Thursday 28 Mar 2024

Multani mitti for skincare

Used extensively in beauty care, Fuller’s Earth or multani mitti is a natural clay that can absorb toxins and impurities, thus detoxifying the skin. Easily available, everyone can make these face packs at home. Just keep your skin type in mind and add the ingredients accordingly

| MAY 29, 2021, 10:06 PM IST
Multani mitti for skincare

Shahnaz Husain

Clays like multani mitti (Fuller’s Earth) has been used in beauty care and in treating ailments for centuries. Fuller’s Earth or multani mitti is natural clay and is used extensively in beauty care, even in homemade packs. It is mentioned in Ayurvedic texts and is said to balance all three ‘doshas’.

Clay is said to be beneficial for the skin and scalp due to its great capacity to absorb and its healing properties. It is said to reduce oiliness and absorb sebum, the skin’s natural oil. This helps prevent and control eruptions and acne conditions. 

Clays can also absorb toxins and impurities and thus detoxify the skin. In fact, they can be very relevant dealing with high levels of pollution in cities. 

Some clays have a cooling effect, while many are rich in minerals. Clays cleanse and refine the skin and also tone and tighten the skin, performing the functions of an ideal face mask. Another benefit is the nourishing effect, as they are rich in minerals.

Applying packs is an integral part of skin care, as it is an ideal way of preserving the good health and youthful qualities of the skin. Fuller’s Earth (multani mitti) is commonly used. It has a drying effect, so moisturizing ingredients like honey, aloe vera, fruit pulp, etc may be added to clay packs, especially if the skin is normal to dry.

Fuller’s Earth, or multani mitti is easily available. A natural clay, it is white or light beige in colour and contains several minerals. It is of particular benefit to oily skins, as it absorbs and reduces oiliness from the skin’s surface. It also refines the pores and tightens the skin. In fact, it helps acne and pimple prone skin and can be used along with sandalwood, neem, mint, etc. It becomes dry when applied on the skin, tightening the skin and serving the purpose of a useful face pack.

You can mix a pack at home, but keep your skin type in mind and add ingredients accordingly.

For oily skin

Mix Fuller’s Earth (multani mitti) with rose water into a paste and apply on the face, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off when it is dry.

For acne-prone skin

Mix Fuller’s Earth with sandalwood paste, rose water and neem leaf powder into a paste. Apply the same way and wash off when dry.

For acne marks

Mix Fuller’s Earth with one teaspoon lemon juice and rose water into a paste. Apply on the face. Wash it off when it is dry.

For normal to dry and normal to oily skin

Mix 1 teaspoon multani mitti with aloe vera gel into a paste. Apply on the face, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off after 15 minutes with plain water. If there is acne, add 2 drops of tea tree oil to the mixture.

For normal to dry skin

Mix 2 teaspoons of multani mitti with one teaspoon each of honey, yogurt and almond oil into a paste. Apply and remove the same way.

Mix 2 teaspoons multani mitti with 2 teaspoons rose water, half teaspoon pure glycerine and a pinch of turmeric; apply on oily, pimple prone skin and wash off when it dries, or after 15 minutes.

Activated charcoal for blackheads 

To discourage blackheads and reduce oiliness, mix one teaspoon each of Fuller’s Earth, baking soda and active charcoal. Add rose water or mineral water to make a paste. Apply on the face, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off after 15 minutes.



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