The most relaxing day is when you do absolutely nothing but lie in bed, binge-watch a great show on Netflix and apply a face mask that does wonders for your skin. Even without the cucumbers on your eyes, you will feel refreshed after a day like this.
For those with oily skin and acne-prone skin, acids like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide do work well but today we wanted to introduce you to a way more cost-effective ingredient- bentonite clay.
What Is Bentonite Clay?
It’s a special kind of clay that is made from volcanic ash and has been used for centuries to detoxify and heal the skin and body. It is a mineral-rich clay that contains calcium, magnesium and iron. It was earlier used for medicinal purposes and ingested to pull out impurities and toxins from the system.
Benefits Of Bentonite Clay
Gets Rid Of Excessive Oil
Your oily skin will thank you as soon as you add this ingredient to your skincare routine because it really does soak it all up. It’s ideal for people with acne-prone skin too.
Minimises The Appearance Of Large Pores
This is definitely temporary but once the ingredient absorbs the excess oil and dirt from the pores they do look smaller in appearance.
Has Anti-Inflamatory Properties
If you’re prone to redness and breakouts, this is the ingredient to try out. It calms the skin and controls inflammation.
Has Anti-Ageing Benefits
Another bonus of bentonite clay is that the minerals in it help in protecting the skin from free radicals, environmental stressors and UV light. This, in turn, slows down the appearance of early signs of ageing.
Prevents Blackheads
Thanks to it cleansing your pores deeply, it also keeps them unclogged. This is a natural way of preventing blackheads from appearing.
How To Use This Ingredient
There are loads of ways you can use this ingredient and we’re listing a few:
For Skin Cleansing: Mix bentonite clay with water or rose water and mix it into a paste. Apply it and leave it on till it dries. Wash off with warm water and you’ll be left with squeaky clean skin.
For Preventing Blackheads: Mix it with a few drops of jojoba oil and apply it to your blackhead-prone areas like the nose and T-zone and let it dry. Wash it off and repeat once a week.
For Revitalising Skin: Mix some bentonite powder with matcha powder and add some tea tree oil. Keep this on for 15-20 mins and then wash off.
What To Keep In Mind While Using Bentonite Clay
Like every other ingredient, doing a patch test is important before using the product. Another thing to note is that it can feel drying hence it works well for people with oily and acne-prone skin but might not be the go-to for people with dry skin. You should also be careful while using it with other ingredients that fight acne like retinol etc.
Here Are The Ones That We Recommend:
So, if your skin is oilier than any fried food you’ve eaten, you know which ingredient you need to try.
Featured Image: Instagram
