Clay Masks: all links so far

clay masks

• Are facial masks worthwhile?

• Blemish Help Quick Tip

• Clay mask application: using fingers or a brush? (new!)

• Clay Mask Quick Tip #1

• Clay Mask Quick Tip #2

• Clay Masks Q & As

• Finding a Great Clay Mask

• Getting rid of blackheads (new!)
  

• Help for Breakouts 

• How NOT to apply a clay mask

• How to use a Clay Mask—IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS

• Hydrating Your Skin with a Mask (coming soon)—although this is not an article on clay masks, I wanted to include it here for visibility

• Ideas on when & where to do a clay mask

• More questions about using a clay mask

• Questions about blackheads & the importance of clay mask (coming soon)

• Several Quick Tips for using a Clay Mask

• Steam Rooms, Saunas & Your Skin

• What do you recommend: A mask or an exfoliator? And will pore enlargement spread? (upcoming)

• What is a clay mask and why use one?

Getting rid of blackheads

I am wondering what is the best way to get rid of blackheads?

You may not be able to “get rid” of your blackheads. Not completely anyway. Blackheads form from an over-accumulation of sebum or oil inside the hair follicle. As the oil rises to the surface of the skin, some of it will settle in the pore and create what we call blackheads.

If you are prone to blackheads, without proper and consistent cleaning—and most importantly deep cleaning—of your skin, the blackheads will not only persist but they will expand and grow inside the pore. This more than anything is what can cause enlarged pores.

You can temporarily remove blackheads 

by using a clay mask.

When I mention deep cleaning I am talking about using a clay mask. Clay above all other things you can use will help to get rid of your blackheads. This is only temporary because, as I said, the oil will continue to come up to the surface day after day, but if you keep up with the debris (oil) in your pores through using a clay mask, you can significantly reduce the amount of junk clogging your pores.

For mild blackhead buildup, using a clay mask once a week will probably be sufficient. If you have acne or just really oily and clogged pores, I recommend using clay every other day until you get things under control. Then, perhaps after a month or more, you can go to 2-3 times a week or even less. You can monitor this situation and figure out how often you need the clay mask.    

Hopefully this goes without saying but without doing The Basics twice daily, you are more or less insuring your blackhead buildup. Keeping the surface of your skin clean, with cleansers, and using an appropriate moisturizer meant for your particular skin type (normal, normal to oily, oily, or acne--depending) are paramount when it comes to good skin hygiene. With the addition of exfoliating to get rid of dead cell buildup then using a good clay mask, you should be able to keep your blackhead buildup to a minimum.

Getting older and going through menopause (obviously, for women) does in many cases lessen the oil your skin will produce, therefore simultaneously lessening and in some cases eliminating blackheads. I had fairly oily skin in my 20s and 30s. Then more normal skin (in terms of oil production) in my 40s and now in my 50s and through perimenopause, I hardly ever have a blackhead and certainly never any more breakout. So for now you’ll need to be diligent and know that you can have healthy, clear, blackhead-free skin if you keep up with your Basics and Extras routines.

For more information, see:

• Blackheads & Whiteheads explained
• The Extras—Do more to have healthy skin
• Do NOT do this to your blackheads!!!

Clay mask application: using fingers or a brush?

Many people apply masks with their fingers, but I prefer to put a serving [of clay] onto the back of my hand, mix it up with a flat foundation brush and then “paint” it into place.

It feels like heaven, brush bristles being much more gentle than my fingers, and it allows me to get the mask into all the right areas like nose creases, marionette lines, etc.

I also find that I’m able to keep my masks lasting longer in the tube or jar because brushing them on is more efficient than globbing them on with my fingers. Bonus: it feels like a spa treatment and really elevates the whole experience. 

   

This was taken from a skin care blogger I found online recently. I wanted to use her comments in order to tell my story and give my take on using brushes vs. fingers to apply a clay mask. I’ll tell you right now: I hate using a brush to apply clay masks! And I equally dislike it when I get a facial and a mask is applied with a brush. I use my fingers to apply this product both at home on my own skin as well as in my facial treatment room.

