Traditionally, masks are made of clay. Clay absorbs up to two hundred times its weight in water. When clay is made into a paste with water or other liquid and patted over the face and left to dry, it pulls not only impurities from the skin but also moisturizes it.

However, note that as master herbalist Jeanne Rose notes:
“Every vegetable, fruit, seed, or nut has a place in a facial or body mask. Indeed, masks can be used by any sex and any age of human being and on any part of the body. They are used to clear up pimples or blackheads, exfoliate the outer scaly surface of the skin, refine the pores, nourish, heal and soothe, absorb excess oil, texture the skin’s surface, moisturize, hydrate, lubricate, or smooth.” - Jeanne Rose’s Herbal Body Book

GUIDE TO CLAYS

FOR DRY SKIN: If you choose to use a clay, use a white clay such as French white, or use kaolin or bentonite (light gray); these are least drying.

FOR OILY SKIN: Use green or red clay.

TO NOURISH THE SKIN: Use a mineral-rich black clay from the Dead Sea