As a kid, I have played a lot in clay, I love the feeling of clay touching my skin, I would spend hours making models, dolls and constructing building out of clay. My mother would scold me whenever she found me playing in the clay, but my fondness for the clay never reduced. I think every kid loves playing outdoors, especially in the sand a clay. I was ignorant back then, but now I know, that clay  is not dirty, rather it is very beneficial for a healthy and glowing skin, especially facial skin. I remember learning in one of my history lessons, that there are various types of clay and soil, red, black, yellow, found near river beds, produced by the volcanic eruption, silt, and many more. Each of these clay is beneficial and useful in its own way. Let’s find out the benefits and uses of theses clays for our skin care regime.

1. Cleanser
   
   The first thing that we use in our skin care regime is a cleanser. The cleanser cleans our skin from deep within. This cleanser is made of the clay found near the river beds, also called silt. This clay is first cleansed of all the impurities by soaking it into aloe vera juice until it saturates. It is then strained, cleaned and finely powered. The river accumulates this clay by eroding away the soil wherever it passes through carrying it with itself. This clay, being rich nutrients, removes all the toxins from the skin and nourishes it deep. It also moisturises the skin, improving its elasticity, thus minimizing the signs of ageing like wrinkles and fine line. This cleanser also doubles as a face mask. To know more about this skin cleanser, click here.

2. Soap
   
   Clay or mud is also used to cleanse the body, not only face. Fuller’s earth or Multani mitii, thai white clay, rhassoul clay (mined in Atlas Mountains of Morocco), Bentonite clay (formed due to break down of volcanic ash) are some of the clays that are most advantageous to our skins, each having its own individual characteristics. Fuller’s earth being a rich source of minerals and having healing characteristics deep cleanses and softens the skin. Thai white clay helps to remove the impurities from the skin, Rhassoul clay is very rich in minerals like silica, iron, magnesium, etc, is being used by Moroccan ladies to clean and nourish the skin since the eighth century, Bentonite clay is made out of volcanic eruption, the lava and ash. It is an absorbent clay which usually consists of montmorillonite. It absorbs all the blemishes and toxins leaving it clean, clear and nourished. To know more about the respective soaps, click on, Fuller’s earth, Thai white clay, Rhassoul clay, Bentonite clay, Multani mitti. The clay soaps can also help to soothe the skin irritated by shaving, thus this soap makes a great after shaving companion. To know more, click here.

3. Scrub
   
   The next thing we do after cleansing and washing our skin is scrubbing it. Scrubbing exfoliates the skin, opens and cleans the pores. Gopichand clay is considered to be a great exfoliator. It absorbs the sebum, and thus deeply cleans our pores leaving our skin clean and nourished. It also helps to wash off the excess oil and dead skin cells from the skin thus rejuvenating and making it glow. To know more about this scrub, click here.

4. Face Pack
   
   The final step of a skin care regime to get a healthy and glowing skin is face pack. Face pack is applied to the skin and left to dry. Once it hardens, it is washed off. The mud or clay face pack removes impurities from the skin and provides nourishment to both inner and outer layers of the skin. Being rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, iodine and mineral salt, it also tightens the skin and skin pores, firming it, thus reducing the signs of ageing, like wrinkles and fine lines. Above all, clay is very cool in nature, hence it cools down your skin and relaxes you. Some mud packs also help to reduce acne. To know more about clay face packs, click here and here.
   
   Now that we know that clay has such great benefits for our skin, let’s play with clay, what say?