Clay masks are a godsend for people with oily or acne prone skin. They are supposed to remove dead skin cells, absorb extra oils and impurities from the surface of the skin and give a natural glow to your face. As acne is caused by clogged pores (among other things), it is very important to keep the skin really clean without drying it.
There are a lot of of clay masks on the market, some of them very expensive. For instance, InStyle magazine's best 2012 mask for oily skin is SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay mask which retails for $49. I have not tried that mask and I am sure it is very good, but for those of us who are on a budget it might be too much.
On advice of a Korean cosmetics store owner in my town (San Diego) who is probably 60 years old but has perfect wrinkle-free skin, I bought this European Clay mask, which is nothing more than 100% pure montmorillonite (a natural mineral silicate). It has no fillers, preservatives, additives or artificial colors. It is 100% natural!
It comes in a 6 ounce plastic jar in the form of grey powder. In order to make a mask you just have to mix it with water and voila! Directions say use one tablespoon of clay with one teaspoon of water. I find this ratio hard to mix, so I use a little less of clay and a little more of water.
When mixed this clay has the consistency of store-bought clay masks. You can make it more or less watery, of course. Apply to your face avoiding the area around the eyes and mouth and let it dry. It usually takes around 10 minutes for it to dry. It is generally advisable not to allow clay masks to dry completely, as it is possible for them to end up drawing moisture from your skin, and you don't want that!
Rinse thoroughly using a washcloth if you want. Your skin will look amazing! Clean, translucent and ready for your moisturizers and serums. Since this clay does not have any artificial ingredients, your chances of having an adverse reaction to it are very low. I use it 2-3 times a week for maximum results.
I forgot to mention the best part: this clay is between $3-5 from online stores!
OVERALL: Highly recommended. Cheap and produces clean and healthy skin.
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