Early in my career I used a facial brush. I’m sure I did this because that is how I was taught to apply a mask in skin care school. I remember never really liking using a brush and eventually, not too long after I began my professional career, I opted for the gentle touch of my fingers over the sometimes sharp feel of a facial brush. The bristles of a brush are stiff and scratchy—even a soft brush. And to me the touch of a finger(s) is soothing in contrast, especially in “nose creases” and other sensitive areas.

This blogger says that using a brush “feels like heaven, brush bristles being much more gentle than my fingers.” I couldn’t disagree more! Perhaps this lady has a heavy hand, so to speak. For me the brush is an unfeeling extension of my own human hand and gives me much less accuracy; I cannot feel from a brush on someone’s skin what I can tell from my own fingers.

I had an employee who thought it was strange not to use a brush. She wouldn’t think to ever use her fingers with the clay. She thought it felt weird and that using the brush was a cleaner operation. Point taken. As these things go, to each his or her own. Whether you prefer human touch or that of a bristle brush, using clay masks are a huge benefit to your skin. In the end, it truly doesn’t matter how it is applied—just as long as it is applied!

For more information, see:

• What is a clay mask and why use one?
• How NOT to apply a clay mask
• Finding a Great Clay Mask

Steam Rooms, Saunas & Your Skin

How often would you recommend using the sauna and steam rooms at my health club? Also, what are your thoughts about using both the steam and sauna on the same day at the club?

Amenities in health clubs are highly sought after extras. Who doesn’t like to dip in the whirlpool or jump into the steam room after a hard workout at the gym? There are two things to keep in mind when enjoying steam rooms and/or saunas:

• First, you will sweat—a lot—so you’ll need to drink a lot of water while you are in the steam room or sauna. That means you’ll want to bring water in with you, otherwise you’ll run the risk of internal dehydration, and that is never a good thing.

• Second: You don’t want your bare face to be exposed to the extreme heat of these amenities. Why not? The capillaries of the face are too fragile to hold up to the heat. They can and will expand (dilate), which causes the potential for breakage. So what do you do? Use a clay mask! I often talk about using clay masks and the need to keep them moist while they are on your face. (You don’t want clay to dry on your face; it dries your skin out.) So, going into a steam room or sauna is actually a great application for using a clay mask. Apply the clay mask, grab your water bottle, and enjoy this relaxing luxury.

It is recommended that you switch from hot to cold when utilizing steam and saunas. Some health clubs supply a cold plunge, which is a small pool of very cold water that you literally plunge into. It’s so cold you really have to force your body in there! If no cold plunge is available, it is advisable after 10 minutes or so of either steam or sauna to then go under a very cold shower to cool off your body. Then you can once again go into the heat, and repeat with cold. You do not, however, want either hot or cold water on your face. If you have applied a clay mask, then you don’t have to worry about it.

If you want to use both steam and sauna, alternating, I don’t know why you couldn’t, except you must do the cold water as well. You don’t want to subject your body to hot, then hot, then hot, without adding cold in between.

I don’t know how often you want to use these amenities. But any more than 3 or 4 times a week seems excessive to me. And don’t do them at all if you are not willing to drink a lot of water during and after steaming/sauna.

A final note: as mentioned above, it would be much better for the skin on your face to be protected from the heat vs. going into a steam room or sauna like the ladies in these two photos—barefaced.

For more information, see:

• Is steam good for my skin? 
• Ideas on when & where to do a clay mask
• Water—It’s Important!: all links so far

Several Quick Tips for using a Clay Mask

I have written many articles on the benefits of using a clay mask. Below are a few of the most important tips on how to use one, when and why it’s important to consider using clay for the health of your skin. A few tips are repeats and all the information is contained in other articles, but now they are together for easy access.

• If you have a little (or a lot of) breakout, dot clay mask on blemishes after your evening 1-2-3 Basics routine and leave on overnight. Clay will help to diminish (but not totally clear) the spots.

• If you’re short on time and need to mask, five minutes before your morning shower apply a clay mask. Jump into the shower, and the mask will stay moist (very important) from the steam heat. Remove the mask at the end of your shower, then use your toner and moisturizer (steps 2 and 3 of The Basics).

