Of all the steps that comprise the typical skincare routine, there’s no doubt that applying a face mask is by far the most luxurious. Whether you’re participating in a girl’s night with a big group of friends or treating yourself to a night of solo self-care, putting on a mask instantly evokes an indulgent, spa-like vibe.

 

Of course, putting on a face mask is about more than just relaxing and treating yourself (although we do love that part of it). It also revolves around giving your skin an instant boost of vitality—rejuvenating and refreshing your skin, if you will.

 

Today, we thought we’d provide a short guide that will help you understand the skincare benefits that come with all different types of clay masks. So, next time you feel like kicking back with a face mask and a glass of wine, you’ll be able to pick the very best clay mask for your specific skin type. Likewise, you’ll have a deeper understanding of what, exactly, that mask is doing to support your skin.

 

Now, let’s get into all these skincare benefits for each skin type—oily, dry, sensitive, balanced, and combination skin.

 

Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, your face may appear shiny or greasy, and your pores might be visibly enlarged. Likewise, you probably experience frequent breakouts of acne, blackheads, and more. 

 

When it comes to oily skin, clay masks can be a true savior. Typically, clay masks will draw out excess oil from your skin, helping to balance out your complexion and unclog your pores. 

 

Many people claim that green clay is the best type of clay for oily skin. This is because green clay is known to be an excellent exfoliator. It’s ideal for removing impurities, dirt, and excess oil from the pores. Clearly, this would be highly beneficial for anyone with oily skin.

 

If you experience frequent breakouts because of your oily skin, a clay mask may be able to help, too. For mild acne, a typical clay mask will fight breakouts by absorbing the excess oil on your face. For acne that is more severe, like blackheads or cystic acne, you may want to try applying a mixture of clay powder and warm water to promote perspiration and clean out the pores.

Dry Skin

Now, let’s take a look at the opposite end of the spectrum: dry skin. This type of skin is defined by its lack of oil—people with dry skin actually produce less sebum than the average person. Dry skin can often feel tight, inelastic, and rough. People with dry skin may have a dull complexion and very small pores.

 

If you have dry skin, be sure not to overuse clay masks. As you know, clay masks are perfect for absorbing excess oil. However, people with dry skin don’t have much excess oil to spare, so overusing a clay mask can actually make their skin even drier.

 

That being said, clay masks do have many benefits for dry skin when used properly. For example, a clay mask that uses kaolin clay is gentle enough to provide skincare benefits without fully drying out the face. Kaolin clay gently absorbs oil while also providing mild exfoliation. As such, it may brighten the skin and promote circulation. 

 

In addition, there are many other types of clay masks that are suitable for dry skin. For example, red clay may actually help the skin retain moisture by creating a thin film on the face. This could help people with dry skin lock in hydration.

 

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin often exhibits some of the same symptoms as dry skin, including redness, itchiness, burning, and dry skin. However, the key difference between the two is that sensitive skin tends to get triggered by external factors, such as particular skincare products or makeup items.

 

Likewise, the sensitive skin type is very similar to dry skin in the sense that clay masks may cause skin irritation if overused. So, just like with dry skin, it’s very important to be cautious about which kind of clay mask you use, as well as the frequency with which you apply masks.

 

Moreover, it goes without saying that if a certain mask triggers skin issues for you, you should stop using it right away.

 

Don’t get too discouraged, though—there are plenty of masks that are viable options for people with sensitive skin. Kaolin clay is an ideal choice for this group, as it is very gentle on the skin. In addition, lotion containing bentonite clay has been found to be an effective treatment for dermatitis on the hands. So, if your sensitive skin type affects your hands as well, you may want to try this remedy.

 

Combination Skin

Combination skin is exactly what it sounds like—essentially, it’s a blend between dry, oily, and balanced skin. People with combination skin may notice that particular areas of their face, like the T-zone, tend to get very oily, while other areas are dry or balanced. In the oily regions, they may experience blackheads and have shiny-looking skin.

 

Frankly, combination skin is one of the trickiest skin types to care for properly. Quite simply, this is because most skincare products are targeted towards either dry, oily, balanced, or sensitive skin. If you have a combination of two or three of these types, you may need to use multiple products on each of the different areas of skin.

 

The same goes for clay masks. If you have combination skin, you may need to use multiple masks on various parts of your face. For example, you could apply a green clay mask to your oily T-zone to absorb all of that excess oil and use a kaolin clay mask on your dry or balanced cheeks. 

 

Using this method will allow you to reap all of the wonderful benefits of clay masks causing skin issues on any part of your face.

 

All Skin Types

Finally, we should note that some clay masks are truly suitable for all skin types. While certain types of clay are ideal for certain skin types, other clay types work well on every kind of skin and offer tons of amazing benefits.

 

For example, in our Vitamin C Clay Mask, we use yellow clay—a milder clay that is suitable for all types of skin, including dry and sensitive. This yellow clay purifies your pores by removing excess oil and dirt. In this way, it balances and refreshes the skin.

 

In addition to clay, our mask is packed with other powerful ingredients, like turmeric, aloe vera, Kakadu plum, and desert lime. All of these superfoods ensure that our masks leave your skin looking and feeling amazing. 

 

Wrapping It Up

With any luck, this article has given you the tools and knowledge you need to pick out a face mask that is perfect for your unique skin type. In doing so, you’ll ensure that you’re able to optimize your clay-mask experience and truly treat your skin right. Good luck!

Sources:

Clay Mask Benefits for Your Skin and Hair, and How to Use Them | Healthline

Clay Mask: Types, Benefits, and Risks - Skin Health | VeryWell Health

Skin Types and Care: Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination, Sensitive | WebMD