Properties of red (pelargic) clay, recipes for face masks based on it and rules of application for cosmetic procedures. Red clay is a natural material that contains many nutrients and trace elements. As a face mask, it absorbs toxins, sebum and impurities and conducts a gentle exfoliation, removing dead cells, improving blood circulation, nourishing and toning the dermis without disturbing the natural pH, restoring its beauty and youth.
Properties of red clay
Of all the types of clay that are used in cosmetology, red is the most unpopular, although this is completely undeserved. For a long time, ladies who want to improve the condition of pale, prone to allergies and rashes, sensitive and dry skin of the face, have used this wonderful tool. Moroccan red clay was especially appreciated.
The benefits of red clay for the face
Red clay is sediment that forms at the bottom of the oceans (4-5 km), in areas that are called pelagic (deep sea). Due to the high content of iron oxide, as well as impurities of copper and hematite, it has a chocolate brown or brick color, a silky structure, viscous when liquid is added. Its composition is also rich in silicon, magnesium, calcium, aluminum.
Red clay improves the resources of the skin, namely:
- Gently absorbs toxins … Components of red clay are capable of detoxifying the skin. The fact is that most of all harmful substances lying under the surface of the skin, for example, heavy metals, have a positive charge. And red clay, mixing with water, acquires a negative charge, attracts positively charged toxins to itself, thereby removing them from the body.
- Effectively cleanses the face … Possessing peeling properties, red clay not only polishes the skin, removing keratinized particles and peeling, smoothing scars, but also, unclogging pores, remarkably removes all impurities and excess sebum from the surface. And its inherent antimicrobial properties enhance the cleansing effect, which allows you to successfully fight acne and comedones.
- Improves blood circulation and saturates with nutrients … Due to the use of red clay in the body, the lack of iron is replenished. That is, its use is indicated for those who have pale anemic skin (the saturation of the shade of the epidermis will increase by almost 70%!). And the high iron content, in turn, activates the blood supply, the skin, even in the deep layers, is saturated with oxygen and nutrients. All of the above helps to improve its appearance, increase elasticity, firmness.
- Repairs damaged tissues … Regular use of red clay for the face relieves itching and inflammation, cleansing small wounds and pulling out fat, tightens pores, and removes flaking. This clay is useful for breakouts, age spots, irritation and redness. It improves the condition of the skin with vessels located close to the surface, strengthens the walls of the capillaries, preventing their expansion. Its use is also recommended for those who are worried about sudden flushing.
- Rejuvenates … Due to the content of silica in red clay, which is considered a mineral of beauty, the skin is well hydrated (its dryness is reduced by almost 80%!), The work of sweat glands is normalized, and wrinkles become less noticeable. In addition, the exfoliating action of clay accelerates cell regeneration and slows down skin aging.
Note! The warming effect is a unique property of red clay.
The harm of red clay to the face
Red clay, being a natural material, can be used even for allergies and has a minimal number of contraindications. Namely:
- Individual intolerance … You don't have to be allergic to do this, you can just have hypersensitive skin. To protect yourself from this, in fact, the only contraindication, be sure to conduct a test. On a small area of the body where the skin is especially delicate, like on the face (for example, at the bend of the elbow or on the wrist), apply a little red clay or the mask that contains it. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes and wash off. In the absence of redness and itching, you can safely use red clay in cosmetic procedures.
- Peeling and irritation … Even if there was no negative reaction during the red clay hypersensitivity test, it can occur if the clay composition remains on the face for more than 60 minutes.
Sometimes in the instructions for using red clay, there is a warning about its coloring properties. However, this is actually a delusion. Red clay has this color due to the content of iron oxide in it, which is not able to color the skin of the face. If, after using the clay mask, the skin turns red, this means that you have purchased a poor-quality product and there are any dyes in its composition. Sometimes unscrupulous manufacturers add dyes to white clay to deceive buyers.
Need to know! If you have eczema, warts, or raised moles on your face, consult your doctor about the appropriateness of using red clay masks. Their use is contraindicated if there are wounds, burns on the skin, as well as in the postoperative period.
Red clay mask recipes for different skin types
Making a red clay mask at home is not at all difficult. Clay powder is sold in almost any pharmacy; it does not require a lot of money to buy it. And the process itself will not take much time. The choice of recipes is very large, there is a solution for almost any cosmetic problem.
Masks for dry skin
Red clay is especially good for thin and sensitive dry skin. After regular use, the face becomes soft and nourished. You can use the pure product, diluted with water only, or with the addition of various ingredients.
We offer you some interesting recipes:
- With herbs and oil … Take two parts red clay powder and dilute with three parts water, add 2 drops of your favorite essential oil and 1 tsp. base oils (olive, coconut, jojoba, etc.).
- With strawberry … In addition to moisturizing, it also has a whitening effect. Pound 2-3 strawberries into the gruel, add 1 tsp. cream or sour cream and 2-3 tbsp. l. red clay, stir.