• Clay is perfect for steam rooms. It keeps your face covered while the steam keeps the mask moist.

• I always recommend using a clay mask prior to a special occasion. Similar to exfoliating, it will make your skin look radiant with a healthy glow due to the circulatory benefits of clay.

• Exfoliating and using a clay mask (I call this The Extras) can be done in tandem, once a week (or more), as a mini, at-home facial. They do not need to be done together, but it’s nice to do both if you have the time. 
• Exfoliate
• Run a bath
• Put the clay mask on
• Hop in,  the tub
• And relax

• Exfoliating and using a clay mask are not only additions to your daily 1-2-3 Basics program, but are also important in helping to maintain healthy, clean, and clear skin.

For more information, see:

• The Basics 1-2-3 Program for proper skin care
• At-Home Facials—A DIY How-To
• Is steam good for my skin?

Clay Mask Quick Tip #2: clay in the steam room

Remember—you'll have a clay mask on!

QUICK TIP: Apply a clay mask before hopping into the steam room. It’s the perfect way to keep the mask moist while protecting your skin at the same time. Do not go into steam rooms bare-faced!

For more information, see:

• How to use a Clay Mask—Important Instructions
• Is steam good for my skin?
• Clay Mask Quick Tip (#1)

More questions about using a clay mask

I have a lot of blackheads that are very stubborn around my nose and chin. I’ve used a scrub to help the problem, but I don’t want to cause any damage to my skin yet I do want the blackheads to go away. Any suggestions?

The best product to super-clean your skin and the least likely to cause any damage would be a clay mask. If you have stubborn blackheads, I recommend using a mask more often at first and seeing how effective it is. With clay, and especially when using it frequently, you really need to heed my advice and keep the clay moist when it is on your face. Clay deep cleans and can definitely help to de-clog your pores. The more stubborn the problem, the more diligent you need to be about doing your routine.

I would be careful about using scrubs on stubborn blackheads. Why? Because when you have a lot of impacted material (dead skin and oil) held within the pores, you want to gently lift it out, not potentially drive it back into the pores. When using a scrub, the motion is to mash it into the skin—no matter how gently you are using it. If you do drive the debris back into the pores, you may cause infection, leading to all kinds of problems that are worse than stubborn blackheads. There is not a lifting action during the scrubbing process like there is with a clay mask.

I’ve heard toothpaste is good for clearing up zits.

Where this rumor got started I’ll never know. Just like the myths about using common household cleansers for problem skin, the best things to use on your skin are products made for your skin. Clay mask along with essential oils like geranium or lavender are your best bets for clearing up blemishes. Try using toothpaste, but I am sure you will find it does nothing, except possibly dry out and even irritate your skin. Toothpaste is for cleaning your teeth not for clearing your skin!

One of the tips I got from your book [Timeless Skin] that I do religiously now and have benefited enormously from is the clay masking. I've always had dry skin and have avoided clay masks a all costs until I read your tip about keeping it moist. That has been a tremendous help for my skin. Once or twice a week I use a clay mask as well as geranium oil for overnight spot therapy on the occasional monthly blemish. Thank you for your helpful tips!

For more about the importance of using a clay mask and other helpful information, see:

• What is a clay mask and why use one?
• Clay Masks Q & As
• Blackheads & Whiteheads explained
• Help for Breakouts

Finding a Great Clay Mask

There are many masks out on the market that claim to be clay or cleansing masks, but they actually have very little of this essential ingredient in them. And that’s a shame because you purchase what you think is a clay mask, get little or no results, then think all masks must be ineffective. Knowing the different names for clay types and where those important ingredients are in the ingredient list are two of the main points you want to know when looking for a good clay mask.

There are several names for clay you will see in a mask ingredient list: kaolin, bentonite, French clay, China clay, and green clay are the clay types most commonly used in a clay mask. Sometimes mud is a term used in a clay-based mask as well. Knowing these names is important when searching for an effective mask. I have actually seen masks marketed as “clay” that had little to almost no actual clay in them.

Another important point when looking for a mask is knowing how much clay is in the product. You want to make sure clay is one of the first ingredients on the list. A high percentage of clay(s) above all else is what will make any mask you use effective.

