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Deep cleansing mud mask facial recipe with herbs and essential oils
  • Beauty

Deep Cleansing Mud Mask Recipe

Katie WellsSep 5, 2014Updated: Aug 27, 2019
Reading Time: 2 min

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Wellness Mama » Blog » Beauty » Deep Cleansing Mud Mask Recipe

Writing a book is stressful! It caused my first autoimmune flare in months and the first time I’ve had a skin breakout in years. I’m back on the autoimmune reset diet and my symptoms are all fading quickly, but to help speed up the skin healing, I’ve been doing my deep cleansing mud mask recipe (in fact, I have one on my face as I type this!).

I got a natural facial as a gift one time and it was so relaxing and my skin felt great for days. My budget doesn’t allow regular facials, so I wanted to find a good at-home option instead. This mask has been great for clearing up my stress-induced breakout and getting my skin back to normal.

Ingredients Needed

  • Bentonite Clay: I like to use this Essential Living Clay for external uses like facials. I’ve written before about the many benefits of healing clays, and bentonite is especially good at firming and detoxing the skin. It is also great for detoxing the hair and restoring natural volume and shine.
  • Honey: Another facial ingredient I love, honey is naturally soothing and cleansing. I often use honey alone to cleanse my face in the evening (I use the oil cleansing method in the morning) with great results. Raw honey is naturally antibacterial and is great for skin healing. It also adds a smooth and silky texture to the mask.
  • Herbs and Essential Oils: I put some chamomile flowers and calendula flowers in the blender to make a fine powder and add to the clay before mixing with the honey and water to add some extra skin nourishment. I also like to add a couple of drops of lavender essential oil for scent and skin health. If I don’t feel like powdering the herbs first, I just make a strong tea with them instead and use the liquid in place of water in the recipe below.

Mud Mask Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon of bentonite clay
  • 1 teaspoon raw honey
  • 1 teaspoon of water (or more if needed)
  • 1/2 tsp of powdered calendula and chamomile flowers (optional)
  • 2 drops of lavender essential oil (optional)

Mud Mask Instructions

  1. Mix the bentonite clay with the powdered herbs (if using) in a small bowl.
  2. Add honey and mix to form a thick paste.
  3. Add enough warm water to form a thin paste. Add lavender essential oil (if using).
  4. Immediately apply to face and neck in a circular motion, avoiding the eyes.
  5. Leave on 10-15 minutes or until it has hardened.
  6. Wash off with a (dark colored) wash cloth soaked in hot water (really hot water helps to steam off the mask without having to rub the skin).
  7. Pat skin dry and enjoy your smooth skin!

Ever made a mud mask at home? What did you use? Tell me below!

Category: Beauty

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

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Reader Interactions

Discussion (90 Comments)

  1. Vikki

    September 7, 2014 at 10:07 PM

    great info here TY

    Reply
  2. Carol

    September 7, 2014 at 2:44 PM

    Just a reminder: NEVER use metal when using clays, including bentonite clay. It destroys the clay’s effectiveness. No metal containers, no metal spoons or stirring utensils at all. Glass or plastic containers and utensils only.

    Just wondering: I have sodium bentonite clay from Mountain Rose Herbs (I have asked them to obtain the calcium also) but aside from the obvious (sodium/calcium), what is the difference? They look and feel exactly the same, but I know they aren’t…nor are they interchangeable, but why?

    Reply
    • Leah

      June 19, 2015 at 10:25 PM

      Too late in response? I was curious after reading the question and found this article

      http://empoweredsustenance.com/bentonite-clay-uses/

      It sort of explains the chemistry, basically sodium bentonite will draw out more toxins due to its stronger charge, while calcium is more likely to add minerals to your skin (weaker charge).

      You probably found the answer, too 🙂

      And yes! Rubber facial bowls only!

      Reply
  3. Kate

    September 7, 2014 at 1:28 PM

    How often do you do this treatment?

    Reply
    • Katie - Wellness Mama

      September 12, 2014 at 11:03 AM

      Once a week or more if needed

      Reply
  4. april

    September 7, 2014 at 8:31 AM

    Hi. Have you tried this with apple cider vinegar? Also, safe to use if pregnant? Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Katie - Wellness Mama

      September 12, 2014 at 11:04 AM

      Yes, and I have used while pregnant.

      Reply
  5. Shanie

    September 6, 2014 at 9:29 PM

    I have no idea where to get this bentonite clay from, I looked at numerous pharmacies in three different cities in Uruguay because I wanted to make your homemade toothpaste, I even found an English speaking dentist and asked her and she had never heard of it. Super annoying, I feel totally alone in my all natural, organic, homemade bubble sometimes.

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      September 7, 2014 at 10:05 AM

      Are you maybe able to find it online?

      Reply
    • Moriah Lee

      September 7, 2014 at 5:22 PM

      I was shocked when I read “bentonite clay”. My family has been using the stuff for over ten years to seal our pond. I don’t think it would be the exact same stuff as what you would put on your face, but even if it was, I don’t feel like buying a 50 pound bag to have around. Does anyone know where I can find some more suitable to what would be needed for facials? Thank you!!

