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DIY Lavender Clay Face Mask

Filed Under: Bath & Body Tutorials, Lotion

Difficulty: Intermediate
Time: About 30 minutes
Yields: Four 8 oz. Short Bails

DIY Lavender Clay Face Mask

Usually clay masks are designed for oily skin. Because clay absorbs oil, it’s a natural fit. This Lavender Clay Face Mask was specifically formulated for dry and sensitive skin. Don’t let the list of ingredients intimidate you – it’s surprisingly easy to make! Transforming the clay, water and oil into a luxurious mask is a satisfying and rewarding creative process.

This Lavender Clay Mask recipe contains a luxurious blend of argan and avocado oil to moisturize the skin. Argan oil is well known for its nourishing properties, and contains high percentages of vitamins A and E. The oils and distilled water are mixed together with Polawax Emulsifying Wax and BTMS-50 Conditioning Wax. These emulsifiers create a smooth, creamy, lotion-like texture, and prevent separation of the oil and water.

DIY Lavender Clay Face Mask

A mixture of kaolin and purple Brazilian clay is added to the water and oils. The majority of the clay in this mask is kaolin clay, which is very fine and gentle. Purple Brazilian clay adds a beautiful color and helps create a thicker mask. Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil adds a light scent, but can be omitted if your skin is extremely sensitive. Evening primrose extract adds skin-loving properties, but can easily be swapped for any other extract you may prefer. Find out more about extracts here.

DIY Lavender Clay Face Mask

Overall, this mask has a lotion-like texture that spreads easily on the skin. Because it’s formulated with dry skin in mind, it contains a fairly small amount of clay. If you apply a very thin layer to the skin, you’ll find that after about 10 minutes it will dry. But if a heavier application is used, it may not fully dry and will continue to have a wet, lotion feel. If you prefer the mask to fully dry on the skin, increase the amount of total clay in the recipe to about 6 ounces.

DIY Lavender Clay Face Mask

A few notes about recipe substitutions and changes:

  • Polawax Emulsifying Wax is a highly reliable and strong emulsifier. It could be substituted for the generic version, Emulsifying Wax, if you prefer, although this recipe was not tested with Emulsifying Wax. Due to the clay in the recipe, we splurged and used Polawax Emulsifying Wax to avoid any chance of separation.
  • This recipe calls for avocado and argan oil. Other oils can be used instead if you prefer; we recommend staying with liquid oils that absorb easily into the skin. Changing the total amount of oil in the recipe will change the overall texture of the mask.
  • Because this recipe is essentially a lotion and contains a large amount of water, a preservative is necessary to prevent mold and bacterial growth. We chose Optiphen, but other water soluble preservatives will work. Learn more about preservatives here.
  • Increase the total amount of clay if you want it to be better suited for normal to oily skin types. Decreasing the amount of clay may create a thinner product with more moisturizing properties.
  • If you prefer to use different clays, feel free to swap them. Clays have different absorbing properties, which will affect how it feels on the skin. Learn which clay is right for your skin.
  • If you have very sensitive skin, fragrance and essential oils can be irritating. Omit from the recipe if you prefer.

DIY Lavender Clay Face Mask

What You’ll Need:
Four Short 8 oz. Bail Jars 
21.4 oz. Distilled Water
1 oz. Argan Oil
1.3 oz. Avocado Oil 
1 oz. Polawax Emulsifying Wax
0.8 oz. BTMS-50 Conditioning Wax
3.5 oz. Kaolin Clay
1 oz. Purple Brazilian Clay
2 mL Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil
0.5 oz. Evening Primrose Extract
0.2 oz. Optiphen
Clay Mask Template – Free Downloadable PDF


Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

Find the supplies you need for this project below

Short 8 oz. Bail JarAvocado OilArgan OilPolawax Emulsifying WaxBTMS-50 Conditioning EmulsifierKaolin ClayPurple Brazilian ClayLavender 40/42 Essential OilEvening Primrose ExtractOptiphenClay Mask Label Template - Free PDF

EQUIPMENT PREP: Disinfect your utensils by dipping them in a 5% bleach water solution and allowing to dry. This includes mixing containers, your stick blender, and any spoons or spatulas that may come in contact with your mask. Your products must be as free of germs, bacteria, and microbes as possible. To be safe, bleach water all your utensils.

CLAY PREP: In a small separate container, measure 3.5 ounces of kaolin clay and 1 ounce of purple Brazilian clay. If you like, you can add them to the same container. In the steps below I added them separately, but the purple Brazilian clay can be added along with the kaolin clay if you prefer.

