How Long To Leave Indian Healing Clay On For?
What is Indian Healing Clay?
Indian healing clay, also known as Aztec secret Indian healing clay, is a type of bentonite clay that has been used for centuries for skin care and other health benefits. It consists of 100% natural calcium bentonite (montmorillonite) clay that comes from Death Valley, California (Aztec Secret Health and Beauty Indian Healing Clay).
Bentonite clay is composed of aged volcanic ash and derives its name from Fort Benton, Wyoming where it was first discovered. It has a strong negative electromagnetic charge which allows it to bind to positively charged toxins, heavy metals, impurities, and other contaminants (Aztec Secret– Indian Healing Clay). This clay is known for its ability to deeply cleanse and detoxify the skin and hair.
Benefits of Indian Healing Clay
One of the main benefits of Indian healing clay is its ability to absorb toxins and impurities from the skin. The clay contains a high amount of bentonite, which is formed from aged volcanic ash. This gives the clay a strong negative electromagnetic charge, allowing it to bind to and draw out positively charged toxins from the skin (1).
According to Medical News Today, the toxins absorbed by bentonite clay include heavy metals, impurities, and chemicals (2). Applying an Indian healing clay mask can pull these toxins from the pores, helping to cleanse and detoxify the skin. The clay’s absorption power makes it effective in treating oily and acne-prone skin by reducing oiliness and clearing out clogged pores.
(1) https://asutra.com/blogs/asutra-life/the-secret-to-all-natural-skin-detox-indian-healing-clay
(2) https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325241
How to Apply Indian Healing Clay
Indian healing clay should be mixed with equal parts water or apple cider vinegar to create a paste. According to WikiHow, you’ll want to use a non-metal spoon or whisk to mix the paste, as metal can react with the clay. The paste should be a thick, spreadable consistency.
Apply the clay paste to clean, dry skin in a thin layer about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Avoid getting the clay paste in your eyes, mouth, or on sensitive tissues. Spread the paste evenly over your entire face or just on problem areas. For full facial coverage, apply from your hairline down to below your chin and outward toward your ears.
How Long to Leave on Face
Most sources recommend leaving Indian healing clay on your face for 5-20 minutes. The clay needs time to dry and absorb toxins, but leaving it on too long can dry out your skin.
For normal skin, aim for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off. Let the clay fully dry and feel tight on your skin. This allows it to draw out impurities from pores.
For sensitive or dry skin, limit time to 5-10 minutes. Rinse off before the clay dries completely to avoid too much drying and irritation. Start with 5 minutes and gradually increase to 10 minutes if tolerated.
Always pay attention to how your skin feels. If you notice stinging, burning or excessive tightness, rinse off immediately. It’s better to start with shorter times and slowly increase.
Some sources recommend leaving the mask on overnight, but this is not advised for most skin types. Over-drying your skin can lead to increased oil production and breakouts. Limit use to 5-20 minutes for best results.
Regardless of skin type, be sure to moisturize after using the clay mask. This will counteract any drying effects.
How Long to Leave on Body
When using Indian healing clay on the body, it’s generally recommended to leave the clay mask on for 15-20 minutes for the first application. For body areas like the back, chest, arms, legs, etc. the clay can be safely left on for up to 1-2 hours if desired.
According to Aztec Secret, their Indian healing clay can be left on the body overnight without issues. However, it’s best to start with shorter application times of 15-20 minutes and gradually increase to 1-2 hours or overnight if your skin can tolerate it without irritation.
Leaving the clay mask on the body for longer periods allows the clay to deeply draw out impurities. However, be sure to listen to your skin’s feedback. If you experience tingling, burning, or redness, rinse off the clay promptly. It’s always better to start with less time and work your way up.
What to Expect
Using Indian healing clay can create a tightening sensation on the skin, which is normal and expected. The clay’s drawing power helps pull out impurities from deep within the skin, resulting in a temporary tightening effect as the pores constrict (Vivadoria). This can feel slightly uncomfortable but subsides after rinsing off the mask.
You may also notice some redness after using the clay mask. This is caused by increased blood circulation to the surface of the skin, which helps boost collagen production and cell turnover (Whimsysoul). The redness should fade within a few hours. It’s a sign the clay is working to rejuvenate your skin.
In general, the tightness and redness from Indian healing clay is temporary and harmless. It’s simply the skin’s natural reaction as the clay deep cleans pores, stimulates circulation, and reveals newer, healthier skin below the surface.
Aftercare
After the allotted time has passed, be sure to wash the mask off your skin completely. Splash warm water onto the area and gently massage in circular motions to rehydrate and loosen the clay. Once it feels moist and pliable again, rinse thoroughly with warm water to remove all traces of the mask.
It is crucial to moisturize after using the Indian healing clay mask, as it can be quite drying to the skin. After patting your skin dry, apply a nourishing facial moisturizer, cream or oil to replenish hydration and restore moisture balance. Look for moisturizers with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe vera or botanical oils. Massage the moisturizer gently into the skin until fully absorbed.
Moisturizing regularly after each use of the healing clay mask will help combat dryness and irritation. Proper aftercare is key to experiencing the intended benefits of Indian healing clay on the skin.
Precautions
When using Indian healing clay, it’s important to take some basic precautions:
Do a patch test first. Dab a small amount of the clay mask on your arm or behind your ear. Leave it for 10 minutes and check for any redness or irritation before applying it to your face. This will help identify any potential allergies (source).
Avoid getting the clay too close to your eyes. The clay can be drying and irritating, so apply carefully around the eye area and rinse immediately if any gets in your eyes (source).
Don’t leave the mask on for longer than recommended, usually 5-10 minutes for the face and 5-20 minutes for the body. Letting it dry completely can lead to skin irritation.
Always moisturize after using the clay mask, as it can be very drying to the skin.
When to Avoid
Indian healing clay masks are very powerful and can potentially cause harm if used incorrectly or on compromised skin. It’s best to avoid using Indian healing clay masks in the following situations:
If you have any open wounds, cuts, or irritated skin, you should avoid applying Indian healing clay directly, as it can sting and cause further irritation (source). The clay can get into open cuts and abrasions, leading to potential infections.
Those with sensitive skin, recent chemical peels, laser treatments, or severely dry and damaged skin should also use caution with Indian healing clay masks, or avoid entirely. The clay can be overly drying and abrasive for compromised skin barriers, potentially worsening irritation and sensitivity (source).
If you have any active breakouts, rashes, or sunburn, avoid applying the clay mask directly on affected areas, as it may cause stinging and inflammation. Allow skin to fully heal before attempting a clay mask treatment (source).
In general, those with sensitive skin prone to dryness, itching, and reactivity may want to avoid using Indian healing clay masks more than once a month, if at all. Perform a patch test before full application.
Conclusion
Indian healing clay can provide numerous benefits when used properly on the skin. To optimize results, it’s generally recommended to leave the clay mask on for 10-15 minutes on the face and 20-30 minutes on the body. Leaving it on longer may dry out and irritate sensitive skin. The clay works by drawing out impurities, toxins, and excess oils from the skin’s surface while also exfoliating dead skin cells. After use, be sure to moisturize well as the clay can be quite drying. Indian healing clay makes an excellent addition to any skincare routine when used according to directions 1-2 times per week. With its deep pore cleansing, balancing, and soothing properties, this natural clay can improve skin’s clarity, tone, and texture over time.
