Why Does Pink Clay Mask Help Acne Scars?
If you suffer from frequent breakouts and acne, chances are, you also find your skin to have a few remaining scars left behind from any spots or blemishes. It’s nothing to beat yourself up over, even if you keep your hands off and don’t do any skin-damaging spot squeezing, scarring is sometimes the results of free radicals, harsh ingredients and the over-use of a product.
Help is on the way as we have some information about pink clay masks and the skincare benefits they have with helping you to combat acne scars.
What does pink clay do for skin?
Pink clay is known for its gentle approached compared to the other popular clays you can regularly find formulated into face masks. It is understood there are two main types of pink clay that are favoured, Australian and French. Both of which are enriched in nourishing minerals, vitamins and other ingredients. The results you will find will be the skin’s elasticity improving and help with the production of cell renewal making the skin appear more supple, smoother with a youthful bounce. You can find out more about the difference between these popular pink clay masks by taking a look at the dedicated guide about Australian and French pink clay on our blog.
Apart from pink clay giving the skin an all-over youthful complexion, you will also find other skin concerns such as enlarged pores and blemishes are treated. Areas of the skin suffering from inflammation and redness that are usually very prominent during any spots or acne flare-ups will also see a notable improvement. Due to the gentle approach of pink clay it is able to help all skin types, just ensure you perform a patch test before applying the face mask all over the skin to avoid any skin reaction or irritation.
Does pink clay help acne scars?
The way acne scars develop on the skin starts with trauma caused by either spots being picked or squeezed, or other damage caused by harsh ingredients or other products that are overused, such as physical face scrubs containing sharp pieces of nuts or shells that are frequently found in scrub formulations. Once there is a surface wound this leads to any skin-damaging free radicals, such as pollution and sun exposure can penetrate the skin and cause holes in the lower layers of the skin. Soon there is an increase the production of melanin which makes its way out of the damage in the lower layers and makes its way to the outer surface resulting in dark, pigmented spots and scars left on the complexion. Once this damage has been caused, it is very difficult to counteract without the help of skin correction treatments used in salons by fully trained professionals. Having said this, the pigmentation of these dark spots can be lightened over time by exfoliating the outer build-up of dead skin cells using at home skincare products.
With it comes to skin exfoliation, facial acids, such as AHAs and BHAs do reign supreme, however, if you are wanting a more gentle routine to combat acne scars then using a pink clay face mask will provide gentle exfoliation resulting in acne scars and dark spots becoming noticeably lighter and less visible. You may also find that the skin won’t feel stripped or tight due to the common side effects of overusing chemical exfoliants.
Key benefits of using pink clay for acne scars;
Gentle for all skin types
Won’t cause any tightness or dryness to the skin as a result of it being stripped of vital oils
Helps to promote a radiant and balanced complexion
Helps with cell renewal allowing scarring and dark spots to become less visible over time
Leaves the skin feeling supple, smooth and youthful
Can I use pink clay mask every day?
Though it may feel tempting considering the benefits of using pink clay for the skin, it is best to avoid using a pink clay face mask every day. With the average formulation of a clay mask to see the best results it is advised to use it no more than 3 times a week. This is very dependent on the blend of the clay face mask so it is always best to read the instructions found on the packaging. I understand I have stressed the fact pink clay is known for being the most gentle of all clays, however, overusing any clay mask will result in vital oils to be drawn out of the skin making it feel tight, uncomfortable and prone to skin damage.
If you are wanting to keep on top of your skincare and reduce the appearance of acne scars and dark spots then the selection of skin ingredients below will help improve the overall complexion, especially when teamed with the regular and correct use of a pink clay face mask.
Non-foaming cleansers containing glycolic acid, lactic acid or salicylic acid
Serums enriched with vitamin C, hyaluronic acid or niacinamide
Serums enriched with retinol (PM use only)
Face oils containing nourishing oils suitable for your skin type to aid hydration
Daily SPF of 30 and above (AM only, applied every day)
Once you have established a routine that works well for your skin type and lifestyle you will find acne scarring will become less visible to the naked eye. If you find there are some remaining areas that pigmentation is still noticeable then makeup application will help disguise them. Colour correcting concealers that are purple will help knock out the dark, blueish tones on the dark spots making them easier to cover with foundation or concealer.
Which clay is best for acne scars?
Using a clay mask with high levels of pink clay and bentonite clay will have the best results at combating acne scarring. Both will not only help reduce the pigmentation of the scars but can always help balance out the oil and water levels of the skin, calming inflammations and redness, reducing the frequency of acne flare-ups and blackheads on the skin and giving an all-over glowing, youthful complexion.
We hope that you have got a better understanding of pink clay and why it helps with acne scarring. You will find that once you have a routine well established tackling pigmentation will be a lot easier. If you are wanting to find out more ways of treating skin pigmentation, then check out our other post about skincare tips to help manage dark spots.
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