Clays are becoming super popular in the beauty industry and sometimes brands charge extortionate amounts of money for what essentially is a tub of dirt. Clays vary in colour, origin, in what they’re made of as well as the benefits they can provide. Green clay in particular, which originates in France, is made out of decomposed plants and iron oxides. These give it the great healing, detoxifying properties that you can (and absolutely should) use in your beauty routine. As it’s a 100% natural product, you can also use it if you’re sticking to a natural beauty regime.
5 ways to use green clay
Detoxifying face mask
The most common and obvious use of green clay is to mix it with a little bit of water, create a thick paste and slap it on your face. This clay contains magnesium, calcium, potassium, dolomite, silica, manganese, phosphorous, silicon, copper, and selenium. Which makes it a strong detoxifying agent and a healer. It’s particularly great for oily and acne prone skin, but even my dry skin benefits from it greatly. It sucks out dirt from your pores and minimises the awfulness called blackheads. It takes away their black tops making them appear smaller and less pronounced.
Targeted acne treatment
For its healing properties are so strong, you can use it as a local treatment on breakouts and spots. Just mix it with water, the way you’d mix it for a mask, and apply a thick layer on said spot. You can even leave it overnight for an extra strong effect.
Healing of cuts and bruises
The healing properties of green clay can be used not just on breakouts as such but also on any other cuts, little wounds and even bruises. I’ve used this on a cat scratch before and it works wonders. It tingles a little bit when you put it on but it’s still milder than medicinal creams you’d normally put on it.
Sport injuries, strains and sprains
Just like with bruises, you can make green clay wraps on sprained or strained ankles, wrists and even sore knees and hips after running. The clay increases circulation of skin and can draw really deep too. It’s obviously no ibuprofen gel but it can relieve you of some of the pain in a very natural non-invasive way.
Relaxing muddy bath
If you’re having a skin reaction on just any sort of skin rash, try adding a spoon of green clay into your bath. You can even mix it with a little bit of milk or throw in a camomile tea bag. These are all healing agents that will calm the skin and make the rash go away.
You can buy this wonderful little healer in drugstores and online beauty stores however they do tend to cost an arm and a leg. I suggest you browse the internet or your local health foods shop for a more affordable option. You can get it online here on Sanareva (UK) or you can get it in Biooo (CZ) which is super affordable (£3 for 300g).