Since ingredients are listed by weight, a mask with a large concentration of clay will have one to several clays listed among the first on the list. For instance the clay masks from Yonka have clay (different types) as the first 3 out of 4 ingredients. And the ingredient list isn’t very long, so you know that these masks have a high-percentage of clay in them. Yonka isn’t the only manufacturer of quality clay products, but knowing how much clay is in any product you’re going to use is of the utmost importance.

Products found in a salon are usually far superior to grocery or department store varieties. Check with your aesthetician (if you have one), and keep an eye on the ingredient list. Not all clay masks are created equal, but if you search for one with clay as some of the first few ingredients, you’ll be on the right track. Still, you may have to experiment before you come up with one that works for you. With that said, you may very well find a good clay mask in a retail store. Make the ingredient list a top priority no matter where you purchase your mask.

 

How can you tell if your clay mask is effective? 

Before applying the mask, take a good look at your pores. Then after the mask is rinsed off, do the same check. If you don’t notice a significant reduction in the amount of debris in your pores, especially around the nose area or wherever you have the most congestion, the mask is not doing its job. Check the ingredients and make sure it is predominately clay. If not, find a new mask that has a higher concentration of clay. (By debris and congestion I essentially mean blackheads; open pores, which are easily cleaned out by a good clay mask.)
 

Another alternative you might have heard of or even used yourself is making your own mask with dry clay powder. Found at most health food stores, the powder is mixed with water and sometimes essential oils for a DIY home treatment. I don’t, however, recommend using this type of homemade mask on your skin. Even if you don’t have sensitive skin, clay with no other ingredients is just too intense and too concentrated and can cause even non-sensitive skin to get red and irritated. I recommend finding a good, manufactured mask that has a high percentage of clay in it, and use this as your cleansing home treatment. 

Use a clay mask at least once a week to deep clean your pores, more often if you have problem skin. Clay, above all else, will really keep your pores cleaned out and your skin looking healthy. Please read some of the other articles I have written on the importance of using clay in your weekly routine (found under the category clay masks). Here are a few I highly recommend:

• How NOT to apply a clay mask  
• How to use a Clay Mask—Important Instructions
• The Extras—Do more to have healthy skin

Clay Masks Q & As

What does a clay mask really do and why do I need one?

Clay, like earth, has an absorbing or drawing action that helps to clean superficial debris out of the pores. Even though you are cleaning your skin daily with facial cleansers, they are only removing surface oil and buildup from the day (or night). Clay masks help to pull out more material from the pores, leaving them clean and debris-free.

Of course, given time the debris will once again collect in the pores. Thus, you want to give yourself a clay mask at least once a week, more often (2-3 times per week) if you have problems with blackheads or breakout.

Clay also contains minerals and elements that are very soothing and healing for the skin. Most clay masks can be used on all skin types and are especially good for oily or problem/acne skin since these skin types tend to have a lot of congestion. You must keep the mask moist for proper results. (See the following question/answer for a more detailed explanation.) Try using a clay mask and see if you don’t experience cleaner, brighter skin.

I have used clay masks before, but found them to be way too drying, especially now that it is cold and windy here in the northeast. I really feel the need for a more moisturizing mask, and I also want something to use at night that will help with a few little dry patches I have on either side of my chin that just won’t go away.

The dryness you are experiencing with a clay mask is pretty common. That is why I recommend keeping the mask moist the entire time it is on your face. Clay does not need to dry on your skin in order to draw impurities to itself. If you keep the mask moist, this should solve your problem of dry skin after the mask.

Of course, you'll have a clay mask on!

Spraying clean, filtered water on your face is the cheapest and easiest way to keep your clay mask moist.

• Simply get a small plastic spray bottle at your local grocery or drug store and fill it with clean water.
• Once you have applied the mask, spray your face really well with the water.
• Then have the bottle on hand to spray intermittently during the 15 minutes you have the mask on.
• Spray well enough to keep the mask wet, but not so much that water is dripping off your face.
• An alternative would be to spray your face with your toner, presuming you have it in a spray bottle.

