- Facial and Body Clay Masks -
All You Ever Wanted to Know About Facial Clay Masks
By: Danny Siegenthaler
Facial Clay Masks are part of
a complete skin care regime and should be included at least twice
a week in your daily skin care regime. There are however clays,
and then there are high quality, premium cosmetic/beauty clays.
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Argiletz clays are amongst the
best clays on the market today. They are free from any contaminants
and have many beneficial effects on the skin, making them ideal
clays to use for facial and body clay masks. But what exactly
are these facial clay masks and what do they actually do to your
skin that is so beneficial? In this article we will take a close
up look at facial clay masks, how they work, what makes them
an essential part of your skin care regime and how your skin
benefits from their use.
What are clays?
Clays are naturally occurring
substances containing minerals, trace elements and nutrients.
Clay is a part of most soils and gardeners the world over are
very familiar with the properties of clay rich soils.
In the beauty industry however,
clays are used in different ways, however, the properties of
the clays don't change, their applications however, do.
Argiletz clays are high quality
sun dried clays that come from Argiletz, a region in France,
where they are extracted at specific depths in areas that are
free from contamination. They are quarried under strict conditions
to ensure that their mineral content and purity is retained. |
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Green Argiletz clay for example
is a bio-mineral, which is naturally concentrated, containing
various mineral salts and trace elements including: Silica, aluminum,
magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, copper,
zinc, selenium, cobalt, manganese and many others.
What do facial clays do? and
How do they Work on the skin?
These mineral salts, trace elements
and other nutrients listed above have a detoxifying, nourishing,
restoring and soothing effect on the skin.
Clay is naturally absorbent and
draws toxins from deep in the skin's tissues, thus cleansing
and detoxifying the skin. Its slight grainy texture exfoliates
dead skin cells from the surface layer of your skin, while the
nutrients contained in the clay have a toning and firming effect
on the skin.
By adding plant hydrosols such
as Melissa, Niauoli, Rose and others, the natural benefits of
the different facial/body clays can be further enhanced.
Types of Clays used in our
Facial/Body Clay Masks
There are many clays and types
of clay, however in this article I will focus on what are arguably
the best quality clays on the market today. The different Argiletz
clays used in Wildcrafted Herbal Products' facial/body clay masks.
Green Clay
The most absorbing of the Clays,
Green Clay is generally used as a Face Mask for tissue repair,
drawing toxins from the skin and to normalise excessive secretions
of oil or sweat. Applied as a Face or Body Mask, facial clay
masks cleanse, exfoliate, smoothe and soften the skin. Green
clay is especially good at drawing toxins out.
White Clay
White clay is a mild clay used
for normal skin. It has similar properties as green clay and
is suitable for Face and Body Masks for young and sensitive or
mature and delicate skins. Applied as a powder, White Clay is
an excellent body deodorant and a natural alternative to talcum
powder. White Clay is the Clay of Choice for use as a Hand Mask
to soothe and soften dry hands.
Red Clay
Red clay is high in iron oxide,
hence its colour, and helpful for broken capillaries, bags under
the eyes and sensitive skin types. It is used for toning the
bust, thighs, stomach and upper arms. Red clay is an oily, mildly
absorbent clay and is used for Face and Body Masks in cases of
dry, sensitive or mature skin.
Pink Clay
This Clay is intended for use
in a maintenance programme for the face and body. The softening
effect of Pink Clay refines the skin's texture while toning the
epidermis (outer layer of the skin).
Yellow Clay
Yellow Clay is used for normal
skin and has similar properties as green clay. This clay is derived
from the iron oxide, Xanthoria Parietina. Yellow Clay is generally
used for Face and Body Masks, particularly in cases where the
condition of the skin and body needs revitalising. Yellow Clay
is recommended for most skin types to restore tired and neglected
skin.
Note: Be careful of coloured clays, there are many
manufacturers that add dies to clay to produce artificially coloured
clays, which do not have the same properties of effects and may
well do you more harm than good. So choose carefully
What are the effects of Natural
Clays on the skin?
As indicated above, Argiletz
Clays are pure, mineral-rich clays that help detoxify, cleanse,
tone and revitalize your skin when used in masks and/or in body/face
creams. They also have a nutritive effect on the skin. It is
important to choose the right facial clay for your skin.
How to use the clays?
The Earth Medicine Facial Clays
should be used once or twice a week, prior to toning and moisturising,
as a special cleansing skin treatment. The gel based clay blends
can be used as a gentle, conditioning exfoliant scrub, whilst
the cream based clay blends can be used as a mask to nourish,
moisturise and hydrate.
Masks
The Cream based clays are designed
for use as masks. Apply sufficient Clay Crème to the face
and neck and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off in warm water.
Facial Gel Wash
The Gel based facial clay washes
are designed for use as gentle exfoliant and toning scrubs. Simply
moisten the face and neck with warm water and apply a small amount
of Clay Gel and massage into a light foam for 2 minutes. Rinse
off with warm water. |
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