Social media loves a superb masking second, and no masks has achieved cult-fave standing fairly like Aztec Secret Indian Therapeutic Clay ($15). The combo-it-yourself resolution is lauded for its potential to unclog pores, and the before-and-after images Redditors have shared of it clearing away their zits are really unbelievable. However in response to board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, whereas it does its job nicely, it’s not nice for everybody.
“This masks could be good for sure folks,” says Dr. Garshick. “It’s nice for individuals who have oily pores and skin or are coping with shiny pores and skin that they’re making an attempt to make extra matte in look.” That’s as a result of clay works by drawing out toxins and clearing and tightening pores.
“However it’s not for everybody, simply because it could possibly dry out the pores and skin,” says Dr. Garshick. And since the Aztec clay masks solely has one ingredient—bentonite clay—its solely focus is eradicating oil. And once you’re utilizing pure clay, it’s simple to strip your pores and skin of fine oils. “If you’re absorbing an excessive amount of oil, not simply what’s in extra, then you possibly can expertise some dryness and sensitivity of the pores and skin. ”
That’s very true through the winter months, explains Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York Metropolis. “This time of 12 months you actually don’t need to overdo it [with clay masks] due to the winter air,” she says. “It’s unhealthy for dry pores and skin.”
All that stated, you possibly can nonetheless use the Aztec Secret Indian Therapeutic Clay if you need. You simply must proceed with warning and preserve the next ideas in thoughts. Nonetheless, there are additionally higher, extra cosmetically elegant choices that present the deep-cleaning advantages of clay whereas hydrating and soothing pores and skin (extra on these later).
Tips on how to use the Aztec Secret Indian Therapeutic Clay masks with out drying out your pores and skin
1. Asess your pores and skin sort
As a result of the Aztec Secret Indian Therapeutic Clay Masks is so drying, you solely need to use it when you’ve got extra oil to take away. When you have dry pores and skin, keep away from this masks and solely use the extra mild choices within the subsequent part through the hotter months when your pores and skin can higher tolerate it.
2. Solely combine it with water
The instructions say you possibly can combine the clay with water or apple cider vinegar, and that’s as a result of ACV does have some acne-fighting talents. However placing it straight in your pores and skin could cause severe irritation no matter your pores and skin sort.
“Apple cider vinegar accommodates natural acids—lactic, succinic, and citric acids—that will kill P. acnes, a pores and skin micro organism that’s one in all many contributing elements to zits breakouts,” says Jeffrey Fromowitz, MD, FAAD, a Florida-based dermatologist. “Making use of ACV on to the pores and skin might trigger irritant burns if not correctly diluted.” As somebody who needed to kick her roommate out of the bathe after making use of a bentonite-ACV masks to her scalp as a result of it burned so unhealthy, I wholeheartedly second this rec.
3. By no means let it dry down
You must by no means go away your masks on lengthy sufficient for it to dry. “The one factor just about everybody will get fallacious a couple of clay face masks is letting it dry utterly,” says Sharon McGlinchey, celeb facialist and founding father of MV Skincare. “Everybody does it and probably believes that very tight sensation they really feel after removing is a firming motion. It’s not!”
A clay masks goes by way of three phases: the damp section, the start of the dry section, and the dry section. “The primary two phases are helpful for the pores and skin: the damp section, which is when probably the most helpful minerals can take up, and the start of the drying section, which is cooling and slightly like train in your pores and skin,” says McGlinchey. Keep away from the third step, although: “The dry section is when the clay attracts moisture again from the floor of the pores and skin.” This could result in dry, irritated, and blotchy pores and skin.
4. Use it sparingly
Even in case you are oily-complected, Dr. Gohara nonetheless says you need to use the masks sparingly, particularly in the event you’ve already obtained lots of different drying elements, like exfoliating acids and retinol, in your routine. Whereas clearing away extra oil with these items is often a superb factor, in the event you clear away an excessive amount of of it your pores and skin will begin to dry out. Then, your physique will begin overproducing sebum to make up for the discrepancy, and also you’ll wind up with pores and skin that feels dry, oily, and simply plain uncomfortable all on the similar time. Due to this, Dr. Gohara recommends utilizing the masks as soon as a month at most.
5 gentler options to the Aztec Secret Indian Therapeutic Clay masks
Newer non-drying clay masks give your pores and skin that detox whereas additionally nourishing it so it’s not left tremendous dry. “To even be hydrating, [the clay mask] will need to have moisturizing elements like aloe vera, glycerin, or squalane, or it could possibly have anti-inflammatories like chamomile extract or rosehip and different botanical oils,” says Arash Akhavan, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York Metropolis. “That means, the clay will both be much less drying, much less irritating, or each.”
That’s as a result of moisturized pores and skin is much less reactive than dry pores and skin and is ready to higher deal with any potential negative effects of the clay. And anti inflammatory elements can preserve the pores and skin calm and pleased and fewer prone to get irritated. By infusing these right into a clay masks, you’re getting the perfect of each worlds. Simply do not forget that the clay is nonetheless there. So keep away from these masks in case your pores and skin is feeling dry or sensitized and be sure you by no means, ever let it totally dry down.
We’ve pulled 5 moisturizing clay masks at various worth factors which can be great options to the Aztec Secret Indian Therapeutic Clay masks. Find out about every and store for them under.
“I really like this detox clay masks, which is fabricated from simply three pure star elements: kaolin clay, French inexperienced clay, and inexperienced tea extract. Collectively, they work collectively to slurp off the additional oil on my face, with out leaving it utterly dried out,” writes former editorial intern Jihan Basyah. “The added increase of inexperienced tea is a game-changer, too. As somebody with oily pores and skin that may get fairly purple, having an anti-inflammatory ingredient like inexperienced tea is a blessing. Its pure infusion of caffeine tapers my puffiness and relieves redness with each use.”
This detox works as a cleanser or a masks. To make use of it as a cleanser, therapeutic massage it into damp pores and skin for 2 to 3 minutes and take away it with a heat washcloth. To make use of it as a masks, apply it and let it sit for not less than 5 minutes and take away it with a heat material. It makes use of bentonite clay to soak up extra oil and scale back floor shine together with kaolin clay to exfoliate. It additionally consists of moisture-replenishing isoleucine, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and moisturizing squalane.
Bentonite and kaolin clays on this components work with charcoal to take away impurities from the pores and skin and take up and take away extra oil. Plus, it has salicylic acid to make clear and refine pores and skin. It additionally consists of tremendous moisturizing emollients glycerin and shea butter to nourish the pores and skin whereas the harsher elements do their factor.
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“I significantly love that you are able to do this clarifying clay masks for simply three minutes and nonetheless get a brightening, exfoliating (however not drying!) refresh in your face,” writes contributor Dominique Michelle Astorino. “It’s superb to rinse off a clay masks and really really feel hydrated and extra clear. You often get one or the opposite in a masks, however not this one.” That’s as a result of it blends Okinawa Kucha Clay, bentonite, and kaolin clays with moisturizing glycerin and soothing niacinamide.
This masks makes use of bentonite and kaolin clays to deeply cleanse the pores and skin whereas moisturizing glycerin, soothing hemp extract, and antiinflammatory acai and blueberry extract assist the pores and skin, leaving it smooth and nourished.