The use of Clay facial mask's as a beauty treatment has been around for thousands of years. There are so many beneficial effects of using clay facial masks. Some of which are they help clear up acne, loosen blackheads, soothe and calm inflammation, they cleanse, refine and peel off the dead outer layer of skin, nourish, rejuvenate and stimulate your skin and they also act as an anti-wrinkle treatment and as a natural facelift for your face.

There are a lot of different types of clay and they all have a different mineral content in them which will have a different effect on the skin. Clays are from the earth they have absorbed the sun, the plants and minerals of the earth over thousands of years. Clay has rejuvenating and anti-aging effects on the skin.

Clays come in many different colors like black, brown, green, red, white and yellow that come from all over the world. Each one has a different type of treatment for your skin. They will all combine beautifully with essential oils. The clay and oil have a synergistic effect upon each other that will give your skin beautiful results.

When you wash off the dried up clay mask, you also wash away all that old oil, dirt, grime, etc that was buried deep in your pores. You wash away the dried dead skin. That leaves you with fresh, clean, non-oily skin. The masks tend to have a good amount of water in them so as they dry, your skin is being hydrated, which is a good thing. Your pores, now clean of dirt, can close up and be nice and small, giving your face a smoother appearance. Your blood vessels tend to open up a bit with this warmth, which means they do a much better job of bringing nutrients to your skin and removing toxins and impurities.

The most common clays are Fuller's Earth, Green Clay and White Kaolin which you can find in most health stores and pharmacies.

Here are a few recipes for some homemade clay facial masks. Remember that you should always test a small area of skin to make sure that you don't have an allergic reaction to different types of clay. I hope you enjoy!

Basic Clay Facial Mask
* 2 oz (28,5 g) Green Clay
* 3 tsp. Cornflower
Mix together and keep in a jar ready to combine into one of the formulas below. Smooth the paste on the skin, leave on for 15 min and rinse off with warm water, then pat face dry.

Bay Clay Facial Mask (for acne prone skin)
* 4 tablespoons French clay
* 5 dried bay leaves
* 1 cup distilled water
Place the bay leaves into a cup of boiled water, let cool. Strain but keep the liquid. Slowly add the bay liquid to the clay until it is a fairly thick mixture. Dab onto your skin then allow to dry for about 15 - 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Exfoliating Mask
* 1 1/2 tsp. Kaolin Clay
* 1/2 tsp. French Green Clay
* 1 teabag Chamomile
* 1 drop Lavender Essential Oil
Enough brewed herbal tea to make a paste mix in a small jar or bowl and apply to clean skin in a circular motion then allow to dry for about 15 minutes then rinse with warm water.

Gentle Moisturizing Mask
* 2 tps. Kaolin Clay
* 6 drops Jojoba Oil
* 6 drops Grapeseed Oil
* 1 drop Lavender Essential Oil
Enough brewed herbal tea to make a paste mix in a small jar or bowl and apply to clean skin. Leave on for about 15 mintues then rinse with warm water.

So in general a face mask is very good for your skin. Not just from a beauty standpoint (fewer acne problems, cleaner pores, smaller pores) but also from a health standpoint. Your skin is literally how your body keeps infections and virusses from entering your body, so the healthier your skin, the healthier you are.