Types of Clays
Since ancient times, mud-masking has been around, and clay is the star ingredient of so many masks for a good reason because it absorbs impurities and helps to cure the skin. It can be intimidating to know and pick the one that is right for you as the options for different types of cosmetic clays available today are so many.
Your skin may like one clay over another depending on your skin type. For normal to oily skin kinds, clays are best because they absorb moisture. Products containing clay will leave your skin feel a little uncomfortable if you have extremely dry skin. Drier skins may still use clay products, but, choosing a milder clay is essential. If you are developing skincare recipes for yourself or others, and want to use clay, learn which is better suited to all skin types.
There are three significant groups of clay used for cosmetic reasons based on their mineralogical composition–
Kaolinite – It is the finest clay available. It has an average potential for absorption but has strong adsorption of some toxins. It is the best, tenderest clay and is ideal for sensitive skin as well. Absorption rate – 65% with a pH of 6
Illite – They are the most prevalent clays, come in various shades. With the maximum variability, they are the richest in minerals. Absorption rate - 150-200% with pH of 7.5
Smectite (Montmorillonite) is made of ash from volcanoes and has the greatest absorptive potential of 300-700% with a pH of 8-9.7
Smectite
Bentonite clay
Mineral Clay Family: Smectite
INCI Name: Bentonite or Montmorillonite
Appearance: Fine, natural cream/grey coloured powder
Scent: Neutral / odorless
Texture: Little grainy, but when pressed between the fingertips, it sensates smooth and soft.
Skin Type: Especially for normal, combination, oily or acne-prone skin. However, it works well for all skin types.
Bentonite clay is formed from sediments of volcanic ash that have been hardened over a significant period of time. For skin beneficial properties, this is a ubiquitous clay. The texture is perfect for shaving soaps, as it helps slide the razor easily over the skin and gives a nice "slip" to products. It has super strong capabilities to absorb oil, making this clay a perfect choice for too oily skin, as it can quickly suck up all the excess sebum.
Not only that, it possesses electric properties which get activated when combined with water. It charges the molecules and draws contaminants and pulls them like a magnet out of the skin. It applies to any skin ailments including infection, toxins and fungus. Also, when mixed with water, Bentonite clay swells, making it a highly porous element. It absorbs more than its initial mass, like a sponge, including any swelling in your face from excess sodium. With its abilities to tighten, prevent acne, and absorb impurity, you can probably say why Bentonite is a pet for any skin concerns. This clay is commonly favoured in products like bath soaking blends, facial masks, or foot baths.
There are three types of Bentonite clay:
Calcium Bentonite - It is used for the adsorption of ion, fats and oils present in a solution. It is the key active ingredient of Fuller Earth, probably one of the first industrial cleaning agents.
Sodium Bentonite - It has excellent colloidal properties. It expands several times its dry weight in water. Sodium Bentonite is used for –
Geotechnical and environmental investigations, it is used to drill mud for oil and gas wells and boreholes.
It is also useful as a sealant due to its absorbing property. It provides a self-sealing, low penetrability barrier; for example, it is used to line the base of the landfills.
It is used as fertilizer prills when combined with sulfur. It is used to slow down the oxidation of sulphur to sulphate and attain sulphate levels in the soil for longer. Sulphate is an essential plant nutrient used for organic farming.
Potassium bentonite - Potassium bentonite is an illicit potassium-rich clay formed by the alteration of volcanic ash.
Dry Characteristics: When brushed off, it leaves behind more of a powdery layer, and the dry clay does not stick too much to the skin.
Wet Characteristics: The clay paste is off-white with a soft consistency when moist. If a liquid is incorporated even slowly, clumps can form, so whisk helps maintain a smooth consistency. This wet clay spreads effortlessly over the skin and is reflective of cooked oatmeal from its dense texture.
Rhassoul Clay
Rhassoul Clay – pH 7-7.5
Mineral Clay Family: Smectite
INCI Name: Moroccan Lava Clay
Appearance: Very fine, dusty clay that has a light reddish-brown colour powder
Scent: odourless
Texture: It's slightly grainy similar to French green clay but feels soft and silky when placed between the fingertips.
Skin Type: Great for mature, sensitive, blackhead prone skin and oily skin and scalp
Rhassoul, also known as Ghassoul, is named after the Arabic word "rhassal," meaning "to wash." Magnesium silicate is the key component of this primitive clay and has been used for centuries in the field of natural skincare.
