I’ve been using some pretty kick ass products recently, and my skin has been looking amazing. But the bane of my skin care existence… freaking blackheads.
Not that I have protruding, obnoxious blackheads or anything. My current skincare routine has given me a pretty smooth complexion on my nose.. but they are there. Deep deep down. Little black dots burrowed so deep in my pores that no amount of scrubbing or treating seems to be able to flush them out.
So after some trolling the interwebs for a solution, I decided to give a bentonite clay mask a try. The one I tried was Aztec Secret. Here’s the blurbs I read that got me jumping on the clay mask wagon:
“Rather than tugging and pulling like pores-strips do, clay masks gently draw out impurities without damaging the skin. They work by absorbing excess oil and dead skin through capillary action. No tearing at your pores needed! It’s a far more gentle and superior way of treating blackheads than pore-strips.
And beside treating blackheads, they have additional benefits! Indeed, some studies have shown that mud masks increase collagen synthesis in mice after 7 days. Collagen being the structural protein that holds connective tissue together, prevents skin aging, and improves acne scarring.
One study that examined the mechanism of action of clay reported that keratinocytes incubated with microalgae derived from black mud had overexpression of collagen genes and upregulation of MMP-1 expression in fibro- blasts. Clay and other biomaterials, when implanted in skin lesions, have been shown to stimulate collagen synthesis.
Some clays also exhibit antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory effects, which could be particularly good for acne-prone individuals.“
My Clay Mask Experience
So I tried one today! It mixed up fairly easily (I made 1 ½ tablespoons of clay to 1 ½ tablespoons of water, and it was about double what I actually needed for my face and neck). From mixing to applying took all of 3 minutes.
Then I waited 20 minutes. Weirdest freaking sensation, EVER. While I was in the process of applying the clay, I noticed the mud visually drying and “shrinking” on my skin, and thought, cool! It’s already working! I felt the pinching and shrinking sensation continue.. and continue… and continue….
It was seriously satisfying while simultaneously worrisome. I was kinda just sitting there, afraid to move my face, haha. No peaceful sipping of tea with this mask. Eventually I felt little “pops” in the mud mask, and realized it was the mud causing micro cracks, like you see in old dried up riverbeds.
I don’t wanna say it hurt, but it definitely didn’t feel good either. Just an ever present tightening, pinching and pressure on every inch of my face and neck, which caused tingling after awhile.
Not gonna lie, I kinda want to do this on my belly and thighs. It is so easy to imagine your skin shrinking along with the tightening sensation of the clay, and as someone who believes in the power of visualization, this would be an awesome body treatment to use while picturing your perfect weight and healthy, tight skin!
When I rinsed the mask off in the shower after 20 minutes, I did a jojoba oil flush on my nose and cheeks to help cleanse out the pores in the hot water. I was SO FREAKING EXCITED to check my results… what I could feel with my bare hands in the shower felt like baby smooth skin.
Good news is – the appearance has decreased, especially on the sides of my nose. My pores also do appear to have shrunk!
The bad news is – the blackheads are still there, especially higher up on the center of my nose. Some blackheads are now white or gray in appearance, almost like the gunk was partially vacuumed out. My pored are much smaller, so I won’t call this mask a bust.. on the contrary I believe it could / will be a vital tool in future facials. It just wasn’t the one shot magic bullet I had hoped it would be. Le sigh!
I’m willing to give this mask a couple more shots and see if the effects accumulate – if the mask “zaps” the blackheads it missed or only partially dented this time around. I’ll follow up and let you guys know what my experience is! <3
CURRENT STATS
Start Weight (May 15, 2020): 201 pounds
Current Weight (July 27, 2020): 178.6
Total Pounds Lost (Since May 15, 2020): 22.4
Pounds Left to Lose to Reach Goal Weight of 130 pounds: 48.6
OVERVIEW
MONTH ONE: 12.8 pounds lost
MONTH TWO: 4.4 pounds lost
MONTH THREE (still in progress): 5.2 pounds lost
