from Clarins, for that matter) is every bit as good.

Some time ago, my daughter received two samples of the sea mud soap along with some other Erno Laszlo products. For some reason, although she used the other products and liked them, she did not use the soap. After she moved to New York, I was cleaning out her room and came across the two samples of the Sea Mud Soap. Ever the curoious cat, I decided to try the soap. Luckily, she also left the instructions behind so I followed the instructions to cleansing my face with this soap. This was also rather intriguing to me because I'm not a soap fan. I mean....Dove Soap on my face left my skin so tight, and itchy and ugh. I'm just not a fan of soap or soap disguised as a "beauty bar"---it's the same.
Anyway, about a month ago, I started using the sea mud soap as directed in the AM and in the PM. What I liked was that there was absolutely no tightness or dryness at all. AT ALL! My skin was left very clean and after toning with Witch Hazel (yes, pure witch hazel is my HG of toners), my skin was feeling pretty-darn-good.
I'm almost at the end of my first sample--soon to start the second. I have to say, I'm really liking this. I do plan to purchase a full-size soap when my second sample is used up.
You know, sometimes, cleansing creams can leave your skin feeling slightly "filmy"...or greasy, and it is difficult and daunting at times to still have a bit of makeup that just didn't make the cut from the cream cleansers. I have to say--with this soap, everything comes off. Who knew a soap could work this well?
I will say though, that before I wash my face with this, I still use the Albolene to take my eye makeup off (and when I run out of the Albolene I take my eye makeup off with Crisco)--then I wash with the Sea Mud Soap. In addition, I do make the changeup from the Sea Mud Soap and Lancome's Cleansing Milk.
Thank you.

This is my absolute favorite product to leave my face feeling squeaky clean, but never dry or tight. I think the best thing about it is that it never irritates my sensitive skin. I am an Erno Laszlo addict especially after using this product. I love doing the face washing ritual and I think that this is one of the best face soaps on the market to really give your pores a deep down clean without stripping too much oil.

I've used this soap for 30 years and I still love it. It worked well when I was dealing with break-outs and oily skin, and today I use it with pre-application of oil and it keeps my older skin supple and soothed. It feels like the washing technique of splashing 30 times with this soap helps rebuild collagen. and I get great compliments on my skin at age 62.

I am 29 years old with oily skin that is sensitive and breaks out frequently. I have spent thousands of dollars on skin care products (both high end and drugstore), it makes me sick to think of the money I have wasted, I discovered Erno Laszlo while searching the web one day for skin care and I did the Laszlomatic on his site. I was clocked as an oily skin type but they also recommended that I use some of their acne care products. I use the beta wash in the am and the total blemish treatment and in the evening I use the sea mud soap, regular controlling lotion, phelityl lotion and the targeted blemish treatment for pimples. I do the splashing technique with both the beta wash and the sea mud soap. I am amazed at the way my skin has transformed over the past month. The first week it brought up some pimples from under my skin but the healed quickly. My skin is soft, smooth, clear and I can honestly say that I have gone from "oily" to "slightly oily". When I look at my makeup at the end of a long work day I have just a little shine on my t-zone and that's it! The sea mud soap is my favorite product, I love the smell and the way it makes my skin feel. I would definitely recommend following the splashing technique because it does make a difference, your face will feel so clean. It is $39 for the bar, however, it will last for such a long time. Once I run out of the beta wash I might start using the sea mud soap two times a day instead of just at night. The products are expensive but they have given the best results that I have ever had from any skin care line, so in my opinion, they are worth the money. I wish I had started using Laszlo many years ago and saved myself a lot of frustration. I will try to come back in a few months and update this review.

I work for Erno Laszlo and use the 12 o'clock ritual. For those of you who are worried about breakouts after using the products for a couple weeks, DON'T be! This is what's suppose to happen. The soap, toner, etc are pulling all the built up junk out of our pores, so you may have a few breakouts at first. When you do get one, scrub it with the bar of sea mud soap and it will disappear soon, usually won't even come to a head. After using your ritual for about a month, you and others will notice a dramatic change in your skins appearance, texture, clarity, etc. This is why Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Greta Garbo, Madonna, Sting, Jada and Will Smith all have beautiful skin. They have the "Laszlo Look", and so will you! So remember, don't give up if you break out after a couple weeks!!
XO

I've been using the Laszlo Sea Mud Soap for about a month now and have seen an improvement in my acne. However, does anyone find the bar a bit too scratchy to put directly on the face? I know this is part of the ritual but I think it may be irritating my skin and causing small bumps to form. Will it drastically effect the performance of the soap if I lather it in my hands rather than applying the bar to my face?

Erno Laszlo's Sea Mud Soap has been a gentle, dependable and effective addition to my skincare regimen. My skin is relatively oily, but sensitive and very acne prone. I use this soap at night only, and follow the prescribed Laszlo "spashing technique" as well. It may be less convenient than using other cleansers, but really only takes about 3 minutes or so. For those of us who aren't blessed with naturally problem-free skin, we'll gladly invest 3 minutes daily in anything that helps! I've had problem, acne-prone skin for the last 17 years. While this soap is not a miracle cure, its regular use has helped minimize the acne I do get. And, unlike other products that are geared toward oily or acne-prone skin, actually has a soothing, comforting effect on my skin. After I cleanse with Sea Mud Soap I use a mild toner and a moisturizer with a low dose of salicylic acid. That nighttime routine, combined with using an exfoliating cleanser in the morning (I like Philosophy's Microdelivery Wash), has significantly reduced my acne (by about 80%) and has improved the general condition of my skin. I think that the charcoal in this soap is key to its effectiveness and really does help draw impurities out of the skin, which helps maintain the skin's clarity. Also, charcoal's adsorptive properties are activated and enhanced by heat and steam, which sheds some light on the logic of the splashing ritual with "comfortably hot water." I think Dr. Laszlo was certainly on to something with this soap and his cleansing technique, and the fact that this singular, iconic product has been around for somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 years not only convinced me to try it, but convinced me to give it a chance to make a difference in my skin. I'm glad I stuck with it, and recommend those who are curious to give the travel size bar a try. It's less of an investment, and still lasts for months!

