DIY Sea Clay Face Mask

 January 11, 2017  Filed Under: Bath & Body Tutorials, Lotion 

Sea clay is a classic ingredient for facial masks. It originates from mud laid under the sea millions of years ago and has a grayish green color. Sea clay has great absorption properties, which makes it perfect for oily skin. This Sea Clay Face Mask was specifically formulated for oily skin with a combination of kaolin clay and sea clay. Tea tree essential oil gives the mask a fresh scent.

Because this mask contains plenty of clay, it has a nice  thick texture. It also dries on the skin after about 10-15 minutes, giving you that classic “dry” clay mask feeling. You know the one! If you’d like to tweak this recipe for more normal or combination skin, you can decrease the amount of sea clay to 1-2 ounces. If you decrease the amount of clay, it may take a little longer to dry on the skin.

If you have extremely sensitive skin, tea tree essential oil sitting on the skin for 10-15 minutes could be a little irritating. If you’re concerned, you can omit it completely from the recipe. You can also switch out the extract for another if you prefer.

A few notes about recipe substitutions and changes:

• Polawax Emulsifying Wax is a highly reliable and strong emulsifier. It could be substituted for the generic version, Emulsifying Wax, if you prefer, although this recipe was not tested with Emulsifying Wax. Due to the clay in the recipe, we splurged and used Polawax Emulsifying Wax to avoid any chance of separation.
• This recipe calls for avocado and hazelnut oil. Other oils can be used instead if you prefer; we recommend staying with liquid oils that absorb easily into the skin. Changing the total amount of oil in the recipe will change the overall texture of the mask.
• Because this recipe is essentially a lotion and contains a large amount of water, a preservative is necessary to avoid mold and bacteria growth. We chose Optiphen, but other water soluble preservatives will work. Learn more about preservatives here.
• Decrease the total amount of clay if you want it to be better suited for dry skin. Decreasing the amount of clay may create a thinner product.
• If you prefer to use different clays, feel free to swap them. Clays have different absorbing properties, which will affect how it feels on the skin. Learn which clay is right for your skin.
• If you have very sensitive skin, fragrance and essential oils can be irritating. Omit from the recipe if you prefer.
• Ginseng extract can be substituted with a different extract if you prefer.

What You’ll Need:
Four Short 8 oz. Bail Jars
21.4 oz. Distilled Water
1 oz. Hazelnut Oil
1.3 oz. Avocado Oil
1 oz. Polawax Emulsifying Wax
0.8 oz. BTMS-50 Conditioning Emulsifier
4 oz. Kaolin Clay
4 oz. Sea Clay
2 mL Tea Tree Essential Oil
0.5 oz. Ginseng Extract
0.2 oz Optiphen
Clay Mask Template – Free Downloadable PDF

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Find the supplies you need for this project below

8 oz. Short Bail JarAvocado OilHazelnut OilPolawax Emulsifying WacBTMS-50 Conditioning EmulsifierKaolin ClaySea ClayGinseng ExtractTea Tree Essential OilOptiphenClay Mask Template – Free Downloadable PDF

EQUIPMENT PREP: Disinfect your utensils by dipping them in a 5% bleach water solution and allowing to dry. This includes mixing containers, your stick blender, and any spoons or spatulas that may come in contact with your mask. Your products must be as free of germs, bacteria, and microbes as possible. To be safe, bleach water all your utensils.

CLAY PREP: In a small container, measure 4 ounces of kaolin clay and 4 ounce of sea clay. You can add them to the same container.

ONE: In a heat-safe container, combine the avocado oil, hazelnut oil, BTMS-50 and Polawax. Heat the container in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts until the waxes have fully melted. Be careful when removing the container, as it will be quite hot. Set aside.

TWO: In a separate large container, heat the distilled water in the microwave (or on the stove top) until it reaches about 160-170 ° F. Once the water reaches the correct temperature, some of it may evaporate. Remeasure and add more distilled water if necessary until you have 21.4 ounces of hot water.

THREE: Check the temperatures of both containers. Each container should be about 160° -180° F. If the oil and wax has cooled, place back into the microwave until fully melted. Place the stick blender into the water, and burp it to help get rid of bubbles. Pour the oil and wax mixture into the water and use a spatula to make sure every little bit is added. Begin pulsing the stick blender. The mixture will take on a “milky” appearance once the water, oil and waxes have begun to emulsify. Continue to pulse and stir for about a minute.

