Vitamin C Clay Mask with Turmeric: Every Ingredient Explained

Our Vitamin C Clay Mask is a 10-minute, rinse-off clay mask that pairs vitamin C-rich Australian botanicals (Kakadu plum, desert lime and finger lime) with turmeric, kaolin and our Hydroclay blend. Aloe, glycerin and panthenol balance the clay, so skin feels clean and soft rather than tight. Used one to three times a week, it leaves skin looking fresher straight away and supports a brighter, more even-looking tone over weeks of regular use.

It's the product that built Gleamin. Here's the story behind it, every key ingredient and what it does, how to use it, and links to our in-depth guide on each one.

What is the Vitamin C Clay Mask?

The Vitamin C Clay Mask is a pale-golden clay mask that you leave on for about 10 minutes and rinse off. It's made to do two jobs at once:

• Refresh: the clays lift away excess oil and surface buildup.
• Brighten: vitamin C-rich fruit extracts and turmeric bring antioxidants for a brighter, more even-looking complexion over time.

It comes in a 2.5 fl oz (75 mL) jar, with a larger 5 oz size too. It's dermatologist tested: in a repeat insult patch test on 52 adults supervised by a consulting dermatologist (Princeton Consumer Research, 2023), no irritation or allergic reactions were observed.

How it started

Long before it was a best-seller, this mask started in a kitchen. People everywhere were mixing turmeric and vitamin C into homemade masks because they loved how bright and fresh their skin looked afterwards. We wanted to make that ritual work properly: stable, balanced and comfortable to wear. It took two years to get right, from the first concept in 2017 to launch in 2019. The mask was first made in Australia, and its vitamin C blend of Kakadu plum and desert lime still comes from there.

Today it has two "Best Mask" awards from 2025, and it's a big part of why over a million people have trusted Gleamin with their skin.

What makes this clay mask different?

Most clay masks do one job: soak up oil. Many leave skin feeling tight, and some crack and flake as they dry. Ours is built differently:

• It brightens as well as refreshes, thanks to three vitamin C-rich botanicals and turmeric.
• It stays comfortable. Aloe, glycerin, panthenol and plant oils keep skin feeling hydrated when you rinse.
• It sets smoothly. Our Hydroclay blend helps it spread evenly and dry without flaking.

When we updated the formula, we added Hydroclay for a smoother texture, faster non-flaking dry time and better stability, and increased the jar from 2.1 to 2.5 fl oz.

What's in the Vitamin C Clay Mask?

Here's every key ingredient, what it does in the formula, and where to read more.

Kakadu plum

This small green fruit from northern Australia has the highest natural vitamin C content recorded in a fruit, many times that of an orange [1]. It's also rich in antioxidant polyphenols such as ellagic and gallic acid [1][2]. On the label: Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit. Read more: Kakadu plum for skin.

Desert lime

A hardy wild citrus native to Australia, and the second source in our vitamin C blend. It brings vitamin C and antioxidants that help skin look smoother and more even. On the label: Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract. Read more: desert lime for skin.

Finger lime

Another native Australian citrus, known for its caviar-like pearls. It adds a third vitamin C-rich fruit extract. On the label: Citrus Australasica Fruit Extract. Read more: finger lime in skincare.

Turmeric

A kitchen classic with a long tradition in skin rituals. A systematic review of the clinical evidence found early, encouraging research on turmeric for skin health, though most studies are small [3]. It also gives the mask its golden color. On the label: Curcuma Longa Root Extract. Read more: turmeric for skin.

Kaolin

A soft white clay, and the base of the mask. Clay minerals like kaolin absorb oil and surface buildup, which is why they're a staple in rinse-off masks [4]. Read more: kaolin clay for skin.

Hydroclay

Our name for the smooth-spreading clay blend that shows up on the label as magnesium aluminum silicate and hectorite. It helps the mask glide on evenly, hold its botanicals in place and set without flaking. Read more: what is Hydroclay?

Aloe vera

Aloe leaf juice balances the clay so skin feels comfortable and hydrated when you rinse, not stripped. It's traditionally valued for its soothing, moisturizing gel [5]. Read more: aloe vera in a clay mask.

The supporting cast

• Glycerin and saccharide isomerate: humectants that help skin hold on to water
• Panthenol (provitamin B5) and vitamin E: skin-conditioning favorites
• Kale leaf extract: a green botanical extract
• Castor, grape seed and safflower seed oils: a light touch of plant oils for comfort
• Iron oxides: mineral pigments that, with turmeric, give the mask its color

What does a vitamin C clay mask do?

A clay mask works while it sits on your skin and as it dries:

1. The clays absorb. Kaolin and Hydroclay draw up excess oil and surface buildup, leaving skin feeling clean [4].
2. The botanicals deliver antioxidants. Kakadu plum, desert lime and finger lime bring vitamin C and polyphenols, while turmeric adds its own antioxidant compounds [1][3].
3. The humectants keep it comfortable. Aloe, glycerin and saccharide isomerate hold water, so skin doesn't feel tight when you rinse.
4. Rinsing reveals the glow. Skin looks fresher and more radiant straight after.

