Article Sphere Logo
 

The Benefits of a Facial Clay Mask

By Expert Author: Carol Belanger | Article Abstract
Word Count: 600 words | Views: 548 view(s)
Clay has the ability to absorb excess oils, dirt and harmful toxins from the skin. Clays can be used in facials, body powders, soaps, and as a natural colorant for soap, lotions, creams, bath salts and more.

Cosmetic clays are made up of different mineral contents and each clay type has a different effect on the skin. The high mineral content of clay rejuvenates the skin while the clay exfoliates and stimulates blood circulation to the skin. Regular use of clay facials will remove dead skin cells, improve circulation to the skin, remove debris from the pores and bring about a smooth healthy glow. Each clay has the ability to absorb toxins from the skin but they differ in their level of absorption.

Below are a few cosmetic clays and their properties:

Rose Clay is mild kaolin clay that can be used on normal to dry skin to gently cleanse and exfoliate the skin while improving the skin's circulation. Rose Clay is tinted with iron oxides and gives a beautiful pink color to soaps and powders.

White Kaolin Clay, also known as China or White Clay, is basically kaolinite and is the mildest of all clays. White Kaolin Clay is suitable for sensitive skin. It helps stimulate circulation to the skin while gently exfoliating and cleansing it. White Kaolin Clay does not draw oils from the skin and can be used on dry skin types.

French Green Clay consists mostly of montmorillonite and is highly efficient at drawing oils and toxins from the skin. French Green Clay is rich in important minerals and phyto-nutrients and is the most commonly used therapeutic clay. Use it for facials for oily skin, and body wraps. This clay is not recommended for dry or sensitive skin.

Yellow Kaolin Clay is mild clay making it suitable for sensitive skin. It helps stimulate circulation to the skin while gently exfoliating and cleansing it. Yellow Kaolin Clay does not draw oils from the skin excessively and can therefore be used on most dry skin types. It can be used in soap and body powders. This clay is suitable for dry, sensitive or normal skin types.

Below are a few facial clay mask recipes.

China Clay Mask
(a deep cleansing mask)
3 teaspoons White Kaolin Clay
1/2 teaspoon Bentonite
1/2 teaspoon Glycerin
5 teaspoons Water or Hydrosol
2 drops of rose geranium essential oil
Mix the powders well. Add the glycerin and water/hydrosol. Add the essential oil last. Stir and apply to your face in a circular motion. Allow the mask to dry and then rinse off with warm water.

Soothing China Clay Mask
(a gentle, soothing mask is a treat for those who have sensitive skin)
1/4 cup colloidal oatmeal fine
3 Tablespoons china clay
2 Tablespoons lavender flowers
2 Tablespoons chamomile flowers
One or more of the following wetting agents: honey, floral water, herbal tea, water
Powder the dry ingredients well. Place a few tablespoons of the mix in a small bowl. Add wetting agent to make a paste. Apply to face and allow drying for ten to twenty minutes. Rinse with warm water. Store remaining mixture in airtight container. For super sensitive skin, herbs can be left out or lessened. Posted from Stephanie of Conway, AR on the From Nature with Love website

French Green Clay Facial Mask
(for acne prone skin)
4 Tablespoons French Green Clay
5 dried bay leaves
1 cup distilled water
Boil one cup of water and add bay leaves. Slowly add the liquid to the clay to form a fairly thick paste. Apply to face and allow drying. Leave on 15 to 20 minutes then rinse with warm water

As with any new skin care product, always do a patch test first.
Carol Belanger

About the Author/Author Bio

For more skin care recipes, articles and how to videos, visit Complete Skin Care Therapy

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/The-Benefits-of-a-Facial-Clay-Mask/176679

Article Submitted: 2009-02-06 | This Article has been viewed 548 times.

Rate Article

Related Videos

Skin Care Regimen / Tutorial
Facial Plastic Surgery
Flawless Skin Tips
Skin Care: Facial Cleansing
Lasers and Your Skin
 

More "Skin Care" Related Articles

 
 

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Skin Care" article category.

People interested in the above article "The Benefits of a Facial Clay Mask" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

 
Why is it that the skin of a newborn baby can conjure up feelings of envy in many of us? Simply because, as we age, our skin loses that satiny-smooth feeling it once had. Our environment, our age, what we eat, and the amount of sleep we get all play a part in the look and feel of our skin.
Each one who is preparing himself for a major event in his life or who will be in front of the public eye wants to look very beautiful and attractive on this big day, for example ;graduation day ,engagement day or wedding day, etc. So you can follow some simple tips to help you to avoid the problems that could occur with your skin especially on your special day.
Winter is just around the corner and the cold weather can play havoc on the skin. Every season we should evaluate our skin care routine. For instance, during the winter months the sebaceous (oil) glands produce less oil; thus for those with oily skin during the summer months they may find some relief from excess oil during the winter. However for those of us with combination skin or dry skin, the winter months dry out the skin even more.
Who isn't concerned about aging? Aging is one of the most talked about subjects in the world. Why is this so? Because we are a society that takes great pride in having a nice and attractive appearance. Even though aging affects all of us a little differently, we all basically go through the same process. Aging is a very natural process. As natural as living and dying. As we age, our skin gets less firm. Wrinkles and fine lines start to develop. Most prominently in the areas of our skin that are used the most.
Myths and truths about laser treatments revealed here! Myth 1: I'm only in my 20s or 30s so I don't need laser treatments. Fact: According to Dr Dana Elliott, doing a laser treatment is similar to giving your skin a work out, which keeps it in peak condition. It is better to prevent than cure. So, if you start your treatments now, your face will retain its youthfulness 10 years or more down the road.
New lasers now may or may not remove the top layers of skin and they are more targeted and less invasive, causing less tissue damage. An example is the Erbium laser which I am trying today. According to Dr Elliott, this laser has exfoliating properties which is good for acne and it also has skin tightening benefits.
How does IPL Photorejuvenation work? The flash lamp produces light which is carefully filtered before it reaches the skin. This ensures that only light of the correct wavelength is allowed to touch the skin.
 
Article Directory Home All Categories Beauty Skin Care
 

Can't find what you're looking for? Try Google Search!
 
Copyright © 2005 - by Larry Lim, Singapore - Article Search Engine Directory at ArticleSphere.com™
All Rights Reserved Worldwide. All Trademarks and Servicemarks are the property of the respective owners.

Afrikaans Albanian Arabic Belarusian Bulgarian Catalan Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional) Croatian Czech Danish German English Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Icelandic Indonesian Irish Italiano Japanese Korean Latvian Lithuanian Macedonian Malay Maltese Dutch Norwegian Persian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swahili Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese Welsh Yiddish