      Reply
      • lyss

        September 10, 2014 at 1:57 PM

        She has a link to what she gets on Amazon. I get mine at bulkherbstore.com

        Reply
      • Katlin

        December 18, 2015 at 11:12 AM

        Be careful, this is not the same stuff. Make sure you are getting the food grade for your beauty products and not the stuff from the pool store. xoxo

        Reply
        • Mary Hobbins

          April 23, 2019 at 8:35 AM

          Hi Kaitlin! I bought my first jar of Bentonite clay at the Better Health Store. It says it is 100% pure, and is used for facial detox. But it gets all clumpy on my skin, which I don’t like. I’ve mixed it w/ACV (it wasn’t raw), but I had an adverse side effect. I tried mixing it w/a small amount of water, but it got lumpy. So I tried mixing it w/safflower oil and sugar, to make a sugar scrub, but there were still tiny lumps. Do any of these recipes have potential? And what is the typical consistency?

          Reply
      • Carol

        January 11, 2016 at 10:56 PM

        Calcium Bentonite clay, not sodium bentonite clay is to be used in beauty and health products. I’m betting the pool sealer is sodium bentonite clay.

        Reply
    • Terry

      May 27, 2015 at 1:22 PM

      If you have access to a computer you can order it on Amazon’s website. They have a large variety of bentonite clay from a variety of vendors.

      Reply
      • Elizabeth

        March 1, 2020 at 10:01 PM

        Instead of the chamomile flowers can I substitute chamomile essential oil? If so how much?

        Reply
    • Tonya

      May 20, 2016 at 9:37 PM

      Amazon is where I got mine.

      Reply
  6. Dani

    September 6, 2014 at 8:08 PM

    I usually use bentonite clay for my mud masks, but instead of using water I use a blend of water and raw apple cider vinegar.

    Reply
  7. Richard Granger

    September 6, 2014 at 5:38 PM

    I made a clay mud mask last night!
    I used:
    2tsp calcium bentonite clay
    1tsp activated charcoal powder
    2tsp of raw honey
    2tsp of Apple cider vinegar with “mother”
    1/2tsp of matcha green tea powder
    3 drops each of Rosemary, Clary Sage, and Tea Tree essential oil
    Mix it all together and leave on for a half hour. (The charcoal is a little messy so rinse it off away from fabric or carpet.)

    Reply
    • Carol Nicholson

      August 24, 2016 at 4:01 PM

      I will try this thanks x

      Reply
  8. Kristen

    September 6, 2014 at 1:00 PM

    Could you use liquid Bentonite clay in replace of power form? I really enjoy your website!

    Reply
  9. Joan

    September 6, 2014 at 9:22 AM

    For about 3 weeks I’ve been mixing bentonite clay with apple cider vinegar to form a thick paste. I leave it on for 20 min, then rinse it off in the shower. I apply it on my neck as well, and the little wrinkles I had are almost gone! For tge past 2 weeks I’ve included my eyelids and have noticed a dramatic lifting effect, which is great! Much love to you, Katie

    Reply
    • diane

      September 17, 2014 at 7:56 PM

      Can you please tell me the amounts as I burned my skin once with ACV.

      Reply
      • Mary Hobbins

        April 23, 2019 at 8:20 AM

        Diane, ACV had that effect on me, too! How did you resolve this?

        Reply
    • Teri

      November 23, 2014 at 7:39 PM

      Joan could you share your mask recipe? Thanks

      Reply
      • Rosaria

        January 17, 2015 at 1:18 PM

        Such recipe is written down on my bentonite clay box:
        Mix clay with equal parts of raw apple cider vinegar and/or water. Stir the mixture well to a smooth paste. Add more clay or liquid as needed. Apply to the face and let it dry for 5-10 minutes for delicate skin and 15-20 minutes for normal skin.

        Reply
    • Teresa

      February 8, 2015 at 1:33 PM

      How much apple cider vinegar to the clay? for necks and eyelids?
      Thanks

      Reply
    • Nina

      February 28, 2015 at 5:33 AM

      Have you ever had trouble with staining in your tub? I rinsed off clay once while showing and the floor of the tub is stained light grey! I’m in a rental and really want to leave the tub shiny white! Thoughts?

      Reply
      • Rachelle

        June 2, 2015 at 2:09 PM

        Hi Nina, I haven’t yet tried the following solution after Bentonite clay, but for normal usage for a home with five people, it has worked better than everything else (including my old favorite commercial cleaner, Top Job).

        Get a spray bottle, or reuse an old one. (I use an old Top Job spray bottle, or a commercial one that I bought at Sally’s Beauty Supply, which lasts longer than the cheap ones from the dollar stores.)

        Mix 3 parts white vinegar with 1 part blue Dawn Ultra dishwashing liquid. (It has to be blue Dawn! Some people do use regular blue Dawn instead of ultra, and mix it the vinegar and Dawn half-and-half instead.)

        Spray in your bathtub. It will smell awful. Sorry. But it works. I usually go do something else for a few minutes, although I’m not sure it’s necessary. Then I return with a regular yellow-and-green kitchen scrubber/sponge, which I have designated for bathroom use. Using the green scrubbing side of the sponge, I wipe the tub down and rinse. Works beautifully!

        Reply
      • maria

        June 18, 2017 at 5:54 PM

        Scrubbing with baking soda works. My kidz use charcoal mask that leaves a mess.

        Reply
  10. June Combs

    September 6, 2014 at 8:55 AM

    I have not made a mud mask. But I am using your recipe replacing the clay powder with cunamon and using it for an exfoliator. I will let u know if it works.

    Reply
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