A recipe for a DIY natural bentonite clay face mask with essential oils that will detoxify and purify your skin, shrink your pores, and leave you feeling squeaky clean and fresh.
Learn About the Ingredients in this Natural Bentonite Clay Face Mask
Bentonite Clay
Well, I actually wrote a whole post on it! The basic jist of it is that it binds to toxins and then you wash them off. Bentonite Clay has a negative charge and is able to bind to toxins on the skin, and they are cleared once you wash it off. Check out the full article here.
Apple Cider Vinegar
When you use pure, organic apple cider vinegar that contains the mother (I like this brand), it can do wonders for your skin! It acts as a tonic and works by restoring the pH levels to your skin, and the beta-carotene in it helps to slow future skin damage. It can make your skin feel smoother, absorb excess oil and reduce fine lines. I also have an entire article written about it, because it has some amazing overall body benefits! Check that article out here.
Essential Oils
I like to add essential oils to pretty much everything, even my water and brownies! They have radically helped my family of six to stay well and healthy, and thrive! I use essential oils a LOT for my skin! Oils like frankincense are a woman’s best friend – use a few drops everyday to help smooth the appearance of fine lines and make you look healthy and young! Apply to any dark spots and blemishes for healthy skin.
I get all of my oils from Young Living – they are the only company I trust. Learn more here! Or if you love Instagram, check out my account or go to @wholelifeoils. I also have a website just for my team – check it out here!
Oil Cleansing Method
Hi Sara,
I have very thick wavy salt and pepper hair and I’m just learning how to take care of it. I was diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis in my early twenties (and frequent folliculitis infections which is why I was told by at least two doctors not to use conditioner) and suffered with a flaky, itchy, oily scalp and acne. Now that I’m 52, my scalp and hair seem to have gotten drier. Whenever I shampoo, the first day my scalp feels very irritable and very itchy (when I was younger, my scalp used to get itchy and irritable if I didn’t wash it every day). I have tried natural dandruff shampoos and professional shampoos with tea tree, but they do not seem to work for me. They dry and irritate my sensitive scalp and hair too much. Not sure what to do. I admit I think I have made the problem worse over the years by trying too many different shampoos and shampooing too often. The last time I saw a dermatologist two years ago she recommended only shampooing 3X a week and using some well known dandruff shampoo, but again dandruff shampoos do not seem to work for me and I’m beginning to suspect shampooing even 3X a week might be too much for me. I’m so confused to what to do. My goal is for my scalp to feel better, not feel irritated, and be itchy and for my hair to be full, wavy, shiny, and healthy. I am not sure how to achieve these goals. I think I’m going to have to learn NOT to shampoo my hair so often and stick with the same products. Not sure you can do this, but I love your blog and I have followed you for several years now. Could you please suggest a routine that could help? I think I still do have the seborrheic dermatitis and my scalp is still somewhat oily (my face is the same), BUT it very sensitive and irritates easily. Two months ago I suffered a bad seborrheic dermatitis flare up from using an all natural shampoo soap (I shampooed with it twice which disturbed the PH balance) and my scalp broke out in folliculitis infection (I’ve been prone to folliculitis since my early 20’s but it happens less often now, thank God!), which I somehow managed to clear up myself with probiotics and lots of water with lemon. I’m still working on healing my scalp. Thank you! Hope to hear from you when you get a chance to respond.
PS. How many packages of henna do you usually purchase when dying your hair? I have very thick hair just like you!
Hi Maria! Oh I’m sorry you’re having so much trouble with your scalp and skin. I understand those issues as I used to have major issues with eczema and my scalp! Okay, so I’m assuming you’re not coloring your hair? Because that can cause major scalp issues. Next – which shampoos and conditioners are you using? I would go as absolutely natural as possible. It’s very possible that you are allergic to some of the ingredients in your hair products. Check out this post on ingredients in curly hair products and look to see if you have any of the irritating preservatives that cause a lot of people to have an itchy scalp.
Also, I would look into your diet and start taking supplements like probiotics and digestive enzymes. I have a post on which ones help hair and skin here. Skin issues are an external sign of internal problems, usually gut (intentional) problems. Probiotics and digestive enzymes can begin to restore balance to your gut which will greatly help your skin. It sounds like you probably have what’s called leaky gut syndrome which is where the lining of your intestines has holes in it and food particles leak out of your gut and into your blood stream. The white blood cells sees these food particles as foreign invaders and attacks them, causing inflammation. Inflammation manifests in different ways in different people, and in your case, it’s skin issues. So also, you might be very sensitive to something in your diet – wheat and dairy are the most common culprits. Eating as close to nature as possible (if you aren’t already) really helps!
Oh and as far as the henna goes, I haven’t done it in a while but I think I used to just use one packet, and that’s when my hair was long. I got your email with your pictures of your hair! It does look like you have the same texture and curl pattern as me! Have you checked out my curly hair section? Your hair has so much gorgeous curl hair potential!
Hi Sara,
Thank you so much for your reply – I really appreciate it! Ever since my last Seborrheic Dermatitis/Folliculitis flare up, I’ve been working on improving my health and gut health. I am now drinking more water with lemon, trying to eat more vegetables, walking with my fitbit, and taking probiotics. I’ve also discovered that my hair and scalp are very sensitive and they do not like certain kinds of products, they do not like strong clarifying kind of products (which I used to use often), and I can no longer wash my hair as often as I used to (Years ago I was told by a dermatologist I needed to wash my hair every day and another doctor told me never to use conditioner because my follicles would get clogged, I’d develop folliculitis, and then have to be put on antibiotics). So I bought this very gentle stuff from Moo Goo for people with sensitive skin and hair issues and I’ve been shampooing with their shampoo, conditioner, and using their protein shot about 2X a week and so far so good. My scalp is healing, is no longer red or breaking out, and these products are helping my very thick wavy hair be more healthy and my waves are popping. I am going to stick to this routine and hope my scalp and hair continue to improve. Thank you for all your help! Have a great day and talk soon! By the way, I am putting together a blog soon and hope you will come by and say hello. 🙂
Hi Maria! How’s the new routine been going for you? That’s wonderful that your scalp was healing and was no longer red and breaking out! Have you seen my Natural Remedies for Dry, Flaky Scalp? That might help, too. And this post on supplements for healthy skin and hair. These supplements have really helped my itchy skin and eczema. Best of luck with your new blog!