Saturday, April 4, 2020
The use of clay for topical healing and internal medicinal uses traces back throughout ancient history. Clay as medicine has been referenced as far back as ancient Rome, 60 BC to be exact. Aristotle – the Father of Medicine – also referenced the conscious effort of eating the earth, in the form of soil or clay, for its therapeutic benefits as far back as 384–322 BC.
Considering that the Earth is made up largely of minerals, which is the bulk of what clay is, it wouldn’t be surprising to find out that the use of clay as medicine traces back even further. All throughout the natural world we see animals use mud intuitively to protect themselves from excessive sun exposure, to ward off insects and bugs, and to protect their skin.
Still today, the practice of clay therapy is present. However, now we have even more evidence as to why the use of it is so extraordinarily helpful. With the exposure to a wide range of toxins, stress and environmental pollutants, many people suffer from skin issues today. Most of these imbalances come down to three primary issues; inflammation, bacterial imbalance, and toxicity. All three of these areas can be remedied with the application of clay topically to the skin.
Who should—and shouldn’t—use clay masks?
To be clear: No one needs to use a clay mask in their skin-care routine. But it can serve a role as a complementary step for those who want to try it, Dr. Khetarpal says. Those with oily skin will see the most obvious mattifying benefits, but people with dry and sensitive skin should be more cautious, she explains.
Not only can these masks be overly drying, but they also often contain extra exfoliating or botanical ingredients that can be irritating to dry or sensitive skin. Additionally, those with skin conditions like psoriasis, rosacea, or eczema should probably skip clay masks altogether, Dr. Khetarpal says. Remember, just because something is natural doesn’t automatically mean it’s safe, Dr. Evans cautions.
If you do want to use a clay face mask, check out these derm-approved recommendations below.
1. Softer, Smoother & Glowing Skin
So far, the attributes of clay already mentioned will target most of the root causes of skin problems and help the skin achieve greater health. In addition to countering skin problems for better skin appearance, clay is also loaded with a very important beautifying nutrient known as silica. This trace mineral is one of the most abundant minerals in the body; however, most people do not get enough in their diet today. It is responsible for manufacturing connective tissue such as the muscle, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, collagen, skin and bone.
When silica is abundant in the body, it supports healthy, strong connective tissues and it also happens to make your skin very soft and smooth. In nature, quartz and sand are comprised of oxygen and silicon. These are elements used to produce glass and are responsible for giving us strong shiny teeth. In a similar fashion, they are responsible for giving our skin a smooth, pearl-like complexion. By using clay masks, you can get more silica into your body and onto your skin. So not only will it remove dead skin cells, bacteria and debris, it will give your skin important nutrients it needs to glow.
2. ES Organics Fuller’s Earth Clay Mask, $12
Fuller’s Earth clay is made from sediments left over from ancient volcanic ash, which may also have some brightening effects, Dr. Imahiyerobo-Ip explains. But it can also be extremely drying, so she recommends that even those with oily skin use a mask like this only once a week at most.
3. Unclogs and Shrinks Skin Pores
Minimizing the appearance of pores is often a goal for many people seeking beautiful looking skin. However, having smaller pores is not just a goal of vanity, smaller pores are typically the result of healthier skin, considering that the pores become enlarged when they are clogged with excess sebum, bacteria, and dirt. Clay masks are remarkable at pulling sebum, dirt and possible bacteria from the skin pores.
After application of a clay mask, you will feel your face tighten as the clay dries. As the clay dries it “soaks” up the skins natural oils and anything clogging the pores and draws it to the surface. Once you wash the mask off, you will feel a deep sense of cleanliness. Over the course of time, with continual use, you will inevitably notice your pores becoming smaller. If you are adhering to a healthy, whole foods diet and low-toxicity lifestyle, the results will be even more noticeable, as the production of sebum will be more balanced and the less inflammation.
4. Hydropeptide Miracle Mask, $32
Red kaolin clay has potent oil-absorbing powers, Joyce Imahiyerobo-Ip, M.D., director of cosmetic dermatology at South Shore Medical Center, tells SELF. This mask is her favorite clay-based skin-care product, and it’s formulated with both kaolin and bentonite clays. “It extracts impurities, enables skin to control oil more effectively on its own, and also contains hyaluronic acid and antiaging peptides to help firm and moisturize the skin,” she adds.
5. Detoxifies & Purifies the Skin
Again, as discussed briefly, we know that clay has detoxification properties. It has a strong negative electrical charge, which binds to negatively charged toxins and pulls them from the skin when used as a topical mask. Any form of an environmental pollutant, nanoparticles, cacogenic, heavy metal, chemical, and essentially any unnatural impurity you could think of – and there are thousands of them in the modern world – can be eliminated from the body with the use of clay. As environmental pollutants come into contact with the skin, they can store in the pores and lead to inflammation and allergic responses. The use of a clay mask will leave your skin feeling renewed, incredibly clean, oxygenated and less inflamed.
6. Regulates Sebum Production
Our skin naturally produces oil to protect and moisturize it – it’s known as sebum. When our immune systems are over-activated, be it from an infection, autoimmunity, stress or toxic overload, the skin can overproduce sebum. The result can be acne, blackheads, whiteheads, too oily skin or other skin blemishes. While treating the root cause of sebum imbalances is an internal job accomplished via diet and lifestyle, clay masks are an incredible remedy for oily and acne-prone skin. A clay mask can “soak” up excess sebum and clean out any clogged pores from the resulting excess oil. Be sure to use an organic, plant-based moisturizer with healthy fats to restore some oil to the skin’s surface, that way it does not overproduce after the mask.
7. L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Mask in Detox & Brighten, $7
If your focus is on brightening, Dr. Imahiyerobo-Ip recommends this mask, which contains a mixture of kaolin clay and Moroccan lava clay. “What I love about this product is that the clay stays moist, so you can leave it on for a while without worrying about not being able to wash the product off without excessive scrubbing,” she says.