With the rising number of clays available and more so the awareness and reach that is increasing, it can get overwhelming when you want to decide one clay that will work on you. Clays are a boon to us from mother nature because they are filled with minerals and properties that will benefit our skin. Each place has a clay of their own, so we may not get all the clay possible here in India. But let me highlight the benefits of few clays that are available here.
CLAY 101:
Bentonite Clay:
If you read my posts regularly you must have seen posts on bentonite clay. I am currently using this and I love it. I even use this as a spot treatment and it works so well! Highly recommend this clay for oily and acne prone skin beauties.
What is it: Bentonite clay is clay from Volcanic ashes. While the one from from Fort Benton, Wyoming is THE best. We do have our local clays from Kutch and other regions.
What does it do: Bentonite clay is known to remove ALL the dirt and toxins from your skin. Bentonite is also known as ‘Healing Clay’ as it heals the skin from within.
Who can use it: Even though my skin is not oily, I love using this as I can feel the cleaning it does to my skin. It literally removes the dirt from within. My acne settles down and vanishes with time when I use this. Although, this is best suited for oily and acne prone skin, I feel in summers this would be a bliss for most people living in humid climate. Extremely dry skin people need to be careful as it may dry out your skin. Note: Stay away from ‘white’ colored Bentonite clay, they are over processed or chances of it being mixed.
Fullers Earth:
What is it: Fullers Earth or Multani Mitti (as we call it) is local to us. Fullers earth also has strong properties and is one of the easiest and ancient clays available to us.
What does it do: Fullers earth is so absorbent, that it is used to remove oil stains sometimes. It does the same for your face. Similar to bentonite clay in nature, it can remove toxins, dirt and oil from within. Thought this is one additional property and that is that it has the power to lighten hyper-pigmentation because of its mild bleaching action.
Who can use it: Great for oily skin beauties and for people looking to lighten their scars. However, be careful as fullers earth can have drying effects on your skin. If you have dry skin and still want to use this, mix it with honey and see if it works.
Rhassoul Clay:
What is it: Rhassoul clay is from the land of Morocco. Also known as dual action clay, this clay is famous for its skin friendly attitude.
What it does: The dual action word came to Rhassoul because it contains highly potent minerals and is negatively charged. This property gives the clay the power to work like a miracle because most toxins are positively charged, so it literally pulls out the toxins and leaves skin clean and smooth. It removes blackhead like magic! (Try it)
Who can use it: This is one clay that is a bliss for dry skin beauties as well. So technically it can be used by all of us 🙂
Kaolin Clay:
What is it: Comes in 4 kinds (white, red, pink and yellow). It is one of the most common clays used in cosmetic industry. The most common being the white kaolin clay. It is very finely milled and is very soft to touch.
What does it do and Who is it for: I’m gonna categorize it as per the types/colors available.
White Kaolin: Probably the mildest clay available. White kaolin is great for sensitive skin, but more than cleansing it is used to soften and smoothen the skin.
Red Kaolin: This is a strong one and is used to detoxify your skin. It is perfect for oil and congested skin.
Yellow Kaolin: It has blood circulating properties and is medium absorbent clay. So oily skin requiring less exfoliation can use this.
Pink Kaolin: It is a mix of white and red, so good for sensitive skin people who need some skin detox and cleansing. Safe for dry skin as well.
French Green Clay:
What is it: Highly famous and has an attractive name! The most common is french green clay. It is a bio organic material and contains tons of minerals and is highly potent.
What does it do: The absorbance power of this clay is extra ordinary. It can attack and remove toxins extremely well. This also makes it highly powerful, so restrict your use as well.
Who can use it: This clay is ONLY recommended for extremely oily skin. When I tried this, it dried out my skin in one use itself! So dry skin beauties don’t even touch it 🙂
I hope this research article gave you some insight on clays and their benefits. They are highly effective and it is worth having a bottle with you to detoxify your skin from time to time.
Have a lovely and a happy week ahead! 🙂
Lots of love to you..
P.S. I have completely revamped and changed the packaging of my products. So excited! Check out my Instagram for more details.