It is a naturally occurring clay mined from deep deposits in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Therefore, it is unexposed to surface contaminants, unlike many other clays
It belongs to the Smectite group of clays, like Bentonite, which suggests that it has a remarkable tendency to swell when mixed with water.
The molecular formation of Rhassoul clay provides it with an amazing capability to suck excess dirt and oil and eliminate toxins from the skin. It is crazy-rich in minerals, mainly silica, magnesium, potassium and calcium minerals that are desirable to the skin and have been used as a cleaning agent and conditioner for the skin and hair for centuries.
This very negatively charged clay, like an ideal magnet, sucks up most of the contaminants present in your skin, which are positively charged. The impurities like blackheads, hair follicle oil and sebum plugs do not have a chance to stick for long if this clay is used as a therapy. It's perfect for removing excess hair build-up, maintaining volume, and shine. Its elasticity and texture-improving results don't leave you dry. It's mild enough and can be used every day.
Hair Care Benefits of Rhassoul Clay
Rhassoul had been used as hair shampoo in olde Egypt and Rome. It's been suggested for normal to oily hair, dandruff hair, and sensitive scalps.
Being perfect for oily hair, Rhassoul keeps away dryness and decreases flakiness by enriching and cleansing the scalp without taking away the protective sebum.
The mineralogy of Rhassoul clay indicates the presence of a generous amount of magnesium, silica, calcium, potassium, and other trace minerals that stimulate the scalp and enhance hair elasticity. It also helps to unblock the pores of the scalp leaving hair smooth and moisturized. It further improves the texture, volume and manageability that helps to detangle.
Wet Characteristics of Rhassoul clay: This clay blends with water to make a creamier, red-brown paste without lumps. However, it needs water to get mixed properly to avoid graininess. It's thin consistency spread out easily on the skin.
Illite
French Green Clay
Mineral Clay Family: Illite
INCI Name: Illite
Appearance: Fine powder with a smooth feel and a light green hue. Its rich green colour is revealed when combined with water.
Scent: Neutral earthy aroma
Texture: Slightly grainy, but smooth and gentle when squeezed between the fingertips.
Skin Type: Normal to oily skin and scalp
Composition: Calcium, Aluminum, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Sodium, Titanium and Silica
It is also known to be Sea Clay or Marine Clay by some. Its sourcing place is often found in ancient sea/marine beds of France.
Skin Care Benefits of French Green Clay:
The star quality of French Green Clay, which everyone looks for in clay and which is of much demand is that it shrinks and minimize the appears of pores as the clay dries and tighten the skin for a refined, toned, and firm look. After wet application on the face, blood flow to the skin is stimulated, thereby improves circulation.
It also attracts blood to the surface of the skin, giving a bit of a tingling feeling.
French Green clay is exceedingly absorbent and adsorbent. It serves as a magnet for impurities to get removed, helps excess oils get eliminated, and dead skin cells are exfoliated skin to uncover a new layer of skin People with flaky, oily and acne-prone skin types with a healthy and attractive glow.
It is also anti-inflammatory and ideal for addressing congested skin, allergies, cuts, sunburns, cellulite, sprains, excessive sweating and infections.
This clay comes from France, but it is now considered to be available across several different regions of the world and is widely used in facial masks for colour and oil absorption.
Decomposed plant material such as kelp & algae and iron oxides gives this clay its light green colour. The fact that its very green colour is a deciding factor in the reliability of the clay's highest purity.
It's most suitable for oily and acne-prone skin types. For temporary blemishes, it is found to be helpful for many people.
The other form of French Green Clay is French Green Montmorillonite, discovered in southern France. It is very rich in mineral content than Illite such as silica, iron, magnesium, calcium, manganese, and other nutrients. It is suitable for body wraps and face-masks due to its swelling, absorbing and remineralizing abilities. A weekly mask can control the development of sebum from the skin, particularly for oily skin types.
Other shades of Illite Clay are available as well. They share more or less the similar properties mentioned above, particularly the ability to extract oil from the skin, based on the mineral content and hence the colour.
French Pink Clay
Its pink colour may be a mixture of Red Illite and White Kaolin clays instead of being extracted in a pink state.
This clay is the gentlest purifiers of all clay.