Another tip is to lie in the bathtub with the mask on and the water bottle by your side. If you are a bath person, you know the relaxing benefits of a nice hot bath to soothe your muscles and indeed your soul. Having the clay on your face acts like a barrier and will protect your fragile capillaries from the heat of the steam.

Having dry patches doesn’t necessarily mean you need a moisturizing mask. It really depends on how much oil you have in your pores and if your skin is dehydrated. Are you congested (clogged pores) at all or in any particular place on your face? If not, then using a moisturizing mask is fine. But if you do have clogged pores, the clay mask is what you need.

Although I am not a fan of using too many different things at one time, if you want to, you could use the clay on the places you need it and the moisturizing mask on the places you feel dry. Another recommendation would be to apply a layer of your moisturizer under the clay mask. This way you will be infusing the cream into your skin while the clay still has the ability to clean the pores and stimulate circulation.

Also, don’t forget to exfoliate (before masking). It will help with dryness and congestion. (See The Extras.) Clay isn’t the only kind of mask you can use; it just happens to be my favorite. It’s effective and beneficial for most skin types.

For more information, see:

• How to use a Clay Mask—Important Instructions
• Ideas on when & where to do a clay mask
• Clay Mask Quick Tip #1

Ideas on when & where to do a clay mask

Step 1: Put a clay mask on your face. Step 2: Take that necklace off!!!

Where to use a clay mask:

If you are a bath-type person, this is a good place to do a clay mask. Put the clay on your clean, dry face, then grab your spray bottle** and hop into the tub. Relax, enjoy, and every so often spray your face. I don’t recommend splashing the bathwater on your face to keep the mask wet, especially if you have used any bath products in the water. This can really irritate your skin, and the water will probably be too hot for your face to tolerate.
**You never want a clay mask to dry on your skin. Using a spray bottle filled with clean, filtered water is an easy way to keep the clay moist the whole time it’s on your face.

Using a clay mask in a steam room is the perfect marriage of protection and cleansing. The steam is great for stimulating the body’s circulation, but remember the capillaries of the face are very fragile and cannot withstand the intense heat in a steam room. Putting a clay mask on your face creates an occlusive, protective barrier between your skin and the hot steam. And since the clay will stay perfectly moist in this environment, it is an ideal place to use your mask.

Also note that if you find yourself in a steam room without a clay mask handy, I highly recommend wetting a few paper towels and putting them over your face while steaming. The heat is just too intense for your face and can really cause a good deal of capillary damage if you frequent steam rooms “unprotected.” Usually the paper towels at a gym are stiff enough (even when wet) to make a good cover for your face.

This woman's face (and capillaries) would be so much better served by applying a clay mask before getting in the steam room.

When to use a clay mask:

Clay can be used as often as desired. If you have normal to oily skin, blackheads, or any congestion, you will want to use clay at least once a week to keep the pores cleaned out. If you have problem skin and especially if you have acne, you’ll want to mask several times per week. And finally, even true-dry skin can benefit from using a clay mask. Oil-deficient skin doesn’t require the same deep cleansing as does an oilier skin type, but you can still derive many benefits from using a clay mask once every week or two.

It’s best to mask after exfoliating if you’re using them together. Exfoliation will help get rid of excess dead skin as well as superficial debris in the pores. The clay mask further deep cleans the pores along with helping to soothe and calm the surface. Exfoliating and using a clay mask can be done in tandem, once a week (or more) as a mini, at-home facial. They do not need to be done together, but it’s nice to do both if you have the time. Exfoliate, run a bath, put the clay mask on, hop in, and relax. After removing the mask, use your toner and moisturizer along with eye cream.

For more detailed information, see:

• PLEASE—No Hot Water
• How to use a Clay Mask—Important Instructions 
• At-Home Facials—A DIY How-To

No clay mask required

Are facial masks worthwhile?

What do masks do? What types of masks are best for each skin type? Are they worthwhile?

What a mask does depends on what kind of mask it is. Hydrating masks help to soften the skin by increasing the amount of moisture on the surface. Cleansing masks generally contain a large percentage of clay(s), which helps to clean out the pores.

