If you thought that dirt was only good for growing veggies and making a mess, think again. People in various parts of the world have been putting clay on their faces and ingesting it too for countless centuries.
Clay is an elemental substance which people today use for multi-purposes such as construction products, pottery making, and in cosmetics. However, the therapeutic value of clay should not be overlooked.
How is Bentonite clay formed?
Clay minerals typically form over long periods of time from the gradual chemical weathering of rocks, usually silicate-bearing, by low concentrations of carbonic acid and other diluted solvents.
Bentonite clay also called Montmorillonite, is a very popular healing clay that also cleanses the body. This clay is made from minerals such as iron, sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium, formed from volcanic ash. T
he name of the clay (bentonite) comes from the biggest deposit of Bentonite clay that is located in Fort Benton, Wyoming.
Adding water to the clay gives it a negative electric charge, which in turn, removes toxins from the body. It works both externally and internally.
Clay works both internally and topically to help detox and clarify. If you desire clear, fresh and vital skin, here are a few reasons why you should try a bentonite clay face mask!
Need some bentonite clay in your home? We recommend this Aztec Secret Indian Healing Bentonite Clay. It’s the most popular brand, best reviewed and most affordable clay. Get it here.
1. Clay unclogs the skin pores and shrinks them
Whether you have oily skin or not, your pores will undoubtedly become clogged at some point. Shrinking the size of your pores can help tremendously with keeping your face clean and blemishes as bay.
Make a mask from clay using enough water and clay to make a paste along with a little lime juice. Apply to your face and neck and leave it on for about thirty minutes. You will feel your face tighten slightly as the mask dries. Rinse with warm tap water and pat dry with a clean towel. Repeat this twice a week to reduce the size of your pores and leave your skin feeling vital and fresh.
2. Clay helps control the overproduction of sebum
Too much oil on the skin, abnormal shedding of dead skin cells and excess bacteria generally results in acne.
You may also be prone to outbreaks if you take certain medication, produce too much sebum (a natural oil) or have a family history of acne. Blackheads or whiteheads are produced due to an excess of sebum, which cause blocks within the hair follicles on the skin.
Oily skin with too much sebum encourages the production of bacteria which irritates the skin. This can result in acne.
To keep your skin soft, supple and blemish-free, use a dab of clay mixed with water directly on blemishes. Leave on overnight and repeat until blemish is gone.
Recommended Reading: 12 Best Home Remedies For Blackheads
3. Clay draws out the toxins from the skin
Bentonite clay has a very strong negative electrical charge. Since many toxins have a positive charge, the clay bonds to them. When it comes in contact with a toxin, heavy metal, chemical, or other impurity, the clay will gobble up the toxin and release its minerals for the body to use.
In addition, Bentonite clay also pulls hydrogen from cells, allowing room for oxygen. This helps with circulation, and overall skin tone and health.
4. Clay makes skin softer
Bentonite clay is loaded with silica, a trace mineral that strengthens connective tissue including muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and bone. In addition, it makes your skin super soft.
Silica is the most abundant mineral in the earth’s crust and is the name for the chemical compound silicon dioxide. Glass, quartz, and sand are all comprised of oxygen and silicon.
Using bentonite clay on your skin means you reap all of its benefits as it is readily absorbed. If you want more of its benefits, eat foods high in this mineral including garbanzo beans, cucumbers, mangos, asparagus, leeks, green beans, strawberries, and celery.
5. Clay gives a definite glow to your face
Bentonite clay conditions and nourishes one’s skin by removing the dead cells and also extracting the extra oils and impurities from the surface of the skin. For a “glow” you should apply the clay mask regularly.
Be sure to clean your face with water first and then apply the mixture of clay and water and a few drops of tea tree essential oil, to the face.
Keep the mask for five minutes and rinse with lukewarm water. The aftermath of this is an instant glow on the face. Many use the mask just a few times a week or once a week and have great results.
6. Clay exfoliates
Exfoliating is a very important part of any skincare regime. It not only removes dead cells but also unclogs the dirt and oil in your pores that can cause breakouts.
