How to Avoid Drying Out Your Skin: 5 Tips for Using Clay Face Masks
Clay Face Masks are supposed to help- and not harm- your skin!
Unfortunately, it's much easier to advertise the tight, vibrating sensation caused by a harsh clay mask as "proof" that it's working its magic.
We're here to tell you that if ANYONE is trying to sell you a Clay Mask by telling you to leave it on for 15 minutes until it starts to flake off and dry... we're here to tell you to ABANDON CART.
The very last thing you want to do, if you're in search of that elusive glow up, is dehydrate your skin by applying the extremely harsh compound: natural clays.
Although Clays can be cleverly utilized in your routine to soak up excess sebum, help with a little extraction (as is the case with our DIY Clay Mask Kits)- and restore a flushed and perhaps youthful "glow", clays by themselves are way too harsh for most skin types.
By "harsh" we mean both chemically harsh [they are very basic, i.e the pH is not favourable for healthy skin] and physically harsh.
Clay masks are physically harsh on your skin in that they can induce what is called "cutaneous vasodilation", which can dehydrate your skin (read more about cutaneous vasodilation here).
Also, taking off a dried pure clay mask can require harsh, excessive scrubbing with a rough cloth or brush, which CAN also damage the skin.
So, while clay masks are good for extraction and absorption of excess sebum, they can be bad for overall hydration and skin health when over used and if incorrectly used.
To save that mask you have lying in the back of your bathroom cupboard- or to make the most of the kilo of bentonite or aztec clay you've already purchased- read our 5 tips below for Using Clay Masks at home (without drying out your skin!).
1. ADD GLYCERIN USP TO YOUR CLAY MASK (or use honey)
Our top tip for ensuring your DIY Clay Mask doesn't dehydrate your skin, is to get yourself some glycerin! (Our Masking kits already come with a vial of glycerin for this exact reason)
Glycerin is easily found at your local drugstore, be sure to purchase the "USP" variety, which is rated for use as a skincare ingredient.
Add as much glycerin as you would water when mixing up your mask. This will ensure your DIY Face Mask recipe is super hydrating, as glycerin is what's known as a humectant- drawing moisture out of the air and into the mask, preventing dryness.
If you can't find any glycerin, Honey will work too to prevent the mask from getting too dry on your precious skin. Honey is also a great antioxidant, and will prevent the mask from drying too tightly on your face.
2. AVOID LETTING YOUR CLAY MASK FULLY DRY ON YOUR FACE
If you can't find glycerin or honey, our next tip to avoid dehydrating your skin- is to take off your mask AS it's drying- not WHEN it's already dry.
If a mask has dried on your face to the point of cracking- you've left it too long and there is a chance it will begin to absorb the precious oils and water from the surface of your skin.
Both oil and moisture are vital to the health of your skin, so you do not want to impact those!
Our DIY clay mask kits include Glycerin (our #1 Tip) which will prevent the mask from drying at all- so you won't need to worry about this!
3. AVOID USING HOT WATER TO REMOVE YOUR CLAY MASK
Most DIY or pure clay masks will dry extremely hard on your face and require serious scrubbing- and heat- to effectively remove them. We've all been there: trying to dissolve the charcoal stuck to our hairline before we need to get out the door (or go to bed).
It may seem like a good idea to quickly dissolve a dried mask with hot water, but we're here to remind you that hot water is very harsh and dehydrating- especially when it comes to the facial area.
So, tip number 3 is: avoid using hot water to remove your mask! Even if you're the kind of person who removes their mask in the shower (which is clever, and usually cleaner!), don't stand under the hot water for 3 minutes to do so. Use Luke warm water and save your skin!
4. USE A SOFT CLOTH TO WIPE OFF YOUR CLAY MASK
From Tip #3, you already know to use luke warm water when removing your mask. But that tip alone may not prevent dehydration!
You also need to ensure you're removing the dried mask gently, by rubbing your face as little as possible and using the softest cloth you have.
In summary: gently remove your mask with a damp- but soft- cloth, to avoid further damage to your precious skin- especially if you have acne or rosacea.
We include a re-usable facial sponge in our Clay Mask Kits to make this a lot more straightforward!
5. ONLY USE a CLAY MASK ONCE A WEEK
Our final, but most important, tip is to only use a clay face mask once a week!
Overusing clay's on your skin can detrimentally effect your natural oils, stripping your skin over time, thereby dehydrating your skin which can lead to premature aging- and fine lines!
Using your clay mask once a week is great recipe to ensure your skin stays clear, while staying hydrated and happy.
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We hope you loved this blog post about the Top 5 Tips for Using Clay Masks- without Drying out Your Skin!
If you have ay comments or questions, drop them below with your email address so we can get right back to you.
We have so much more information about clay masks in our Masking Kits- which also come with all the tools, ingredients and sciencey info you need to create and customize your very own mask formula- targeted to your skin type and skin goals!
Check our our full collection of Customizable Clay Masks by clicking the image below.