Suitable for sensitive, mature, irritated and regular skin types.
It constituted of Kaolinite, Illite, Montmorillonite, Titanium, Calcite, Iron Oxide, and Silica.
Demonstrate lifting action, if used frequently, on the skin.
Remove dead cells from the skin and help to achieve a radiant complexion.
Perfect for improving circulation and relaxing the skin damaged by the sun.
Have refining properties that minimize the presence of pores and puffiness.
Even out the colour hydrates and softens the skin and lightens the signs of ageing.
Reduce blackheads and reduce the under eye dark circle.
Boost skin elasticity and restore supple skin connective tissues and cells that tend to be more youthful and refreshed.
Red Illite Clay
Red Illite Clay is identical in characteristics to other Illite Clays, only the higher concentration of iron oxide of the clay makes the difference.
It's found and identified in the North of France and the Atlantic basin.
Its constituted of Illite, Kaolinite, Montmorillonite, and Calcite
It's extracted from Hematite Iron rock, and its red colour is due to the hefty proportion of Iron Oxide and Copper Oxide in Hematite Iron and has a velvety texture.
People with flaky, oily and acne-prone skin types as well as skin with broken blood vessels (also known as spider veins) will be benefitted the most.
It reduces the look of enlarged pores and leaves the skin refreshed and smooth
It's highly absorbent and purifying.
This clay renders an optimum colour as an additive to the products made such as facial powders, masks, and soaps.
Toning and moistening properties smooth the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Revitalize and exfoliate dull, ageing and congested skin, giving it a cleaner look.
Improve circulation, leaving the skin looking luminous and replenishing, restoring and strengthening the skin and tissue.
Fix sun-induced skin damage and decrease the existence of stretch marks, bruises, broken capillaries, blood clots and burns.
Yellow Illite Clay
Yellow Illite - In its medicinal and cosmetic properties and applications, it is identical to Green Illite.
Constituted with Silica, Magnesium and Iron Oxide.
A gentle yet effective purifying and velvety textured clay best suited to sensitive, combination and dry skin.
Have a considerable amount of Iron Oxide which is responsible for its soft yellow hue, though less than that of Red Illite.
It strengthens and tones the skin cells and tissues.
Induce blood circulation to give new and healthy-looking skin.
It's ideal to manage dermatitis, acne, psoriasis, ulcers and eczema.
A note from French Clay
French Clays are intended only for external use. Before using French Clays for curative reasons, it is crucial to seek medical advice. It is best advised not to use French Clays without the doctor's opinion for those taking prescribed medicines, pregnant women and nursing mothers. Clay should always be kept in restricted areas to children, particularly those under seven years of age.
To maintain their potency, it is necessary to keep the clays dry by preventing moisture from entering their containers. Clays must also never be packed or stirred with metal utensils and containers, as metal make them lose some of their most beneficial properties. Therefore, the best and recommended materials for use in the preparation and storage of clay are ceramic, glass and wood.
A skin test is recommended before using French Clay. A skin test can be accomplished by adding a slight mixture of clay and water to a small, non-sensitive region of the skin. Never use French Clays in the immediate area of the eyes, nose and ears, or any other specific part of the body that is sensitive. It is believed that French Green Clay has the following possible side effects: dry, flaky skin areas or skin rashes. The use of French Clays is not recommended for those with anaemia, as they may affect iron absorption and causing the condition to worsen.
In case of any allergic reaction, stop using the product. See a doctor or skin specialist for appropriate measures. Consult with a medical professional before using to prevent side effects in the first place.
Clays, when used as face masks or body masks, don't let them dry entirely because the longer they stay, they begin to pull moisture out of the skin. It may contribute to wrinkles and fine lines getting more prominent in mature skin. And due to this drying effect of the clay, once a week is sufficient for any skin type. However, it is not advisable for people with dry or sensitive skin, as it may further irritate the skin. As an ingredient in natural cosmetics, French Green Clay is also used to manufacture soaps.
Wet Characteristics: It has a slight lumpiness when water is mixed with clay. When adding liquid, mix thoroughly and slowly with a whisk to get smoother clay paste. This clay has a much deeper green hue when humidified than in its dry state. The texture tends to be a little grainy when applied to the skin just like Rhassoul clay.