ONE: In a heat-safe container, combine the avocado oil, argan oil, BTMS-50 and Polawax. Heat the container in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts until the waxes have fully melted. Be careful when removing the container, as it will be quite hot. Set aside.

DIY Lavender Clay Face Mask

TWO: In a separate large container, heat the distilled water in the microwave (or on the stove top) until it reaches about 160-170 ° F. Once the water reaches the correct temperature, some of it may evaporate. Remeasure and add more distilled water if necessary until you have 21.4 ounces of hot water.

THREE: Check the temperatures of both containers. Each container should be about 160°-180° F. If the oil and wax mixture has cooled, place back into the microwave until fully melted. Place the stick blender into the water and burp it to help get rid of bubbles. Pour the oil and wax mixture into the water and use a spatula to make sure every little bit is added. Begin pulsing the stick blender. The mixture will take on a “milky” appearance once the water, oil and waxes have begun to emulsify. Continue to pulse and stir for about a minute.

DIY Lavender Clay Face Mask

FOUR: Begin adding heaping spoonfuls of the kaolin clay (or the kaolin clay and purple Brazilian Clay mixture) and pulsing the stick blender until combined. Continue adding the clay to the mixture and blending in small amounts until all the clay is added.
DIY Lavender Clay Face MaskDIY Lavender Clay Face Mask

FIVE: Continue stick blending for about 1-2 minutes. Use a spatula to scrape down any clay that may be on the sides of the bowl. Check the temperature of the mixture. Once the mixture is about 130-140°F, add the Optiphen, Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil and primrose extract. Stick blend (don’t forget to burp the stick blender!) the ingredients in until fully mixed.

DIY Lavender Clay Face MaskDIY Lavender Clay Face Mask

SIX: If not already added, add the purple Brazilian clay and stick blend until the mixture is fully blended. Continue to stick blend for several more minutes, just to make sure the ingredients are fully emulsified.

DIY Lavender Clay Face MaskDIY Lavender Clay Face Mask

SEVEN: Pour the mixture into the bail jars. If you find you have a lot of bubbles on the top, you can spritz the top of the containers with 99% isopropyl alcohol to help get rid of some of them. Allow the containers to cool for several hours with the lid open to avoid condensation. Once fully cooled, the mixture will have become a thick, lotion-like texture. We found that the top of the mask does form a bit of a skin as it dries.

DIY Lavender Clay Face MaskDIY Lavender Clay Face Mask

To use, apply a medium layer to dry, clean skin. Avoid the immediate eye area. Allow the mask to sit on the skin for about 10-15 minutes. Use warm water to rinse off. There is no need to wash the skin after, but you can if you prefer. For drier skins, do no use more than one time per week.

DIY Lavender Clay Face Mask

4.4 from 19 reviews

DIY Lavender Clay Face Mask
 
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This Lavender Clay Mask is great for dry skin. It's formulated with argan oil, primrose extract and lavender essential oil.
Author:
Serves: Four 8 oz. Jars

Ingredients
  • Four Short 8 oz. Bail Jars
  • 21.4 oz. Distilled Water
  • 1 oz. Argan Oil
  • 1.3 oz. Avocado Oil
  • 1 oz. Polawax Emulsifying Wax
  • 0.8 oz. BTMS-50 Conditioning Wax
  • 3.5 oz. Kaolin Clay
  • 1 oz. Purple Brazilian Clay
  • 2 mL Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil
  • 0.5 oz. Evening Primrose Extract
  • 0.2 oz. Optiphen

