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.

Clays are one of the best sources of minerals and it is even believed that human ancestors were able to use clays mixed with water to soothe irritated skin, treat wounds or as a method of cleansing the skin. 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:

- they nourish

- rejuvenate the skin

- exfoliate the skin

- improve skin circulation

- removes impurities even from the pores

- create a smooth, radiant complexion

Our skin requires care all year round, but it is in winter, when the skin is exposed to unpleasant weather conditions, when we also use more rigid and heavier covering cosmetic products, that the skin is much more stressed and requires more care in this respect as well.

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, bath salts, body and facial cleansers, or depending on the size of the particles, even for full-body exfoliation purposes.

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 are specially treated and purified of heavy metals and other toxic substances that are still found 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 cosmetic 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 the most widely used of the kaolin clays due to its fine texture and neutral colour. 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 doesn't get any easier than this. 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" customize the mixture for a specific healing purpose - replace the water with hydrolates 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 for all types of clays.

BENTONIT

Bentonite is made up primarily of volcanic ash and a mineral called Montmorrillonite, which contains iron and magnesium ions to a large extent. It is thanks to these that Bentonite clay can have a grey to fine greenish grey colour 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.

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 in the case of oily skin, it should be used no more than once a week and it is recommended to moisturise the skin sufficiently after use.

As well as face masks, you can also use the clay to make a body mask. The process is identical, except that you will need significantly larger quantities of ingredients to prepare it.

ILLIT

Interestingly, illites are basically formed by further weathering of bentonite (hence the name Ultra Ventilated in its English name). 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.

MOROCCAN RHASSOUL/ GHASSOUL CLAY

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 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.

ZEOLIT

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.

AUSTRALIAN CLAYS

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 dyeing.
Blue	is used in the treatment of oily and problematic skin because 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 produces a harsher scrub, and also mud extracted from the Dead Sea, which is rich in many minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium) and is an excellent choice for spa treatments and full-body wraps.

Visit our shop and choose from our wide range of clays.

Which is your favourite?

Email us at marketing@handymade.sk with your suggestions and insights .