Clay Essentials brings you the restorative benefits of Volcanic Ash Clay in a line of spa-quality skincare masques that you can enjoy in the comfort and privacy of your own home. Designed for women, men and teenagers, our formulas capture the legendary powers of clay and enhance them with skin-nourishing essential oils and botanicals. At the heart of the Clay Essentials collection is Sodium Bentonite Clay, a special type of Volcanic Ash Clay known for its ability to absorb impurities better than any other kind of clay.

Sodium Bentonite Clay is a mineral-rich clay that originates from the sweeping plains of Fort Benton, Wyoming. It was named by American geologist John Pascal shortly after its discovery in 1890. Sodium Bentonite Clay is often referred to as a “living clay,” which means that it is considered safe for ingestion for humans, animals and plants (although we certainly don’t recommend that you eat our products!).

The Sodium Bentonite Clay used in Clay Essentials products is USP-NF grade, which stands for The United States Pharmacopeia–National Formulary. It has met rigorously high quality standards.  

What’s So Unique About Sodium Bentonite Clay?

It has a negative charge.
While toxins, harmful bacteria and other impurities carry a positive charge, Sodium Bentonite is negatively charged. The surface of the Sodium Bentonite Clay molecule is comprised of numerous microscopic platelets, just 1 to 2 microns in size, each with a negative electrical attraction for positively charged toxins and impurities. This creates a strong effect which draws toxins and impurities to the molecule’s surface—much like a magnet—and holds them there. These impurities are then carried away with the clay when it is removed, leaving behind skin that’s cleansed, refreshed and purified. Moreover, the microscopic size of Sodium Bentonite molecules enables the clay to easily penetrate the pores, which helps the skin better absorb essential nutrients and moisture.

It is highly absorbent.
Sodium Bentonite Clay is hydrophilic, which means that it has an affinity for water and is highly absorbent. In more simplistic terms, the structure of Sodium Bentonite is much like a sandwiched deck of cards. When placed in water, these cards or platelets shift apart or “swell”, creating a larger surface area with which to attract toxins and impurities. This unique characteristic enables Sodium Bentonite Clay to absorb 7 to 10 times its own weight in water and swell up to 18 times its dry volume. This is why Sodium Bentonite Clay is called a “swelling clay”. Its strong absorptive properties enhance its effect and make it even more effective in soaking up skin-choking toxins and impurities.

Our Exclusive Formula
Clay essentials has perfected a Sodium Bentonite Clay formula that was developed more than a decade ago, continually improving it to optimize the powerful, time-tested benefits of Volcanic Ash Clay. Now, we’re making its exclusive formula available to you for the very first time.

Learn More About Clay Essentials
We invite you to explore our website, learn more about our unique Volcanic Ash Clay products, and find out why so many are making Clay Essentials a part of their regular skincare routine.

View Frequently Asked Questions about our Volcanic Ash Clay masques.