Kaolin: the ingredient that will help you have flawless skin

BeautyWhen we have oily skin we must resort to certain ingredients that help us control the excess oil. Kaolin is a highly effective one.

By Cecilia Suarez Olvera

If you have not heard of kaolin, but you have oily skin and you constantly have to worry about breakouts, blackheads or shiny areas in your daily life, then you should know about this ingredient that can save you a lot of bad times. It is also a basic that is already included in many of the products we use for aesthetic purposes.

In search of showing off healthy skin with beauty products, we can try many alternatives until we find what is best for our face, which tends to vary for many reasons, especially genetics. Clay masks, for example, have proven to be wonderful in this regard, and the importance lies in choosing the right one for each type.

By Marion Altamirano Alanis

Kaolin, also known as white clay, is the basis of many complementary acne treatments in the form of cleansers and masks for good reason: it is extremely effective in controlling excess oil, blackheads and excess shine . Consequently, it gives you healthy and smooth skin, hence its use can prevent some of the mistakes that cause you to get acne.

What is kaolin?

Kaolin is a type of white clay or magnesium silicate found in nature, a product of the decomposition of feldspathic stones. However, it can also be synthetically reproduced in laboratories. When it is used for aesthetic purposes, we can find it in a variety of cleaning products, makeup or medicines, since it gives them consistency and easy absorption.

It is also one of the most used clays on the skin because it is very kind to it without causing side effects. It adheres to sebum to remove excess impurities, ideal for people prone to breakouts and looking to control facial oil. The frequency of use may depend on each case depending on the patient and the product, but in general it is recommended to use it once a week, although it could be more.

"One of the most common ways we see it used is as a mask treatment for people with oily or breakout-prone skin," explains certified dermatologist Ranella Hirsch, who shares informative content on her Instagram account with her more than 100,000 followers, although it is also very practical in serums and formulas made for this purpose.

What are the benefits of kaolin?

Kaolin has the ability to bind to the bait effectively to absorb excess, as well as any moisture that may be on our skin. If the T-zone of your face is very shiny, it will also help to make it matte, as well as avoid blackheads by having the ability to dry them and give the face a smooth appearance. Its field of action is reduced and concentrated, but because it is extremely effective it is one of the essential ones.

How to use kaolin?

Although it is an ingredient that is considered safe among personal care products, it is recommended not to abuse its consumption to avoid dryness, so if you have very dehydrated skin, it may not be your best alternative to avoid contraindications. If you are going to use it as a mask, you only need to create a paste with the powder.

In a natural way you can make a mix with this white powder and a little water until you achieve a consistent mixture to apply it on the face for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse with plenty of water. There is also the possibility that you use other natural ingredients to create the paste, such as banana, yogurt or milk, depending on the consistency you prefer and your needs.