This DIY clay mask is a fantastic way to brighten, hydrate and detox your skin all at the same time. It is a triple threat to say the least. It’s easy to make and does not contain harmful ingredients! 

Let me tell you-way too much thought and experimenting has gone into this post!  First I was trying to re-make Proactiv’s Refining Mask-I’m sure many of you are familiar with the sulfur smelling, creamy clay mask?  Well, the problem with re-doing that mask is the sulfur.  I could not find a legit source for it.  I found that eggs contain a good amount of sulfur so I originally created a mask with an egg and a scoop of kaolin clay.  I’m concerned that the skin will not reap the benefits of sulfur by simply putting an egg on your face! It might, but I have no way to really know.  Plus, it turned out very watery and while the results were good-I don’t feel that it was post worthy and certainly not a good alternative for the Proactiv mask.  I did however really like the mask and at the end of this post will give you a revised version that won’t be so watery. 

So moving on-I’m going to give you a recipe for a mask that will be more like a spa treatment rather then a mask for 13 year old teenager.  This mask has more of the texture I was looking for and with the help of a couple of easy to find ingredients, will detox and nurture your skin all at the same time!

One more point I would like to make is that I also wanted to make a mask that you could make at least 2 ounces of then store for more applications but when it comes to clay, making your mask the day you plan to use it is more potent and powerful.  Fresh is always best.

I’ve decided to keep the base the same as the Proactiv Mask which is Kaolin.  I omitted everything else and added Vitamin C also known as L.Ascorbic Acid. Vitamin C is excellent for brightening the skin as well as encouraging collagen production.  It is easy to add into products but because it becomes unstable when it is not in it’s powder form, we must use it quickly (3-5 days) once it’s mixed with other ingredients.  That’s why I think it’s perfect for this 1 application mask recipe!

Benefits of Kaolin Clay:

Kaolin clay is a white powdery clay that helps cleanse, detox, heal, nourish and tone the skin.  It’s used like any other clay-you just add liquid and let it set on the skin while it goes to work! 

One of the great things about clay is that it gets blood pumping at the surface of the skin.  This will help oxygenate the skin cells which in turn keeps the cells performing as they should.  The more blood flow to an area, the more healing takes place. Kaolin clay is rich in phyto-nutrients and essential minerals. 

When used as a mask, it adheres to oil, dead cells and blackhead.  Get ready for soft radiant skin!

**If you made your own mineral makeup from THIS post, don’t forget that recipe calls for kaolin clay so you might already have it!**

DIY Vitamin C Clay Mask:

• 1 tsp. Aloe Vera Gel (find it HERE)
• 1/8 tsp. L. Ascorbic Acid (find it HERE)
• 1 tbsp. Kaolin Clay (find it HERE)
• 3 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil (find it HERE)

Directions:

1. In a small bowl add aloe vera and l. ascorbic acid
2. Mix and allow the powder to dissolve. (it’s OK if it doesn’t dissolve completely)
3. Add kaolin clay into the aloe vera/vitamin C mix.
4. Mix with a spoon until a creamy consistency forms.
5. Apply a thin layer to the skin.
6. Leave on until you feel the mask tightening and drying. (for me that was 5 minutes)
7. Remove with cool water.
8. Wait an hour or so to tone and apply a moisturizer.

After removing this mask, your skin will feel hot and appear red.  This is from the clay.  It has increased blood flow to the surface of your skin which is oxygenating your skin cells!  After applying this mask, my skin is so baby smooth.  In other words-get ready for radiant, healthy skin!

I suggest doing this mask weekly if you are oily.  It’s excellent for oily skin.  It’s beneficial for dry skin as well but you will feel in need of extra moisture afterwards.  Read HERE about how to properly use a clay mask if you are dry.

In all my experimenting, I did find that in order to make a creamy clay mask you need around 1 tsp. of liquid to 1 tbsp. of clay.  So back to the egg/kaolin clay mask-I didn’t try it but it stands to reason that using the whole egg white is just way too much liquid for only 1 tbsp. of kaolin clay.  So, you could either reduce your egg whites down to only 1 tsp. or up your clay.

So, there it is.  1 extremely easy recipe that took 3 different re-writes and at least 4 different mask experiments to get it right.  AHHH-Oh well-I guess it’s probably the Thanksgiving hangover!

xx, Jenni

P.S. And if you’d like to know the ingredients of the Proactive Refining Mask just for fun, here ya go-get ready to puke.

Proactive Refining Mask Ingredients:

Active Ingredients: Sulfur 6% Inactive ingredients: Water (Aqua), Kaolin, Glycreth-26, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Hydrated Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lemongrass Exrtract, Geranium Extact, Tea Tree Oil, Ethoxydiglycol Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Glycerin, Fragrance (Parfum)

And I did find a worthy sulfur alternative that is safe-Eminence Hungarian Herbal Mud Treatment

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