This clay face mask is so simple to make, comes together in a flash and will brighten your complexion and tighten your pores without the price tag of a bought mask.
The ingredients will last for ages, so you will be masking for months! Clay masking detoxifies, gently exfoliates, reduces hyperpigmentation and redness and can be customised perfectly for every skin type. For long lasting results, we suggest clay masking on a weekly basis.
You will only need a handful of ingredients, most of which may already be in your pantry at home. If not, these should all be readily available at your nearby health food shop, supermarket or chemist.
Add the wet ingredients to a small ceramic bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients, stirring with the chopstick until smooth and creamy in consistency. Continue to add more dry ingredients until you reach the consistency you prefer. Voilà – you have yourself the perfect clay mask for a fraction of the price of a bought one.
The best bit? No preservatives are required! Just make sure you mix up a fresh batch every time you mask – without the preservative a fresh batch will last as long as your leftovers if kept in the fridge, but don’t leave longer than 2-3 days just to be safe.
Start with a freshly cleansed face. Apply the mask with a paddle brush or your fingers to your face, neck and décolleté. If you have Keratosis Pilaris on your upper arms – apply it there too!
Once the mask has partially dried and feels tight, rinse it off. It helps to soak a washcloth in warm water, hold it up to your face, and let that re-hydrate the mask a bit before beginning to wipe it off. Make sure you follow the mask up with a juicy serum, facial oil and moisturiser to rebalance moisture levels. We recommend using once per week.
Now for the fun bit – you can customise this mask to suit your skin type or concern. Have a look below for some ideas. The options are endless though so try a few different ingredients and work out your perfect formula! It’s perfect for a girl’s night in. Enjoy lovelies!
If you have dry skin, add a little nourishing oil to the mix – either a few drops of whatever facial oil you are using, or some of the ones listed below. I steer away from coconut oil because this is a known comedogenic ingredient (meaning it can cause breakouts) but if you don’t have any issues with using it on your skin, go ahead!
Here are some other soothing and hydrating ideas:
If you are prone to redness and breakouts boost the astringency and antiseptic powers of your mask by swapping out the liquid component for some or all of the following:
If you want to dial up the absorbency and astringency swap the Kaolin or French clay for Bentonite clay which is a bit more heavy duty. Add in a few drops of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar for a brightening vitamin C kick! It may tingle a bit, but the acidity in the vinegar will counteract the basic nature of the Bentonite clay.
Bentonite clay will form more of a gel consistency than Kaolin creating a creamier version but it works perfectly to detoxify, brighten and reduce hyper-pigmentation.