The background on Green Clay
So what is this green ‘sludge’ we call clay good for when it comes to putting it all over our skin? Quite simply, green clay is a type of therapeutic clay. More specifically, it’s referred to as illite, a subcategory of clays “Mother Natures Powdered Gold” if you like.
The name describes the colour of the clay, which comes from its combination of iron oxides and decomposed matter — typically algae or chlorophyll. The more vibrant the green, the more valuable the clay is considered to be.
French green clay is well known in the natural skincare industry because of the large mineral-rich deposits of green clay off the southern coast of France. However, green clay is also mined from other parts of Europe and the North-Western United States.
Argital’s green clay is very similar to French green clay. It is soft, smooth, pliable and creamy. The clay of marine origin, rich in mineral salts and natural oligoelements (minerals present in the body) is extracted from a pit not far from the Mediterranean Sea in the deep south of Sicily. Vital forces and warm solar energy are absorbed from the sun during the drying process, which in turn creates clay. The unique properties of this clay make it ideal as a body-modelling agent and as a natural anti-ageing agent.
In addition to the components that give green clay it’s colouring, the clay contains plenty of other trace minerals that have healing benefits.
Some of these include:
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Manganese
- Silicon
- Zinc
- Copper
- Selenium
So how does it benefit the skin?
Green Clay is very rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help to fight free radical damage within the skin, these can be produced by your own body as a by-product of your metabolism and what you eat or consume, as part of the natural ageing process and more importantly with gradual exposure to the environmental elements such as air pollution and UV Damage.
Benefits for problematic skin:
Green Clay helps the exfoliation process ridding the skin of dead skin cells. If your skin doesn’t naturally exfoliate it needs encouragement otherwise it can create the appearance of uneven tone and texture and cause blockages within the skin. Green clay is a fabulous detoxifying agent, helping to draw out impurities within the skin such as the over production of sebum which causes acne and unsightly blackheads. The minerals in green clay help to heal blemished skin quickly without leaving marks and/or scars.
Benefits for ageing skin:
Green clay has firming properties that help to stimulate circulation; good circulation promotes lymphatic drainage, which in turn helps those tired under eye bags. As mentioned above the exfoliating qualities of green clay create a brighter more youthful looking skin helping those with uneven skin tone and texture, such as sun damaged or hormonal pigmented skin.
Ancient beliefs suggest that green clay has a naturally negative electrical charge that will attach to positively charged toxins topically on the skin. This can assist in the elimination of any build-up in the pores such as acne-building bacteria. It can also help diminish signs of fine lines, wrinkles and capillaries near the epidermal surface whilst stimulating collagen and strengthening the skin’s elasticity.
Green clay benefits in a nutshell:
- Helps to draw out impurities within the skin
- Rebalances the skin
- Exfoliates dead skincells
- Tones and firms the skin
- Stimulates circulation
- Helps to heal blemishes
- Sooths cuts and scrapes, minor burns, insect bites, and sore muscles.
- Helps to reduce inflammation
- Purifies and regenerates, creating radiant skin
So what are you waiting for? Get your hands on some therapeutic green clay. With so many benefits for both inside and outside the body it’s safe to say green clay is definitely Mother Natures best kept secret.
Green clay products are available via our website