By Shahnaz Husain
Clays have been used in beauty care for centuries. Clay is said to be beneficial for the skin due to its great capacity to absorb and also has healing properties. It is said to reduce oiliness and thus prevent and control pimples and acne. Clays can also absorb toxins and impurities and thus detoxify the skin. In fact, they can be very relevant dealing with high levels of pollution in cities. They cleanse, tone and tighten the skin. Another benefit is the nourishing effect of clay, as they contain several minerals. Some of them are, in fact, very rich in minerals. Fuller’s Earth (Multani Mitti) and Kaolin are most commonly used.
Kaolin is mild and gentle in nature and also suits sensitive skin. It is not as absorbent as the other clays, but can be used for most skin types, including normal to dry skin. It softens the skin and has antiseptic properties too. Fuller’s Earth, or multani mitti, is white or light beige in colour and contains several minerals. It is of particular benefit to oily skins. Clays have a drying effect, so moisturizing ingredients like honey, aloe vera, fruit pulp, etc., may be added to mud-packs for normal to dry skin.
Tips on various skin types
For oily skin: Mix Fuller’s Earth (multani mitti) with rose water into a paste and apply on the face, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off when it is dry.
For acne-prone skin: Mix Fuller’s Earth with sandalwood paste, rose water and neem leaf powder into a paste. Apply the same way and wash off when dry.
For normal to dry and normal to oily skin, mix 1 teaspoon Kaolin with aloe vera gel into a paste. Apply on the face, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off after 15 minutes with plain water. If there is acne, add 2 drops of Tea Tree Oil to the mixture.
For normal to dry skin, 2 teaspoons of Kaolin powder may be mixed with one teaspoon each of honey and yogurt into a paste. Apply and remove the same way.
Mix 2 teaspoons Kaolin powder, with 2 teaspoons rose water, half teaspoon pure glycerine and a pinch of turmeric. Apply on oily, pimple prone skin and wash off when it dries, or after 15 minutes.
Clay have a cooling effect and are ideal for summer.
About Shahnaz Husain
Shahnaz Husain, pioneer of the Ayurvedic beauty movement, heads the Shahnaz Husain Group, with a global network of franchise ventures and 375 Ayurvedic formulations. A Case Study at Harvard for Brand Creation, she is now a Harvard Subject for “Emerging Markets” She was honored with the Padma Shri Award and is the first woman in 105 years to receive the World’s Greatest Woman Entrepreneur Award from Success, the U.S. business magazine. Indeed, Shahnaz Husain is a leading international beauty icon.