- With raspberries … Pound a few raspberries in a small container until they become gruel and add 1 tsp there. sour cream (for a greater moisturizing effect) and enough red clay powder to make a thick mass.
- With apricots or peaches … Mash fresh apricots or peaches into mashed potatoes and mix with red clay to create a soft, delicate mixture.
- With rice flour and sesame … 4 tbsp. l. mix red clay powder with 1 tsp. rice flour (you can grind rice grains in a coffee grinder) and 7 ml sesame oil. This mask is applied for 10 minutes and washed off with freshly brewed hibiscus.
- With rose water … Dilute 2 tbsp. l. red clay in 3 tbsp. l. rose water, add 1 tsp. jojoba oil and 2 drops each of chamomile and rose oils.
- With milk … Pour clay into a small container and dilute it with milk so that a thick mass is formed. If you have rashes, acne on your face, add 1 tsp to the mixture. aloe juice.
- With cottage cheese … Mix red clay powder with water (or with carrot juice if you want to give the mask a whitening effect), 1 tsp. honey and 1 tbsp. l. cottage cheese, stir until a homogeneous consistency is obtained.
- With sour cream … Take 3 tbsp. l. red clay powder, 3 tbsp. l. water and 5 tbsp. l. low-fat sour cream, mix the clay with water, gradually adding sour cream.
- With cream … Mix 2 tbsp. l. heavy cream with 1 tsp.powder of red clay and add half of 1 tsp. honey.
Attention! If there is no other specified time, apply all masks on the face for 15-20 minutes.
Masks for oily skin
Masks with red clay powder are also a great solution for oily skin with enlarged clogged pores and an unhealthy color. They are able to draw out all the dirt and sebaceous secretions from the pores, even out the turgor, give the skin a matte finish, removing the oily sheen.
Here are some simple recipes:
- With milk and oat bran … Take 4 tbsp. l. red clay powder, 1 tbsp. l. oat bran, 4 tbsp. l. milk and a couple of drops of mint aromatic oil. Combine clay powder with milk heated to 40 degrees, stir until smooth. If the mass is dry, add distilled water (if necessary), add oil last.
- With tomatoes … Mix the clay powder with the pulp of a fresh juicy tomato grated on a grater until smooth, add 1 tsp. sour cream.
- With oils … Take 1 tbsp. l. powder of red clay, add 3 drops of your favorite oil (for example, peach or jojoba) to it, mix with water until a thick paste.
Need to know! To dilute clay powder, you need to use only purified water, for example, mineral water without gas, only in extreme cases just boiled from the tap. The fact is that red (and any other) cosmetic clay has a disinfecting effect. And if the water for the mask is not sufficiently purified, it will all be spent on disinfecting this water and the effect on the skin will be much weaker.
Masks for normal skin
Normal skin also needs special care to preserve and enhance its freshness and beauty. Red clay will help strengthen blood vessels, accelerate biochemical processes, thereby enhancing skin nutrition, and preserve the integrity of the cellular structure.
Here are the recipes to choose from:
- With avocado and vitamin A … 2 tbsp. l. red clay, ampoule of retinol (vitamin A), mashed pulp 1 avocado. Mix the clay with the avocado and retinol puree and apply on the face for 30 minutes, pressing the mass firmly against the skin.
- With honey … Add 1 tsp. liquid honey to 1 tbsp. l. red clay powder and 1 tbsp. l. water. Insist for 10 minutes. Mix the mass with half 1 tsp. chamomile oil and the same amount of geranium oil. Apply the mask to cleansed and dried face.
- With white clay … Mix 1 tbsp. l. white and red clay, add 3 tbsp. l. tinctures of chamomile, rosehip and licorice. Insist the resulting mixture for 2 hours, then add 2 drops of chamomile and rosemary aromatic oils. Stir and apply on face for 5-7 minutes.
- With protein and cream … Dilute the clay to a creamy consistency by adding 1 protein and cream to it. This mask is applied to the skin for 10 minutes.
- With citrus and herbs … Dilute red clay powder with a decoction of your favorite herbs, add 2 drops of orange or lemon ether (can be replaced with freshly squeezed juice).
Remember! Rinse your face after clay masks with slightly warmed water.
Recipes for masks for face skin with rashes
Such skin needs delicate care, and masks with the addition of red clay powder are quite capable of giving it. They will refresh the complexion, normalize the pH balance, and thanks to the properties of an antiseptic, they will relieve inflammation and irritation, dry out rashes and block the spread of infection.
And the recipes are very simple:
- With vitamin B and green tea … Take 3 tbsp. l. red clay, add the contents of 1 ampoule of vitamin B, 2 drops of ginger aromatic oil and a little green tea to it to achieve the consistency of sour cream. Keep it on your face for 7-8 minutes and wash off with water and lemon or orange juice.
