Rich in iron, magnesium, and calcium, bentonite clay comes from volcanic ash. The Indian Healing Clay Deep Pore Cleansing Face & Body Mask is a popular bentonite clay brand.
If you have combination skin and don’t want to overdo it, you can use it as a spot treatment. Since it’s anti-inflammatory, bentonite clay can also help soothe the skin.
It also helps with cell turnover, which is the “process of shedding dead skin cells to replace existing skin cells,” board-certified dermatologist Annie Gonzalez told Real Simple.
“While it has absorbent properties and can help to remove impurities [...] bentonite clay does not filter toxins,” dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, explained to Allure.
The best way to use bentonite clay is by mixing it with apple cider vinegar or water to create a paste and leaving it on for 10-20 minutes before rinsing.
It’s worth noting that bentonite clay comes in two different formulas. You should only use calcium bentonite clay as the sodium variant is meant to be used for industrial purposes.