How Clay Can Radically Improve Your Skincare Routine and Why | ewmoda
 

How Clay Can Radically Improve Your Skincare Routine and Why

Clay has numerous beauty benefits...

Posted on

16 April 2019

Clay mask

All Credits: PA

When it comes to beauty industry ingredients, clay is nothing new.

As well as being used to fashion pots and crockery, the sludgy stuff has been part of skincare regimes for thousands of years, dating back to Roman spas. Roman author Pliny the Elder wrote a whole chapter about the benefits of clay in his The Natural History, including treating blackheads and acne.

It’s quite remarkable, then, that the historic healing substance is helping address some very modern skin concerns.

Clay mask

“Clay acts almost like a magnet, and really draws everything out from underneath the skin,” says Sarah Inomata, skincare expert and international sales executive at boscia, the brand famous for its peel-off Luminizing Black Charcoal Mask, which combines the purifying powers of clay and charcoal.

“The main clay that we use is the calcium montmorillonite clay, sourced in France. It’s also known as bentonite clay and contains 67 different types of minerals – that’s what really digs deep into the pores.”

By leaving the mask on until it dries (about 20 minutes), then peeling it off, it takes with it many of the nasties that get under the skin’s surface on a daily basis – both visible and invisible.

“That’s why clays are so popular, especially in a mask format,” Inomata says, “because they’re applied quickly and they’re so powerful, but not in a harsh way.”

She recommends using a clay mask a couple of times a week, then you can ‘top up’ with a clay cleanser for daily use if you have oily skin. “It’s a less potent formula if it’s in a cleanser. So do your mask once or twice a week to get a deep clean, and then use your cleanser every day. You don’t want to ‘over-clay’.”

Feat Of Clay: 7 Purifying Products To Try Now

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask, £27.50/AED 132, Boots

Dr Roebuck’s Uluru Purifying Mask

Dr Roebuck’s Uluru Purifying Mask, £25/AED 120, SpaceNK

Green People No. 1 Exfoliating Face Scrub for Men

Green People No. 1 Exfoliating Face Scrub for Men, £13.50/AED 64

Face Gym Brazilian Pink Clay Training Stick

Face Gym Brazilian Pink Clay Training Stick, £38.50/AED 184, Selfridges

Seed To Skin The Divine Cleanse Dual Detox Marine Clay Cleansing Gel

Seed To Skin The Divine Cleanse Dual Detox Marine Clay Cleansing Gel, £78/AED 374, Liberty

Men-U 3 Minute D-TOX

Men-U 3 Minute D-TOX, £17.45/AED 83

Nivea Shower Clay with Ginger & Basil

Nivea Shower Clay with Ginger & Basil, £1.18/ AED 5.67, Superdrug