I’ve discovered another use for clay masks, and I’m kicking myself that I didn’t think of it before!
The clay can be used as a pimple spot treatment. It works by drying the pimple out, helping it heal faster and reducing a lot of the redness and inflammation of the pimple. Clays work by drawing the toxins out of the skin, so it’s drawing all the bad stuff out of the pimple into the clay. When you wash the clay off you’re washing the toxins off too. The clay is also very drying (which is why you normally only keep it on your face for five to ten minutes), so using it as a spot treatment on your pimple overnight really dries it out.
I’ve been mixing a small amount of white clay with organic apple cider vinegar (ACV) and dabbing it on my pimples at night before I got to bed. The ACV has anti-bacterial properties so it works well mixed with the clay.
You don’t need to use white clay. I just chose that color because it’s the most gentle out of all the clays so I figured if I’m having something on my skin all night it’s better to have something gentle. You can use any color clays. Read this article for an outline on what each different clay is good for.
The clay spot treatment shows better results for those ‘normal’ pimples. You know the ones - they turn red and angry and eventually form a really embarrassing little head. I had two of those last night and one large pimple underneath my skin on my chin. I found the clay mask worked a lot better at calming down the angry pimples, but didn’t do a lot to the big one underneath my chin. I don’t know how well it would work for cysts or nodules either.
Just between you and me, the other added bonus of using the mask as a spot treatment is when you look in the mirror you can see a dab of mask not a big red pimple which is strangely not as bad psychologically AND it makes sure you don’t pick or squeeze your spot because you can’t see it.
Here’s a video I also recorded for YouTube on this spot treatment.
Happy spot treating!
Fran
Fran Kerr is the founding editor of High on Health. To cure your acne, sign up to Fran's FREE acne cure mini-course or download her latest how to guide, Eat Away Your Acne.
2 responses ↓
I have done this in the past, it just simply occured to me, no one told me about it. It does work I have tried cheap clay mask from drugstores. However I did a no-no that you mentioned on this vid.
I used the Proactiv mask, a light layer on my face, and left it overnite. The problem was I had an appointment with a facialist in the morning and she realized how tight my pores was, I told her what I had done, I got a scolding. :)) I didn’t get such a great absorption of the products she used in my session because of it.
However, it did work in shrinking my pores especially the ones I have around my nose and on my nose. I plan to do it again because my pores have enlarged even more these past few yrs. I’ll be buying a better brand maybe the white one you suggested. Thank You!!
I’ve bought a very expensive clay mask (45 pounds!!!) that the seller claims is from israel, and a 100% pure. I was told that it penetrates the 7 layers of skin and sucks all the impurities out and dries them from the inside. However everytime I use it, I get pimples the next day (because it probably does bring impurities to the surface but its definitely not drying them from the inside out). I’m not using it too often and have a whole line that goes with it. After the clay mask, I use the peeling mask and moisturize. Since the guy claimed to be a skin specialist and seemed to know what he was talking about, I trusted him but I feel pretty ripped off now spending a 140 quid on a line which has done nothing for me. Haha sorry this post doesn’t really have anything to do with your blog, its just a rant.
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