Bentonite Clay Facial Mask

Have you discovered the health benefits of bentonite clay yet?  Maybe you haven’t even heard of it.  If not, I’m here to fill you in today!  I’m going to share with you a simple bentonite clay facial mask that will help purge your skin of impurities, leaving you with clearer, softer skin.

Clay has been used for thousands of years by our ancestors for many useful purposes.  It has been used to treat digestive issues, morning sickness, insect bites, burns, skin allergies, aching feet, and many other ailments.  Even wild animals have been known to eat clay on instinct during times of illness.  Most recently, clay has been gaining popularity in the skincare industry.  There are various types of clay used in skincare including Rhassoul, White, French Green, and Bentonite Clay, which is our focus today.

Bentonite Clay serves as an excellent detoxification treatment due to its powerful ability to pull toxins from the body safely. When it becomes hydrated, it swells in size, working like a sponge to pull infectious toxins and chemicals from your body through your pores.  Bentonite clay is one of the easiest, most cost effective ingredients to use to detoxify your body.

Ingredients for this mask:

• bentonite clay
• apple cider vinegar
• tea tree essential oil (optional)

You can find bentonite clay at your local health store or order online.  It is important to use unpasteurized vinegar with “the mother” in it for this mask because its properties will provide added benefits to the mask.  I purchased mine at my local Walmart.  Also, DO NOT use metal utensils when making this mask, since the clay can draw out the metal and release it into the clay.

Directions:

Mix equal amounts of clay and vinegar together to form your mask.  I typically use 1 tablespoon of each, which covers my face well with limited waste.  You can add your favorite essential oil if you’d like.  Sometimes I add a drop of tea tree oil to my mask for its added skin benefits.  Once it is mixed well, smooth onto your face and let it dry.  You will feel the mask pull and tighten your skin as it works to pull out impurities.  I leave my mask on for about 15 minutes before removing with a wet washcloth.  If your skin appears red for awhile after the mask, don’t worry, it’s normal and will go away.

I usually apply this mask to my face once or twice a week.  Unlike other masks I’ve used, I haven’t experienced any excessive drying of the skin or increased oil production.  It is awesome! Have you ever used clay in your beauty routine?  Do you like it as much as I do?  I have some other uses for bentonite clay that I will be sharing on the blog soon, so stay tuned!