7 cosmetic clays, their benefits, and recipes

Women have been using clays for skin and hair care for centuries. Bentonite clay and kaolin clay are the cosmetic clays typically added to shaving soap recipes to provide glide. Many people add clay to soap for fragrance. Most clays have their very own identifiable scent. Adding cosmetic clays to your bath bomb recipes may help to create harder bath bombs. All cosmetic clays act as gentle exfoliants. They also help draw impurities out of your skin, and increase circulation. I personally would rather use clays.

Bentonite clay

This is the cheapest of all the clays I'm going to mention. It is extremely easy to get ahold of, on account of the fact that it is abundant. Bentonite clay is a light greenish/beige colored clay when it is dry and turns an olive color when water is added to it. Bentonite clay becomes somewhat slimy when water is added, but this gives it better glide on your skin. Bentonite clay is my go to when it comes to cosmetics, soaps, and other bath and body products.
Bentonite originates in the USA.
Other uses for Bentonite include:
Face mask formulations. It reaches deep down into your pores and cleans out impurities from the skin.
It can be added to cold process soaps to help oily skin. That is what provides the soap with a natural light green color.
It is frequently added to shaving soap formulas because it provides glide on the skin. I personally made a shaving soap and added Bentonite and I swear to you I didn't shave for a week and a half. My skin was so soft and smooth.
Bentonite is added to lotion to help thicken the product by helping it emulsify oils.
Adding Bentonite clay to bath bomb recipes help make your bath bombs harder, and also helps your skin absorb the nutrients in the water leaving your skin fresh and smooth.
Bentonite is also known as Indian Healing clay. You can find it at Walmart or online at places like Amazon.

Face mask recipe using Bentonite: Chocolate facial mask

96 grams Organic Cocoa Powder
224 grams Bentonite Clay Powder
24 drops Vitamin E Oil
12 grams Vegetable Glycerin

*You can swap out vegetable glycerin for water if you'd like. But if you choose to use water, make sure you use distilled water.

Weight out the dry ingredients and blend together in a bowl; in a separate bowl combine the wet ingredients. Then mix them together.

Dead sea clay

This clay is a greyish green color and mined from ancient sea floors. It is rich in iron, aluminum, potassium, and calcium; providing your skin with rich nutrients. Dead sea clay helps remove toxins from the skin, provides gentle exfoliation, and helps remove dead skin cells. Dead sea clay was formed hundreds of thousands of years ago in the beds of ancient seas and may contain clay from seas other than the Dead Sea.
Other uses for Dead sea clay include:
Mixing with herbal tea , water, or milk to prepare mud baths.
Mixing with water or herbal tea infusions to make facial masks.
It can be added to melt and pour soap recipes.
It can be added to cold process and hot process soap recipes but is recommended to be added during the oil phase (2-3 teaspoons per pound of oils used).
It is a great addition to sugar and salt scrubs.
It can be added to bath bombs for natural color.

Dead sea clay face mask recipe: Shea butter and Dead sea soap

For the Gray Soap Portion:
5 grams of Dead Sea Clay
10 grams of Vegetable Glycerin

For the Orange Soap Portion:
7 grams of Orange Peel Powder
5 drops of orange coloring
11 grams of Vegetable Glycerin

For the Red Soap Portion:
7 grams of Red Moroccan Clay (discussed later in this article)
9 grams of Vegetable Glycerin

Step 1: Line up your 4 disposable cups. Assign each cup one of the following colors: Orange, White, Red, and Gray. To the white cup, add the pumice(excellent exfoliator) and 20 grams of Vegetable Glycerin. To the Red cup, add the Red Moroccan Clay and 9 grams of Vegetable Glycerin. To the orange cup, add the orange peel powder, orange coloring, and 11 grams of Vegetable Glycerin. Finally to the gray cup, add the dead sea clay and 10 grams of Vegetable Glycerin. Stir each cup individually to make a paste. Set aside.