Sea Clay
Sea Clay – I have read every article available on the internet (whatever I could find) to confirm if it's the other name of French Green Clay. This clay has been named differently from different people. Some call it the same as French green Clay; some call it Dead sea Mud/clay and some call it as it is. I included it as a separate clay because if it's different, the reader should know its benefits and that Sea Clay is one of the clays available for skincare. However, if we see, Sea clay possesses the same qualities as French Green Clay and somewhere it makes us believe that it may be the other name of French Green Clay.
Please comment below if you know about this.
This dark green Sea clay originally comes from mud deposited under the sea for tens of thousands of years. It's dark green, greyish in colour. It is widely used in facial masks to detoxify the skin. It is best suited for normal or oily skin types.
It attracts impurities from oily, problematic skin and stimulates the skin with its various naturally present minerals, such as calcium, silica, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, potassium, selenium and more.
An excellent source of minimizing pore!
Integrated with sea algae and other nutrients to give a great deal of detoxification and provide additional anti-ageing benefits. It also activates a natural skin repair process through specific tissue reactivity to its minerals.
Also works perfectly on the neck, back, and shoulder areas, and on any other skin areas that are susceptible to skin problems, rendering the most suitable anti-ageing clay mask for people with oily skin.
Note: If your clay mask is breaking and peeling, you may have left it too long. It is now absorbing the moisture out of your skin, making the skin dehydrated and discomfort. When your mask seems to lighten in colour, but you still feel a little damp, it's time to wash it off. So, NEVER LET your CLAY MASK DRY FULLY.
Green Zeolite Clay
Zeolites are microporous minerals that form when alkaline groundwater reacts with volcanic rocks and ash. Green zeolite clay has a much bigger texture than other clays, and because of the more expansive texture, it has an outstanding property to absorb odour and excess sebum. It also has a very gentle exfoliating ability. It is ideally fit for mild to oily skin types.
This gorgeous green clay has the potential to absorb, preserve and annihilate toxins for beauty and spa products, making it a powerful detoxifying ingredient. It is naturally high in minerals such as silicon, calcium, potassium and iron.
The best use of this clay is in face scrubs, masks, soap bars and more!
This clay is harsher than most cosmetic clays and is widely used as an exfoliant in soap and skincare products.
Kaolinite clay
Kaolin clay
Kaolin clay - It is a perfect detoxifier, soft exfoliator, and skin balancer for sensitive and dry skins because it does not over-dry skin.
Mineral Clay Family: Kaolinite
INCI Name: Kaolin
Appearance: Fine powder with light tan colour that can vary to off-white
Scent: Neutral scent
Texture: Very fine, soft, fluffy and light-weight. A thin powdery layer will coat the skin when touched.
Skin Type: For all skin types, but is particularly great for sensitive skin and dry skin.
Water absorption rate - Kaolinite: 65%
pH level: 6
The mineral kaolinite is a hydrous aluminium silicate, which is the main ingredient in kaolin clay and is formed by transforming minerals such as feldspar. Depending on its mixing with other trace elements, this clay can be found in various natural colours. Kaolin clay's most prevalent colour is off-white. This clay is also used in mineral makeup as an ingredient.
Kaolin clay, for example, when combining with naturally occurring iron oxide, makes pink, red or orange, or yellowish pink when mixed with feldspar. Pink or rose kaolin may be from iron oxides that occur naturally, or it is often a mixture of white kaolin blended with red kaolin.
The fine texture makes it simple to integrate into a variety of formulations. Eye shadows and makeup, bath bombs, soaps and more are included in this. Kaolin grants silkiness to the lather when used in soap. It serves as a mild exfoliant, mild cleanser and may also add natural colour. It is a gentle clay, with less capacity to absorb liquid than most; thus, this makes it ideal for more sensitive and dry skin.
In haircare, silica-rich kaolin helps to cleanse the scalp gently without drying. It calms inflammation, helps to moisturize dry, damaged hair and revitalize it. It increases scalp circulation and reinforces the roots by extracting debris and impurities from the hair follicles.
White kaolin: For all skin types. The mildest and most suitable for dry, sensitive skin because it absorbs less as compared to other clays. It softens the skin with its gentle, fine particles, provides mild exfoliation and prevents excessive dryness of the skin. What you are left with, after using white kaolin is a soft, refreshed feeling.
