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Clay Facial Masks And Their Benefits Explained

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Thousands of years ago men and women weren’t fortunate enough to live in a world where there are so many different beauty, bath and body products available. Today you have products for every skin type and age. Due to the severely limited selection, your forefathers had to rely on what they knew best: Mother Nature. Before acne facial treatments and exfoliating moisturizers, men used to literally use the earth as a means of skin detoxification. Throughout generations, people have passed down the knowledge of using clay from earth. The people knew that if they mixed clay with water, it would turn into a paste can be formed and applied to the skin for therapeutic detoxification.

Using clay for facial masks is most definitely not a modern phenomenon. If you think about it, it’s odd to scoop a pile of what feels like dirt, mix it with water, smear it on your face, and then share your new discovery with the public. It definitely would seem crazy to people in today’s world. Today’s modern world comes with more opportunities. You’re no longer limited to using the local clay resource as your only option. Today you can have clay dug up from five different countries and they can be at your front door that same day.

Woman getting a face mask.

There is a facial mask for everyone!

What Is A Facial Mask?

Facial masks are generally used after general skin cleansing and exfoliation. This way your skin is prepared for the application of the face mask. On the same note, there are a variety of facial masks for the many, different skin types. Each mask contains specific ingredients that can help to treat your own individual skin. Facial masks don’t just simply improve the appearance of your skin, but they are also therapeutic. Masks can also help stimulate blood circulation. The process of the mask drying on your skin, hardening as well as its removal cause an expansion in your skin’s blood vessels. You’ll be left with smoother looking skin and notice a more radiant glow.

They’re a favorite at beauty spas, estheticians love them, they’re easy to apply and highly effective. Facial masks are basically a combination of a variety of different ingredients that are beneficial for the skin. They help remove excess skin cells or sebum oil, balance the natural oils that occur on the surface of the skin, and remove toxins such as free-radicals – ultimately slowing the signs of aging.

Different Types Of Facial Masks Explained

Facial masks differ based on the specific needs of your skin or your individual skin type. The ingredients in masks vary as well depending on their purposes. Some of the more common ingredients found in many types of facial masks may include types of clay, mud, aloe vera gel, seaweed, algae, essential oils, herbal extracts, and vitamin supplements. All the ingredients are carefully chosen to help treat certain skin issues or skin type.

While there are a wide variety of brands and techniques available in today’s market, there are only six classifying categories of facial masks. These six types are clay, thermal, natural, cream, peel-off, and warm-oil. Each is applied in its own specific way, followed by a specific cleansing routine to ensure that the skin is properly prepared for the mask- maximizing the effectiveness of the mask altogether. Cream masks are ideal for people with normal to dry skin because they are rich in oils and moisturizers that deeply penetrate and replenish dry cells. Whereas clay masks are ideal for normal to oily skin because clay naturally detoxifies skin without oil. Sheet masks work with all skin types but they are particularly excellent for skin that’s usually resistant.

What Is An Ancient Clay Facial Mask?

Woman with a facial mask holding an avo cut in half over her eye

Natural skin starts with natural ingredients

The use of facial masks as a natural beauty technique dates pretty far back. It goes all the way back to the times of the ancient Egyptians and the Ancient Chinese. It was a time when women would use a mixture of herbs, spices, oils, and milk to cleanse the pores and revitalize and renourish the skin. The masks were generally reserved for women of higher standing in society who were wealthy royals. Clay face masks were regarded as one of the highest luxuries in ancient societies.

They tend to contain ingredients that were readily available during that time period. They are also made using specific techniques that would have been used then too. The ingredients will differ based on the region of each specific clay mask’s origin. For historical accuracy’s sake, the ingredients should stay consistent based on the region they are supposed to be from- ensuring the authenticity of the recipe.

Obviously, one of the most important ingredients in a clay mask – is the clay and in ancient times, these were limited to the area which the people inhabited. Today, you no longer have to limit yourself to one species of clay. Instead of making a clay mask purely out of Bentonite like the Indians, or consisting solely of French Green clay like our French forefathers, you now have the option of reaping the benefits of several different clays at the same time.

Benefits Of Ancient Clay Facial Masks Explained

Ancient clay masks are extremely beneficial for your skin mostly because they are free of the modern chemicals that are generally included in today’s mass-made face masks and beauty products. Generally, the beauty products sold today are loaded with preservatives such as parabens, binding agents like sulfates, and a variety of chemical and alcohol-based solvents to help amplify the cleansing properties of the mask or product. By not having these chemicals in their ingredients, ancient clay masks help to cleanse and nourish your skin with natural ingredients, minerals, and vitamins that are essential to the health of your skin. Not only do they clean our tour pores but they also work by removing excess skin cells, sebum oil, toxins and germs/bacteria that may cause inflammation or general irritation in the form of acne, pimples, or overly oily skin.

Clay contains negatively charged molecules in its natural state. Most toxins like bacteria have positively charged molecules. When the negatively charged molecule comes into contact with the positive charged one, they bind together, allowing the toxins to be washed away with the clay. Basically, ancient clay masks give you the benefit of an effective cleansing agent that helps to treat and nourish your skin, while also reducing the number of harmful chemicals that your skin absorbs. As I mentioned earlier, you’re able today to combine different species of clay to reap more benefits.

DIY Natural Clay Facial Mask Recipe

Man applying a clay face mask

Which clay is best for your skin?

Face masks are a perfect way to pamper yourself without needing to leave your home. Whether it’s just you or you and some friends, you’re sure to enjoy making a DIY clay mask right in the comfort of your own home. The benefit of making a mask at home is that you know exactly what the ingredients are. You’re able to customize the recipe based on your skin’s needs. This DIY recipe only needs four ingredients and you probably already have two of them, maybe even three, at home.

First, you combine bentonite clay and oats in a small bowl. Add in enough water to make a spreadable paste. Then add 4 drops of tea tree oil and stir. Apply to the face for 10-15 minutes. Then when you are ready to remove the mask wash your face with warm water and a washcloth. Bentonite clay is made of weathered, volcanic ash. It’s 100% natural, meaning there’s little to worry about when it comes to side effects. It helps to pull all the dangerous toxins out of your skin. The oats help because they contain anti-inflammatory properties and a cleaning agent called saponins. Tea tree oil is perfect because of its antiseptic properties.

Learn the benefits of Rose Absolute Oil while you’re here at Maple Holistics!

Conclusion

We tend to forget that we’re constantly absorbing large amounts of harsh chemicals into our bloodstream, due to the fact that our skin is porous. This has an overall negative effect on the quality of our health. The closer to nature our products are, the better! It’s the easiest way to ensure that your skin is both healthy and clean, whilst avoiding the harmful chemicals that cause irritation. It’s something that is so common in today’s skin care and beauty products.

There has been an increase in demand for natural products and techniques in modern beauty practices, which has caused somewhat of a renaissance in ancient beauty practices. This is because they are a lot closer to nature and therefore a lot healthier and safer. It is due to this demand that ancient clay mask recipes have come back into style. Forget the fact that there are countless studies and research which highlight the benefits of clay facial masks: had they not been effective, it wouldn’t have existed for so long! If you’re looking to try it for yourself to see what the ancient ‘hype’ is all about, make sure to pick a clay mask that combines several different types of clay, so that you can have an all-in-one benefit. That’s the modernization of therapeutic pelotherapy!