Cosmetologists often encounter a situation where clients complain about the presence of blackheads that spoil their appearance. These points are localized mainly in areas where the skin is highly oily:
- - on the forehead;
- - On the nose;
- - in the area of the cheeks and wings of the nose.
It is generally accepted that these rashes - correctly called “comedones” - spoil the mood mainly of adolescents and young people under 20 years of age. Indeed, in adulthood, the problem often loses its relevance, but can periodically return - for example, during periods of strong hormonal surges. How to deal with an unpleasant phenomenon? Cosmetic clay will help - this product has already relieved many people of acne and blackheads.
What are blackheads
Blackheads, or open comedones, appear due to congestion at the top of the pore.
At first, the sebaceous plug looks like a white or transparent liquid, then it hardens and forms a dense lump. When the pore is open, under the influence of oxygen, the fat oxidizes and the head becomes black. Outwardly, these points look unaesthetic, and therefore many want to get rid of them by all available means. In most cases, comedones form in people with oily skin and enlarged pores. Their sebum production increases, the stratum corneum of the epidermis thickens and blockage occurs.
Reasons for appearance
There are many reasons for this, for example:
- Problem with hormones . Here we should talk about testosterone - it is responsible for the production of sebum. As its level increases, sebum production also increases. It’s not for nothing that teenagers face the problem of comedones.
- Poor nutrition . Junk foods: sweet, starchy, fatty, spicy, and so on, affect the functioning of the sebaceous glands, and this, in turn, leads to acne.
- Poor skin care . Ignoring timely cleaning, removing makeup before bed and exfoliation often leads to the appearance of unwanted spots.
- Poor quality or incorrectly selected cosmetics . Any care products must be selected according to your skin type. If, for example, the face is not hydrated enough, more sebum will be produced, which will be an excellent opportunity for the development of blackheads.
To get rid of them, it is first important to identify the cause of their appearance, and then take a comprehensive approach. Among the skincare products, clay masks for blackheads have proven themselves to be the best.
Which clay is better
Clay has long been known for its valuable and healing properties. It comes in different types:
- white;
- blue;
- green;
- gray;
- yellow;
- red;
- black.
Each of them differs not only in color, but also in composition and effect:
| Type of clay | Characteristic | Effect |
| White | Kaolin is the most common type. It is known for its antiseptic effect. It also brightens the skin well and makes it smoother. | Regulates sebum production, cleanses pores and prevents the appearance of comedones. |
| Blue | Anti-inflammatory product suitable for oily and combination skin types. | Deeply cleanses, dries, promotes rapid healing of wounds, eliminates blackheads. |
| Green | Marsh-colored clay can restore water balance, tighten the face and smooth out wrinkles. | Gently cleanses, helps reduce irritation and dry out acne, and also eliminates oily shine, thereby preventing the appearance of acne. |
| Gray | Suitable for dry and dehydrated skin, it is the most valuable type, since it is mined only at great depths. | Has a tonic, moisturizing and calming effect. Cleans perfectly. |
| Yellow | The composition of yellow clay helps to activate metabolic processes and saturate the skin with oxygen, making the face more fresh and well-groomed. | It copes well with inflammation, cleanses, soothes and reduces the number of comedones. |
| Red | Red clay is ideal for sensitive and delicate skin. It can be safely used by girls who are not suitable for any other type of product due to severe drying. | Soothes the skin, relieves irritation, redness, and keratinized areas. |
| Black | This type of clay copes better than all others with rashes of any type. Suitable for normal, oily and combination skin. | Cleanses, tightens pores and gets rid of rashes, including blackheads. |
Despite this variety, any clay will have a beneficial effect, however, in my experience, white and black cope best with the problem.
It is better to choose the right product based on your skin type. This is when you will be able to get the most effective results.
Contraindications
Although clay is a natural material and has no contraindications, it should be used with caution. First, I recommend doing an allergy test: apply the mixture to the crook of your elbow and wait 15 minutes. If no rashes are observed, feel free to use it. Otherwise, it’s better not to risk it and try to find another method for yourself.
I also recommend:
- do not apply the clay mass to the area around the eyes, the skin there is too thin and sensitive;
- you need to cover your face with a thick layer and not let the clay dry completely - either moisturize the skin or wash off the mask until it dries completely;
- after the required time has passed, rinse off the cosmetic product first with slightly warm water, then with cold water;
- Since clay can dry out the skin greatly, you should use a rich moisturizer after the procedure.
If you have sensitive skin, try using red clay, it is considered lighter and has a calming effect.
Homemade scrub
The best natural scrub is coffee cake or ground beans. They carefully remove blackheads and give the face a healthy color and velvety feel.
