Bentonite and Other Clays: Aluminum-Free Alternatives
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In my book, The Green Beauty Guide, I talk quite a lot about clays. I must admit, I am a bit reprehensive when it comes to aluminum-containing clays such as bentonite but then again, these clays are so ubiquitous, it’s nearly impossible to find a decent mask or a scrub without them.
And finding an alternative aluminum-free absorbent ingredient for your homemade masks is really challenging, too.
So instead of going hard-core and advising you to steer clear of all clays I am allowing a bentonite clay in one of my recipes, but if you want to go super-green and substitute it for a healthier alternative, here’s something for you.
Bentonite clay is an aluminium phyllosilicate. It’s the most popular green clay sold under names as montmorillonite and such. It goes everywhere from facial masks to detox drinks.
I really doubt that you may become healthier from ingesting hefty doses of aluminum salt, but keeping it on your skin for 10 minutes as a mask won’t do that much harm.
Still, here are some great alternatives:
Rhassoul mud from Morrocco is a plant-made great source of trace elements like magnesium, iron, sodium, silica, potassium and calcium. You can mix it with water, but I tried mixing it with plain, Greek style yogurt and it makes the most absorbent cleansing mask ever! You can also add essential oils and plant extracts to the clay, and you can even shampoo your hair with Rhassoul mud because it is mildly foaming and very gentle to your scalp. I recommend it for seborrhea and dandruff, but if you want to ditch detergents and try an all-natural cleansing, this is the mud to try on your hair.
Dead Sea mud is my favourite. I love it plain as a face mask, I love it as a bath salt (I usually do my Dead Sea bath on the night before the cleaners come because this mud really stains the bath tub!) and I love it as a hair pack mixed with jojoba oil in equal proportions. In July, I will introduce you to Saki mud and salts from unique Saki region in Krymea, Ukraine.
Fango mud is my numero uno choice when I want to lose some inches off my waist line. Those who bear the cross of knowing me better, they drink my Tummy Tuck teas, massage themselves with Tummy Tuck oils, and wrap their waistlines with Fango mud, for it is the most efficient fat drainer among muds. Blame it on sea veggies, iodine, calcium, potassium, or omega-3 oils. Blame it on the unique combo. But Fango is so good in slimming your physique, I apply it to my drooping undereye bags and my sagging cheeks when I feel I need a neat lift.
So here’s the trio of amazing muds/clays that come from under the ocean and over the volcano. They smell obnoxious and look even worse. But they won’t mess up your hormones like the rest of aluminum salts in clays.
OK, if you really want to use a clay that contains aluminum, and yes, I love my green clay from Spain - I just don’t keep it on myface for more than 10 minutes. It’s more than enough to purify your pores and tighten your skin.
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