Clays

Question 1

What are the primary uses of Clays

Answer 1

drawing and adsorptive properties—meaning ionic bonds cause other substances to “stick” to clay particles (Williams & Haydel, 2010). Clay muds and pastes may be used to cleanse, nourish, exfoliate, and purify the skin, drawing out excess oil and impurities, and are often used in face masks and other cleansers; they may also be used in dry shampoos, deodorants, soaps, poultices, and toothpastes or powders. Clay can also have antimicrobial properties when applied to the skin (Williams & Haydel, 2010), which is another reason it may be included in cleansing and purifying skin products.

Question 2

How are clays classified?

Answer 2

Different types of clay are classified by their mineral elements—for example, bentonite, kaolinite, and montmorillonite are minerals commonly found in different types of clay soil

Question 3

What kind of skin types are clays more appropriate for?

Answer 3

In general, clays—especially when applied as a mud mask or pack—have a drying, astringing quality, making them most appropriate for use on more oily skin; using a less drying type of clay, or combining with moisturizing, emollient ingredients can make clays more suitable for dry or sensitive skin types.

Question 4

What are the 3 major categories of clay?

Answer 4

Smectite: clays that expand in water and that are known for their strong drawing and absorptive propperties

Illite:Light and fluffy clays that do not expand in water, are gently exfolliating and have strong drawing propperties.

Kaolin:Less drawing and drying than smectite and illite clays. Used to gently stimulate circulation, exfollitate and cleanse.

Question 5

Name 5 smectite clays

Answer 5

Bentonite clay
French grean clay
French yellow clay
Fuller's earth clay
Rhassoul clay

Question 6

Name 1 illite clay

Answer 6

Green illite clay

Question 7

Name 3 Kaoline clays

Answer 7

Red, white and yellow Kaoline clays

Question 8

Bentonite: Properties

Answer 8

Antibacterial
useful for dermatitis and skin ulcers

highly absorbant

very drying

Question 9

Bentonite: Skin type

Answer 9

Congested, oily skin

not recommended for dry skin

Question 10

Bentonite: Common Uses

Answer 10

Body wraps
Deodorants
Foot powders
Hair masks
Poultices
Tooth powders
Tooth paste

Question 11

French Green Clay: Properties

Answer 11

Highly absorbent
promotes circulation
Rich in minerals
Anti-Microbial
Anti-inflammatory
Vulnerary

Question 12

French Green Clay: Skin Types

Answer 12

Combination skin
Acne prone skin
Clogged pores

Not suggested for Dry and sensitive skin

Question 13

French Green Clay: Common Uses

Answer 13

Bodywraps
Cosmetics
Scrubs
Masks

Question 14

French Yellow Clay: Properties

Answer 14

Softer and less drawing than other smectite clays

Question 15

French Yellow Clay: Skin Type

Answer 15

Sensitive and Dry skin

Question 16

French Yellow Clay: Common Uses

Answer 16

Bodywraps
Cosmetics
Scrubs
Masks

Question 17

Fuller’s Earth: Properties

Answer 17

Srongly oil drawing and bacteria drawing

Skin lightening

Question 18

Fuller’s Earth: Skin Type

Answer 18

Oily, acne prone

Question 19

Fuller’s Earth: Common Uses

Answer 19

Mask
Poultice
Scrubs
Blemish preparations

Question 20

Rhassoul clay: Properties

Answer 20

Rich in minerals
Moderately drying
Often used to improve skin elasticity

Question 21

Rhassoul clay: Skin Type

Answer 21

Sensitive, Mature, Prone to blackheads

Question 22

Rhassoul clay: Common Uses

Answer 22

Body wraps
Masks
Cosmetics
Soaps
Scrubs

Question 23

Green illite clay: Properties

Answer 23

strongly drawing

Question 24

Green illite clay: Skin Type

Answer 24

oily skin

not recommended for dry or normal skin

Question 25

Green illite clay: Common uses

Answer 25

Blemish preparations
Deodorants
Foot powders
Poultices
Soaps

Question 26

Red Kaolin clay:Properties

Answer 26

anti-inflammatory
Brightening
Rich in minerals
Most drawing and drying of the Kaolin clays
Vulnerary

Question 27

Red Kaolin clay: Skin type

Answer 27

Oily skin

Question 28

White Kaolin clay: Properties

Answer 28

antibacterial
least drying clay
very fine and light particles

Question 29

White Kaolin clay: Skin type

Answer 29

Dry skin sensitive skin

Question 30

White Kaolin clay: Common uses

Answer 30

Body powders
Cleansers
Cosmetics
Deodorants
Masks
Scrubs

Question 31

Yellow Kaolin clay: Properties

Answer 31

Slightly more drawing and exfoliating than white koalin clay

Question 32

Yellow kaolin clay: Skin types

Answer 32

Most skin types

Question 33

Yellow kaolin clay: Common Uses

Answer 33

Cleansers
Cosmetics
Masks
Scrubs

Question 34

Which other two ingredients are often used in the same way as clays?

Answer 34

Cornstarch and arrowroot powder are often used in the same way as clays, as thickening, drawing, and astringent agents. They can be found in natural deodorants, baby or body powders, dry shampoos, and facial cosmetics.

Cornstarch is, of course, made from corn, which, in the U.S., is almost exclusively made using genetically modified corn, although non-genetically modified cornstarch is available. Arrowroot powder is a similar product made from a starchy tuber; although the two products are very similar and almost interchangeable, arrowroot is slightly finer than cornstarch and has a more silky feel.