FOUR: Begin adding heaping spoonfuls of the kaolin clay and sea clay and pulsing the stick blender until combined. Continue adding the clay to the mixture and blending in small amounts until all the clay is added.

FIVE: Continue stick blending for about one to two minutes. Use a spatula to scrape down any clay that may be on the sides of the bowl. Check the temperature of the mixture. Once the mixture is about 130-140°F, add the Optiphen, tea tree essential oil and ginseng extract. Stick blend (don’t forget to burp the stick blender!) the ingredients in until fully mixed.

SIX:  Continue to stick blend for several more minutes, just to make sure the ingredients are fully emulsified.

SEVEN: Pour the mixture into the bail jars. If you find you have a lot of bubbles on the top, you can spritz the top of the containers with 99% isopropyl alcohol to help get rid of some of them. Allow the containers to cool for several hours with the lid open to avoid condensation. Once fully cooled, the mixture will be a thick, lotion-like texture.

To use, apply a medium layer to dry, clean skin. Avoid the immediate eye area. Allow the mask to sit on the skin for about 10-15 minutes; after this time, it will begin to dry. Use warm water to rinse off. There is no need to wash the skin after, but you can if you prefer.

4.8 from 12 reviewsDIY Sea Clay Face Mask PrintPrep time10 minsCook time20 minsTotal time30 minsThis Sea Clay Mask is formulated for oil skin, with hazelnut oil and tea tree essential oil.Author: Soap QueenServes: Four 8 oz. JarsIngredients

• Four Short 8 oz. Bail Jars
• 21.4 oz. Distilled Water
• 1 oz. Hazelnut Oil
• 1.3 oz. Avocado Oil
• 1 oz. Polawax Emulsifying Wax
• 0.8 oz. BTMS-50 Conditioning Emulsifier
• 4 oz. Kaolin Clay
• 4 oz. Sea Clay
• 2 mL Tea Tree Essential Oil
• 0.5 oz. Ginseng Extract
• 0.2 oz Optiphen

InstructionsEQUIPMENT PREP: Disinfect your utensils by dipping them in a 5% bleach water solution and allowing to dry. This includes mixing containers, your stick blender, and any spoons or spatulas that may come in contact with your mask. Your products must be as free of germs, bacteria, and microbes as possible. To be safe, bleach water all your utensils.

CLAY PREP: In a small container, measure 4 ounces of kaolin clay and 4 ounce of sea clay. You can add them to the same container

1. In a heat-safe container, combine the avocado oil, hazelnut oil, BTMS-50 and Polawax. Heat the container in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts until the waxes have fully melted. Be careful when removing the container, as it will be quite hot. Set aside.
2. In a separate large container, heat the distilled water in the microwave (or on the stove top) until it reaches about 160-170 ° F. Once the water reaches the correct temperature, some of it may evaporate. Remeasure and add more distilled water if necessary until you have 21.4 ounces of hot water.
3. Check the temperatures of both containers. Each container should be about 160° -180° F. If the oil and wax has cooled, place back into the microwave until fully melted. Place the stick blender into the water, and burp it to help get rid of bubbles. Pour the oil and wax mixture into the water and use a spatula to make sure every little bit is added. Begin pulsing the stick blender. The mixture will take on a “milky” appearance once the water, oil and waxes have begun to emulsify. Continue to pulse and stir for about a minute.
4. Begin adding heaping spoonfuls of the kaolin clay and sea clay and pulsing the stick blender until combined. Continue adding the clay to the mixture and blending in small amounts until all the clay is added.
5. Continue stick blending for about one to two minutes. Use a spatula to scrape down any clay that may be on the sides of the bowl. Check the temperature of the mixture. Once the mixture is about 130-140°F, add the optiphen, tea tree essential oil and ginseng extract. Stick blend (don’t forget to burp the stick blender!) the ingredients in until fully mixed.
6. Continue to stick blend for several more minutes, just to make sure the ingredients are fully emulsified.
7. Pour the mixture into the bail jars. If you find you have a lot of bubbles on the top, you can spritz the top of the containers with 99% isopropyl alcohol to help get rid of some of them. Allow the containers to cool for several hours with the lid open to avoid condensation. Once fully cooled, the mixture will be a thick, lotion-like texture.
8. To use, apply a medium layer to dry, clean skin. Avoid the immediate eye area. Allow the mask to sit on the skin for about 10-15 minutes; after this time, it will begin to dry. Use warm water to rinse off. There is no need to wash the skin after, but you can if you prefer.