Skin Clays Product Focus – Healing African Clay Face Mask

Happy 2016! The December holidays have sadly come to an end, which for the majority of us, means that it’s time to head back to school and work. If you’ve done your best to enjoy the break, you’re probably experiencing some degree of post-overindulgence distress (and most definitely being too hard on yourself!).

We all know that drinking and eating excessively has a bad impact on our bodies, but we often forget about what it does to the skin. Add a little over exposure of sun, and you’re complexion’s not looking too great.

Not to worry… If the extravagance of the holidays has left you either physically or emotionally damaged in any way, we have just the cure for a little well deserved self-pampering: Skin Clays’ Healing African Clay Face Mask for beautiful skin.

Working Through The Power Of Nature

Skin Clays’ Healing African Clay Face Mask is made from a carefully selected list of botanicals and minerals featuring: seaweed, buchu, chamomile, aloe vera, and Bentonite clay. The mask deeply cleanses your skin to remove impurities while pumping positive minerals back into your skin to restore its natural smoothness and radiance. Let’s take a deeper look at how these ingredients work…

Seaweed

Oceanic plants, such as seaweed, contain powerful vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants that have the power to revitalise our skin, hair, and overall health. On top of these amazing benefits, seaweed promotes the regeneration of cells and is even believed to have an anti-ageing effect.

At Skin Clays we use green seaweed (algae) which contains 14 vitamins including vitamin B12 (not found in land plants) and vitamin E. Green seaweed also contains a complete set of isomers found only in seed oils such as wheat germ oil.

Green seaweed balances the skin’s moisture content, increases surface hydration, provides suppleness to the epidermis and soothes the skin.

Buchu

An extra special, locally sourced ingredient, buchu tincture, has antiseptic, anti-bacterial, ati-inflammatory, anti-allergenic and anti-irritant properties. Like seaweed, it promotes an even skin tone and reduces excessive oiliness on skin. Buchu also does wonders on oily hair!

Chamomile

Chamomile has a deeply calming effect on the skin. It contains Bisabolol which gives it its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-irritant, anti-fungal and non-allergenic properties.

Aloe Ferox Gel

Another locally sourced ingredient, Aloe Ferox Gel, is famous for treating sunburn. In addition to this, it acts as an excellent moisturizer, acne cure, anti-aging serum, and reduces the visibility of stretch marks.

Bentonite Clay

The highly celebrated ingredient in our Healing African Clay Face Mask, is locally sourced, Bentonite clay. The clay has been selected especially for our acne or problem skin care ranges. Bentonite clay’s powerful cleansing action, decongests the skin while its high concentration of minerals, heals and restores your skin’s natural smoothness.

How To Use The Healing African Clay Mask – Try It & See Amazing Results!

Apply a thin layer of the Healing African Clay Mask evenly onto your face and neck (take care to avoid your eyes). Leave the mask on for 10 – 15 minutes, until it starts to dry. If necessary, keep the mask moist, because the clay is active when wet. Rinse the mask off thoroughly with warm water. The Healing African Clay Mask is recommended to be used once or twice a week. For more tips about using face masks, check out our blog: “How to Apply a Face Mask – the Right Way”.

Thank you for following the Skin Clays blog. We wish everyone a wonderful 2016 full of prosperity and happiness!

INTRODUCING SKIN CLAYS TRAVEL BAGS

We are proud to announce a new addition to our product range: Skin Clays Travel Bags! Made from only the finest clays and botanicals, the range includes the most popular Skin Clays products, perfectly sized for travel. Take the power of Mother Nature and the experience of pure indulgence with you no matter where you are. These products make perfect gifts and are especially great presents with a local edge for visitors from abroad. Add these to your stocking filler shopping list this festive season…

WHAT’S INSIDE?

Priced at a mere R195 per bag, each travel set contains a luxurious shampoo and conditioner, in addition to a travel sized bottle of both our iconic skin cream, and liquid soap for the full Skin Clays experience. The new Skin Clays Travel Bags are available in the following ranges.

FOR HER

– Detoxifying Green Clay with Lemongrass & Juniper

The Detoxifying Green Clay range is specially formulated for all skin types. The range contains a high concentration of minerals, which detoxifies and nourishes your skin to restore its natural radiance. With fresh scents of lemongrass and juniper, this range rejuvenates the senses giving you a refreshing boost. The Detoxifying Green Clay with Lemongrass & Juniper travel set, as with the other ranges, contains a shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, and skin cream for the girl on the go.