To prepare, just take 1 tbsp. l. coffee grounds or finely ground beans and mix with foam or gel for washing. Before applying the product, wash your face and pat your face a little with a napkin so that it remains slightly damp. Apply the scrub using massage movements, massage problem areas for 2-3 minutes (usually the wings of the nose, chin). Leave the mask on for 5–7 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
You should not apply the cream immediately after washing off the scrub, so as not to “clog” the pores again. You can use a moisturizer after 30 minutes.
Several popular recipes
A mask for blackheads with clay is easy to prepare at home, just choose the most suitable recipe:
- Classic . The simplest and most common option is black clay and water. You need to mix them to obtain a creamy mass, then apply to your face with your fingers and hold for 20 minutes. Afterwards, you need to rinse it thoroughly with warm water if the skin is dry, and cold water if it is oily.
- With lemon and calendula . Lemon juice will help get rid of comedones: choose the appropriate type of clay, dilute it with a tablespoon of juice and calendula tincture. Then leave on your face for no more than a quarter of an hour.
- Clay and protein . Prepare the raw protein, beat it well and add two small spoons of kaolin or blue clay, then mix again, and then apply to the face for 10-15 minutes.
- Mask with rosemary . Rosemary essential oil will give a good effect. To do this, mix green clay with water in a ratio of 1 to 1.5 and add a couple of drops of oil. Leave the mask on for no more than 20 minutes, then rinse off.
- With the addition of aspirin . Carefully crush half a tablet of aspirin, mix with clay and water, achieving the consistency of sour cream. If desired, you can take effervescent aspirin with vitamin C, which will also help get rid of age spots.
- Salicylic . The acid quickly breaks down fats and penetrates deeply into the pores, while cleansing them. To prepare the mask, dilute the clay with water and add 1 spoon of alcohol-based salicylic acid solution. Be careful, this mask is not suitable for sensitive skin.
- Alcohol . Mix pure alcohol with white clay powder until smooth, add a few finely chopped lemon slices. Apply the prepared mixture to your face and leave for no more than 10 minutes. The product is only suitable for very oily faces.
Those with dry skin are advised to add oils to masks to avoid drying out the skin.
Clay for blackheads, mask recipes. Highly effective clay face mask for acne
Clay is a natural product whose properties cannot but be used in home cosmetology. It is also an affordable product that is easy to find on sale today. And it helps not only to take care of the youth of the skin, but also to cleanse it from such a scourge as acne.
For treatment and skin care, mainly types of clay such as white and blue are used. They differ, of course, not only in color, but also in composition.
It copes better than others with eliminating various skin defects. For example, at home, it solves not only the problem of acne, but also eliminates even small scars on the skin. This product can be used for oily and normal skin. But for large acne, very severe inflammation, this product is not suitable.
It is considered a powerful antiseptic, therefore it is used as a component of masks for problem skin. A clay mask heals, disinfects wounds, tightens and cleanses pores, saturates skin cells with moisture.
Blue clay is actually used only as a remedy, so you shouldn’t get carried away with it. This product is too heavy for sensitive skin, so if this is your case, it is better to find something gentle.
Clay mask against acne also has the effect of narrowing pores. And, as reviews show, in this regard it is very effective. But it is also important whether you apply the mask correctly.
How to apply a pore-cleaning clay mask:
- Clean your skin of makeup and impurities, and use a mild makeup remover, not soap;
- Mix the mask according to the instructions on the package;
- When applying the product, relax your facial skin as much as possible - otherwise the clay will crack and then crumble;
- You should not keep the clay on your face for more than 15 minutes;
- The mask is washed off with clean water, but you should not rub the skin.
One of the most popular recipes for cleansing and tightening pores is clay and chamomile infusion. You need to mix two tablespoons of white clay and chamomile infusion until smooth. The mask is kept on the face for the same 15 minutes. You need to repeat the course weekly, 10 masks in total. Then be sure to take a break and the course can be repeated.
There is another version of a clay mask with herbal decoction. Mix white and blue clay in equal parts, dilute to a paste with a herbal decoction of calendula, St. John's wort or nettle. 10-15 minutes of mask on the face once a week will be enough.
Black clay for blackheads: masks at home
Not only black clay fights comedones (that’s what blackheads are called), white and blue clay are also effective. But what is good about black clay is that it not only removes blackheads, but also prevents their further occurrence.
Step by step recipe
- Take a tablespoon of black clay and fill it with calendula infusion;
- The result should be a mass similar to thick sour cream;
- You need to pour the clay with a warm broth, but not hot;
- Apply the paste on your face, only on problem areas with blackheads.
Wash off the mask with warm water after 12-15 minutes. Clay will cleanse, refresh and nourish the skin.
