Indian Aztec Healing Clay: YAY or NAY?

I first heard of this "miracle" product several months back when I came across this obviously sponsored feature article on Facebook. Droves of people would line up outside this store in Manila eager to get their hands on this tub of healing clay powder, touted to be the world's most powerful facial, or so it claims.  This beauty junkie's curiosity was instantly piqued. Haha! I did my research by reading reviews and watching videos on anything and everything about Indian Aztec Healing Clay that I could find on the net and, there were a lot!

The more I learned about the product, the more excited I became in wanting to try it myself. I was able to purchase a tub at a Healthy Options store in Alabang for under six hundred pesos. I was worried that they wouldn't have it on stock because it was such on high demand and, it wasn't on their shelves. Turns out they keep all their stocks in a cabinet in the payment counter and, you just have to ask for it. Since then, I have been consistently using it once a week for more than eight months now. More than enough time for a product to produce results and, for me to evaluate if  it can deliver its promised benefits.  

A medium size tub sold in retail outlets contains one pound of clay powder that is supposedly good for 15 facials. I am only halfway through the product and, I've used it for more than twice that number so I'm still good for at least thirty more. Preparing the clay mask is fairly easy. You simply mix equal amounts of clay powder and your preferred solvent, either water or apple cider vinegar, then stir the mixture until you get a smooth paste. Add a little more liquid if necessary to get the desired consistency.

Apply the mask to the face, avoiding the eye and lip area and, leave it to dry for 5 to 20 minutes depending on your skin sensitivity. Two things to expect during and after application - pulsating sensation while the clay hardens and your skin begins to tighten and, slight redness after rinsing. I have only experienced that throbbing sensation maybe twice since I started using it so I don't know if that's a bad thing or not. As for redness, it is a normal skin reaction that should go away after several minutes. In my case, I didn't change my skincare routine so after my facial, I always still follow it up with toning and moisturizing. I read that this type of facial mask has the tendency to dry out your skin so don't skip your moisturizer. In place of my regular night moisturizer, however, I use my Nature Republic Aloe Vera gel because of its calming properties and cooling effect on the skin.

I tried using water and apple cider vinegar as solvent for comparison. Between the two, I find that it's easier to achieve a smoother paste with the vinegar. Using water to dissolve the clay powder can be quite tricky.  Removing the clay mask from your face is the bigger challenge, though. I made the mistake of washing my face in our bathroom sink and within weeks, we had a clogged drain. What I do now is to use a 'tabo' or dipper half filled with water to slowly rinse off the mask and, then I dump the dirty water on the toilet. I do this process about three or four times until my face is completely clean and there are no clay residues left. The clay + vinegar mixture dries up faster compared to the clay + water mixture which does not harden so you don't really feel that pulling and tightening sensation on your skin. Which is why washing it off your face can be a bit frustrating because it feels like thick cream that doesn't want to come off.  The smell of the apple cider vinegar is something that you need to get used to but I prefer it over water not just for reasons already mentioned but, also because its combination with the clay powder produces a more potent solution. 

Vinegar mixture (L) versus Water mixture (R)

So what is it exactly and will it live up to its hype? The main and only ingredient listed on its packaging is 100% Natural Calcium Bentonite Clay. It is an absorbent type of clay that is formed from aged volcanic ashes. Its unique composition can absorb negatively charged toxins and because of its ability to cleanse impurities from the skin it has become a popular ingredient in skincare products. With regular use, your skin is supposed to look and feel better because of what the product promises to do namely:

- unclog skin pores and shrinks them (from big pores to no pores)
- control overproduction of sebum (goodbye oily skin!)
- soften skin and give your face that 'glow' from within
- exfoliate and remove dead skin cells when mixed with apple cider vinegar
- reduce the appearance of scars
- give you an even skin tone 

My skin type is normal to dry. I never had problems with oiliness and, though I have small pores I do experience minor breakouts occasionally because of hormonal imbalance. When I started doing this clay mask facial, I had a few small bumps on my forehead which I was hoping this product would take care of. I waited for weeks for this product to amaze me and I even asked my son to use it himself . After months of continuous use, I did not see any visible dramatic change on my skin. The small bumps on my forehead were still there. A small pimple would still pop up here and there. I'd wake up to find that pimple still looking exactly the same as it did before my facial the night before. The slight discoloration on a tiny area on my left cheek because of a skin allergy from years ago did not lighten at all.     

This is not to say that the product is bogus. I so badly wanted it to do its job plus, I didn't want it to be a complete waste of money but, it just didn't work for me. As for my son, he used it a few times but he also didn't notice or feel any positive difference on his skin. Maybe it's more suitable for those with problematic skin conditions but, I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying out this product. What I would suggest is to look for legit sellers who repack and sell this in smaller sizes so you can test it out first. 

I'm happy that those pesky tiny bumps on my forehead are no longer there and, that spot on my right check has improved considerably, no thanks to this product. It took just a few days of use of this Korean snail essence to do what this product couldn't in several months. So if you'll ask me, I will continue using what's left of the product but, I will definitely NOT repurchase. It didn't break me out or made my skin worse so, I will just treat it as a regular deep cleanser. Yes, I am disappointed but hey, that's how it goes with skincare. Each person's skin is unique and so, you have to be prepared to go through a few "trials and errors", hopefully with no major or permanent damage to your skin, in that quest to find your own Holy Grail, the one that's perfect for you.