The $8 Face Mask You’ve Got to Buy

Let’s get real today. No one’s skin is perfect, and mine definitely has its ups and downs. So I want to share with you one product that I’ve been using for over a year that I can’t live without. 

First, what type of skin do I have? Some days its clear and dewy and others it’s angry as hell … breaking out and flaking off my face. Over the past few years, I’ve spent more money than I care to admit on skincare products. I’ve tried almost every acne treatment on the market, as well as numerous serums, wrinkle creams and moisturizers. I even bought {but then promptly returned} the overly hyped Clarisonic Mia.

A little over a year ago I found my miracle product. Of course it doesn’t solve all my skin issues, but it helps A LOT. I’ve mentioned the product briefly here, and promised that I’d do a full post about it. Today’s that day! And guess what? It’s not some $100 eye cream. It actually costs $8!

So, what am I talking about?

Aztec Secret’s Indian Healing Clay. 

It’s 100% natural calcium bentonite clay, and has been used for centuries for its healing properties. Calcium bentonite clay has a bunch of benefits, which you can read about all over the Internet. For me, I’ve noticed that continued use of the mask reduces acne inflammation and left over scarring, shrinks pores, and gets rid of any flaky spots on my face.

The Aztec Secret brand of clay is from Death Valley, California where it’s sun-dried for up to six months. Pretty cool! It’s a #1 best seller in the “facial cleansing gels” category on Amazon, has almost 8,000 reviews and an average 4.5 star rating. I’d say it’s pretty damn popular.

I use it at least 3x a week and I don’t know what I’d do without it. Here’s a little funny story for you. When I was flying to Vegas, I had it in my carry-on {it’s precious cargo!} and it got flagged as a suspicious substance. The TSA agents ran through the scanner because they wanted to make sure it was really just a face mask like I had told them. After giving me some strange looks, they handed me back the container of clay and I was on my merry way. I can’t live without this stuff. 

Here’s how I use it. Now, I just eyeball it so I don’t have exact measurements. 

• In a glass bowl, I mix 1/2 tablespoon of the clay with enough water to make a paste. If my skin needs some extra love, I’ll add a splash of apple cider vinegar. ACV kills bacteria, removes excess dirt and oil, and dissolves dead skin cells. 
• After I get the consistency just right, I’ll also add one or two drops of tea tree oil. Like ACV, tea tree oil helps kill the bacteria that can cause acne flare ups. 
• I always apple the mask with a cheap foundation brush. I bought an ELF brand one from Target a long time ago for like $2 and it works great for this. Trust me. Use a brush. It’s way too difficult to put the mask on with your fingers.
• I leave the mask on for at least 20 minutes, but usually longer. If you’ve never used it before, I’d start with 10 minutes and see how your skin reacts. I have really sensitive dry skin, and I never see any negative reactions. But everyone is different, so start slow.
• When you’re done with the clay mask, use a wet paper towel to clean off the brush and bowl. DO NOT put the leftover clay down the sink drain. It will clog. I repeat. Do not put down the drain. 

Have you tried clay masks before? I want to know your thoughts. Comment below!