Cosmetic clays and their uses
clays have been used in skin care for centuries and are found in almost all traditional beauty and even medical treatments. They represent one of the best sources of minerals and there are even speculations that human ancestors have been able tohave been able to use clays mixed with water to soothe irritated skin, treat wounds or as a method of skin cleansing.
Even today, in societies that have not lost touch with nature, such as American Indians or some African tribes, clays are used for ceremonial healing practices.
clays have retained their place of honour in modern cosmetics. They are mainly used for facial care, where they not only nourish the skin in the form of masks and wraps, but also aid the process of removing dead skin cells, thereby stimulating the formation of new epithelia.
Each clay has its own specific mineral content. Just as you will not find two fingerprints identical, you will not find two clays with identical composition in nature. They differ in texture, colour and composition depending on the source from which they come (they weather).
clays have several functions:
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Our skin requires care all year round, but it is during the winter season, when the skin is exposed to unpleasant weather conditions, when the glowskin is more stressed and requires more care in this respect too.
In the same way that they can be used in the form of face masks, you can also use them to create powders, wraps, in soaps, creams, bathbody and facial cleansers, or, depending on the particle size, for exfoliating full-body applications.
At the same time, we would like to remind you of a very important piece of information:
Different levels of clay quality are available on the market. For cosmetic purposes, therefore, choose cosmetic quality clays that have been specially treated and purified. from heavy metals and other toxic substances that are still present in clays for craft and industrial purposes.
KAOLIN
Kaolin clays are some of the most versatile and finest clays, available in a variety of colours - white, yellow, red, pink. You can use them in virtually any beauty product where they would find a use as a powder. They are used in soaps, body powders, skin care products, scrubs or bath mixes.
White kaolin is represented in our offer.
Due to its fine texture and neutral colour, it is the most widely used of the kaolin clays. Ideal for gentle peeling masks for sensitive skin or in shaving creams. It contains silica and is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
Make your own mask!
It couldn't be easier :-) Start with one tablespoon of clay, which you mix with just enough water to make a smooth paste and can apply to your skin. If you want a "higher level" :-) adapt the mixture to the specific treatment purpose - replace the water with hydrolat or aloe vera gel or juice, add CO2 extract, herbs or tinctures. Want to reduce the drying effect of clay? Add carrier oils or macerates. Apply the mask to your face, leave on for 5 to 15 minutes depending on the sensitivity of your skin.
You can apply the same procedure with all types of clays.
Bentonite is made up primarily of volcanic ash and a mineral called Montmorrillonite, which contains iron and magnesium ions to a significant degree. It is thanks to these that Bentonite clay can have a grey to fine greenish grey colouring in addition to white.
Its characteristic feature is that it swells intensively when water is added and can reach up to 12 times its original volume. It is because of this property of contracting and drying that it has an excellent ability to draw oils and toxins out of the skin, which is why it is excellent for the creation of compresses. Thanks to these abilities, we use it in cosmetics, especially in skin care, but also in spa treatments.
As well as face masks, you can also use clay to create a body mask. The procedure is identical, except that you will need significantly larger quantities of ingredients to prepare it.
Bentonite is suitable for normal to oily skin types. Due to its intense properties, it is not recommended for dry and sensitive skin and even for oily skin, it should be used no more than once a week and it is recommended to moisturise the skin sufficiently after use.
An interesting fact is that illites are basically formed by further weathering of bentonite (hence the name Ultra Ventilated, as in extremely weathered).
In our offer you can find yellow, green and pink illite with the French attribute, which was given to them on the basis of the discovery of the first deposits in France. Our illites are of French origin.
Illites are rich in natural trace elements and have detoxifying properties that draw impurities from the body and release minerals into the skin. They stimulate circulation, remove dead skin cells, tone and strengthen connective tissues, leaving skin smooth and radiant.
They are recommended for dry and sensitive skin.
They are used in detoxifying body wraps, soap making, face masks, facial or body scrubs and beauty baths to soften and improve skin texture.
This fine beige clay is mined in the Atlas Valley in Morocco. The word rhassoul in Arabic means 'to wash'. It is also known as ghassoul clay or Moroccan red clay. It has been used for cosmetic purposes for several thousand years. It was used in ancient Egypt and is still used today in various detoxifying spa treatments. It contains a variety of minerals, with magnesium, potassium and silica being the most abundant. In addition to the skin, it can also be used as a wrap for oily hair.
It is suitable for oily skin types, and as with previous clays, we recommend applying the mask once a week. It gently exfoliates, reduces skin redness and improves skin texture and clarity.
This ultra-fine light beige clay is mined in Turkey and is rich in silicon, calcium, potassium and iron. It has an excellent ability to absorb, store and neutralize toxins, making it a suitable detoxifying ingredient in beauty and spa products.
The advantage of this clay is that although it is used for normal to oily skin, it is suitable for all skin types.
It is also a very good ingredient for mud masks, as it improves their consistency - they are smoother and easier to handle, especially when removing them from the skin.
Its use is versatile: for detoxifying mud baths, facial and body (and peeling) masks, soaps, anti-acne products, facial cleansers.
Beautifully coloured clays come to us from Australia. Our range includes beige, olive green, blue and deep red clays. They are suitable for both dry and oily skin types.
Beige is excellent for stimulating blood circulation and the lymphatic system, suitable for detoxifying wraps, soaps, face masks, facial and body cleansers.
Red is particularly suitable for dry and sensitive skin, and interestingly, due to its distinctive red pigmentation, it is also used for hair colouring.
Blue is used in the treatment of oily and problematic skin, as it regulates the flow of sebum, cleanses the hair follicles and dissolves impurities on the skin.
Olive green removes impurities, tightens pores and balances sebum secretion.
Red is particularly suitable for dry and sensitive skin, and interestingly, due to its distinctive red pigmentation, it is also used for hair colouring.
Blue is used in the treatment of oily and problematic skin, as it regulates the flow of sebum, cleanses the hair follicles and dissolves impurities on the skin.
Olive green removes impurities, tightens pores and balances sebum secretion.
Volcanic ash is also used for similar cosmetic purposes, but it produces a harsher scrub, and also mud obtained from the Dead Sea, which is rich in many minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium) and is an excellent choice for spa treatments and body wraps.
Visit our shop and choose from our wide range of clays.
Which is your favourite?
Article prepared for you by
Martina oboňová
Send us your suggestions and comments to marketing@handymade.sk.
Resources:
https://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/soap/Clays.asp
https://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2012/08/using-cosmetic-clays.html
