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Clay is a type of soil that you may find in your very own backyard. It is fine grained and sticky when wet. It can retain shapes, which makes it perfect for face masks, and for topical application on oily areas. One big benefit of using clay is that it’s quite cheap, and readily available.
You can use a clay face mask to detoxify your skin, soak up oil, and clean your pores. These attributes make it useful for people suffering from acne and contact dermatitis. You can also use it for treating diaper rash. People with dry skin can use red clay once a week, to help their skin retain more moisture.
People with dry skin often find that clay dries their skin out. Make sure you use red clay, don’t overdo it, and if you see the problem getting worse, stop. Clay masks may not be suitable for sensitive skin due to its exfoliating properties, which can cause irritation. Don’t use clay if you have an aggravated skin condition, or it could make the problem worse.
Oily skin occurs when the sebaceous glands in the pores are producing more oil, or sebum, than necessary. Sebum is natural in all skin as it keeps the skin moist and healthy. Over production of sebum can be caused by hormones, genetics or could even be a result of dry skin over-compensating by producing extra oil, in order to retain some measure of moisture.
Oily skin can also be caused by using the wrong products for your skin type. For example, if you are using overly drying soaps and astringents for your skin type, your skin may respond by over producing oil to compensate, as mentioned above. This can create an unfortunate cycle of using harsh soaps to eliminate oils, but instead exacerbating the problem.
On the other hand, overly oily makeup and products can also cause oily skin.
Ingredients that help exfoliate dead skin cells to keep pores unclogged and increase new skin cell production, such as Vitamin A/Retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, are good for treating acne as well. Benzoyl peroxide is a topical agent for fighting bacteria and unclogging pores. It is one of the longest-used medications to keep oily pores clean and healthy. Jojoba oil is also good for fighting bacteria trapped in oily skin and maintaining a moisture barrier to prevent over-production of sebum.
clay may be effective for oily skin, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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