Clay is something I use on my own face. It seems to make my skin look a little plumper, at least temporarily. This natural beauty trick has been used by women for thousands of years.
Bentonite Clay Mask for Your Face
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Lately, though, the idea of putting natural Bentonite clay on your face is once again in fashion.
Using clay does make your skin feel softer. Whenever I give myself a DIY clay facial, this soft feeling lasts for days.
Clay is considered a good way to detoxify your face. Some natural beauty experts recommend using clay to fight wrinkles and to ward off the visible signs of aging. But is there any scientific evidence to support this idea?
Bentonite Clay Mask For Wrinkles
Actually, there is. Although large clinical studies are lacking, there is an interesting finding published in the journal of Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. An increase in collagen was observed in the skin of rats after their skin was treated with clay for seven days.
Collagen is the protein that holds our skin together. This is what keeps it looking young. Our natural collagen wanes as we age. That’s why so many face creams and moisturizers contain plant collagen, or other ingredients designed to boost our own collagen production.
Where To Buy Bentonite Clay
Clay is readily available. I love how it makes my skin feel so soft, for so little effort. If you’re looking for a good brand of clay, Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay, shown below, is a popular option. It’s taken from natural beds in Death Valley, California, and is dried in the sun, at high temperatures, for up to six months. This is one of several brands of facial clay that I feel comfortable recommending on this site. Some of the other brands I also like to tell my readers about include:
Now Foods Bentonite Clay Powder
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Bentonite Clay Mask for Wrinkles
I put clay on my face about 10 minutes before showering. This is about the amount of time it needs to dry. During my first treatment, I left the clay there much longer, while I did things around the house. This was a bad idea. My face was red after I emerged from the shower. This happened even though my skin is not particularly sensitive.
So, if you plan to use Bentonite facial clay, you may want to think about doing a 24-hour test patch on a small part of your face, just to get an idea how your skin will react.
If your skin is naturally dry, you can add a little olive oil to your clay, before putting it your face. Bentonite clay is made from volcanic ash, and it contains many healthy minerals. It’s believed to be able to bind with toxins. (This is the same idea behind full body mud baths. Or, if want to do a partial body detox, you can apply Bentonite clay to the soles of your feet.)
Healing Properties Bentonite Clay
Clay is rich in trace minerals that many of us don’t get enough of in our diets. That’s why some people advocate ingesting clay. However, I don’t. Ingesting clay can be dangerous, because it can potentially result in intestinal blockage if you happen to consume too much, or consume it without an adequate amount of water. So I just tell people never to do this unless they’re working with a healthcare professional.
Also, there are plenty of benefits with external use alone. Other studies have shown that clay can reduce acne, and can possibly fight infection, due to its natural antibacterial action. Last summer, when I was stung by a bee, an application of moistened clay quickly dulled the pain.
Bentonite Clay Mask Recipe With Lavender Oil
Lavender oil also has a reputation for being able to cleanse and detox. So, if you’d like, you can add a drop of pure lavender essential oil to your clay mask. Just be sure to use at least one teaspoon of clay per one drop of lavender. You can also add some olive oil to the mix. Then just add enough water to make a liquid-like paste that will spread on your face.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.
For More Information
I purchased a canister of the Redmond Clay a few months ago to mix with some Plant Therapy essential oils to make a great bug bite remedy for my husband since he is a “bug magnet”. Works like a charm to draw out the poison from the bug bites. I’ve been looking for a “tried and true” mask recipe for myself and will give the Bentonite Clay Mask Recipe With Lavender Oil a try. I’ll make sure I do a 24-hour skin patch first as I have sensitive. skin. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Susan, I love having both clay and lavender oil in the house. They are both so useful. Thanks so much for reading.