Facial masks can be extremely beneficial to the skin for a variety of reasons. If you suffer from dry and dehydrated skin, there are various facial masks that promote skin hydration. If your skin is oily, there is an influx of masks to absorb excess sebum. For the acne prone, almost every mask promises to detox pores. Facial and clay masks are nothing new.
What is Rhassoul Clay?
In Passport to Beauty, Shalini Vadhera raves about the many advantages of facial clays, including anti-aging benefits, detoxification efforts, and removal of dry and flaky skin. But some masks offer more than your run-of-the-mil oil absorption.
While searching for a new facial mask to indulge my skin, I came across Rhassoul clay. Also known as Ghassoul clay, Moroccan Clay, or Red Clay, this sandy brown powder is said to work wonders. Found in Morocco, Rhassoul clay can be used as a facial mask, cleanser, or even shampoo (Mountain Rose Herb).
What Makes it Special?
What makes Rhassoul clay different from other clays? The answer to this can be found in the clay’s mineral make up. The Moroccan clay is made mostly of stevensite, which is said to be an anti-irritant. The clay also has anti-inflammatory properties, making it suitable for most skin types (but as always, be careful because no matter a product’s claims — natural or synthetic — irritation is always a possibility). However, keep in mind, there are very few studies to back up this claim.
The clay’s high mineral content, including silica and magnesium, also adds to its benefits. The clay is rich in silica (about 58%), which promotes healthy skin and hair, and is also essential in collagen production (Letters to Nature). After maturation around age 21, skin loses about 1% of its collagen ever year.
The clay’s composition also contains large amount magnesium (about 25.2%). On a surface level, magnesium salts help to repair damaged skin, even working to strengthen the skin barrier (International Journal of Cosmetic Science).They also help to soothe irritation. While you can’t get all the magnesium you need through your skin, your skin does absorb it to some extent to the lower layers of skin where it has the same repairing capabilities.
[Read More: Spotlight On: Epsom Salt]
Personal Use as a Mask, Cleanser, and Shampoo
After reading about all of the amazing benefits rhassoul clay has to offer, I immediately went to amazon.com and bought some (Elma&Sana Moroccan (Rhassoul) Ghassoul Lava Clay, amazon.com, $14.99). For the first application, I used it as a face mask to soothe my skin. Unlike other clay masks which leave my skin tight and dry, this mask left my skin feeling soft and quite smooth after I rinsed the hardened clay off.
The next morning, I awoke to beautiful, even-toned skin. I usually wear just a bit of concealer to cover any red marks or scars, but I didn’t need it the next morning. For my next experimentation, I used the clay in place of a cleanser. I simply poured some of the powder in my hands and mixed it with water into a paste-like substance. It removed the bronzer I was wearing and again left me with soft and glowing skin. I was happy with the clay for skin care purposes, but I was skeptical about the claim that it can be used as a shampoo; however, I decided to give it a go anyways.
I again mixed the powder into a paste and applied it to my wet hair. I’ll admit, it was very weird putting clay in my hair, but as I massaged the muddy liquid into my scalp, it felt like I was simply rubbing water into my hair. Only, this water magically got rid of dandruff and added softness to my hair. I applied argan oil to my hair after the shower and was left with soft, smooth hair (my hair is coarse and thick by nature).
Bottom Line
Clays are well known to be full of minerals that are beneficial for skin. Rhassoul clay is said to have anti-inflammatory properties, but there isn’t much scientific evidence. It’s silica and magnesium have been shown to help boost collagen production and soothe skin — though the clay itself hasn’t been tested for these purposes.
Overall, I had a really positive experience using it and found that the clay worked for me as a mask, cleanser, and shampoo.
Now, it’s important to note that I have been treating my skin and hair VERY gently for quite some time now, so my body is used to more natural products; therefore this wasn’t a big jump for me. For those who are more accustomed to mass-consumer products, using the clay for skin and hair care might take some time to getting used to, but so far I am extremely happy with the results!