ADRIENNE ASKS …
“Why doesn’t SALVE have an exfoliant for the face? What do you use?”
DAHLIA SAYS …
Great to hear from you, Adrienne. You ask an excellent question. Okay, so there’s a misconception about exfoliating, that you need something scrubby on your face. It’s actually not true, and some scrubs can be damaging to the skin, especially if they are coarse or have angles that do not soften when wet or that are jagged under a microscope.
You can get pretty awesome results from clays and other things like seaweed, loofah or even rice. I teach a SALVE workshop on exfoliation, and I’ll try to share some concepts in this article.
SALVE has two clays, rhassoul and kaolin clay. They are both excellent for sucking garbage from the pores, removing dead skin and making the skin more even-toned. Of course, you can blend these with any fresh ingredient based on the condition of your skin; milk, juice, water, yogurt, etc.
Personally, I like to remove masks with a raw (wet) loofah. We sell them, but you can always go to the drug store and find them. If you want the scrubby feel, I like to use the kelp (we sell it as part of the SALVE Make Your Own Fresh Mask gift set).
So the way I use it is, after you’ve washed your face, keep you face wet, and pour some on your fingers and massage into face in circular motion. Kelp is a sticky plant and it clumps together, so make sure your face is wet enough to get that scrub all over. It’s not a great mask all by itself, but you can certainly add it to the other clays. Kelp is extremely exfoliating if you use it as a scrub, and your face will be so soft and smooth after! Plus, it’s totally safe to use as much and as often as you want. There are so many types of clays and ingredients you can use to make a mask. Here are my favorites … I’ll add to this list a little more later.
EXFOLIATING WITH CLAY
RHASSOUL CLAY
This clay is a miracle detoxifier for both the face and scalp. Rhassoul clay’s most impressive properties in skin improvement are its capacity of absorption due to its high level of ion exchange. When applied to the face Rhassoul clay removes oil, dirt and pollutants from the skin that the ordinary cleanser can not reach. When applied to the hair and scalp, it will cleanse, provide moisture, detangle and provide shine in ways that your ordinary shampoo simply can’t.
Clinical studies have been conducted by two different research laboratories in the United States (International Research Services, Inc. www.irsi.org and Structure Probe, Inc. www.2spi.com) to evaluate Rhassoul clay mask on skin condition.
The study results showed that a single use of our Rhassoul clay mask statistically:
- Reduces dryness (79%)
- Reduces flakiness (41%)
- Improves skin clarity (68%)
- Improves skin elasticity / firmness (24%)
- Improves skin texture (106%)
Optional: Add 2-3 drops of SALVE’s Melaleuca or Neem Oil to create a soothing acne mask. For a super hydrating mask, add 2-3 drops with Salve’s Neem or Oranic Rosehip Seed Oil.
KAOLIN CLAY
Remove radical and harmful pollutants from your skin with this ancient Chinese mask. It helps stimulate circulation to the skin while gently exfoliating and cleansing it, leaving you with brighter, hydrated and calm skin. Suitable for all skin types but caters to dry, sensitive and acne-prone skin. This clay will not dry out your skin or remove your skin’s natural sebum.
Optional: Add 2-3 drops of Salve’s Melaleuca or Neem Oil to create a soothing acne mask. For a super hydrating mask, add 2-3 drops with Salve’s Neem or Oranic Rosehip Seed Oil.
KELP
Our organic milled Atlantic kelp grows deep in the cold sub-tidal waters of the North Atlantic Sea. It is responsibly harvested, dried and milled following organic standards. Add kelp powder to bath salts, facials, bath teas, and body wraps. It is a yellowish green colored powder with a fish-like, seaweed aroma and flavor. Sea kelp contains chlorophyll, an essential fatty acid that helps detoxify the skin and body and improve the skin’s elasticity. Sea kelp also contains carbohydrates that stimulate the skin’s ability to heal and vitamin A, an antioxidant, that normalizes skin cells. Proteins and amino acids are also present, and are the building blocks of cells, and act as skin conditioners.
BENTONITE CLAY
Bentonite clay is actually volcanic ash which is a great anticeptic. It’s great for skin problems such as aczema, rashes, yeast problems and parasites. Some eat this clay to help with stomach problems and constipation, but I’m not sure if I’m a believer.
CITRUS
Citrus is absorbs oils and is great for acne, and even combats dryness. It has a high amount of vitamin c which prevents wrinkles, hydrates, evens the skin tone and even brightens the skin. If you use citrus in your masks, or even in your regular skin care routine, avoid using citrus (vitamin c) products when going outside. It can increase risk for skin damage and can be counter productive. Ironically, the Arizona Cancer Center has reported that oranges (vitamin c), when applied to the skin before sun exposure, can prevent sun damage. Just be smart.
YOGURT
Smells terrible, so get vanilla. Doesn’t matter if it’s Greek or not. Yogurt is super hydrating, it unblocks clogged pores, reduces bacteria, softens skin, reduces wrinkles and hydrates. So refreshing, especially with sunburned or sensitive skin.
HONEY
If you don’t know about honey by now, it’s time you hear the amazing benefits. Ancient Egyptians used it for cuts to disinfect and heal. It’s great to kill bacteria, suck on if you have a sore throat and helps treat burns. Honey regenerates skin cells and is a natural antiseptic. It is a humectant, which means it keeps moisture on the skin. It takes 10 lbs of honey to make 1 lb of wax.
VITAMIN E
Soothes skin and aids in healing. It reduces appearance of scars and soothes sunburn. It’s a natural sunscreen, but don’t use it as a sole source for sunscreen because we don’t know the amount of SPF protection.
ROSEHIP
Rosehip is not rose petals, it’s the oil produced from bud portion that’s left after the pedals have fallen off. It contains omega 3 & 6 fatty acids and is perfect for dehydrated skin, stretch marks, hyper pigmentation (scarring), reduces wrinkles and premature aging.
LAVENDER
One of my favorite add-ons to a mask is Lavender. It’s great for all sorts of skin problems including acne, eczema, and is super calming. Plus it adds a nice fragrance to your mask.
NEEM
So good for skin problems including acne. It’s high in fatty acids and great for killing bacteria. Neem is also good to add to your daily moisturizer.
TEA TREE (MELALEUCA)
Anti fungal and a disinfectant, tea tree is awesome for masks, especially if you have bumpy, acne-prone or clogged skin.
EXFOLIATING WITH SCRUBS
Scrubs are so much fun and a great way to polish the skin to remove unwanted flaky, bumpy and dry skin. You’ve got be smart about what scrubby things you use on your face, because not all things are good and can actually cause damage.
BEST for Face
-clay
-plant-based (kelp)
-oats (any size, watch the drains!)
-enzymes (natural citrus or crushed pineapple)
-powder grains (rice, flours)
-jojoba beads
-loofah (wet, raw)
-charcoal powders
OKAY for Face
-sugar (prefer it be small granules)
-ground/powdered nuts without shells
-used coffee grounds (watch the drains!)
BAD for Face
-salt (all sizes)-ground nut shells, e.g. walnut (watch the drains!)
-any uneven grain (whatever you use needs to be round and small)
I’ll add more to this article soon. Have fun with your mask! Holler at me if you have any questions. We’ll be posting some of our customers’ favorite recipes on our site, so stay tuned!
-Dahlia
Written by Dahlia Kelada
SALVE and SalveNaturals.com © 2015 All Rights Reserved
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to cure, prevent or treat any disease. Please use common sense and always talk to your doctor before starting any new treatment or application for a health condition.