How to Use Clay in Bath and Beauty Projects

Clay is incredibly versatile. It’s probably most well-known for face masks, but it can be used in everything from cold process soap to scrubs. Find clays here, and learn how to work with them below!

Clay in cold process soap

Clay creates beautiful natural shades in cold process soap. It's easy to work with too - it just requires a little prep work. Because clay absorbs moisture, it needs to be dispersed in distilled water instead of oil.

We recommend a 1:3 ratio of clay to liquid. If you're working with smaller batches, 1 teaspoon of clay in 1 tablespoon of water is a good place to start. Then, add 1 dispersed teaspoon at a time at trace until you get a shade you're happy with.

Clay speeds up trace, so be prepared to work quickly. And like other natural colorants, we recommend forcing gel phase to create more vibrant shades.

Clay in face masks

If you have oily skin, you're going to love clay in face masks! It absorbs excess oil from the skin, so it feels clean and fresh. They work in both dry and wet scrubs. Start with 1 teaspoon per pound.

Even those with dry and combination skin benefit from clays. It's just a matter of adjusting the recipe to be more hydrating.

Clay in scrubs

Clays have a very fine texture, so they don't add much exfoliation to scrubs. However, they absorb excess oil from the skin and add a beautiful color.

You can use clays in dry and liquid soap/oil-based scrubs. How much you add depends on personal preference. Start with a teaspoon and go from there. If they settle as they sit, just give the scrub a good mix before use.