Next, you'll be using your microwave safe glass container to weigh out and melt 904 grams of Shea Butter melt and pour soap base. You will want to melt the soap in 30 seconds increments, while stirring in between. If you don't do this it will spill over. Keep melting until all soap is in a liquid state. I like melt and pour. No lye is required and it is so easy.

Step 3: Now grab the white soap cup, using a spatula, completely scrape all of the pumice paste into the melted soap. Then, add the 45 grams of vegetable glycerin. Combine really well.

Now that all of your melted soap is scented and contains the pumice, carefully take the soap over to the cups containing the paste. To the remaining 3 cups, add 225 grams of scented soap to each one. Individually, stir each cup. There will be some soap left in your microwave safe glass container. This will be your white soap now.

Now it is time to grab your molds.

Next, pick two color cups. Starting with these colors, pour the soap at the same time (using both hands). Pour the soap amount you want, then switch colors. Continue this until all of the soap has been used.

Finally, use your spatula to scrape any remaining soap from the containers. Spritz with alcohol to remove any bubbles. Let it fully set up and you're done.

French Green Clay

French Green Clay is the most frequently used clay by health professionals and spas to treat various skin conditions. It nourishes the skin, and removes impurities. French Green clay is light green in color when dry, but turns dark green when it gets wet. The reason the clay is green is because it contains actual decomposed plant material which makes it very nutritious for the skin. Because of that, it is used in many cosmetics, soaps, and skincare recipes.
The clay originates in France(hence the name).
Other uses for French Green Clay include:
It is frequently used in facial mask recipes. It contains the following minerals that help to nourish the skin: Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Potassium, Copper, and Selenium. As I said, it removes impurities from the skin while it is drying, then shrinks the size of the pores of your face as it dries.
It can be added to cold process soap and melt and pour soap recipes for increased cleansing ability and natural exfoliation. It will produce a natural green color in soaps. If you're adding to cold process soap, add lightly. If you're adding to melt and pour soap, add while the soap is still melted.
French Green Clay can be used to make deodorizing feet treatments.
It can be added to mineral baths to help nourish the skin, remove impurities, relieve sunburn, and relieves arthritis pain.
It can also be added to your bath bomb recipes and/or scrub recipes.

French Green Clay soothing face mask:

*You will need oatmeal for this recipe.

In a pot you'll want to boil 120 grams of water for at least 20 minutes to rid it of any bacteria.

While your water is boiling, put together your dry portion of your mask. For this you will need the following:
14 grams French Green Clay
2 grams of Comfrey Root powder
2 grams Chamomile Flower powder
2 grams Burdock Root powder
2 grams Dandelion Root Powder
4 grams finely ground oatmeal .

*If you notice any clumps, break them up now. I also like to add a little bit of peppermint leaf powder because it soothes any irritation.

Next, combine the following wet ingredients to your dry ingredients:
43 grams of your now distilled water.
1 gram of vitamin e oil and stir well. You can also use jojoba or coconut oil if you prefer. If the mixture is not pasty enough, add 1 tsp more distilled water at a time and combine thoroughly.

Now all you have to do is apply it generously to your face and let it dry. Make sure your mask is not too hot. You will notice your face tightening. That is a good thing. Rinse your face, and pat dry with a towel.

Kaolin White Clay

Kaolin Clay, a.k.a China Clay, is a white clay that is perfect for sensitive skin types. It is commonly used to make mineral makeup like foundation, eye shadow, and blush. Kaolin clay is used in many recipes as a thickener, and added to bath bombs to harden them. Like most clays, kaolin clay helps cleanse the skin; removing toxins.
Other uses for Kaolin clay include:
Mixing with herbal tea , water, or milk to prepare mud baths.
Mixing with water or herbal tea infusions to make facial masks.
It can be added to melt and pour soap
It can be added to cold process and hot process soap. It is recommended to add during the oil phase (2-3 teaspoons per pound of oils used).
It is a great addition to sugar and salt scrubs
It is added to bath bombs for natural color and to make bath bombs harder
It is used in products as a fragrance
It is used in natural deodorant recipes

