Be Gone Cellulite! Series – Clay Mask
Hey, hey! Erin here, back with another post in my much neglected (but apparently very popular) cellulite series here at Phyrra Beauty for the Bold. I’ve got a few more methods that claim to rid you of cellulite that I have to share and up now is the clay mask.
I don’t know where I read it, but someone somewhere on the internet (yup, I’m lookin’ at you girl) mentioned that a clay mask totally helped them smooth the dimples of cellulite. And within that article I read by that one person on that one site, it mentioned that Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay was the BEST for firming up and smoothing out. (Not sure what cellulite exactly is? Check out my first post!)
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay is “bentonite clay from Death Valley, California, where it is sun- dried for up to six months in temperatures that sometimes reach 134 degrees.” According to the mystery article, you mix the clay with water, apply to any area that has cellulite on it, let it dry, wash it off and you’re skin will be smoother and tighter, with visibly less cellulite. Sure. Instead, I decided to use apple cider vinegar, rather than water, to make the mask, per Aztec Secret’s site directions. I love love love Apple Cider Vinegar (yes, even the smell; I’m weird) and it’s added benefits (google ‘apple cider vinegar benefits’ to see its many uses), so after reading the Body Pack Mix directions, I gathered my ingredients, slapped it on… and two things happened.
Thing Number One:
I’m allergic to bentonite clay.
I know!? Right?! So random. After letting the mask dry and washing it off, my legs were bright red.
“It was probably the vinegar, Erin, duh…” you might say.
And I would reply…
I tried the mask again with the clay and water and got the same result: lobster legs. Having used masks with bentonite clay on my face in the past, I was confused. I’d never had this reaction, and my facial skin is way more sensitive. What I figure is that these ‘other’ masks use a lower concentration of bentonite, thus no reaction. And using straight up bentonite clay is apparently a no-no for my skin.
Thing Number Two:
My skin was tighter but the cellulite wasn’t reduced in any way.
Yup, that’s right. A clay mask did not rid me of cellulite. SHOCK! AWE! Not. I’m pretty positive most of you recognized this method as bull (and if not, sorry to disappoint). Sure, my skin was tighter, but that’s what happens when clay is applied and let to dry on it. Clay is a drying agent. It absorbs oils, water and dead skin as it hardens, thus the appearance of tighter, smoother skin.
Sadly, there is no way this method will EVER effect your cellulite. Those fat pockets are far too deep in your epidermis for the clay’s shrinking powers to ever reach. However! If you are going to the beach or pool or a night out in a short, short dress, and you want your legs or arms to wiggle a little less, this body pack recipe is perfect for a temporarily toning of flabby areas.
So that’s it folks. Clay isn’t a miracle cure for cellulite. It will clean the crap out of your pores, make your skin feel super taut and is fun to plop on (especially if you have kids that need a good scare), but it won’t do a damn good on your bumpy thighs.
Le sigh.
Coming up! Massage and oil: more than just a sexy past time? and I try out some creams that I know won’t work but want to try anyway because I am stubborn.
Erin, out.
Red means it was working dear. Plus u still have to massage the cellulite religiously and a little tip use castor oil to do it immediately after. It will penetrate deep into your skin and with the clay detox and massage the cellulite will start to soften and your body will begin to metabolize the fat or it may transfer the fat. Depends on how much water you drink and how little sugar yoi eat. Keep at it and you can always do a full fat yogurt mask after to clam the redness try adding lavender oil to the yogurt. It also helps smooth the area and plump your actual skin. 😉 good luck
Erin, when you evaluate a product and neglect to read the rather large print on the label that warns you that “Slight redness of the skin is normal and will disappear in about 30 mins.” End Quote… or fail to mention that fact to your readers, you are implying that you are unaware of the temporary reactions typical with the product, which discredits you as resource in product reviews or worse case scenario, you may mislead others, that may be experiencing normal reactions, into thinking that they are allergic to this product. Now, if you were, in fact, aware of that fact AND you what you experienced “exceeded” the scope of those stated, temporary, normal reactions, then that should have been articulated (made clear) to your readers. I, too, become very red (lobster if you will) when using this product, and my redness takes about 40 minutes to clear after use, rather than 30 mins. Another skin reaction that I experience, is this: once the clay dries completely & I start rinse my face to remove the clay, my face itches like crazy until the clay is gone. This doesn’t happen while it’s drying, only while rising. However, i do not have any other reactions, no rash, nothing… and my skin & face feels & looks amazing. I have been using this product for 10 years. I hope this encourages you to be more responsible when sharing with your audience. I want to see you do well. Blessings
You aren’t allergic. It says on the container it will cause redness due to blood circulating closer to the surface.