Bentonite Clay Propertiesbest Acne Treatment

There’s nothing better than a relaxing Sunday night with your favorite dinner, Netflix show, and face mask—which can help hydrate your skin, minimize breakouts, and simply leave you feeling refreshed for the week ahead.

While salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are top-notch pimples fighters, your favorite acne-fighting masks might also include an ingredient called bentonite clay. There are big skin-clearing promises surrounding this mineral-rich skincare ingredient—but what can it really do? And is every form of this clay safe to use?

We talked to a dermatologist and esthetician to find out what bentonite clay is, how it benefits the skin, any risks it comes with, and the best way to add it to your at-home pamper routine.

Clay Mask Benefits: Why They're A Must For Acne Prone Skin

“Bentonite clay is an absorbent aluminum silicate formed from volcanic ash that’s been used for centuries to detoxify and heal the skin and body, ” says Amy McLain, master esthetician at Kenneth’s Hair Salons & Day Spas in Columbus, Ohio. That simply means it’s a mineral-rich clay that has the ability to absorb substances it comes in contact with. It’s also anti-inflammatory, making it especially soothing on the skin.

Bentonite clay also has an interesting history as a medical treatment, says Cybele Fishman, MD, an integrative board-certified dermatologist in New York City. She explains that the clay has been used in two surprising ways, including in pigs to reduce their exposure to a certain mold that contaminates their food and in Ghana for the topical treatment of Buruli ulcer, a bacterial infection of the skin (and bone) that can lead to disability.

Bentonite is found both in skincare products and as a powder that you can buy and mix into a mask-like treatment at home. As with any trendy ingredient, the clay has been hyped as a cure-all for a vast number of skin ailments. It’s been used to treat certain skin issues, like diaper rash, as well as rashes from poison ivy, poison oak, and other irritants, according to one 2017 review of research.

Bentonite Clay Benefits

Many people suggest using it to “cure” eczema or psoriasis, but it’s best to consult a board-certified dermatologist for these conditions, since he or she can talk to you about lifestyle recommendations (such as managing triggers, like stress) and prescribe more effective treatments.

That said, there is one place where bentonite clay shines: It sops up excess oil in people who have acne-prone skin. “It absorbs sebum and is good for those with oily skin, ” says Dr. Fishman. That’s a big deal, since overproduction of sebum (that lovely oily, waxy substance your oil glands release) is a major cause of clogged pores and acne breakouts.

You’ll most often find bentonite clay as a star or supporting ingredient in face masks. If you struggle with acne, try applying a bentonite clay mask once or twice a week for 10 minutes, recommends Dr. Fishman. Here are a a few expert-approved products worth trying if you tend to get oily.

What Is Bentonite Clay & Why Is It So Effective In Treating Acne

Dr. Fishman likes the ingredients—glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and colloidal sulfur—for their acne-fighting abilities.  Plus, “the clay reduces oil, zinc oxide is anti-inflammatory, and hyaluronic acid ensures it doesn’t over-dry, ” she says.

In addition to bentonite clay, this mask contains hydrating glycerin and antioxidant coffee extract and papain, says Dr. Fishman. She adds that you should only use at night because it contains bergamot oil, which can make skin more sensitive to the sun.

“This mask will purify the skin to promote a healthy, clear complexion, ” says McLain, who recommends this product to clients. Peptides stimulate collagen formation, while hyaluronic acid hydrates.

Calcium Bentonite Clay: Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Mask

Before bentonite clay was trendy, women were making homemade versions themselves, says McLain. Purchase a powdered form of bentonite, which is easy to find online. Then, mix the powder with enough water to create a clay-like consistency and apply to clean skin, she says. Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash off.

One powder form worth trying? Aztec Secret’s Indian Healing Clay, which has a cult following (more than 14, 000 reviews on Amazon with a 4.4 star rating). You can mix the powder with water, but apple cider vinegar is recommended to deeply cleanse, minimize pores, and fight breakouts. Because it’s quite potent, try testing a patch of skin to see how you personally react to the product.

There are bentonite clay products that can be taken internally (via capsules or a powder you mix with liquid and drink) to “detox the body.” Spoiler: Your liver and kidneys already do that for you by breaking down toxins and flushing them from your system.

Bentonite Clay For Skin: Benefits, How It Works, And Uses

For example, one supplement maker suggests that ingesting the clay will absorb potentially harmful substances (like herbicides or toxins), helping to ferry them out of your body.

“While sources claim it detoxifies heavy metals, bentonite clay can also be contaminated with heavy metals. I do not recommend ingesting it, ” says Dr. Fishman. What’s more, supplements are not FDA-regulated, meaning it’s difficult to know if what you’re consuming is safe. So while they make big claims and are easily available for purchase, just don’t do it.

Jessica Migala is a health writer specializing in general wellness, fitness, nutrition, and skincare, with work published in Women’s Health, Glamour, Health, Men’s Health, and more. She is based in the Chicago suburbs and is a mom to two little boys and rambunctious rescue pup.

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We’ve been using bentonite clay in our home for a couple of years now, with homemade toothpaste being the recipe I make most often.

I still use that same routine and it’s so great for my skin, but that doesn’t mean my skin doesn’t ever break out.

During certain times of the month, when the seasons change or when I’m under a great deal of stress, my body is at war and my skin is the battlefield.

How Bentonite Clay Can Treat Your Oily Scalp And Skin

I make it a point to wear a bentonite clay face mask every few days as part of my normal daily routine. Most of the time this works well enough to make it through the week or so when my internal battles surface.

I was stressed, my hormones were raging and I was sweating like a pig here in Hotlanta. My skin was awful and the normal routine wasn’t cutting it.

Remembering that bentonite clay is known to pull the impurities from the body in two ways – through absorption and adsorption – I upped my dosage and created a new emergency routine. A way to use bentonite clay to heal acne breakouts FAST.

How To Heal Acne With Bentonite Clay

If you’ve made any changes to your skin routine – including anything that touches your skin (like the soap you use to wash your clothes) – undo those changes.

When my skin was under attack, I remembered that I had recently switched the scent of soap I used. Since that was the only change I had made, I knew that my skin was reacting to the fragrance in the soap.

Go back to whatever you were using before while you get your skin under control. You can return these items for a refund, find another purpose for them or save them to try again later, but for now, put them on the back shelf and stick to the products you know.

The 13 Best Face Washes For Oily Skin Of 2023

As for that offending bar of soap, I took it and designated it as “kids soap” and put it in their bathroom.

It’s natural to want to reach for acne-healing-this or skin-clearing-that when you’re having a breakout, but it ends up doing more harm than good to your skin.

Instead, you want to keep things simple: wash, exfoliate, moisturize. Repeat morning and night, but also after excess sweating and/or when you no longer need make-up on.

How Bentonite Clay Can Treat Your Oily Scalp And Acne Prone Skin

My normal skincare routine for acne includes goat milk soap for cleansing and coconut oil for moisturizing. During a breakout, I switch to plain coconut oil. If coconut oil doesn’t agree with your skin, consider sweet almond oil, jojoba oil or argon oil.

I already mentioned that I incorporate bentonite clay in my normal skin routine (here’s the brand I use), but when I’m in the midst of a breakout, I use a mask at least twice a day, sometimes even three times!

Typically I’ll cover my entire face with a bentonite clay mask at night. I apply a medium layer and leave it on for 10-15 minutes before washing it off.

What's The Best Clay For Your Skin?

In order to prevent my skin from over-drying, I apply a slightly thinner layer on just the problem areas at other times of the day. Usually this happens in the morning before I shower, and again late afternoon.

Depending on your schedule,