Although you can find many exfoliating products in the store, they often contain harsh ingredients. These ingredients include plastics, irritating fragrances, glycerin, parabens, phthalates and other questionable substances.
To make a powerful and natural exfoliating scrub, simply mix the bentonite clay with a little apple cider vinegar and make a thick paste.
Rub the paste in a circular motion over your face and neck and rinse with warm water. For added exfoliating power, add a teaspoon of coffee grounds. Follow up exfoliation with a light layer of moisturizing coconut oil.
7. Clay helps reduce the appearance of scars
If you are one of the millions who suffer from acne, you not only have to deal with the acne itself but also the scars that remain from it.
The use of bentonite clay is one among the few effective home remedies to remove the scar tissues. As mentioned, this clay helps to remove toxins from your pores, allows skin to heal and reduces inflammation.
Bentonite clay helps in the lightening of acne marks on the face. Bentonite clay helps one to get rid of scar tissues and stretch marks easily and effectively.
Acne scars often result in red color on the face. Clay can help heal the skin and reduce inflammation and redness.
Recommended Reading: 10 Natural Remedies To Remove Acne Scars
8. Clay is safe for all skin types
Bentonite clay is very effective and beneficial for skin and safe, no matter how old you are. Bentonite clay is suitable for all types such as normal, oily or acne-prone skin.
As mentioned, clay is packed with useful minerals and it will help detoxify while nourishing your skin.
9. Clay can be used to regenerate skin tissue
Bentonite clay can be used to rebuild damaged skin tissue. Activated bentonite clay assists in healing and regenerating skin tissue. The clay also helps to rejuvenate skin naturally and reduce fine lines and wrinkles while fighting bacteria and infection.
To make a healing pack, mix bentonite clay powder or baking soda and oatmeal with water and an anti-infection herb (such as garlic, thyme, or calendula) or use an herbal tincture.
For bites, stings and burns, make a poultice using a thick layer of clay on your skin covered with a wet gauze cloth. Leave the cloth on the affected area for about 2 hours and change it out until you experience relief.
10. Clay gives you an even skin tone
During one’s childhood, one has almost perfect skin with an even tone. But as the time passes, skin damages from common problems such as sun exposure, discoloration of the skin and acne breakouts with most of us ending up with uneven skin tone and skin discoloration on your face.
Although it is not possible to completely recover the baby like skin, by applying bentonite clay on the face you can attain a younger look and improve your skin texture and tone.
Dead skin cells, developed over time on the skin surface, give your skin an uneven tone and aged look. By exfoliating your skin you can eliminate such dead skin cells so that newer, younger skin can grow through to give your skin complexion a revitalized appearance.
11. Clay can be used in place of toxic face powder
Bentonite clay can even be used instead of face powder. Free from any damaging ingredients, clay is a safe, non-toxic cosmetic staple that every woman should have.
More Brilliant Uses For Bentonite Clay
Not only is bentonite clay safe and effective for a variety of skin conditions, but it can also be used in the following ways to promote overall health and wellbeing:
Detoxifying bath –
Add ¼ cup of clay to your bath water along with some lavender essential oil for a relaxing and detoxifying bath that will leave your skin smooth and refreshed
Toothpaste –
Mix a little clay with your regular toothpaste. The clay will help draw toxins out of your oral cavity. You can even mix ½ teaspoon of clay in with a 1/4 cup of water and use as a rinse to draw impurities from your mouth.
Baby powder –
To ease the soreness and inflammation of a rash, sprinkle a little clay on your baby. You can also mix some clay with a little water to form a healing mask for the sore area.
These are just some of the many ways that this gift from the earth can help you look and feel your best. It is amazing that something so simple as clay can do so much!
Want to try Bentonite clay for yourself? Pick up a tub of Aztec Secrets Indian Healing Bentonite Clay from this page on Amazon.
Caution: If you react to some metals or have an allergy to some substances in the clay, you may experience itchiness on the skin. It is rarely seen with topical use of bentonite clay on the skin unless you have super sensitive skin. Test the clay on less sensitive areas of your body before using on the face.