Clay Face Mask: Activated Charcoal

My face likes most of our face masks, including our Adzuki Bean Scrib which I use with yogurt to create a great mask.

But our Activated Charcoal Clay Mask is the one that tones, smoothes, and just makes my facial skin glow.

However, based on all the ingredient research, that is definitely not the clay mask I would suggest for any 68-year-old, mature, face with dry skin. But it works for me!

So, finding the right face masks for your skin may take a bit of trial and error.

That being said, clay masks are quite a versatile product. I have written a number of blogs that can help with your "how to use" technique, recipes as well as an understanding of how clay masks do their magic.

How To Use Clay Face Masks

Clay Facial Mask Recipes & The Science Behind Them

Multi-Masking and Targeted Application For Combination Facial Skin

Cosmetic Clays in Skin Care

What Is A Clay Face Mask?

To Wash or Not To Wash . . .
that is the question!

Most of the time the directions included with a clay mask state, "begin with a clean face," but does that mean you need to actually "wash" your face first?

Whether or not to wash your face before using a facial clay is up for debate and you are likely to find a lot of conflicting information online.

To Wash

There are those who say you should "absolutely" wash your face in to order remove the surface layer of dirt, oil and makeup.

This surface grime can hinder the ability of the active clay ingredients to get into the pores and do their job.

Some also believe that when you apply a clay mask onto unclean skin, you may be trapping all sorts of dirt, bacteria and other impurities and possibly driving them deeper into the facial pores.

Not To Wash

Others believe that washing before applying a clay mask may be too drying for those with dry or sensitive skin types.

After washing pores are open and anything you apply will be more rapidly absorbed which may cause more irritation with sensitive skin. If you think about it, moisturizing is best done immediately after washing for that same reason.

In my opinion, the answer to this question really depends on the type or purpose of the mask you are using and your skin type. For example, if you are using a deep cleansing mask for oily or problem combination skin, a fresh wash with warm water opens your pores which prepares your skin for a deeper cleansing experience.

Basically, the same logic holds true for whether or not to shower before or after a clay mask treatment.

Showering Before: Again this method works well with deep cleansing masks for oily and combination skin. The warm water and steam from the shower open your pores.

Showering After: If you have drier skin, you want to apply the mask before taking a shower. The warm shower will actually his help seal in the moisture.

To be honest, I do not wash my face before applying a clay mask. However, I do not wear make-up or use heavy creams and basically, my face simply gets dirty from normal exposure to everyday dirt and pollutants. I have aging dryish skin and washing before applying the face mask makes my skin feel too dry afterward. I just use the clay mask and then after rinsing, I moisturize.

Now, all that being said, if your skin is oily, your face feels quite dirty or is loaded with make-up you may choose to do a quick wash before applying the clay.

Clay Face Masks can be a versatile addition to any skincare regimen.

While clay powders are very effective when made into a simple paste with water, they can also be mixed with other ingredients for an added benefit or just for fun and experimentation.

There are many ingredients from your kitchen cupboard that can be added to a clay facial mask and each can provide its own possible skin benefits.

However, if you want to take advantage of "the science of clay" then you must understand that the property of clay that allows it to bind with impurities becomes activated by the chemical nature of water.

Understanding the idea that cosmetic clays need to be mixed with "water" to do their "thing," great additions would be hydrosols, teas, or any water-based liquid.

Directions: Simply use the tea or hydrosol in place of the water in your clay mask preparation. As then used as directed.

But what about other ingredients like eggs, yogurt, or honey?

For a lot more information about adding ingredients to your facial clay mask please read our blog "Clay Facial Mask Recipes & Some Science Behind Them"

Our face has different zones in which the skin can vary in thickness, texture, pore size and the number of oil-producing glands.

Each zone may have very different needs and require individual attention.

So, what happens if you have multiple facial skin issues, like dryness, oily spots, and blemishes?

The answer is Multi-Masking . . .

What is Multi-Masking

Multi-masking is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of applying one face mask over your entire face, you apply different masks to different areas of the face in order to treat multiple skincare concerns at the same time.

For more information please read our blog Multi-Masking and Targeted Application For Combination Facial Skin

USDA Organic Certification was created for food production (not the personal care industry) and as a result is based on organic farming and agriculture standards. 

The list of allowable non-agricultural ingredients (like clay, salts, mud, etc) is based on raw materials used in farming. Agricultural ingredients have a biological origin and are made up of carbon. Non-agricultural ingredients have a non-biological origin.

For example, ingredients that come from plants and animals are agricultural, whereas salts, clays, baking soda, pumice, and water are non-agricultural.

Since clays like kaolin and bentonite have farming/agricultural uses, they appear on the list. Unfortunately, ingredients like Pumice, Dead Sea Mud, and Bamboo Charcoal are not used in farming or food production and thus do not appear on the list. Sometimes an ingredient, such as Magnesium Hydroxide, appears on the list but can only be under certain circumstances. Magesium hydroxide can only be used as a nutrient supplement for animals. 

Products that contain these ingredients like our Sensitive Skin Deodorants, Clay Facial Masks, and Bamboo Charcoal, Loofah Pumice Foot, and Dead Sea Mud soaps, as well as our Mud & Clay and Rosemary Mint Charcoal Shampoo Bars cannot display any organic symbol or even state that they are organic.

Since we are a certified organic company, we must follow the rules of the USDA. Even though these products are made with certified organic ingredients that meet the same rigorous standards as those required for our "Organic" products, we cannot call them "organic." Sadly if you are not a USDA Certified Organic company, you can do whatever you want :-(

For more detailed information, please read our blog, "What Do All of the Organic Labels Mean?"