Known for being a natural detoxing agent, Bentonite Clay is commonly used a skincare product, perfect for those days when you need a serious deep cleanse. In the next installment of the “We Tried It:” series, I gathered some of our Naturally Curly Editors to try out various Bentonite Clay mud masks. Let’s see what they thought!
Alex
I used The Shea Moisture Beauty Hack Bentonite Clay Mask which requires a mixture of water and a pure oil, so I added a couple drops of Josie Maran Argan Oil.
I applied my clay mask to a clean face, and removed my makeup beforehand. When I applied the clay mask it immediately starting drying and after 10 minutes my face began to feel very tight. Afterward, my skin was slightly red but was extremely soft and smooth and I didn’t need to moisturize afterwards. Before I knew it my skin was glowing!
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
This was my first time using a clay mask and I was very impressed with the benefits it offers such as glowing skin, unclogged pores and healing powers to lighten up dark spots. I would definitely implement a claymask in my skin routine once a week.
Nikki
I used the SheaMoisture Sensitive Skin Mud Mask and put it on top of my makeup.
I thought it would do the double duty of removing my makeup and doing what a mask does. The mask said it was for sensitive skin, but it really burned and irritated my skin so I did not keep it on long. It didn’t get a chance to dry. After I rinsed it off, my skin felt kinda dry and I did need to moisturize afterwards, but unfortunately I did not have a moisturizer on hand. I used an argan oil that was in my purse. It says it was for hands, but hey I was desperate.
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
Nope. Not at all. I really like sheet masks.
Cara
I used the Pixi Glow Mud Mask with aloe vera, ginseng and sea salt all up in it. Honorable mentions, it also has hops, rosemary and sage in it. I really do love an herbally product.
I washed my face before applying it, but I still had my eye makeup on. It went on so smoothly. I would say it went on like butter, but then again it wasn’t greasy at all so that’s not really true. It was smooth and homogenous, and very soft. It was very light and never made my skin feel tight. The pores on my nose became so distinct as it was drying, like they were really sucking in all the moisture they could. I knew that it was dry because the color got darker, but not because it felt different on my face. My skin felt soft after I washed the clay off, but it took several minutes to wash it off completely. It didn’t necessarily feel cleaner or exfoliated, but it was nice and fresh. I followed up with toner and night cream (the mask’s instructions were for PM use, so I used it before bed”>.
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
I’ll use this mask maybe once a month now. I like to mix up my masks (face masks and hair deep conditioners alike”> so I’ll rotate it in every now and then. The smell was nice and pleasant, which that more than anything is a deciding factor for me.
Lauren
I used the Alikay Naturals Bentonite Me Baby Clay Mask.
I mixed the clay with a little bit of Apple Cider Vinegar, tea tree oil for extra cleansing, and water so it wouldn’t burn my skin, and I put it on top of my makeup. It starts out in powder form, and then of course when you add liquid, it clumps up. I like to mix mine to be slightly thick and then I apply it to my face with clean fingers. It dried in about 15-20 minutes. When it dried, it became super tight. Like insanely tight! I could literally see all of the pores on me face. Once it was off, my face was super tight, really dry, and about a shade lighter than before I put the mask on. I typically like to follow up with a toner and an oil to moisturize after I use this product. For the toner, I used a Rose Water & Lime face spray that I made at home, and for the moisturizer I used my fave oil, the Josie Maran Argan Oil Collection.
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
I currently have this mask in my routine, and use it 2x a month. I plan on switching to a different clay product though, since it was the subject of a controversial warning by the FDA last year for containing high levels of lead. I don’t see it available in stores anymore.
April
I used Peachy Keen’s Bonne Terre Bentonite Clay mixed with bottled water and Egyptian Magic.
Because mud and clay masks tend to leave me a little dry, I thought the mixture of bee products and oils in Egyptian magic helped make this mask extra moisturizing, and it payed off! I removed my makeup before putting the mask on—and in fact, on my normal spa days, I’d exfoliate gently to make sure none of the mask is being wasted on dead skin. Thinking of it now, that might contribute to the masks being super drying on me…but where there’s a humectant, there’s a way!
