Clay: Natural Beauty Element

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Misty L. Trepke

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Clay: The Natural Beauty Element

 

For centuries women and men have known the benefits of natural clay

for drawing impurities and extra oils from their skin. Clay, rich

in minerals and silica helps to tone skin and preserve its natural

balance. Clay is gently massaged onto the skin and as the clay dries

it tightens the skin, shrinks the pores and helps to pull out

impurities like whiteheads and blackheads. Clay masks are used for a

variety of results - from cleansing, stimulating, assisting anti-

aging and improving skin tone. Clay masks can be blended with

essential oils and hydrosols to create a highly effective deep

cleansing mask. When clay is applied to the skin, oxidation and

circulation are accelerated, defensive functions stimulated and body

temperature is raised. Clay balances as it revitalizes.

 

The Benefits of Clay Masks

 

Clay can re-hydrate your skin if it is dry or if you have oily skin,

they soak up the excess oil and tighten up the pores. Best of all,

they give you 20 minutes of relaxation and that is something you can

never get enough of. Clay masks can often clean out the pores

around your nose that contribute to blackheads. You want to keep

these pores as clean as possible so that they don't stretch. The

larger the pores, the more room to trap oil.

 

Most clays have a high percentage of aluminum, calcium, sodium,

potassium, magnesium, iron and other minerals. These minerals are

either inherent or added to the clays and help to absorb the toxins.

Many of these ingredients also help keep moisture in the skin and

help with revitalization and firming.

 

 

The Colors of Clay

 

Clays contains many minerals -- mostly calcium, potassium,

magnesium, gypsum, quartz and manganese. Additionally, zinc, copper,

selenium, and aluminum can be found in some types. Among native

American Indian tribes, different clays were used for different

ailments. Clays come in varying shades of white, pink, red, orange,

yellow, green, and brown. The variety of colors is due to the

variation in mineral compounds.

 

Green clay owes its coloration to iron oxides. The Illite group of

clays contains a particular species of green clay called glauconite.

Generally used for cosmetic purposes, it makes a wonderful mask to

draw impurities out of the skin. Green clay is most effective for

oily skin, since it helps reduce sebum (oil) production if used

regularly. It is also wonderful for mature skin as it helps promote

tissue repair. It is the most absorbent of the clays, so it is great

for large pores. It is very healing, antiseptic, anti-infectious and

anti-inflammatory. Its balancing action increases lymph flow and

circulation to the area to promote toxin sloughing.

 

Red clay is often used in a bath or as a mask for the body as it

disinfects, heals, soothes, and smoothes dry skin. Red clay is best

suited for normal skin and very helpful for broken capillaries and

puffy eyes. It has a high iron content and is good for a muscle

toning body pack. It is slightly less absorbent than green clay.

Pink clay is very mild and can be used for fragile, dry and

sensitive skin. It is also firming for the tissue, particularly the

bust, thighs, stomach and upper arms. It is very good for thirsty,

dehydrated skin.

 

The Kaolin group of clays is often used as a bulking agent and an

anti-diarrheal. Kaolin is the mineral clay used in the over-the-

counter anti-diarrheal, Kaopectate. Kaolin Clay absorbs moisture,

helps keeps nose from shining, provides an opaque, white base for

colors, and adheres to skin as desired. Kaolin Clay is odorless and

has a smooth shapable texture that can be formed into a Masque when

water or oil base is added.

 

From the Smectite group of clays comes montmorillonite clay, which

has very similar functionality to Bentonite clays, another type of

clay from the Smectite group. (The name " Bentonite " is not its

mineral name, but rather a trade name for a commercial type of clay;

however, it has become well known by this name.)

 

 

Applying A Clay Mask

 

First wash with warm water and gently steam your face you can add a

few drops of Chamomile or Lavender to enhance the process. Pat your

face dry with a towel or cotton pads.

 

It helps to use a head band or towel to keep your hair out of the

way. With your fingers or a popsicle stick, apply two tablespoons

approximately of the clay mask to your face starting at the center

of the forehead and working outward. Include the neck. Apply

thicker layers to problem areas; i.e.. clogged pores, black heads,

dry patchy skin, chin area, corners of nose, hairline.

 

Avoid too close to the eyes and just under the nose the mustache

area, this skin needs to " breathe " . Leave the clay on your face 10-

20 minutes. I like to do this while relaxing in a nice aroma therapy

bath with bath salts or color energy bath colors. After the clay

dries and cracks remove with tepid water over the sink or scrub off

for an exfoliation treatment. You can apply rosewater and pat with

cotton balls. You can also apply the clay mask as a " quickie "

cleanse and scrub in with a wash cloth and remove immediately for a

clean glowing face!

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Peacefulmind.com

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