What is Pink Clay & Why Does Your Skin Need It?
Australian pink clay masks have recently become a trending topic, in part due to the surprising benefits associated with their main ingredient.
If you follow skincare experts on Instagram you've almost certainly been coming across this new trend, but you may be asking - what makes it any different to other clay face masks?
You might be surprised...
What is Pink Australian Clay?
Pink clay is a colloquial term used to refer to kaolin - a soft naturally occurring clay that has been used in the making of porcelain and fine china for centuries. In recent years, kaolin has discovered to offer numerous benefits for skincare. Therefore, pink clay face masks have become a popular product, allowing users to experience the benefits of pink clay in an easy and soothing manner.
The clay itself comes in multiple colors, most commonly white - but different colors exist based on the ingredients present. Pink kaolinite tends to also include iron, illite, montmorillonite and calcite. Green clay is also a popular skincare product ingredient and is made up of kaolinite mixed with iron oxides and plant matter. While green clay is thought to provide stronger antibacterial effects, the pink hued clay is the most efficient when it comes to absorbing into skin, protecting pores and providing natural cleansing properties. This makes it a very popular skincare ingredient. In fact, it is currently thought to be one of the most effective for dry and sensitive skin specifically.
Before we discuss how to use australian pink clay in your skincare routine, let's dig deeper into some of the benefits you can expect:
Pink Clay Mask Benefits
Pink clay contains high amounts of silica which is known to bond with skin cells, leaving skin more elastic, smoother and with a youthful glow. It is also effective at reducing acne. This works for all skin types, however it is most effective on dry or sensitive skin due to pink clay's ability to lock in moisture and sooth the skin. It also draws out impurities and tightens pores, a combination of effects that makes it extremely effective for irritated or inflamed skin.
Pink clay masks also make an excellent facial cleanser. Since clay is porous and absorbs water easily, you can add a small amount of water to a pinch of clay to make an amazing cleanser, or even add some clay to your favourite cleanser product. The clay adds a mineral boost, while it's ability to draw out impurities, detox and clean pores improves the results achieved by your regular cleanser and leaves your skin unbelievably soft.
While most clays can absorb oils from your skin, pink clay is able to do this more gently than any other clay, ensuring you don't strip all of the oil from your skin, making it one of the best ways to reduce oil if you have dry skin.
As already mentioned, it is also extremely gentle, able to soothe most cases of irritated or burning skin and calm inflammation. This combined with all of the above benefits makes it effective for treating acne too. Continual use will also tone your skin thanks to the deep cleansing properties.
Lastly, Australian pink clay is a powerful exfoliant. It can gently smooth over and brighten even the most sensitive skin.
Beyond this, pink clay mask has benefits beyond skincare - including being used as a hair cleanser, tooth cleanser, or as a natural deodorant.
So what are the most effective ways to experience all of these benefits?
Pink Clay Mask - How to Use
- Apply an even layer to clean skin using the stick provided
- Leave to dry for 10-15 minutes
- Wash off gently using warm water in circle motions
- Lightly pat skin dry
How to Use Australian Pink Clay Mask for Gritting
As well as using your pink clay mask in the regular way listed above, you can also use it for gritting. Gritting is a technique that involves using an oil based cleanser to break down and soften the dirt and grime inside your pores before using pink clay to pull them out. This is one of the most effective ways to clean your face thoroughly and results in visible pieces of debris coming out of your pores that can easily be washed away.
All you need is our australian pink clay face mask and an effective oil based cleanser.
- Clean your face thoroughly with the cleanser and pat dry
- Apply pink clay face mask and leave for 10-15 minutes to dry before washing off (in circular motions) and patting dry.
- Clean your face thoroughly with the cleanser again, but this time use gentle pressure to massage the cleanser deeply into the skin. You should start to see bits of grit show up on the surface of your skin as they are washed out of your pores. Continue to massage gently to remove as many as possible (without going too far and irritating your skin).
- Rinse off all of the grit and cleanser before using a cold wet towel to close up your pores
- Follow up with your favourite hydrating serum
If you're looking to try australian pink clay masks for the first time, try ours!
Our skincare formulation specialists have taken the highest quality australian pink clay and added extra beneficial ingredients including aloe vera for hydration, kakadu plum for anti aging benefits, AHAs, retinoids, antioxidants and more, to leave your skin clear, soft and cleaner that it's ever been!