- With aloe and cream … Mix clay, cream and aloe juice (2 tablespoons each) until smooth and apply to face.
Please note! To enhance the effect, apply masks before bed. Doing them regularly (1-2 times a week), you will get rid of skin rashes.
Sagging skin masks
Pelargic clay masks are able to slow down the aging of the skin, due to their ability to deeply nourish it and saturate it with minerals. After their application, the lifting effect is immediately visible, the skin regains its elasticity and firmness, the relief of the face oval is corrected. And all this without the intervention of a surgeon or cosmetic injections.
Here are some tips for those who want to look 25 at all times:
- With starch and carrots … On a fine grater, grate the carrots and mix them with 1 tsp. olive oil and 1 yolk, puncturing it and pouring out of the film. Add starch and red clay powder (1: 1) to make a smooth, thick mixture.
- With aloe juice … Stir 2 tbsp. l. red clay and 1 tsp. aloe juice, add 1 tsp. argan oil. Apply for half an hour on steamed skin, including lips. Rinse and lubricate with green coffee oil for extra hydration.
- With yolk and cream … 2 tbsp. l. mix red clay with 2 tbsp. l. heavy (more than 18%) cream and 1 yolk, dilute if necessary with mineral water to get a creamy mass. Apply to face and neck, and rinse, spread over skin for better hydration with cocoa butter.
- With algae … Soak spirulina and kelp (1 tbsp each) in freshly brewed green tea for 4 hours, then add 1, 5 tbsp. l. clay powder and 1 tsp. nut oils. Apply for half an hour, and after rinsing, saturate the skin with olive oil.
- With calendula and lemon juice … 4 tbsp. l. decoction of calendula (room temperature), mix with 4, 5 tbsp. l. red clay powder, one egg and a few drops of lemon juice until smooth and apply on face and neck.
- With milk, protein and honey … Dilute 2 tbsp. l. clay powder with fresh cold milk (1, 5 tbsp. l.), add 1 tsp. honey and 1 protein, mix and apply to the skin.
- With lemon, butter and yolk … Dissolve the clay in warm water (3 tablespoons each), add the yolk, juice of one lemon and a few drops of olive oil to the mixture. Leave it for 15 minutes and then apply to the skin.
- With orange oil and sour cream … Mix 1 tbsp. l. clay powder with 2 tsp. sour cream and 0.5 tsp. vegetable oil (olive or sea buckthorn), add 2-3 drops of orange ether and stir until smooth.
Remember! Clay powder can be used for cosmetic masks without adding other ingredients, simply diluting it with clean water to the consistency of sour cream. And if you add crushed oatmeal to the mixture, you get an excellent peeling that relieves the skin of flaking and dead particles.
Rules for using red clay for the face
When using red clay for the face, you should remember and follow a few simple rules, then the return on its use will be 100%. Here they are:
- Skin pre-preparation … The mask is applied only to cleansed skin (both from impurities and from decorative cosmetics). If there is no specially agreed condition, the face should be moistened with water, this will enhance the moisturizing effect of the clay.
- Place and features of applying masks … The mask can be applied to the entire skin of the face and neck, except for the area around the eyes and lips (although some formulations can also be applied to them, this is stipulated in the recipe). It is convenient to spread the clay mixture with a wide brush along the lines of the lymph flow.
- Application period … The optimal time for a mask with clay is 15-20 minutes (longer or shorter periods are specially stipulated in the recipe), it is better to start with a shorter period in order to understand how comfortable this mask is for you. All this time, while the product is on your face, it is better to lie down, relaxing under quiet pleasant music, this will enhance the effect of the procedure. If a clay mask (red or any other) on your face begins to dry out, and the application time has not yet expired, moisten it from a spray bottle with thermal, mineral (without gas) or rose water, but in no case keep it dry on your face. Otherwise, the clay will start pulling water out of your skin, and you will eventually become dehydrated. And oily skin, defending itself, will secrete more fat.
- Shelf life … When making a mixture for a homemade mask, only natural ingredients are used without preservatives. That is why the prepared mask cannot be stored, it should be used immediately.
- Features of removing the mask … The clay mask is washed off only with warm water, if there are no special conditions in the recipe for this. After you completely wash off the mask, do a contrasting wash - wash yourself several times with warm or cold water, finishing the procedure with cold water.
- Post-mask procedures … After the contrast wash, pat your face dry with a soft towel and apply your favorite moisturizer or oil of some kind.
Attention! Always consider the specifics of your skin before choosing and preparing a homemade face mask. Also remember that it contains not only clay powder, but also other natural ingredients to which you may be allergic. Therefore, before using a product that is new to you, be sure to conduct a hypersensitivity test. How to use red clay for the face - watch the video:
A natural substance - red pelargic clay - is capable of fighting any cosmetic problems of the skin of the face and neck, such as acne, comedones, wrinkles, irritation and peeling, greasiness and dryness. This amazing remedy can be used by people of different ages with different skin types.