I am a proponent of clay masks for almost every skin type. Clay is beneficial for oily or problem skin, helping to soothe infections along with loosening debris held in the pores. For a drier skin type, although a hydrating mask would be fine, clay not only gets the skin clean but helps to step up circulation due to clay’s stimulating effects.

I tell my clients that if they feel they need to use a hydrating mask, what they really need to do is exfoliate. Feeling dry on the surface is usually more a matter of dehydration than oil-dry skin. See Is Your Skin Truly Dry or Just Thirsty? (link below) to understand the difference between dehydration and true-dry skin. If you must use a hydrating mask, I recommend simply applying a thick layer of your favorite facial moisturizer as the mask vs. spending extra dollars on a hydrating mask. The two are essentially the same.

When using a clay-based mask, there is one important caveat: You must keep the clay moist the entire time it is on your skin. How?

• take a spray bottle
• fill it with clean, filtered water
• after applying the clay mask, spray your face liberally with the water
• then spray intermittently for the 15 minutes the mask is on

This keeps the mask moist (you don’t want clay to dry the surface skin out) and makes the mask much easier to remove. If you have your toner in a spray bottle (highly recommended), you can use this instead of water.

For more information on using clay masks see:

• What is a clay mask and why use one? 
• How to use a Clay Mask—Important Instructions
• Is Your Skin Truly Dry or Just Thirsty?

Are masks worthwhile? Is having cleaner, healthier-looking skin worth the time it takes to do a mask once or twice a week? I’d say—

How NOT to apply a clay mask

So often I see photos of models with clay masks on their faces, and so often it is applied incorrectly. Granted, these people are posing in a photo shoot and are not really applying the mask for skin care benefits—although some are regular folks posting selfies from their home facials. No matter, you see these photos and most likely think this is how to apply the mask. Please do not follow these as examples of where to apply clay mask.

I have several photos in this post with my comments about whether or not the mask is applied appropriately. Please follow this advice to get the most out of your clay mask application.

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Many important places on this model’s face are not covered with clay. Above her lips and under her nose, around her mouth in general, under her lips, directly under her eyes, and what looks like the sides of her face, although it’s hard to tell in this photo. All of these spots can be problem areas for many people, so by not putting the mask there, you’re missing out on the deep cleansing and anti-inflammatory benefits (especially directly under the eyes) of using a clay mask.

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This application is somewhat better. Although I’d put the mask directly under the eyes and closer to the mouth—so you can’t see the facial skin—along with a bit further under her chin. In this photo, there really isn’t clay near her hairline on the sides of her face, so I’d definitely apply the mask closer to her hairline.

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This is better—closer to her mouth and more on the sides of her face. However, the clay is totally absent directly under her eyes. Also, I’d apply a bit more on her forehead close to the hairline.

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Here again, the mask is applied to most places on her face, but it’s missing close up to the lips, eyes, and her whole face hairline area. Also this is starting to dry, so be sure to always keep a clay mask moist on your face—never let it dry! Please read How to use a Clay Mask—Important Instructions (see link below).

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This is pretty good—close to the hairline and up to her lips. It looks like the clay wasn’t applied under her eyes. Even if you use cucumber slices (or something else), still apply the clay directly under the eyes to get the full anti-inflammatory benefits. Unless you have breakout or problem skin issues, you really don’t need to apply clay on the neck tissue—it’s totally optional. Usually in my treatment room I will apply an appropriate moisturizer in a thick layer on a client’s neck, unless she has breakout there. Breakout always gets clay mask application.

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This young lady has done it right! She went all the way under her eyes, which is so important and usually overlooked. (The clay in a mask, having anti-inflammatory properties, helps to reduce puffiness under the eyes.) Although you always want to keep the mask moist, especially under the eyes, apply it like this woman has. She got the clay all the way up to her hairline, all the way up to her lips, and solid around her nose. Good job!

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Finally, the mask is applied well here, perhaps too well (going up into her hair)—I’m sure this application is for photographic purposes not an actual person using a mask at home. However, you can see how the mask is drying. A great effect for the photo, tragic for her skin! The cracking you see with the mask is actually what is happening to her skin underneath. Need I repeat this yet again—Do not let clay dry on your skin! It dries your skin out, and you never want to do that.