Kaolin White Clay candy cane face mask recipe:

**You will need 6 grams of distilled water and 3 grams of Vegetable Glycerin.

For the pink portion of this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
32 grams Rose Clay Powder
7 grams Beet Root Powder
9 grams Hibiscus Flowers Powder
1 drop Peppermint Essential Oil
3 drops Vitamin E Oil

For the White portion of this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
25 grams Kaolin White Clay
2 grams Arrowroot Powder
6 grams Vanilla Powder
2 grams Safflower Oil Powder
3 drops Vitamin E Oil

First, prepare the pink portion, combine all those ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
Next, prepare the white portion, combine all of those ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
Now, begin layering the pink and white powders in a jar. Pack each layer down to help keep the layers separated.

This mask is made a tad differently than we're used to. Scoop about one tablespoon of the powdered portion in another bowl. Make sure you scoop both pink and white.
This is where you will add the water and vegetable glycerin. Mix it well and apply to your face.

Red Moroccan clay

Red Moroccan clay is one of the purest forms of cosmetic clays found. It removes impurities and toxins from the skin, while moisturizing.
It originates in Morocco(hence the name)
Other uses for Red Moroccan clay include:
Red Moroccan Clay powder is frequently used in facial mask recipes. It contains minerals that help nourish the skin. It removes impurities from the skin while it is drying, then shrinks the size of the pores of your face as it dries all while adding moisture to your skin.
Red Moroccan Clay can be added to cold process soap and melt and pour soap recipes for increased cleansing ability and natural exfoliation. It will produce an orange/red color in soap recipes. Add it to cold process soap lightly. Add it to melt and pour soap while it is melted at the rate of 1-2 Tablespoons per pound of melt and pour soap.
Red Moroccan Clay powder can be used to make deodorizing feet treatments.
It can be added to mineral baths to help nourish the skin, remove impurities, and moisturize the skin.
It can be added to bath bomb recipes, sugar, and salt scrub recipes.

Red Moroccan clay firming facial mask recipe:

*You will need distilled water for this recipe

The first step is to create a hibiscus flower infusion. For this you will need the following ingredients:
2 grams of dried Hibiscus flowers
120 grams of Distilled water
strainer or tea bag. I have used a flour sifter before for this step and that works just fine.

*Boil your water at least 20 minutes to make sure all the bacteria is killed off.

Place your dried flower in a tea bag, strainer, or sifter. Place that over a bowl. When the water is finished, pour the hot water over the flowers and allow it to steep. Yes, you are basically making a tea. Let this steep while you prepare the next portion.
Next, we need to prepare the dry portion of the mask. For this you will need the following ingredients:
23 grams of Red Moroccan Clay Powder
3 grams of Hibiscus Flower Powder.
Gently stir these two ingredients to incorporate them. If you notice any clumps, break them up now.

Now all we need to is is mix the dry and wet ingredients.
In a separate bowl, weigh out 18 grams of the hibiscus tea. Then add 6 grams of vegetable glycerin to the tea. Stir well.
Next, combine dry and wet ingredients until you have a red paste.

Generously apply to your face and let dry.

Rhassoul Clay

Since the 18th century, Rhassoul Clay has been mined from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Women in Morocco have been using Rhassoul clay to care for their skin and hair. Rhassoul clay contains skin-loving minerals like silicon, iron, sodium, magnesium, potassium that help cleanse, refresh, and tone the skin.
Reputable, high-end spas around the world use Rhassoul clay to provide their clients with luxury treatments that cleanse the skin, reduce pore size, and smooth the skin by removing dead skin cells.
It also originates in Morocco and is also known as Moroccan lava clay.
Other uses for Rhassoul Clay include:
Mixing with herbal tea and water to prepare mud baths.
Mixing with water or herbal tea infusions to make facial masks.
It is used as a natural shampoo or hair rinse to cleanse and refresh hair follicles.
It is added to melt and pour soap
It is added to cold process and hot process soap
It is a great addition to bath bombs, sugar and salt scrubs.