– Balancing Beige Clay with Ylang Ylang & Coconut

The Balancing Beige Clay range works perfectly on young and oily skin. Beige Clay with its drawing action, detoxifies and balances your skin, uncovering its natural glow. This special travel bag contains a Skin Clays Balancing Beige Skin Cream and Liquid Soap. If you love the scent of coconut in cosmetics this is the range for you! Check out our blog on the wonders of coconut oil for more on the benefits of coconut for skin.

– Hydrating Rose Clay with Rose Geranium & Lemon Verbena

The gently formulated Hydrating Rose Clay range is suitable for sensitive or more mature skin. Rose clay has a gentle toning effect on the skin while hydrating and firming it to restore your youthful elasticity. View more on the Hydrating Rose Clay with Rose Geranium & Lemon Verbena range.

FOR HIM

– Detoxifying Green Clay Ocean Breeze

A special new addition to the Skin Clays offering, formulated just for him, the Ocean Breeze Travel Bag contains a Post Shave Balm and Ocean Breeze Liquid Soap. Along with a fresh shampoo and conditioner set, this toiletries set is a convenient addition to the frequently traveling man’s bathroom essentials.

AVAILABLE FOR CORPORATE GIFTING

FYI: Please get in touch with Karen Vosloo to have your company name and logo printed on these fantastic products for corporate gifting. We also do bulk orders for hotels, spas, and other hospitality businesses.

LIKE THE PRODUCTS ON THEIR OWN?

The travel bags are for sale separately without the travel ranges. You can add your favourite products to the bag to make up a unique gift!

 

How To Apply A Clay Mask – The Right Way

If you are inclined to problem skin, such acne or over oiliness, clay masks are a must-have. Not only do clay masks provide you with a deep pore cleanse, they’re fun and easy to use, and give you a sense of ‘spa’ and self-pampering in the comforts of your home.

Because clay is natural, it is suitable for most skin types and ages. In our past blog: “6 Jobs Your Skin Is Doing For You And Why You Should Protect It!”, we explain how the skin works like a sponge, and  why it’s important to choose your face products selectively, sticking to natural products where possible.

The biggest misconception around the clay face mask is that you can apply one all over your face, have a glass of wine while you wait for it to dry to a hardened shell, and rinse. Clay is a powerful and magical natural resource that should be used correctly if you would like to attain its maximum effect on your skin.

You should never let a clay mask dry fully. In the diagram below, clay’s process of cleansing, detoxifying, and nourishing is explained.

How Do Clay Masks Work?

View further information on our ingredients: clays and botanicals.

Phase 1

There’s the damp phase where your skin drinks in the beneficial minerals from the skin.

Phase 2

Then you have the start of the dry phase, which exercises your capillaries and stimulates blood flow as the mask cools and contracts. At the same time the clay acts like a magnet to draw out deep-rooted impurities from your skin.

Phase 3

Next, it’s important to time the third and final phase of the clay mask right. When the clay starts to dry it draws out moisture from the surface of your skin, along with the impurities. Leaving the mask on too long, allowing it to crack and dry completely, will cause dehydration and irritation. Not only does skin then feel dry, tight, and sometimes itchy, but when you counteract it by slathering on extra face cream, you’re just smothering your freshly cleansed skin.

The best way to use a clay mask to receive the optimal benefits it has to offer, is to apply a thin layer evenly onto cleansed face and neck, avoiding eyes. Let it sit on your skin and do its work for 10 – 15 minutes, until slightly dry. If necessary, keep the mask moist by sprinkling extra water on your face as the clay is active when wet. When 10 -15 minutes have passed, rinse off the clay mask thoroughly, but gently with warm water.

How often should you use a clay mask? Dermatologists recommend a frequency of once to two times a week. Those who rush through the clay mask’s process, might find that they need to use clay face masks more frequently, whereas if it is done the right way you only need to use it about once or twice a week as recommended.

So the next time you use a clay mask, don’t wait for it to reach the flaky stage before you start rinsing. Do the touch test: When you start to see it drying (which usually means it gets lighter in colour) but it still feels a bit sticky, it’s time to wash it off—so it doesn’t suck the life out of your skin.

Skin Clays – Clay Face Masks To Try This Week

Hydrating Rose Clay Face Mask with Rosehip Powder, Aloe and Rose Oil

Delicately formulated for sensitive and mature skin, this smooth Rose Clay with its gentle toning action hydrates and firms your skin, restoring your youthful elasticity.

Healing African Clay Face Mask with Buchu, Cape Chamomile and Aloe

Sourced in South Africa, the Healing Bentonite Clay range has been specially formulated for acne and problem skin. Its deep cleansing action and high concentration of minerals, decongests and heals your skin, restoring your natural smoothness.

