How To Make A Great Clay Mask, or How To Find A Great Clay Mask! *(Try #2) July 1, 2009

Sustainable Esscentials

*Sorry for the missing text on last night’s post on this same subject…Not sure what happened!  So here’s try #2

If you are looking to make your own Clay Mask, or to be able to purchase a quality mask, these are the things to look for:

• Clay

There are many types of Clay for many skin types and skin conditions.  Clay helps to clear pores, stimulates circulation, and cleans by drawing impurities out of your skin as it’s drying.  And depending on the type & color of the clay, it will have even more benefits!

Clays:

Kaolin Clay

• Kaolin USP Superfine: A white, gentle clay that makes great, non-sensitizing mask, and is also used by soap and shaving cream makers to add slip and absorb oil.  This clay is used on Normal to oily skin.

Rhassoul Clay

• Rhassoul Clay: A light brown clay from Morocco that is especially good for mature skin.  It is very good at drawing toxins, moisturizing, and returning elasticity to the skin. It is used on all skin types.

Zeolite Ultrafine Clay

• Zeolite Ultrafine Clay: A light pink/brown mineral that attracts positive ions and removes toxins.  It can be mixed with other clays to improve texture, appearance, and detoxing ability of the whole.  It is generally used on Normal to Oily skin.

Red Clay

• Red Clay: The color can vary from an orange-red, to a dark burgundy, and can be found from many areas.  I have seen French and Austrailian, but I’m sure there are other places, as well.  These clays get their natural color from iron oxide, and are could for cleansing Normal skin.  And as these clays are VERY colorful, they will stain your towels, your shower, and possibly your face!  I have heard them being used as a natural hair color, but I’m not sure their use.

Pink Clay

• Pink Clay: this can either be a complete & naturally found clay (Austrailia), or simply a mix of a Red and White clay.  The naturally occuring clay can be usued for Mature Skin, as it’s very hydrating and Firming. This color can also stain.

Blue Clay

• Blue Clay: As this clay contains Cobalt Salts which gives it the blue color (it will appear more blue when wet), This is a perfect clay for use on acne or infected skin.  And as it is Blue, it will stain!

Green Clay

• Green Clay: This clay is generally used for Oily and troubled skin.  The many minerals in its content help to detox most problem skin.

Clays Ivory to Brown

• Other Clays: There are any number of other colors, from Ivory to Yellow, Beige to Brown, that are available for purchase.  They each will have their own qualities and recommended skin types.  Most will absorb oil and toxins, and you will have to read their specific information on the product to know which is right for you.

• Liquids

Unless you purchase your mask or clay in powdered form, you will need to pay attention to the liquids added in order to make a clay a mask.  Some of these liquids may be:

• Aloe Vera
• Distilled Water
• Hydrosols*
• Essential Oils
• Dried Herbs

Generally, you do not want to add a Carrier Oil to the mix, as this may keep the mask from drying, which will defeat the masks main job as a means to draw-out toxins.

You want to keep an eye out for preservatives that aren’t natural such as:

• Polysorbate 20-80
• Parabens
• Quaternium-15
• Imidazolidinyl Urea
• Diazolidinyl Urea
• Germaben II
• Methylisothiazolinone

Of course, the list is long…but the fewer ingredients listed, and the more ingredients that you can read and KNOW that they are natural, the better!

*Glossary:

Hydrosols – a water that is made during the Distilling process that is left over once the Essential Oil has been removed.

Sources:

Wikipedia

Keller, Erich (1991). Aromatherapy Handbook, For Beauty, Hair, and Skin Care.ISBN 0-89281-831-X

New Directions Aromatics

Sustainable Esscentials