Yellow kaolin: For dry, sensitive skin. It is slightly more absorbent than white kaolin with good stimulating circulation properties, yet gentle for sensitive skin. Its gentle exfoliation and yellow colour leave skin bright and new.
Red kaolin: For normal to less oily skin. A higher silicate volume is found in red kaolin clay and is rich and occurs from a naturally occurring iron oxide. Of all the kaolin grades, it has the best absorption abilities. It is an excellent option to face or body acne/detoxifying masks and a great addition to mildly sensitive skin yet acne-prone.
Due to its remarkable ability to absorb oils from the skin, Red kaolin is best suited for oily and acne-prone skin types. Rather than White and Yellow kaolin, which is more for sensitive and dry types.
Pink (Rose) kaolin: For combination skin. It is uncertain that this clay is whether naturally pink or a mixture of White and Red kaolins. However, in any case, it has both White and Red kaolin properties. The clay has a light to medium pink shade and has a fine texture like kaolin. Those with sensitive skin with a bit of excess oil and need gentle exfoliation, get the maximum benefits. It balances out the skin, keeping skin from being irritated. It also makes an excellent natural facial powder.
Rose clay gives both colour and soft exfoliation which makes it a great soap additive. It gives a deep red colour or an orange shade with gentle oil-absorbing properties.
Orange Kaolin: For normal or combination skin. This clay is much like Pink Kaolin but has more pulling power.
Wet Characteristics: This clay takes a darker tan colour when mixed with water. The texture stays fine and is easy to blend with water, and it is smooth and free of grit.
Brazilian Clay
A type of kaolin clay that comes in a variety of bright shades. They are coloured naturally and do not contain any pigments or dyes. As they are obtained from diverse regions of Brazil, they have different shades, which of course will have differences in the minerals present in the soil. Brazilian clays have a standard degree of absorption that makes them a useful additive for most skin types.
Brazilian Green Clay - This green clay mineral has historically been proposed for oily skin. Benefits: eliminates impurities (pollutants, excess sebum, sweat waxes) and, without dehydrating, encourages skin and hair balance.
Brazilian Red Clay - A stunning mineral of dark red clay is rich in iron which is most stable and non-reactive in air. Benefits: reduces impurities, encourages the balance of skin and hair without dehydrating, displays antioxidant and anti-ageing properties.
Brazilian Rose Clay - A mineral of soft old rose clay, recommended for sensitive skin. Benefits: reduces impurities, encourages the balance of skin and hair without dehydrating, displays antioxidant and anti-ageing properties.
Brazilian Golden Yellow Clay - The Yellow Golden Clay Mineral. Benefits: reduces impurities, encourages the balance of skin and hair without drying, displays antioxidant and anti-ageing activity. Hair cuticle repair action has also been confirmed in studies.
Brazilian Purple Clay -A beautiful mineral of purple clay rich in Magnesium and Potassium. Benefits: eliminates impurities, facilitates the balance between skin and hair without dehydrating.
Brazilian Black Clay – A black mineral with unique, organic content. Benefits: eliminates impurities, promotes a balance between skin and hair without drying, oil management, anti-pelvic properties. Great for cosmetics made for guys.
Fuller's Earth – pH 7.5
Fuller's Earth is a widely used and familiar name in cosmetics when it comes to treating your skin, especially in India and its subcontinents. It was first used for "fulling" or removing grease from woollen goods, and probably it took its name from that process.
It's a clay comprises primarily of hydrous aluminium silicates, magnesium and silicate of varying compositions. Typical components are montmorillonite, kaolinite, and attapulgite (one of the types of Fuller's Earth). Small quantities of other minerals can be found in fuller soil deposits. Fuller's Earth also refers to Calcium Bentonite, which is transformed volcanic ash primarily composed of montmorillonite. And the key active ingredient of Fuller Earth.
In India, we call it Multani Mitti, which comes from Multan (an area of origin), a city of this mineral-rich clay in Pakistan. However, Fuller's Earth is now produced in many states of India such as Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Rajasthan.
It is also known as "Bleaching clay" and "Whitening clay" probably because it works well to address facial pigmentation, such as melasma.
It is yet another potent oil and impurity absorber from your face. It significantly increases circulation when combined with floral water and used as a mask. This clay is suggested for people with oily skin since it literally soaks up oil. It may be quite drying for sensitive and dry skin, but it would not hurt normal skin if used once a week and not more than that.
