Updated: 2/4/16
Clay in handcrafted soap is beneficial on several levels. Used in shaving soaps it gives the soap "slip", meaning it helps the razor to glide or slip over the skin smoothly. Used in daily use soap, it makes a lovely complextion bar, and all over body soap. The various types of clay add different properties and natural color to your soap as well.
Bentonite clay is an affordable, easy to find clay, with many awesome uses. A light greenish color, bordering on grey, clay. The largest deposits being mined in Wyoming and Montana, USA. It's greatest property is it's ability to absorb toxins and impurities. Hence, it makes a lovely complexion bar that gently cleanses skin, is highly absorbent and good for oily, or acne prone skin.
Adding
Bentonite makes a silky, creamy feel to the soap. Pictured below is a soap I made with Bentonite clay, oatmeal, tea tree and rosemary.
Left: Bentonite clay
Right:
Kaolin clay
Rhassoul clay is a highly prized spa favorite all over the world. Only found in the beautiful Atlas Mountains of eastern Morocco, this reddish brown clay, makes the soap a light brown with specks. History shows it has been used for over 1400 years as a soap and skin conditioner. It contains higher percentages of magnesium, potassium and calcium than other clays which make it desirable additive to any skin care line. Rhassoul has been known to reduce dry and flakiness in skin, improving the skins natural elasticity. clarity, and tone, as well as absorb toxins.
Suitable for all skin types. Pictured below is a soap I made with Rhassoul clay, calendula tea and orange essential oil.
French Green Clay, soft green in color, is made up of healing volcanic ash that is full of important minerals. It is very effective in deep cleansing, and as with all clays is a natural de-toxifier as it absorbs and pulls out toxins deep within the skin cells. This helps to rejuvenate, tone and brighten the skin. This is another great shaving soap, as it makes a dense creamy lather with nice "slip". Suitable for oily skin. Below is another Bentonite clay soap, with rosemary and lavender.
HOW TO ADD CLAY TO YOUR SOAP
1-2 Teaspoons of clay per pound of oils, ( I used 2 tsp)
Here are several methods:
1) Once your oils are melted, take out a few Tablespoons of oil and stir your clay into it. Mix well so there are no clumps, then add clay/oil back into your melted oils. Stir. Add your lye/water and proceed as normal.
2)Another method is to add your clay directly into your melted oils and stick blend them in. I have seen little clumps this way, so be sure you stick blend well and fully disperse the clay.
Then add your lye/water and proceed as normal.
3) At trace you can add clay in and stick blend until no clumps. I find this to be the easiest method and the one that I usually do.
Clay can be added in Hot Process and Cold Process soap methods.
Be sure and use cosmetic grade clay!
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO WITH YOUR CLAYS that you bought to make soap with?
Clay and Herb Mask recipe:
2 parts clay
1 part finely ground herb, oats, and/or tea (I grind mine into a powder in a coffee bean grinder)
Hydrate this mix with water or tea, apply to skin in circular motions, leave on 10 mins. Rinse off.
Note: use wooden or plastic utensils when working with bentonite clay due to it's natural components and the reaction to metals.
According to Mountain Rose Herbs:
Bentonite is very unusual in the fact that once it becomes hydrated, the electrical and molecular components of the clay rapidly change and produce an “electrical charge”… When it becomes mixed with water it rapidly swells open like a highly porous sponge. From here the toxins are drawn into the sponge through electrical attraction and once there, they are bound.
Clay facial
1 part clay
2 parts liquid, adding more if it's still too dry. You can use water for normal to oily skin,
or milk for normal to combination skin.
optional: melt a little honey and add
Smooth on, leave on for 10 mins and rinse. Using a warm, wet washcloth works best.
Then splash face with cool water.
