Shahnaz Husain
Clays have been used in beauty care and in treating ailments for centuries. We have heard about the Dead Sea Clay, which is extremely rich in minerals and has powerful healing properties. Fuller’s Earth, or Multani Mitti anatural clay, is used extensively for home-made packs.
Clay is said to be beneficial for the skin due to its great capacity to absorb and also has healing properties. It is said to reduce oiliness and absorbs the skin’s natural oil. This helps to prevent and control eruptions and acne conditions. Clays can also absorb toxins and impurities and thus detoxify the skin. In fact, they can be very relevant dealing with high levels of pollution in cities. Some clays have a cooling effect, while many are rich in minerals. Clays cleanse and refine the skin and also tone and tighten the skin, performing the functions of an ideal face mask. Another benefit is the nourishing effect of clays, as they contain several minerals. Some of them are, in fact, very rich in minerals. Fuller’s Earth (Multani Mitti) and Kaolin are most commonly used.
Clay does come in different colours, according to the quantity of the presence of different minerals. White clay contains Kaolin. It is most commonly used. It is mild and gentle in nature and also suits sensitive skin. It is not as absorbent as the other clays, but can be used for most skin types, including normal to dry skin. It softens the skin and has antiseptic properties too. Fuller’s Earth, or multani mitti, is white or light beige in colour and contains several minerals. It is of particular benefit to oily skins.
Clays have a drying effect, so moisturizing ingredients like honey, aloe vera, fruit pulp should be added to mud-packs for normal to dry skin.
For oily skin: Mix Fuller’s Earth (multani mitti) with rose water into a paste and apply on the face, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off when it is dry.
For acne-prone skin: Mix Fuller’s Earth with sandalwood paste, rose water and neem leaf powder into a paste. Apply the same way and wash off when dry.
For acne marks: Mix Fuller’s Earth with one teaspoon lemon juice and rose water into a paste. Apply on the face. Wash it off when it is dry.
For normal to dry and normal to oily skin, mix 1 teaspoon Kaolin with aloe vera gel into a paste. Apply on the face, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off after 15 minutes with plain water. If there is acne, add 2 drops of Tea Tree Oil to the mixture.
For normal to dry skin, 2 teaspoons of Kaolin powder may be mixed with one teaspoon each of honey and yogurt into a paste. Apply and remove the same way.
Mix 2 teaspoons Kaolin powder, with 2 teaspoons rose water, half teaspoon pure glycerine and a pinch of turmeric. Apply on oily, pimple prone skin and wash off when it dries, or after 15 minutes.
Mix activated charcoal with aloe vera gel and rose water and apply a thin layer on the face, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off after 20 minutes.
For acne prone skin, add 3 to 4 DROPS of Tea Tree Oil and rose water to activated charcoal, for a face mask. Wash it off after 20 minutes.
For oily skin, mix Fuller’s Earth and activated charcoal powder with green tea. Soak a green tea-bag in hot water. When it cools, add it to the other ingredients. Wash off after 15 minutes. It adds a healthy, radiance.
To discourage blackheads and reduce oiliness, mix one teaspoon each of Fuller’s Earth, baking soda and active charcoal. Add rose water or mineral water to make a paste. Apply on the face, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off after 15 minutes.
To discourage blackheads and reduce oiliness, mix one teaspoon each of Fuller’s Earth, baking soda and active charcoal. Add rose water or mineral water to make a paste. Apply on the face, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off after 15 minutes.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
