Marvelous Masks: Your Guide to the Best Clays

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

Read more: Beauty, Skin Care

Adapted from "Better Basics for the Home," by Annie Berthold-Bond (Three Rivers, 1999).Copyright (c) 1999 Annie Berthold-Bond. Reprinted by permission of Annie Berthold-Bond
Adapted from "Better Basics for the Home," by Annie Berthold-Bond (Three Rivers, 1999).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Kelly R.

12:45AM PDT on Jul 7, 2012

July 7
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Donna H.

10:09AM PST on Feb 28, 2012

Thanks for posting.

February 28
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may H.

2:35PM PDT on Aug 19, 2011

good info

August 19
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Jennifer C.

2:07AM PDT on Jul 13, 2011

Great info Thanks.

July 13
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Jessica J.

1:46AM PDT on Mar 15, 2011

Thanks for sharing!

March 15
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KS G.

6:15AM PDT on Nov 2, 2010

Thanks for the article.

November 2
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Cristiana N.

5:50PM PDT on Jul 19, 2010

At the end, I take the mask off using dry clean hands at first, and then, using warm water. I use this method because it's much more easier to get read faster of the clay. Used clay cannot be reused, it's full of toxins.

After that use a nourishing cream.

I must say that clay is a great fighter against toxins. As soon as you put it on your face, it starts to activate blood circulation and to "extract" toxins from the skin. that is why at the end you mights see that your face has turned more or less red. Don't worry, that is only temporary. the reddish state of the complexion is the "barometer" of the toxins you have in your body and, particularly, in the skin of the face.

That is why you use this mask only evenings. also, because it's very relaxing and invites to sleep if you are very stressed.

The more you use it the more you'll see the results and the red look will disappear.

Good luck and God bless!

July 19
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5:40PM PDT on Jul 19, 2010

Well, Erin, I have oily skin and I use clay for it. I use home made clay mask.

How to make them at home? Well, use your imagination and inspiration!

But if you want some ideas, you can follow my basic recipe:

- clay - not much, about 2 full teaspoons isf you use it only for your face. Or more if you put on the neck.
- chamomile tea or calendula tea - a few tea spoons
- about 1 cm cube of frozen yeast - it's full in B vitamins
- honey - a teasponn
- tea tree oil - 2 drops, not more

- non-metallic stuff

How to do (this is how i do) :

In a little glass saucer i put the yeast and let it mealt
I pour over it the clay.
In the center of the clay I make a little hole and there i put the honey and i put little by little the chamomile tea. I use a small wooden spatula (recycled from an ice cream) to mix all the ingredients. I do this till the mixture gets the consistency of a cream and is good enough to put it on the face without dropping it and without getting it "crunchy".
At the end I put the drops of tea tree.
And I let it sit for about 5-10 minutes, meanwhile I clean my face deeply.
Why I let it sit? Because I observed that clay is "growing" and is better on face. and if you use yeast, and it's warm in the room, then it will grow a little faster and more.

Then I put it on my face, avoiding the eyes and the mouth. I try not to talk , eat or laugh while having mask.

I keep it till it gets very "tight" on my face, and that may vary, but I a