A French Beauty Secret You Have to Try
By The Global Girl
Here are five easy ways to enjoy the benefits of Montmorillonite, a green clay from Montmorillon, a small town in the Poitou-Charentes region of western France. It’s a French beauty secret that they don’t mind sharing.
Montmorillonite is a green clay from Montmorillon, a small town in the Poitou-Charentes region of western France. It’s been mined in the region for hundreds of years and is sought for its healing and beauty benefits. Its exceptional absorbent powers make it especially effective in drawing out impurities from the skin and hair. Here are five easy ways to enjoy the benefits of this French cult beauty secret.
PURIFYING FACIAL MASK
Montmorillonite is fabulous at clearing up problem skin. Use this purifying facial mask weekly or daily on trouble spots.
* 1 tablespoon of French green clay
* 1 tablespoon of water
* 1 tablespoon of honey
* 5 drops of lavender essential oil
Place all the ingredients in a glass bowl and mix well using a wooden spoon (it’s preferable not to use metal utensils). Once you’ve achieved a smooth and creamy consistency, apply to your face and leave on until it dries. Rinse off with warm water and a washcloth.
FULL BODY DETOX BATH
French green clay is amazing at drawing out toxins and heavy metals from the body, so full immersion in a Montmorillonite mud bath is a deeply therapeutic treatment.
* 1 cup of French green clay
* 1 cup of pink Himalayan salt
* 5 drops of grapefruit essential oil
Pre-mix the clay with a few cups of warm water (this way, you won’t have big clumps of clay floating in your bath). Once you’ve achieved a smooth consistency, pour the mixture in your bath water and add the salt and essential oil. Soak in the mud bath for 20 to 30 minutes, then rinse off with a hot shower.
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CHEMICAL-FREE DEODORANT
This versatile clay also makes for a wonderful eco-friendly deodorant.
* 1 tablespoon of French green clay
* 1 tablespoon of baking soda
* 2 drops of cypress essential oil
* 2 drops of tea tree essential oil
Mix both powders in a glass bowl (or a resealable bag if you’re packing it on a trip), then add the essential oils. Mix well, cover the bowl and let the mixture dry for a few hours. Break up any clumps if they appear.
CLARIFYING HAIR MASK
Montmorillonite is a gentler alternative to traditional clarifying shampoos that can strip the hair of its natural oils and leave it overly dry.
* 1 cup of French green clay
* 1 cup of aloe vera juice
* ½ cup of apple cider vinegar
* 10 drops of peppermint essential oil
Place the Montmorillonite in a glass bowl and mix in the aloe vera juice and apple cider vinegar. Add the essential oils, then apply to wet hair starting at the roots. Work the clay through your hair until it’s entirely coated. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes (don’t let it dry) and rinse off.
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HOMEMADE TOOTHPASTE
And finally, it’s even possible to turn this miracle French clay into the healthiest toothpaste.
* 1 teaspoon of French green clay
* 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
* 1/2 teaspoon of liquid stevia (optional)
* 5 drops of wintergreen essential oil
Combine the coconut oil and baking soda in a glass bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well (using a wooden spoon). Store in a glass jar or squeezable plastic container and refrigerate.
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photo: © Ndoema/The Global Girl
