How to Make a Prehydrated Green Clay Mask

A green clay mask is a beneficial at-home facial which hydrates skin.

Facial skin deserves proper care all year long regardless of its type. Dry skin especially, deserves hydration which can be achieved by applying a clay mask to the face. You can make your own green clay mask, made with all natural ingredients, to apply to your face that will act as a hydrating element on the skin. A prehydrated green clay mask works best on dry skin rather than oily skin since it may make the skin too greasy. Choose either a mask made of green clay alone, or one with green clay as a base, combined with herbs and essential oils to make it natural and fragrant.

Things You'll Need

• Green clay
• Plain or distilled water
• Glass, pottery or wooden bowl (not metal)
• Spoon
• Ground comfrey root
• Ginger root
• Slippery elm bark
• Rose essential oil
• Chamomile blue essential oil
• Neroli essential oil
• Sandalwood essential oil
• Honey, yogurt or egg yolk
• Towel

Instructions

Plain Green Clay Mask

1. Combine about 2 to 3 ounces of green clay, such as French green clay or Sea clay with an equal or less amount of plain or distilled water in a bowl. Green clay alone serves as a base for a facial. Green clay gets its color from naturally decomposed plants and iron oxides and is always green or off green but never white or gray, according to Beverly Hlavka, a certified Aromatherapist. The molecular composition of green clay makes it absorbent to the skin.

2. Mix the clay with the water using a spoon until you have a smooth paste.

3. Let the clay mixture stand for a few minutes to absorb the moisture. Add more clay or water if mixture does not have a paste-like consistency.

Herbal Green Clay Mask

1. Combine even amounts of clay with plain or distilled water. Start with 2 to 3 ounces of both clay and water.

2. Mix well to create a thick paste.

3. Add 1 to 2 ounces of powdered herbs. Herbs that are good for dry skin include ground comfrey root, ginger root and slippery elm bark. When these herbs are combined with the green clay, they add hydration and fragrance to the skin.

4. Mix the clay mask paste and the herbs together until completely blended and let stand for a few minutes. Add water, clay or herbs, if necessary.

Green Clay Mask with Essential Oils

1. Make a mixture of even amounts, such as 2 to 3 ounces, of green clay and plain or distilled water in a bowl.

2. Add 1 to 2 ounces of dried herbs to the clay mask paste, if desired.

3. Mix the clay mask mixture well to create a paste. Add more clay or water as needed.

4. Add two drops of any or all of the following essential oils: rose, chamomile blue, neroli and sandalwood. These essential oils give the green clay mask a nice scent and work well on dry skin.

5. Add in a tablespoon of honey, plain yogurt or an egg yolk to the green clay mask mixture.

6. Blend everything well with a spoon and let stand for a few minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• To use the mask, apply a layer about 1/8- to 1/2-inch thick of the mask to your face and wait for it to dry. It can take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes to dry. If it is still wet, that means it's still working. A pulling or tightening sensation is normal. Wash off green clay mask with warm water and dry with a towel. Face may be slightly red.

• Green clay masks can be used on the face only or over other body parts as well. Apply one inch thick or less over body parts, avoiding the eyes, mouth and other sensitive parts. Then, shower off the mask once it's dry.

• If a rash develops after using the mask, discontinue use of the green clay mask.

References

• Beauty from Nature: Make a Clay Facial