Green clay is the miraculous, soft, muddy rock that has stolen my heart and in this article I show you 3 ways to use it.
March came with a particular pampering mood on A Shiny Day, and pampering without green clay, the queen of skin detoxification, is impossible, right? Hear hear! Green clay has been a skincare staple for some time now and this is not the first time that it’s mentioned in an article of our bright company. Maybe you remember its guest appearance here!
You might be thinking “what makes Green Clay so special that she’s the main character of today’s article?”
The basics of green clay :
From ancient times, green clay has been the calm force of nature. Green clay is also called French clay, due to its high concentration on the south coast of France (bonjour mon amour oui baguette). Basically, the dissolution of various clay rocks into very small particles is the reason why this article exists today. Nature did it again!
This seemingly accidental erosion of the rocks gave us this miraculous material, and these are just a few of its beneficial properties :
- Cleansing
- Detoxifying
- Exfoliating
- Tightens the skin by improving blood circulation
- Absorbs grease without drying skin out
Of course, there are many ready-made green clay masks on the market but I prefer buying it in bulk and in powder form. That way, I can use it however and whenever I want.
All that is great, but how is it used? Ha! I thought you might ask…
3 ways to use green clay powder
1. Cleansing face mask
I often make a very easy face mask by mixing clay powder with water. I apply the paste on my face and leave it for 10-12 minutes. I rinse with water and…ah! My skin is now clean and renewed. In the summer months, I do this mask 1-2 times a week.
Instructions :
- Start in the bathroom.
- Pour about 1 teaspoon of green clay in your palm.
- Using the other hand, spritz the powder with drops of water. I do this to control the proportions of the mixture.
- When a paste has formed, apply the mask on the face.
- I personally, apply it all over the face, except the eyes and lips.
- Leave the mask on for 10-12 minutes.
- Rinse with lukewarm or cold water.
*after the mask
Note :
- You can use a small bowl and mix the clay with water. The proportions are 1 teaspoon of clay: 1/2 teaspoon of water
- In the past, I had tried mixing more clay with water and storing it in a jar. It didn’t go very well. As the days go by, the mixture becomes moldy. That’s why I came up with this instant clay mask.
- Let’s look at the picture above: Do you see that in some places the clay is darker and in some more “white”? The dark spots are those that have not dried yet. This means that the mask needs a few more minutes before rinsing.
- The more time passes and the mask dries, the more you will feel your skin pulling you. This is, to some extent, normal.
- However, I try to “listen” to my skin’s reaction to the mask. If I ever feel the clay pulling on my skin, I remove it.
- Important : Every skin type is different. Therefore, if you are trying a green clay mask for the first time, don’t leave it on for more than 5 minutes. It may irritate your skin and cause redness. Finally, don’t, under no circumstances, leave the clay mask on for more than 15 minutes.
- You can just apply the mask on the most oily spots of your skin. For example, instead of applying the paste all over the face, you can just apply it to your nose area.
This is a great segway for the next use of green clay.
2. Spot treatment for pimples
By mixing a smaller amount of clay and water, you can make a spot treatment for your pimples. If you happen to have any stubborn oily pimples, apply some of the green clay paste. The clay will cleanse and dry the pimples.
Note :
- You can apply daily on spots, but not more than 6-7 minutes.
- If you overdo it and leave the clay on the pimples for a long time, there is a possibility that the skin around the pimples will become irritated.
- By no means is this a miracle for acne etc. nor is it a miraculous solution for pimples. This is just an extra tip on how you can “dehydrate” pimples on your body.
3. Dry shampoo
Picture this :
You wake up, have an important date and your hair looks like Christina Aguilera’s 2002 look, but you don’t have time to wash your hair. Green clay is here to save the day, in the most natural, non-toxic way.
Instructions :
- I store the green clay in a glass jar
- With a brush I take some green clay powder
- I shake the brush like every self-respecting beauty guru youtuber
- I apply to the critical parts that betray the oiliness such as parting, bangs-forehead, temples.
- I shake my hair well and comb throught
Et voila!
Note :
- Green clay absorbs grease and is a quick solution when you don’t have time to wash your hair. It isn’t like you will apply green clay to your scalp and magically get clean, shiny hair. It just won’t look greasy.
- I also happen to use a solid shampoo with green clay. In combination with the solid conditioner that I apply on the ends, my hair has a fairly high balance of dryness-oiliness and I am very happy. But I also happen to have hair that never gets oil, but even that changes depending on the hormonal phase I am in.
(creepy portrait just after rinsing the mask)
I hope the above gave you ideas that you can implement in your daily routine. One thing’s for sure : this is a natural and zero-waste way to cleanse your face, treat your pimples lightly or instantly manage the oiliness of your hair.
Green clay is one of the most important natural care “tools” that I have at my disposal.
In the meantime, here’s a before + after. Because in order to be photographed for this article, I did a clay mask, put clay in my hair and bathed. It’d be a shame if I didn’t take advantage of such an event, right?
Which natural cosmetic is your favorite? I will be very happy for you to share it with me in the comments!
See you soon,
Source : Anderson, J. (2020). What Is Green Clay Used For? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/green-clay#what-it-is
All the above are conclusions from my personal research and tests and are elements of my own daily life.
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