It was a REALLY hot day when we got together for this, and the mask was nice and cooling when I started spackling it on. Because I layed it on extra thick, it didn’t get all the way dry on the outside, however, once I felt it tightening, I knew it was time to rinse off. You don’t want your skin being pulled too much after all. Post rinse, my skin felt great! I was very dewy, and my face was refreshed. There’s always room for more moisture though, so despite mixing my go-to moisturizer into the mask, I applied a thin layer of the Albolene I used to remove my makeup to keep everything sealed in. I definitely used less of it than I usually would for any moisturizer after just a facewash though.
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
I could see myself doing this any time I needed extra pampering! My skincare “routine” is actually anything but, and past washing and SPF, I tend to just go with what I feel like. But given the results, this might need to be a weekly thing. It’s definitely making the ‘no makeup challenge’ we have going on much easier to bear.
Leslie
I used the Formula 10.0.6 “Pores be pure” skin-clarifying mud mask with strawberry + yarrow.
Typically, I like to remove my makeup before putting on any masks and then let the mask remove what ever makeup I may have missed. I don’t know that this mask would have removed all of my makeup. It was a lot more gently than I anticipated, so if you have sensitive skin, this would be something to try. The mask was different than those i’ve used before. It dried extremely quickly and kind of blended with my skin, so it was difficult trying to figure out what spots I missed and what spots had enough on. Once it was all dry (which took literal seconds”> it wasn’t hard or difficult to move my face like some masks. The smell was also amazing, and my face felt extremely soft and clean without feeling stripped.
I naturally have dry skin but I didn’t feel the need to moisturize afterward I removed the mask. The only product I used after was my Glossier sunscreen.
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
My skin care routine is already a process, so i’d probably add something like this once every 2 weeks. I’d like to know what everyone else thinks of this product!
Gerilyn
I used the SheaMoisture African Black Soap Clarifying Mud Mask, and put the mask on top of my makeup-free, moisturized face.
My skin felt as if it could not soak up enough of the moisture the mud mask had, so much in fact that the mask seemed to not dry within the 10 minutes it was on. I fanned my face to help the process. Once the mask was dry, it did not feel like a clay mask that hardens and cracks if you burst into laughter all of a sudden. This may have been because I put it on top of my moisturizer. Although I wanted to immediately reach for my face lotion, I waited to see how the mask truly felt. After about 2 minutes of dry time, I ran my fingers over my face. I noticed that my skin felt soft to the touch and was visibly refreshed. Moisturizing is my life! This mud mask was not as drying as others I have used in the past, but I still needed to layer my face in moisture. Although it is for the body, I used a penny-size (or less, depending on the weather”> of SheaMoisture African Black Soap Soothing Body Lotion on my face after rinsing the mud mask off.
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
Although it did not dry very fast, this is the first mud mask I tried and liked. I would probably use it on longer than usual self-care or spa days, but not on a regular basis. For the sake of time, I will stick to my regular gel peel-off masks.
Cristina
I used the PUR Dirty Girl Detoxifying Mudd Masque. I like this masque because I don’t have to mix it with water or ACV, which I find can be messy and tedious to clean up.
This time I put it on top of makeup, but most of the time I apply it on a freshly washed face. Once it was dry my face felt ight, and then tighter! I found it hard to smile or move my face once it dried. It took a lot of scrubbing with a towel to get the mask off, so immediately afterward my face was very red and felt a bit irritated from the scrubbing. Once that settled down, my skin and pores felt tight – in a good way! I didn’t moisturize afterwards, but maybe I should have…
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
I do use this masque whenever I remember to, which is probably once every couple of months. Using it today reminded me how good it makes my skin feel and that I should be doing it more often. I do use a daily cleanser that has mud in it (Osea Cleansing Mudd“>, so I use mud twice a day.
Would you try a clay mud mask?
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