The pursuit of beauty is a never-ending
process. Even if we're diligent in our daily five-step beauty
regimen, stress, our diet, and the weather can do a number on our
skin. That's why we need to subject ourselves to the deft hands of
a professional every now and then.
Whether as a supplement to an
unexpected sunny-day beauty staycation or a part of your everyday
skin-care routine, face masks-in their many forms-are beauty's
proverbial cherry on top. And a new generation of products is
designed to offer targeted, seriously unique skin
solutions. Dark spots and dullness? Lay Synergy
Best Spa's Red
clay Masque over your face. Red clay has the most absorbing
powers of the bunch and is best for oily skin. This is a great
addition for acne/detoxifying masks for the face or body. Red clay is
an idea balance for those with sensitive skin that needs a bit of
oil-vacuuming
and gentle exfoliation.
Dirt is dirt. Which is all well and
good, until you decide to rub it all over your face, body, and scalp.
That’s when all the little micro differences - the mineral
content, porosity, grittiness, organic matter - start to make a
macro difference. Red clay, a variant that can hail from France,
Morocco, and the good ole USA. The ruddy
color indicates high levels of iron, which studies have shown
carry major skin benefits.
"All clays contain minerals that
soothe skin and absorb excess oil, but the high levels of iron oxide
in red clay explain why it's particularly useful for purifying,
brightening, and strengthening the skin," says dermatologist Joshua
Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount
Sinai in New York City.
Cosmetic chemist and founder of
Beauty Stat, Ron
Robinson, also adds that red clay won't leave your skin overly
taut.
Red
clay, also known as Rhassoul
clay, has been mined from the Atlas Mountain region of Morocco.
This mineral rich clay has been used by Moroccan women to enhance
skin and hair for centuries. This is also the clay used to prepare
cleansing body wraps in Turkish
baths. It has a number of outstanding benefits that surpass those
of other clays because it contains the highest content of silica,
magnesium, potassium and calcium. My skin felt so clean and not
tight or dry at all after the Synergy Best Spa facial
treatment in Malaysia. It felt light and clean and soft. It takes
a bit of confidence to post a photo with bare face. From someone who
used to always be afraid to wear no make because I had bad skin as a
teenager this is a huge thing for me. I still sometimes believe my
skin is really bad but I have to remind myself it is not anymore.
Sure I deal with the occasional break out but not nearly as bad as
when I was a hormonal teenager dealing with over oily skin. My skin
looks fresh and glowing without any redness or dry, irritation
anywhere. Don't slather on the clay everywhere, restrict it to the
regions of the cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin and away from eyes
and lips. How often can one use a clay mask? Says consultant
dermatologist
and cosmetologist,
Dr Bindu Sthalekar, "People having oily skin can use clay masks
for 2-4 days in a week or so. One can wash the mask with plain
water."
by Lila Benaminsk