It may hopefully minimize wrinkles later in life. This sediment offers amazing clearing of pore and drying properties. Actually, it is so powerful that it is used to absorb spilt oil in the automotive industry. Besides soaking gunk (on your face and elsewhere), it is widely used as a skin-whitening agent. It's also fantastic to reduce the effects of dark spots and acne scars.
Dry Characteristics: Dry clay has a slight earthy scent and a white to greenish and light brown colour. The texture is very fine and powdery. It's very light, too.
Wet Characteristics: The clay is very smooth and easy to mix with liquids and when wet, it maintains a reasonably thick consistency.
Dead Sea Mud
INCI Name: Silt
Appearance: Greyish black in colour
Composition: The primary chemical constituents of Dead Sea Mineral Mud are: Dead Sea Water, Organic Matter, and Minerals.
Skin Types: Useful for normal, dry, and oily skin types.
Benefits: Detoxifying, Anti-Inflammatory, Collagen-Boosting, Anti-Microbial, Hydrating, Stimulating, Soothing, Tightening, Rejuvenating, Firming, Exfoliating, Cleansing, Balancing, Regenerative, Strengthening.
Country of Origin: Israel
Dead Sea Mud contains high amounts of salts and minerals such as Sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium. It detoxes, exfoliates, enhances texture, quality and tone, balances pH and improves overall skin health, making it suitable for both the body and the face. The therapeutic mud of this spa-quality is popular with body wraps, soaps and cleansers.
Although it remains warm and damp, usually for about an hour, Dead Sea Mud creates internal heat and promotes circulation, which decreases the appearance of cellulite. It also fastens the process of skin detoxification by gently removing seen or unseen impurities such as air allergens, dust, pollutants and dirt. When the mud dries, it performs gentle pulling action that removes excess oil, tightens the skin and exfoliates to remove dead skin, which introduces a healthier skin layer.
People are using Dead Sea mud for its rejuvenating and healing benefits. It can treat health conditions by relieving itchiness and inflammation and skin conditions such as dryness, acne, eczema, and psoriasis. It also provides a wide variety of therapeutic benefits, such as calming pain and aches, relaxing sore muscles, alleviating tension, and offering a sense of peace.
Dead Sea mud can be used to suppress psoriasis flares. Significant quantities of salt and other active ingredients in the mud can help to treat psoriasis effectively. Using Dead Sea mud in places where you have psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis can reduce symptoms and alleviate pain caused by inflammation.
The hydrating and firming properties of Dead Sea mud are that the salt and magnesium in it will enhance your skin's functionality by making it a more substantial barrier and more elastic that decreases pores' appearance and smooths the fine lines and wrinkles. So, if your skin is dry and mature, try the Dead Sea mud mask. Mud masks remove impurities and dead skin accumulated on your body. Dead Sea salt is usually used as a remedy to make your skin healthier.
Try heated Dead Sea mud packs for people with arthritis for 20 minutes, once a day for two weeks. People may see a significant reduction in their symptoms of arthritis. This therapy may also help people with inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis.
This mud can significantly change symptoms for people with severe lower back pain when performed five days a week for three continuous weeks.
Dead sea mud has an antimicrobial effect on bacterial strains that live on human skin because infestation or the presence of some bacteria can lead to acne, which is likely why this mud has been used since ancient times to treat breakouts.
Dead Sea mud as a hair mask
Dead Sea Mineral Mud hydrates and nourishes scalp and roots by increasing circulation. It decreases hair loss chances by reinforcing and improving hair follicles' health that contract and become narrower with age. Shrinkage prevents the hair from acquiring nourishment and oxygen, which adversely affect the hair protein required for growth. This, in fact, leads to hair loss. As a result, Dead Sea Mud functions to cleanse and moisturize the scalp to minimize or prevent dryness and dandruff, preventing thinning, fixing damage and leaving dull hair with enhanced lustre.
Side effects of Dead Sea mud
Dead Sea mud is only to be used externally.
Some may have sensitivities towards metals, like chromium and nickel. People with such skin sensitivities should refrain from using Dead Sea mud as a topical home remedy. It is possible that trace elements of certain metals may sometimes be present in Dead Sea mud. However, evidence suggests that people with normal and healthy skin need not worry about using Dead Sea mud on their skin.