The Wonders of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is known for a number of things, including being a highly nutritious cooking ingredient, a hair tonic, a excellent massage oil, and moisturiser for the skin. In tropical parts of the world, where coconuts are widely available, locals commonly spread coconut oil on their skin, due to the belief that it protects the skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
Is it true that this natural oil, without any additives, can protect the skin in some of the hottest and sunniest places on earth better than processed and artificial creams? In our latest blog we explore the composition of coconut oil, explain why it is such a wonderful botanical, and why nature knows how to take care of us best!

Saturated Fats

Coconut oil is high in saturated fats. Due to the presence of these fats, coconut oil retains the moisture content of the skin. When regularly consumed, coconut oil deposits fats under the skin, keeping it healthy and smooth, giving it an even tone.

Capric, Caprylic, & Lauric Acid

These three fatty acids have strong disinfectant and antimicrobial properties. When applied to your skin, coconut oil protects your body against microbial infections that can get into open wounds or even enter your body through your skin’s pores.

Vitamin-E

Vitamin E is essential for healthy skin growth and repair of the skin. Above all, it prevents premature aging and wrinkling of the skin, since it has good antioxidant properties.

Proteins

Coconut oil is rich in many proteins. These proteins keep the skin healthy and rejuvenated, both internally and externally. Proteins, along with vitamin E contribute to cellular health and tissue repair, along with a wide range of other essential activities within the body.

 

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Uses of Coconut Oil for Skin Care

1. Skin Softener

Coconut oil is a great skin softener and helps you do away with dry and hard skin conditions. Coconut oil is also good for hardened and cracked feet.

2. All-Over Body Moisturiser

Coconut oil is a perfect all-natural, whole body moisturiser that will significantly help reduce the chemical load on your body. It’s also great for during pregnancy to avoid stretch marks.

3. Skin Disorders

Coconut oil is excellent remedy for a number skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema. Because of coconut oil’s protein content, the replacement of sick or dying cells that can occur with various skin disorders, are quickly replaced by new, healthy cells.  Coconut oil therefore not only treats the infection by battling the microbial bodies, it also heals the damage or visible marks of the particular skin disorder.

4. Natural Body Scrub

Coconut gives the skin a good polish and deep moisturising treatment at the same time. Coconut oil, in combination with natural abrasive ingredients, scrapes off excess dead skin and cleans out whatever substances have blocked the skin’s pores without leaving the skin feeling irritated.

Other Uses (In Pure Form)

Apart from all the amazing functions coconut oil holds, it can also be used up as a natural makeup remover, cuticle oil, lip balm, eye cream, shaving cream, moisturising bath oil, and conditioning hair treatment!

Why Skin Clays Uses Coconut Oil

Now is the time to start thinking of your skin as your second mouth. If you wouldn’t eat the product, perhaps you shouldn’t put it on your body? Your skin is your largest organ and many of the products (or chemicals) we smear all over ourselves, get absorbed straight through our skins, and sometimes into our bloodstreams – this puts an enormous toll on our skins.

If you’re interested in seeing the benefits of coconut oil on the skin, add the Skin Clays Balancing Beige Clay range to your cleansing and skin regime this month and let us know how about your experience!

[The image indicates sale prices valid until 31 July 2015]

 

How to Shop Online at Skinclays.co.za

Shopping online can be daunting if you’re a first timer! The team at Skin Clays have set up a quick step-for-step guide to show you how you can easily purchase your favourite Skin Clays products online from our newly launched site. We hope you find this helpful.

Step 1: Shop by Clay or Shop by Range

The first step is to browse the site to find the product you would like to purchase. You can either shop by clay range (Balancing Beige Clay, Hydrating Rose Clay, Detoxifying Green Clay, Healing African Clay) or by range type (Skin Care, Bath and Body, or Lifestyle and Gifts).

Depending on the range or clay range you have selected, you will be directed to a page like the one below.

Step 2: Select Your Product

Once you have decided what product you want to purchase you can click on the specific product.

Step 3: Add to Cart

Next, Click “add to cart” to add the product to your “shopping basket” or “shopping cart”.

Step 4: Proceed to Checkout

If you can see the message “successfully added to basket”, you’re on the right track. If you would like to finish your purchase, you can click on the “check out now button”. Alternatively, you can continue shopping and add additional products to your basket by repeating the process up until now.

If you would like the view the products in your baskets click on “cart”.

Once you have clicked on either “check out now” or “cart”, you will be diverted to the page shown below. If you would like to continue shopping, click “Keep Browsing Shop”.

