Myth No. 17 - Clay masks are too drying for sensitive skin

Clay masks are such a fun experience, especially the ones that come in dry-powdered format - grab a brush, a container, and a little water and voilà! discover your inner artist with a palette of smooth, creamy natural nourishing goodness!

Clay masks are a godsend for oily, acne-prone skin because of the clay's ability to absorb excess oils and deeply cleanse pores of dirt and grease. Clay also acts as a gentle exfoliant sloughing away dead skin cells from the surface of the skin and replenishes it with nutrient-rich minerals at the same time.

If you have dry or sensitive skin like me, you are probably thinking clay masks aren't for you. And truth be told, when I tried my first clay masks, I often ended up with redness and sometimes even a stinging sensation. This was when I knew, the clay mask wasn't right for my skin. Remember, skincare is there to make you feel good about your skin, never let anyone tell you it's working because it's hurting! But I knew there must be a way others like me can take advantage of the deeply nourishing and purifying properties of clay masks. So after much formulation research and trials, I've boiled down a couple of tips to share with you (YES! We can definitely enjoy the clay mask experience as well!) Here are a few key things to watch out for when shopping for a clay mask for sensitive skin:

1. The type of clay matters - Look for clays that are more gentle in nature with less absorption power, such as Kaolin, Rose, and Brazilian Clays.
2. Avoid clay as the first ingredient - This is one example of where too much of a good thing can be well...drying! You'd definitely want to avoid products where the clay is actually listed as the first ingredient as that means it's the primary makeup of the product.
3. A balanced product formula - Look for an ingredients list loaded with soothing and hydrating ingredients in order to offset the drying effects of the clay and properly replenish your skin with the moisture it needs. It sounds crazy, but there are some formulators out there who will throw in other drying ingredients like isopropyl or denatured alcohol into their masks just to give the product a better skin feel (yikes!), make sure you avoid those at all costs!
4.  If it's not offered in dry-powdered format, look for a preservative - Yes, preservatives do have a place in skincare, they're not all bad (check out our earlier article here to learn more). Especially if you find them in a clay product - because clays are a natural perfect breeding ground for mould, fungi and bacteria growth once activated.

So...are you ready to give it a try? If you're still unsure about which clay mask to get...well, look no further, we offer one right here at November Blossom, tested and tried and fits all the criteria above ;)

Give the clay masks a try, you'll be surprised by the immediate visible results!