European Moor Mud
Moor mud, Moor peat, BALNEO-peat are various names for high quality, mature peat that is ideal for Balneotherapy. Peat is an organic material, the result of the natural decomposition of a multitude of plants.
What is Balneotherapy?
Balneotherapy is practised to treat skin diseases through soaking in thermal mineral waters. It has been commonly used for centuries, therapy for severe skin and musculoskeletal disorders. It has seen a decrease in popularity in the last century due to the advent of new chemotherapeutic drugs. However, it is now re-establishing attention as a potential or alternative treatment choice with limited adverse effects.
Traditional Balneotherapy involves immersion in naturally occurring mineral streams; well-known sites include the Blue Lagoon in Iceland and the Kangal Hot Springs in Turkey and the Dead Sea in Israel and Jordan. Balneotherapy is often provided by spas or treatment facilities using naturally derived mineral water or refined salt solutions. A simple type of Balneotherapy may be performed at home by dissolving minerals or salts such as Sea salts and Epsom salts, also known as Magnesium Sulfate in baths or pool.
Moor mud is medicinal quality peat, historically found in the Czech Republic and Hungary. European moor mud is a result of the organic decomposition of plants, flowers and grass under natural conditions. An extract of not only one, but of hundreds of plants representing the Earth's climate thousands of years ago.
This ancient mud has an unusual concentration of bio- minerals, plant enzymes, trace elements, amino acids and vitamins in a molecular form released when the mud is heated making it easy for the human skin to absorb. And unlike other muds, it contains almost no clay. Moor peat has uncanny detoxifying abilities because it has chelates that bind heavy metal isotopes. Therefore it is a powerful natural detoxifier.
It also heals, nourishes, improves circulation, soothes and rejuvenates the skin. The curative and relaxing powers of warm Moor mud was discovered and observed by people for centuries. This natural solution is still largely used in skincare products, spas, private healthcare facilities and clinics for medical and wellness purposes.
The high humic acid content activates the natural anti-inflammatory abilities of this magical mud, reduces aches and pain, and even smooths cellulite's appearance.
What is humic acid?? The decomposition of organic elements of soils produces Humic acid. It takes thousands of years to get transformed into a fine paste and is considered one of the most beneficial naturally-occurring substances.
This fine paste is dissolved in the water to make a perfect bath therapy. It is also widely used in massage treatments, masks and body wrap.
It is used not only to glamorize, but also to treat a plenitude of mobility issues, arthritis, and muscle recovery in sports medicine.
Mud also possesses natural astringent properties that help kill bacteria and combat infection.
Moor Mud also contains natural cell-regenerating elements and is an effective antioxidant that battles ageing and decreases acne and eczema. This extremely advantageous mud is also a valuable source of plant-based hormones called phytohormones and has the ability to naturally regulate hormones.
It is recommended for spinal, Rheumatism, nervous system disorders, column pains, gynaecological problems, Joint diseases, skin cleansing and rejuvenation.
Moor Mud bath should not be used every day. 2 or 3 times a week for three weeks gives the best results. Discontinue for about a week before resuming your bath therapy. Often consult your doctor before taking this mud therapy, particularly if you have a severe body or skin condition.
Heating instructions
A microwave oven to heat Moor Mud is not advisable. Microwaves destroy some of Moor Mud's bactericidal properties and can drastically reduce its effectiveness. To heat Moor Mud, take the amount you want, in a heat resistant plastic bag with a watertight lid. Place the bag in a pot filled with warm water, about 43o C, till the Moor Mud reaches the same temperature.
A Note to note- Make sure to buy cosmetic-grade clay that is pure(cleaned and treated the impurities) and free from other additives. Do not compromise with the quality as lower grades of clay are not sterile and can possess other components that can be harmful and not meant for skin.
Always buy from a trustworthy source. The one who has the answers as to how and from where the clay is obtained and how it is refined and treated.
It is important to note that the growing popularity of coloured cosmetic clay has resulted in the production of many colourful "clay" products that are not clay at all or are clays that are mixed with natural or synthetic additives.
ORGANIC NOTE: If you are seeking "certified organic" clays then please note that naturally occurring clays cannot be organic because the term "organic" is only given to ingredients that are grown or raised under organic supervision. Since naturally occurring clays are neither grown nor raised, they cannot be certified organic.
For educational purposes only. This blog is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any kind of disease.
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