One honest note: the mask's vitamin C comes from whole-fruit extracts, not an isolated form of vitamin C, and it's on your skin for minutes, not hours. Most research on vitamin C for uneven tone looks at purified vitamin C in leave-on serums [6]. That's why we pair the mask with a daily vitamin C serum. Read more in how vitamin C works for dark spots.

How do you use the Vitamin C Clay Mask?

1. Start with clean, dry skin.
2. Apply an even layer with your fingertips or a brush, avoiding the eyes and lips.
3. Leave it on for about 10 minutes, and no longer than 15.
4. Rinse with warm water, using your fingertips or a soft washcloth, and pat dry.
5. Follow with serum and moisturizer.

How often: start once or twice a week. Many of us use it up to 3 times a week. Adjust to what your skin enjoys, and patch test on your inner arm first if your skin is sensitive.

For the details, including the most common mistakes, read how to use a vitamin C clay mask, step by step. Wondering what comes next? See what to use after a clay mask.

What results can you expect, and when?

• Right after rinsing: skin looks fresher and more radiant, and feels soft and clean.
• After a few weeks of regular use: skin looks smoother and more refined.
• Over 8 to 12 weeks, alongside daily sunscreen and a vitamin C serum: a brighter, more even-looking complexion.

Results vary with your skin, how often you use it and how consistently you protect your skin from the sun. Read vitamin C clay mask results, week by week.

Is the Vitamin C Clay Mask right for your skin?

Oily and breakout-prone skin

Clay masks are a natural fit for oily skin, and many people with oily skin use this one up to 3 times a week. Read is a clay mask good for oily skin?

Dry skin

The aloe, glycerin and plant oils help, but dry skin does best with a shorter wear time, once a week and a rich moisturizer afterwards. Read can you use a clay mask on dry skin?

Sensitive skin

Patch test first, start once a week and rinse as soon as it feels tight. Read can you use a vitamin C clay mask on sensitive skin?

Your body

Many customers use it on the chest, shoulders and back too. Read how to use a clay mask on your body.

Who should be careful

Skip the mask on broken, sunburned or freshly waxed skin, and check the ingredient list if you're allergic to citrus or turmeric. If a spot stings, burns or itches, rinse it off.

What are the most common clay mask mistakes?

• Leaving it on until it cracks. About 10 minutes is enough; longer can leave skin tight.
• Using it every day. One to three times a week is plenty.
• Scrubbing it off. Soften it with warm water and rinse gently.
• Skipping moisturizer afterwards, especially on dry skin.
• Masking over irritated skin. Wait until it has settled.
• Worrying about a golden tint. Turmeric is naturally golden, and a gentle cleanse usually lifts any tint. Read does a turmeric mask stain skin?

How does the mask fit into a brightening routine?

On mask nights, use the mask after cleansing, then follow with your serum and moisturizer. On the other days, our Superactive Serum delivers 15% vitamin C every day, and sunscreen protects your progress each morning. Read our full brightening routine, or our guide to choosing a face mask for dark spots.

Find the Vitamin C Clay Mask on Amazon, or browse the full range in our Amazon store. More answers are in our clay mask FAQ.

Every guide to the Vitamin C Clay Mask

Ingredients

• Kakadu plum for skin
• Desert lime for skin
• Finger lime in skincare
• Turmeric for skin
• Kaolin clay for skin
• What is Hydroclay?
• Aloe vera in a clay mask

Using the mask

• How to use a vitamin C clay mask
• What to use after a clay mask
• Clay mask for oily skin
• Clay mask for dry skin
• Vitamin C clay mask for sensitive skin
• How to use a clay mask on your body
• Does a turmeric mask stain skin?
• Vitamin C clay mask results

References

1. Konczak I, Zabaras D, Dunstan M, Aguas P. "Antioxidant capacity and hydrophilic phytochemicals in commercially grown native Australian fruits." Food Chemistry (2010).
2. Konczak I, Maillot F, Dalar A. "Phytochemical divergence in 45 accessions of Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum)." Food Chemistry (2014). PubMed 24423529
3. Vaughn AR, Branum A, Sivamani RK. "Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on skin health: a systematic review of the clinical evidence." Phytotherapy Research (2016). PubMed 27213821
4. Moraes JDD, Bertolino SRA, Cuffini SL, et al. "Clay minerals: properties and applications to dermocosmetic products and perspectives of natural raw materials for therapeutic purposes. A review." International Journal of Pharmaceutics (2017). PubMed 29038067
5. Surjushe A, Vasani R, Saple DG. "Aloe vera: a short review." Indian Journal of Dermatology (2008). PMC2763764
6. Al-Niaimi F, Chiang NYZ. "Topical vitamin C and the skin: mechanisms of action and clinical applications." Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology (2017). PMC5605218

This article is for general information and isn't medical advice. If you have a skin condition or concern, talk to a doctor or dermatologist.