Which Clay Is Right for Your Skin?

Sometimes the best skincare ingredients are right below your feet. Clays are known for their amazing cleansing and purifying properties. They have been used on the skin for centuries, and they're still popular today.

In general, clays are soft, fine-grained mineral substances. While the properties of each one varies, they're most commonly used in skincare because of their absorption properties. Clay pulls excess oil from the skin so it feels clean and refreshed.

Depending on your skin type, one clay may be better suited for you than another. Find all our clays here, and learn which one is best for your project below.

Bentonite Clay
Bentonite clay is created from volcanic ash. The US is the top producer, with much of it coming from Wyoming. It's great for shaving soaps because it helps the razor glide over the skin. Bentonite clay is able to absorb more than its mass in water, so it's a good option for oily skin.

Kaolin Clay
Kaolin clay is very fine, so it's easy to incorporate into projects like cosmetics, soap, bath bombs, and more. It can come in a variety of colors - the most common is off-white. It's great for those with dry or sensitive skin because it doesn't absorb as much liquid as other clays.

Rose Clay
This is a type of kaolin clay. It has a fine texture and it's suitable for dry skin. The clay is a light to medium pink shade, which comes from a naturally-occurring iron oxide. In some projects, it can take on a deep red or orange hue. 

Brazilian clay
These are a type of kaolin clay that come in a variety of vibrant shades. They don't contain any dyes or pigments - the colors are from minerals in the soil in different regions of Brazil. The clays have an average amount of absorption, making them suitable for a variety of skin types.

French Green Clay
This clay is known for its terrific absorption properties, so it's best for those with oily skin. It has a fine texture and it's commonly used for face masks. The light green color comes from plant matter and iron oxides.

Green Zeolite Clay
Zeolites are minerals that form when volcanic rocks and ash react with alkaline groundwater. Green zeolite clay has a slightly larger texture than most clays, so it gently exfoliates the skin. It’s best suited for normal to oily skin.

Sea Clay
Sea clay originates from mud laid under the sea millions of years ago. It has a green, grayish color. It's commonly used in face masks to cleanse the skin. Sea clay works well for normal to oily skin.

Dry/normal skin – rose clay, kaolin clay, Brazilian clay
Normal/oily skin – sea clay, green zeolite clay, French green clay, bentonite clay, Brazilian clay