Leaving the mask on for too long can cause the clay to dry out excessively, leading to discomfort and redness upon removal.
Licensed Esthetician Tiara Willis agreed that because clay masks are designed to absorb oil, it is not meant to be worn overnight, however, you can wear hydrating masks to bed.
Bentonite clay's ability to draw out pore-clogging dirt and debris and may also help congested skin appear cleansed and refreshed. As such, you'll find bentonite clay in skincare formulas specifically aimed at reducing the appearance of pores and blackheads.
While it can be effective for drawing out impurities and oil when used as a regular mask for a short duration, leaving it on overnight may lead to skin irritation, dryness, or discomfort, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Why does my skin burn after applying a clay mask? Your face is always flaming red after applying a clay mask because there's nothing left in your pores. Redness happens because the clay draws blood to the surface of the skin. This increased blood supply flushes out toxins and excess oils.
Leaving the clay mask on for too long
Once the mask dries fully and starts to crack it begins to suck moisture out of the skin, leaving it dehydrated and irritated when you rinse it off.
If you wash or peel off a mask and notice that the skin is tender, burning, and pink, it may mean you've left it on too long and developed an irritant reaction.
Clay face masks should ideally be left on for no more than 15 minutes; however, you should read the instructions as each can vary. You are at risk of your skin drying out if you leave your clay mask on for too long.
Don't use drying ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, clay, or sulfur. Acne spot treatments could have helped before you popped your pimple, but they're no longer beneficial once your skin is broken.
The Aztec Clay Mask basically acts like a vacuum for your pores in the five to 20 minutes it's on. The 100% natural calcium bentonite clay draws out all the impurities deep in your skin for what has been called 'the world's most powerful facial'.
Blackhead treatment and removal
One such ingredient is salicylic acid. This gentle exfoliating ingredient helps dissolve the excess oil and skin cells that cause clogged pores in the first place. Salicylic acid can be found in a range of products such as face washes, toners, and other acne treatments.
Redness aside, my skin felt smooth and bright, and both of us noticed that our pores were smaller. (Pro-tip: Use a soothing moisturizer or facial oil after just to make sure your skin doesn't become overly dry.)
Bentonite clay is a natural tooth polisher - Bentonite is a very fine powder that polishes enamel without being harmfully abrasive. The particles gently polish the teeth which is what leaves them feeling super clean.
If you leave your mask on for far longer than is recommended, you may risk irritating your skin. Rinsing a mask off too quickly isn't ideal either—it's a waste of product, as you likely won't enjoy the full benefits of the product.
Like many other face masks, Aztec clay masks are required to have an expiration date. However, due to Aztec clay masks being formed of 100% natural ingredients, users have reported that the clay has lasted beyond the expiration date. Therefore, you can still use an expired Aztec clay mask if it is in good condition.
Your body can gradually break down pus and reabsorb its components. That's why small accumulations of pus (like in a pimple) often don't need treatment.
Popping pimples, however, can cause bacteria to spread under your skin to other pores. This can result in more pimples.
PIH develops when a wound or irritation, like a scrape, rash, or pimple, causes the skin to become inflamed. As the skin heals, it produces too much melanin (the protein that gives the skin its color). This darkens the skin. That said, the more inflamed a breakout, the larger and darker the PIH spot tends to be.
Especially with clay masks, which are meant to draw out impurities from your skin, if you keep them on too long the clay can start to draw out the goodness from your skin as well as the bad, she explains. "It's going to disrupt the pH balance of your skin, wreaking havoc on your skin," Dr. Shereene says.
In the skincare world, you'll see kaolin clay as the headlining ingredient in clay masks because of its ability to absorb oil. This oil-absorbing quality makes kaolin clay masks one of the best solutions for clogged pores.
While pore size is largely determined by genetics, a good clay mask can help reduce the appearance of pores. If you notice that your pores look smaller and less noticeable after using a clay mask, it's a clear indication that the mask is working to remove debris and tighten your skin.
We recommend doing a patch test of our clay mask on your chin, leaving on until dry, and removing to ensure you don't have any adverse reactions. Note that a mild tingling sensation can be expected due to the osmotic action of the clay.
The skin goes red, inflamed, and peeling because retinol has chemically burned away the upper layer of skin, the new exposed skin has not had enough time to build up its natural protection film to UV light and pollutants that a good UV moisturising oil can help with and reduce the exposure to skin cancer risk, ...