By Shahnaz Husain
Applying packs is an integral part of skin care, as it is an ideal way of preserving the good health of the skin. Clay is a common ingredient of home-made mud packs. Fuller’s Earth (Multani Mitti) and Kaolin are most commonly used. Bentonite is also used in formulating packs, while activated charcoal may be added. Clays have a drying effect, so moisturizing ingredients like honey, aloe vera, fruit pulp should be added to mud-packs.
Fuller’s Earth, or multani mitti, is easily available. A natural clay, it is white or light beige in colour and contains several minerals. It is of particular benefit to oily skins, as it absorbs and reduces oiliness from the skin surface. It also refines the pores and tightens the skin. In fact, it helps acne and pimple prone skin and can be used along with sandalwood, neem, mint, etc. It becomes dry when applied on the skin, tightening the skin and serving the purpose of a useful face pack.
Kaolin clay reduces oiliness and purifies the skin by drawing out toxins. It has a cleansing and gentle effect on the skin. 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 the eyes. Wash it off after 15 minutes with plain water. If there is acne, add 2 drops of Tea Tree Oil to the mixture.
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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 the eyes. Wash it off when it is dry.
Mix 2 teaspoons of 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.
Activated charcoal can be used in mud packs to cleanse and detoxify the skin. For oily skin, mix one teaspoon each of Fuller’s Earth and activated charcoal powder with green tea. Soak green tea-bag in hot water. Cool and add the water to mix the pack. Wash off after 15 minutes.
To discourage blackheads and reduce oiliness, mix one teaspoon each of Fuller’s Earth, baking soda and activated charcoal. Add rose water to make a paste. Apply on the face, avoiding the lips and area around the eyes. Wash it off after 15 minutes.
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 honoured 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.