Step 5: Check Out

If you are ready to check out, click on “Next. 2: Your details”.

Step 6: Complete Your Details

Once you have entered your details and selected your delivery/ collection option, tick the accept terms, and conditions box, and click on “Next: 3. Order summary”.

Step 7: Complete Payment

In the last step, you are required to complete the payment. Once this has been done, your order has been successfully placed.

It’s as simple as that! Please consider our payment, delivery, collection, and returns information below before making your purchase to ensure that you have everything you need to receive your goods in good order.

Payment Options

Skin Clays accepts payment with PayFast and EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer). Note that you are not obliged to have a PayFast account to pay by credit card.

All Skin Clays product prices are in ZAR (South African Rands) and exclude shipping costs.

Delivery

We send orders throughout South Africa & Internationally. We cannot deliver to a PO Box and will need a physical address for all shipping within South Africa. The payment must be made before the order can be processed and manufactured. Costs are as follows:

National – door to door: R70
National Overnight – door to door: R120
International – door to door: R150

Collections

Orders can also be collected from:

4 Flamingo Close Rosendal Durbanville. Please phone 083 264 9498 to make an appointment for collection.

Returns

We sell all of our products with a Satisfaction Guarantee to ensure that you are completely satisfied with your purchases.

Should there be a problem with your purchase, please make sure that you notify us within 7 days of receipt of your parcel. Damaged goods will be either replaced or refunded.

You are responsible for postage costs of returning the item. We recommend using registered mail to return items, as we are not liable for any items lost in the post. If for some reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, you may return the item at your expense. On receipt of the goods we will refund.

You can view information on our payment options, delivery and return online on our Customer Care page. View the terms of using our website here.

We hope you found this guide helpful. If you have any issues during your online shopping experience, feel free to contact us.

Skin Clays Winter Sale

We’re running a limited winter sale, shop online at Skinclays.co.za until the 31^st of July 2015 and receive 20% off your purchase!

6 Jobs Your Skin Is Doing For You And Why You Should Protect It!

Your skin, the largest organ, of your body has a very important role to play. It serves as your body’s first defensive barrier and protects you against environmental hazards.  However, your skin performs a host of more sophisticated functions, all of which are designed to help keep your body working fluidly.

“The skin of an average adult has a surface area of over 21 square feet and accounts for 6% to 10% of your body weight, edging out the liver, your body’s second-largest organ, which accounts for approximately 2.5% of your body weight.” – National Geographic Science

Here’s a list of your skin’s top 6 jobs, and suggestions of how you can take better care of it:

1. Natural Guard

Your skin acts as a natural guard that provides a protective barrier against harmful environmental invaders like germs and UV radiation.  The skin’s acid mantle in particular plays a very important role in preventing bacteria from attacking our skin and causing infection. The skin’s ability to “tan” (increased melanin production) is a system designed to protect us from UV radiation.

Firstly it’s important to cleanse daily, to wash away dirt, excess oil, and makeup (from facial skin). Use a Gentle cleanser, and scrub or mask 1-2 times a week (we recommend Skin Clays Hydrating Rose Clay Face Mask or Skin Clays Healing African Clay Face Exfoliant).  Secondly, it’s important to moisturize daily to prevent dry skin, which can compromise the skin’s acid mantle and natural barrier guarding function. Lastly, a broad spectrum sunscreen is critical to preventing premature skin aging due to overexposure to UV radiation.

2. Raincoat (Barrier to Water)

Healthy skin cells need water, yet if the surface of our skin (and the walls of our skin cells themselves) did not have built in “waterproofing”, all the water in our skin would evaporate and cause our skin cells to die.  How does the skin waterproof itself? The outermost layer of skin (called the stratum corneum) is made up of keratin, which bonds with oils rather than water. Thus the outermost layer of the skin needs a healthy balance of oil levels to protect itself.

After bathing, the waterproofing effect of your skin is somewhat compromised, especially when soaps or other cleansers are used.  Because of this, your skin can feel tight when it begins to dry.  Moisturise with Skin Clays Balancing Beige Clay Skin Cream straight after your shower or bath to lock in the moisture your skin needs. Balancing Beige Clay Skin Cream is an excellent everyday moisturiser because it assists in restoring the natural oil levels of your skin, while detoxifying the skin. This means you are left with wonderfully soft skin, that’s not over oily. 

3. Sponge (Absorbs)

While the outermost layer of skin is designed to repel water, it can also selectively absorb oily substances that are small enough to penetrate in between the cells.  Technically speaking, the keratin creates a semi-porous membrane.  This is why patches of some medications work as a delivery system.