I love this clay! I use it at least once a week.

Rhassoul clay and chamomile soap recipe:
For this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
120 grams Oatmeal Melt and Pour Soap
6 grams Watercress and Aloe Fragrance Oil
7 grams Rhassoul Clay
11 Grams Vegetable Glycerin

For the clear layer you will need the following ingredients:
180 grams Diamond Clear Melt and Pour Soap
9 grams fragrance oil of your choice
7 grams dried whole chamomile flowers

In a bowl add 7 grams of Rhassoul Clay and 11 grams of Vegetable Glycerin. Mix well. You will end up with a paste like consistency. Set aside.
Next, in a microwave, melt 120 grams of the Oatmeal Melt and Pour Soap. Remember with melt and pour soap bases, you'll need to heat it at 30 second increments.
Once the soap is melted, add 6 grams of fragrance Oil and the Rhassoul Clay mixture you mixed in step one. Stir well, make sure the ingredients are fully incorporated.
Next, pour the soap into a mold. Spray with rubbing alcohol to get rid of the bubbles.
While you are waiting for that layer to set, weigh out 7 grams of the chamomile flowers. You will use these in the clear layer once it is melted.
Next, melt 180 grams of Diamond Clear melt and pour soap. Once melted, add 9 grams of fragrance Oil. Combine well. Before you pour into the molds on top of the first layer, make sure to spritz it again with alcohol. This will help the clear layer stick to it.
While the clear layer is still liquid, add the chamomile flowers.s You can add a much or as little as you would like. 7 grams should do the trick. This will give the top of the soap a cute little in layer design. Let the soap set completely and you are done.

The last clay for today is Rose Clay

Rose clay, often referred to as pink clay,. It is a gentle, natural clay that contains kaolinite. It is fabulous for most skin types; including sensitive skin. Rose clay provides gentle exfoliation, helps to draw toxins from the skin, helps to increase circulation, reduces skin irritation, and helps to reduce inflammation. It is typically used as an ingredient in cosmetics, soap, facial masks, and mud baths; providing skin-loving minerals, but also naturally coloring your finished products.
Other uses for Rose clay include:
Mixing with herbal tea , water, or milk to prepare mud baths.
Mixing with water or herbal tea infusions to make facial masks.
It is added to melt and pour soap
It is added to cold process and hot process soap. It is recommended to be added during the oil phase (2-3 teaspoons per pound of oils used).
And of course it is a great addition to bath bombs, sugar, and salt scrubs.

Whipped Rose Clay shaving soap recipe:

*I have used this recipe myself. I am telling you it is amazing!
For this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
454 grams of Whipped Soap Base
12 grams of Shea Butter
4 grams fragrance Oil of your choice
4 grams of Rose Clay Powder
4 grams of Optiphen Preservative

First, in a deep mixing bowl, weigh out the whipped soap base. Set aside.
Next, in a separate small bowl, weigh out your shea butter, fragrance oil, and optiphen.
Now, we will whip the soap base. Use a hand held mixer to whip the base. You will notice the base will begin to look like whipped frosting. You can use a whisk, but it take SO MUCH LONGER.
Once the soap base is whipped, add the shea butter, fragrance oil, and optiphen you prepared earlier. With your spatula, begin to fold the ingredients into the whipped base. You want to make sure everything is thoroughly mixed.
Next, add your rose clay powder. Start folding the clay into the whipped soap base. Make sure the rose clay is fully incorporated throughout the mixture. Pay close attention to the sides of the bowl, cleaning them as you go.
Whip the mixture until it is well blended. When the mixture takes on a frosting consistency again, stop mixing.
Finally, you'll want to put the cream into a jar.

I absolutely LOVE rose clay. I will recommend it to anyone over and over again.

I hope you enjoyed this article. I hope you found it helpful and amusing. As always, I welcome your feedback.

Ta Ta for now
-Mel