Features of clay masks
Clay is used very often specifically for facial skin - it helps get rid of acne, spots and marks that they leave, irritation, inflammation and blackheads. But for some reason many avoid recipes with clay, thinking that there will be a lot of fuss with it. This is not true, just prepare for working with this product in advance so that no questions arise during the process of mixing the mask.
How to work with clay
- The clay is applied evenly to the skin of the face, always avoid the skin around the eyes - it will dry out and wrinkle very quickly if it is also spread.
- The thicker the layer of clay on problem skin, the better. But, of course, it shouldn’t fall off or fall off either.
- The mass should not have lumps or lumps, an even consistency - and only then can you apply the mask.
- On oily skin, the maximum exposure time for the mask is 20 minutes, and on dry skin, you can keep the clay for no more than 5 minutes. For combination and normal skin, the optimal time is 10 minutes.
- To make it easier to remove clay from your face, moisten it with water. It will become moisturized and can be easily removed with napkins or cotton swabs. There is no need to rub the skin.
- To prevent your skin from becoming dehydrated after removing the mask, be sure to apply a moisturizer to it.
Remember that clay can dry out the skin, so do not over-expose the mask and do not use it more often than recommended.
If you don't have clay in your beauty kit, you're seriously missing out. Try pampering yourself with preventative clay masks once a week, and in case of problem skin, feel free to do treatment courses of 10 weekly procedures.
Radiance and freshness to your skin!
Efficiency and result
Regular use of clay will help get rid of blackheads, remove inflammation, dry out wounds and forget about them for a long time. The protective properties of the epidermis will improve, the pores will be cleaned and narrowed, which is not surprising, since the product effectively removes toxins and any impurities and disinfects the skin.
It will also regulate the secretion of sebum, which becomes a common cause of any kind of rash.
Clay also helps normalize cell activity and saturates with oxygen due to blood flow to tissues. After using clay masks, any cosmetic products will be more effective.
You can improve the result by softening clogged pores by steaming the skin with steam or using a hot compress immediately before the procedure. If desired, add baking soda and oatmeal to the mask.
Clay miracle
Since ancient times, clay has been considered a healing and valuable beauty product. The product was regularly used as a lifesaver for skin that was inflamed, had a lot of rashes and blackheads, and was starting to fade and age.
Even now, when many incredible cosmetic formulas and products have been invented, clay does not lose its relevance and demand. It is easily seen as a fundamental substance in various cosmetic products. And this applies not only to budget or natural cosmetics, even expensive and famous brands use it.
Why is clay so loved by both ordinary women and cosmetics manufacturers? It's all about her positive influence:
- The product produces unsurpassed and gentle cleansing;
- Tones and refreshes;
- Improves skin color, relieves dullness and fatigue from the skin;
- Effectively dries out various inflammations and treats problem areas;
- Gently and carefully whitens.
The positive effect of clay on the skin is due to its unique composition, because it contains barium, iron, kaolin, strontium, mineral salts, quartz, magnesium and calcium.
Reviews
Like any cosmetic product, clay masks have their fans and opponents, although the latter are extremely difficult to find; rather, the effect was simply not observed quickly. Basically, my clients have only positive reviews, because clay is a cheap and accessible product with irreplaceable properties.
Katya, 19 years old: “I’ve been using clay for a couple of years now, as soon as I noticed that too many acne appeared on my face. Over time, their number decreased, and the skin became smoother and cleaner.”
Anfisa, 31 years old: “I used to be skeptical about this kind of masks, but a friend advised me, assuring me that the result would exceed all expectations. I use regular white clay and add a little lemon juice. The effect was noticeable after the second application, while the face now does not shine as before, the blackheads on the nose have almost disappeared, but before the procedure I steam the skin.”
Nadya, 24 years old: “I have sensitive skin, so I chose red clay for myself. I noticed that acne and spots have almost disappeared. I make masks regularly once a week, keeping them on for no more than 20 minutes so as not to dry out the skin.”
Alina, 22 years old: “I’ve been trying to fight acne for several years now and I decided to try clay-based masks. I use different ones, but most often the black one, it works effectively, tightens pores and cleanses the face perfectly.”
Cleopatra's favorite remedy
According to many historians, the queen of Egypt was not considered a beauty. However, her cosmetic secrets and beauty tricks are still popular among her contemporaries. The example of Cleopatra is another proof that there are no ugly women - there are lazy ones.
Natural ingredients as care products are the law of beauty of the legendary woman. The white clay mask is one of the queen’s favorites; archaeologists claim that it was this product that helped the Egyptian woman maintain youth and freshness of her facial skin and keep it toned.
