the most popular types of clay

Mineral-rich clays are unearthed from natural quarries around the globe


and have been utilized in skincare routines for hundreds of years to
cleanse, tone, and revitalize the face and body. Depending on the type
of clay, they can be used to gently exfoliate skin or significantly absorb
oils and tighten up pores. There is a perfect clay for every skin

Understanding the most popular types of clay : 

From the renowned bedrock quarries of France,  

the fertile Atlas Mountains of Morocco, and the

plentiful volcanic ash sediments in the United

States, naturally occurring clays are rich in

silica, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, and

other beneficial minerals, which make

wonderful ingredients in skin-pampering

beauty recipes.

Bentonite clay (1): Also known as sodium

bentonite and sodium montmorillonite, this

light gray, odorless, and very fine clay has a

high content of the minerals silica and

aluminum. It is found in natural volcanic ash

sediments in Montana and Wyoming, in the

United States. Used in facial mud treatments,

body powders, dry shampoos, and scrubs.

Color: Pale to light gray

Odor: Neutral

Price: Economically priced

Country of origin: Wyoming and Montana,

United States

Notable mineral content: Silica, aluminum,

iron, magnesium

French green clay (2): Also known as illite clay

and sea clay, this light- to medium-green clay is

mined from quarries that can be thousands of

feet deep in France, China, and the United

States. French green clay is rich in silica,

aluminum, calcium, iron, and magnesium. A

very fine-textured clay that is used to absorb

oils and impurities from the face and body.

Color: Light to medium green

Odor: Neutral

Price: Expensively priced

Country of origin: France, United States, China

Notable mineral content: Silica, aluminum,

valcium, iron, magnesium, potassium

Fuller’s Earth clay (3): Contains a high amount
of silica, magnesium oxide, and sapphire
crystal. This off-white clay is the most popular
clay for oily and congested skin. Very drying
and oil absorbing.
Color: Pale to off-white
Odor: Neutral
Price: Moderately priced
Country of origin: United States, Japan, Mexico
Notable mineral content: Silica, magnesium,
iron oxide, and sapphire crystal
Rhassoul clay (4): Also known as red Moroccan
clay and red clay, this light grayish/pink clay
comes from Morocco and is high in silica,
magnesium, calcium, and aluminum. This
particular type of clay is used in spas
throughout the world to pamper the skin.
Color: Light gray to pinkish
Odor: Neutral
Price: Moderately to expensively priced
Country of origin: Morocco
Notable mineral content: Silica, aluminum,
magnesium, calcium
White kaolin clay (5): Also known as white
cosmetic clay and China clay, this pure white
clay is used extensively in numerous beauty
products, including soaps, face masks, natural
deodorants, and face and body scrubs and
powders. High in kaolinite, silicon oxide, and
aluminum oxide.
Color: Pure white
Odor: Neutral
Price: Economically priced
Country of origin: United States, Germany,
United Kingdom, China, Australia
Notable mineral content: Kaolinite, silicon
oxide, aluminum oxide

How to make and use a basic clay face mask :

This simple face mask does not call for any measuring or weighing out of
ingredients, making it a quick and easy beauty fix. See pages 86–87 for some
more great face mask recipes.

1. Measure out a
heaping tablespoon of
clay into a small bowl.
2. Mix in just enough
warm water, herbal
tea, or fl oral water
(hydrosol) to create a
spreadable paste.
3. Apply a thick layer
of clay to your cleansed
face (avoiding the
delicate eye area).
4. Allow the mask to dry
and then rinse off with
some warm water.