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skincare benefits of bentonite for oily skin

You know what they say, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.

Case in point: bentonite clay. If your skin’s as dry as the Sahara, you want to run in the opposite direction. This stuff will only make you flake more.

But if your skin’s as oily as a frying pan? Bentonite becomes your BFF. It’ll help you soak up the oil and keep breakouts at bay.

Curious to know why bentonite is so biased towards oily skin? Read on to find out:

What Is Bentonite Clay?

Bentonite is an absorbent impure clay made up mostly of montmorillonite.

There are different types of bentonite. Each one owes its name to its dominant element, such as potassium, sodium, and calcium.

Bentonite usually forms from weathering of volcanic ash, most often in the presence of water. But bentonite can describe clay beds of uncertain origin, too.

Fun fact: bentonite was named by Wilbur C. Knight in 1898, after the Cretaceous Benton Shale near Rock River in Wyoming.

Struggling to put together a skincare routine that gets rid of excess shine, acne, and blackheads? Download your FREE “Best Skincare Routine For Oily Skin” cheat sheet to get started (it includes product recommendations + right application order):

Bentonite For Oily Skin: Can It Absorb Excess Oil?

Have you noticed bentonite is used mostly in clay masks for oily skin? It’s super absorbent: it can soak up excess oil, shine and impurities from the skin.

Bentonite is what scientists use to determine how much sebum patients with inflammatory acne have. They put bentonite on the skin and, a few minutes later, remove it and measure how much oil the clay absorbed (in case you’re wondering, people with acne produce 3 times more sebum than normal).

Once that oil is out of the way, you won’t look like you have a giant frying pan where your head is supposed to be. Plus, that excess oil can’t accumulate in the pores and clog them anymore. Bye bye breakouts!

Bentonite is also said to be able to draw toxins and impurities out of the skin. I admit I was sceptical. Surely, brands would say anything to get us to buy it?

But when I dug deeper, I found there’s some truth in this claim. Turns out, the army has been testing absorbing agents including bentonite for the “decontamination of supertoxic lethal chemical warfare agents on skin” with promising results.

Still, when it comes to detoxification, it’s your liver and kidneys that do most of the job, so don’t rely on bentonite too much.

Related: Can Sweat Detoxify Your Skin?

Does Bentonite Clay Have Any Side Effects?

Bentonite’s job is to soak up excess sebum. Sebum is simply your skin’s natural moisturiser.

If your skin pumps out more sebum than it needs, bentonite will come to your rescue by getting rid of the excess.

But if your skin is dry and doesn’t pump out enough sebum to  stay naturally moisturized? You don’t want bentonite to soak up the little your skin produces. It’s a recipe for dryness and flakiness.

Related: All You Need To Know About Sebum. Your Skin’s Natural Moisturiser

How Do You Use Bentonite Clay?

For best results, use a clay mask with bentonite a couple of nights a week after cleansing. It’s enough to do the job.

What Are The Best Skincare Products With Bentonite?

  • Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Charcoal Mask ($25.50): available at Asos, Feel Unique, and Nordstrom 
  • Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing OIl-Absorbing Mask ($22.00): available at Paula’s Choice.

The Bottom Line

Bentonite’s soaking properties make it oily skin’s BFF and dry skin’s arch enemy. Use it carefully!

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.