There are many articles about the use of clay masks. Here are just a few you can read through to understand the outstanding benefits of using this essential tool for healthy skin:

• How to use a Clay Mask—Important Instructions
• At-home facials—Advanced steps
• Clay Masks Q & As

Clay Mask Quick Tip #1: clay in the shower

If you’re short on time and need to mask, five minutes before your morning shower apply a clay mask. Jump into the shower, and the mask will stay moist from the steam. You can also splash a bit of water on your face to keep the mask from drying. Remove it at the end of your shower, then after you’ve dried off, use your toner and moisturizer plus eye cream.

For more information on clay masks, see:

• What is a clay mask and why use one?
• How to use a Clay Mask—Important Instructions
• Ideas on when & where to do a clay mask

Help for Breakouts

Why does skin break out? 

Quite simply, hormones cause breakouts. Hormonal imbalances can occur at any time in life. As puberty starts, the hormones are activated. For women, our monthly cycles can cause breakouts; pregnancy causes great hormonal changes and can either improve your complexion or cause mild to severe breakout; and perimenopause brings yet another change in a woman’s hormone levels. Men, too, have fluctuations in their hormones, which can affect how clear or broken out their skin is. Diet is a huge consideration when looking for the cause(s) of breakout, and stress should not be overlooked as being a factor in skin troubles. There are several beneficial things you can do for breakouts that will help them go away without causing damage to your skin.

• A clay mask is my number one at-home treatment for breakout. It has a calming effect and helps to temporarily lift redness from the skin. Clay draws to itself, helping to encourage movement of the debris in an embedded pore. Clay has antiseptic properties, which helps to keep bacteria away.

Clay can be used in two ways: as a mask, covering the entire face and left on for 15 minutes once or twice a week, or dotted on the blemishes at night before bed and left on while you sleep. If the spot is small to medium without a lot of infection, this dotting method can really reduce its size overnight. For deeper cysts and large infected areas, clay can still do wonders, but not miracles.

• Essential oil of geranium is my next wonder treatment for breakout. Throughout the years I’ve been seeing clients, more and more I have been recommending lavender essential oil over geranium. This change is solely due to aromatics. Simply put, many people just can’t take the smell of geranium oil! Lavender has a wonderful aromatic and is generally accepted by most noses.
• After you have completed your Basics 1-2-3 routine (cleanse, tone, hydrate), dot geranium or lavender oil directly on any infected (red) blemishes. Please note: Do not get geranium, lavender, or any pure essential oil in or around your eyes! 

Essential oils are not “oily” oils; they are more gaseous and vaporous. They have a thin viscosity and do not feel oily. By their very nature, essential oils are antiseptic, antibacterial, and in many cases soothing, which makes them perfect for infections.

Essential oil of geranium is especially good for problem skin. It has antiseptic and astringent properties as well as a balancing action on oil production. Geranium also helps to stop bleeding and promote healing of injured areas. Lavender has many equally wonderful properties and many clients still have great success with this essential oil. 

She has the right idea, however she’s used way too much clay!

Combining a clay mask with geranium oil is the most effective, overnight treatment for blemishes. 

• After you’ve completed your evening 1-2-3 program, dot some clay mask on any problem spots and let it dry for a minute or so. 
• Then take your geranium oil and dab a bit on top of the clay and leave it overnight. 

In the morning you should see some reduction in size along with diminished redness of the blemish. Continue this dotting method for several consecutive nights or until the blemish is gone.

Breakout is one instance when essential oils and clay are ideal. Even though you may have to contend with red spots already present on your face, these products will go a long way to help expedite the healing process. 

There is no fast and easy way to get rid of blemishes. They weren’t created instantaneously, and they will not disappear overnight. Give a clay mask and essential oils a try, and see if they don’t work better for your skin than the blemish-control products you’ve been using.

For more information, see: 

• The Basics 1-2-3 Program
• What is a clay mask and why use one? 
• How to use a Clay Mask—Important Instructions (There is important information in this article you will want to know about before using your clay mask.) 
• Geranium (or lavender) essential oil—spot remover for breakouts: How to use it and how NOT to use it