To keep your skin (and body) healthy, make sure that you’re using products that have nutritious, safe ingredients you want your skin to absorb, and nothing that you do not want to absorb.  Choose natural and organic products which have plant-based antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients (Skin Clays Healing African Clay Balm contains baobab and buchu -both are natural anti-inflammatories).  Apply treatment products and moisturizers after cleansing, applying a warm towel or using a toner.  This will swell the outermost layer of the skin slightly, therefore increasing the rate of absorption.

4. Manufacturing Plant (Synthesizes Chemicals)

Your skin is constantly processing complex chemical reactions to keep cells regenerating, repairing damage and even converting sunlight into Vitamin D.

Choose skin care products with active ingredients that stimulate skin cell renewal, like anti-inflammatories and antioxidants, in order to keep your skin’s cell regeneration active. Again, the Skin Clays Healing African Clay range comes highly recommended.

5. Thermostat (Body Temperature Regulator)

When you’re hot, your skin is able to cool your entire body by producing sweat and assisting with increasing your body’s blood flow, which also assists in heat loss through the skin. In contrast, when we are cold, the diameter of our blood vessels decreases, which reduces blood flow, retaining heat in the body.

Drink plenty of water to replace fluids lost during the day – especially when you’re active, or when it’s a hot day. 

6. Switchboard (Transfers Information)

Nerves in the skin respond to different stimuli, including touch, pain, pressure and temperature by passing along information to the central nervous system. Your skin is therefore an alarm to danger when your body is at risk.

Tap into the power of touch with massage, which can increase the “feel good” hormones in our bodies, boost our immunity, blood circulation, and reduce stress! Pamper yourself with Skin Clays Detoxifying Green Clay Body Scrub, not only does the scrub have a lovely rejuvenating scent, by using body scrub, you can stimulate blood flow underneath the skin and promote healthy cell growth.

Locally Made With Love: Celebrate Mother’s Day with a special gift from Skin Clays

With Mother’s Day around the corner, many of us might find ourselves in a bit of a panic, stuck for ideas of what to do, and what gifts to get to give thanks to our wonderful and devoted mothers. Being a mother is a one of the most wonderful events of a woman’s life, but at the same time, it can be one of the toughest jobs, and one which requires a lot of self-compromise.

Knowing this, Skin Clays has put together three extra special gift hampers to spoil her with in honour of Mother’s Day. Each hamper (valued at R130.00) consists of a clay skin cream (200ml), clay body scrub (250g), comes in a special gift bag, and is guaranteed to make your mom feel like a queen!

If Lemongrass Is Her Favourite Flavour

We recommend choosing the Skin Clays Detoxifying Green Clay gift bag with lemongrass and juniper. Green Clay is loaded with minerals, detoxifies and nourishes the skin, and restores its natural radiance. We’ve been told that the aroma of lemongrass is a great pick me up and energiser that will lift your mood before, during, or after a busy day. Our Green Clay range works well on all skin types.

If She Loves the Smell of Roses

The Skin Clays Hydrating Rose Clay gift bag with rose geranium and lemon verbena is perfect for delicate or more mature skin. The range’s primary ingredient is rose clay, which gently tones and firms the skin in the nourishing process, and will assist in restoring your skin’s youthful elasticity.

If She’s Mad About Vanilla and Coconut

Treat your mom to a Skin Clays Balancing Beige Clay gift bag with vanilla, ylang ylang and coconut. The Balancing Beige Clay range is specially formulated for young and oily skin. Beige clay draws out impurities from the skin, and at the same time, balances the oil and PH level of your skin, uncovering your skin’s natural glow.

Win a Mother’s Day Hamper for Your Mother (Or You)!

We know being a mom is tough. That’s why we’re giving away a Mother’s Day hamper to one lucky mom! To enter the giveaway, simply visit and like our Facebook page, and comment on the competition post why your mother should win the Skin Clays Mother’s Day Hamper. You are also welcome to comment why you should win yourself one.

The competition ends Thursday, 7 May 2015 at 17:00. The winner will be announced on Facebook at 19:00, so stay tuned to see if you’ve won!

If you’d like to purchase a Skin Clays gift hamper, you can do so online, or visit Wellness Warehouse on Kloof. To ensure that your gift arrives on time, please pay particular attention to our online order delivery times:

• Delivery in Cape Town and surrounds: 1 -2 Days
• Delivery to Johannesburg: 2 – 4 Days
• Overnight Delivery: at a cost of R120