I've been using Laszlo products since I was in my late teens. This soap is still one of the very best cleansers out there, in my opinion. While I don't use the whole program the way I used to decades ago, I still keep this soap and the phelityl oil and use them from time to time and I never cease to be amazed by how clean, smooth, soft and fresh they leave my face. And the smell - I am always aware of a gorgeous smell after using the oil and the soap in combination.

I find that this soap removes all the dead skin from my face - a gentle rub with a towel as I dry my face shows this before my very eyes - and nothing else leaves my face feeling as clean and purified.

I've been using this product for about three weeks, it worked amazing for my acne prone skin the first week, I didn't have a single zit on my face, everything cleared up. But then about a week later, I noticed a HUGE zit on cheek, and I didn't think about the fact that it might have been the soap causing it. Anyway, I continued using it, and I broke out even more. I really wanted this product to work, in the back of my mind, I knew this was the cause of my breakouts, but I didn't want to believe it. It may have not worked for me, but it might work for you. Everyone's skins different. I think i'll give Erno Laszlo's Beta Cleanser a try, since that's made for acne. :)

Amazing. Get samples first. The counter lady's always have some in their drawer. They should last 1-2 weeks. I wish the same formula was available for less,however this soap is a great investment. It has transformed my acne scarred face into smooth and vivid skin.

After using the Sea Mud Soap for several years now, I feel obligated to write a review! If you can't already tell (from the fact that I've been using it for a few years), I do adore this soap! It smells divine to me and it really cleanses like nothing else! Although it doesn't perform miracles, and I haven't noticed that it stops breakouts specifically, it does what it promises: exfoliates and deep cleanses. If you love the squeaky clean feeling - I'm one of those - then this soap is it! After washing my skin feels fresh, supple and not the slightest bit taunt, but keep in mind this soap is recommended for normal to oily skinned (I'm slightly oily) people - don't use it if your skin is dry! The soap foams gently and I don't find that it leaves a waxy feeling on my face but that can be attributed to the fact that I use the splashing technique: yes it does leave an annoying rink around the sink where the water level hits and yes it can be messy, but I can clean up after myself!

As you may know, the soap is a charcoal colored bar of soap the size of your hand that has little beads of who knows what throughout the bar. I find if you press the soap against your face too hard, the beads actually scratch your face (as I have experienced firsthand). Has anyone else experienced this?? Anyways this soap used to come in a plastic marbled box but they've discontinued that for environmental reasons; luckily I found a shop that sold me a box when I was in Vienna! Even without the box, I don't find a problem with it as it really is a waste to make so many boxes (especially for those who are repeated buyers). The soap costs $55 CDN but it lasts me around 8 months. In my opinion, it is definitely worth the money: it is wonderful and solid cleanser and it doesn't hurt anyone to try it!

it works great for me, really helps control breakouts and exfoliates well. Also good for the brightness and tone of my skin. It's expensive but it lasts forever. I do the 20 splashes but i don't bother with the rest of the products from this line. I'm giving it 4 because they discontinued the soap dish that came with it years ago (someone gave me one), and for $40, that is really annoying.

Back when I was a cosmetics associate, there was an Erno Laszlo counter across from the one I worked at, fronted by an elegant blonde woman who looked to be in her 50's, with gorgeous ice blue eyes. I had never heard of Erno Laszlo before, but the lovely SA told me that there was only one beauty product I needed to maintain my skin, and that was Sea Mud Soap. What a clever saleswoman she was, because this stuff is basically a gateway into the whole Erno Lazslo line...
But she was right about the soap. Its the backbone of a very effective skin care ritual. I have heard the soap has been changed over the years, but the only difference I notice lately is that it foams more and doesn't leave the notorious ring in your sink the way it used to.
The cleansing ritual involves filling the sink about half full of warm water, lathering up with dark grey foam and splashing in the "treatment water" 20 times before rinsing. This soap truly cleans your skin, far better than Cetaphil, or Estee Lauder Splash Away, Noxema, Neutrogena, or any other facial soap I've used. I have tried other more "convenient" cleansers, but I always come back to this. I use it every morning and night, and I have for years. Now I'm almost 40 and still have no wrinkles. Is that from using Sea Mud Soap? It's obviously not hurting :)
One caveat - you will need a toner afterward to remove the residue the soap leaves on your skin. And some paper towels nearby to mop up all the water that splashes out of the sink. And you will need $39 every time you need a new bar of soap (every 3-4 months). And you will probably become curious about other Lazslo products and want to try them as well. Don't say I didn't warn you...

I haven't had acne in a while, and this soap made my face break out. I switched back to my old cleanser, and my skin cleared up. I threw the soap in the trash.