Instructions
EQUIPMENT PREP: Disinfect your utensils by dipping them in a 5% bleach water solution and allowing to dry. This includes mixing containers, your stick blender, and any spoons or spatulas that may come in contact with your mask. Your products must be as free of germs, bacteria, and microbes as possible. To be safe, bleach water all your utensils.
CLAY PREP: In a small separate container, measure 3.5 ounces of kaolin clay and 1 ounce of purple Brazilian clay. If you like, you can add them to the same container. In the steps below I added them separately, but the purple Brazilian clay can be added along with the kaolin clay if you prefer.
  1. In a heat-safe container, combine the avocado oil, argan oil, BTMS-50 and Polawax. Heat the container in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts until the waxes have fully melted. Be careful when removing the container, as it will be quite hot. Set aside.
  2. In a separate large container, heat the distilled water in the microwave (or on the stove top) until it reaches about 160-170 ° F. Once the water reaches the correct temperature, some of it may evaporate. Remeasure and add more distilled water if necessary until you have 21.4 ounces of hot water.
  3. Check the temperatures of both containers. Each container should be about 160°-180° F. If the oil and wax mixture has cooled, place back into the microwave until fully melted. Place the stick blender into the water and burp it to help get rid of bubbles. Pour the oil and wax mixture into the water and use a spatula to make sure every little bit is added. Begin pulsing the stick blender. The mixture will take on a “milky” appearance once the water, oil and waxes have begun to emulsify. Continue to pulse and stir for about a minute.
  4. Begin adding heaping spoonfuls of the kaolin clay (or the kaolin clay and purple Brazilian Clay mixture) and pulsing the stick blender until combined. Continue adding the clay to the mixture and blending in small amounts until all the clay is added.
  5. Continue stick blending for about 1-2 minutes. Use a spatula to scrape down any clay that may be on the sides of the bowl. Check the temperature of the mixture. Once the mixture is about 130-140°F, add the Optiphen, Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil and primrose extract. Stick blend (don’t forget to burp the stick blender!) the ingredients in until fully mixed.
  6. If not already added, add the purple Brazilian clay and stick blend until the mixture is fully blended. Continue to stick blend for several more minutes, just to make sure the ingredients are fully emulsified.
  7. Pour the mixture into the bail jars. If you find you have a lot of bubbles on the top, you can spritz the top of the containers with 99% isopropyl alcohol to help get rid of some of them. Allow the containers to cool for several hours with the lid open to avoid condensation. Once fully cooled, the mixture will have become a thick, lotion-like texture. We found that the top of the mask does form a bit of a skin as it dries.
  8. To use, apply a medium layer to dry, clean skin. Avoid the immediate eye area. Allow the mask to sit on the skin for about 10-15 minutes. Use warm water to rinse off. There is no need to wash the skin after, but you can if you prefer. For drier skins, do no use more than one time per week.

Tutorial credits

Photographer: Amanda Kerzman, Research Assistant: Amanda Kerzman,
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158 Comments

  2. Hello,

    We have been making this mask no problem for the last year, but for some reason we have been having difficulties. Lately the clay will clump and the mask will just separate. To make it even more weird, this doesn’t happen every single time…. any thoughts or suggestions???

    Thank you!!

    • That’s strange. Are you using the same Emulsifying Wax? It sounds like something is happening with the emulsification, either with the product itself or it could also partly be temperature.

  3. Was wondering if you have a link to some guidelines for percentages to use for making a face mask like this? For example I’ve got a general guideline for an emulsified sugar scrub that recommends 66% sugar, 20 % soft oils, etc…

    • We don’t at this time but I can definitely suggest it as a blog post in the future!

  5. Hello,
    Does the emulsifying wax contain alcohol? i wuld like to label as alcohol-free

  7. I purchase all ingredients to make this Face mask and this mask does not dry like a regular clay mask and also could not leave it for more than 2 minutes because my face was on fire!

    • This mask is a cream mask so it is not supposed to fully dry. It sounds like you may be sensitive to one of the ingredients used in this recipe.

    • Same here. My face was completely on fire. I’ve used all the ingredient before, but not BTMS-50 as an ingredient in anything but hair products. I made the product exactly as it was listed.

  8. Hello!
    If I replace the water for Lavender Water do I still need to use the following ingredients? 1 oz. Polawax Emulsifying Wax, 0.8 oz. BTMS-50 Conditioning Wax,
    0.2 oz. Optiphen
    Thanks!

    • Yes, because you will still need to emulsify the oils with the water that you are using. You will also still need to preserve the mask because there is water added to it.

  9. I wanted to make this mask but did not want to commit to 4 jars of product without testing it first. So I converted the unit measurements to grams and made a single 8oz jar. Unfortunately it appears my measurement(s) on something was off since the product more closely resembles pudding in it’s middle stage and is loose.

    Would you mind taking a look at what I came up with? The ‘math’ is right since it all added to 100% but obviously something’s off.

    Water – 70%
    Kaolin Clay 11%
    Purple Clay 3%
    Jojoba Oil 3%
    Avo Oil 4%
    Polawax 3%
    BTMS 50 3%
    (I subbed EPO for the extract) 2%
    Opti 1%

    Thanks

    • It looks like your percentages are correct. My best guess is the the substitution of the Evening Primrose Oil for the extract made that difference. The extract is diluted with Fractionated Coconut Oil so it is more lightweight and absorbs easier. The Evening Primrose Oil is thicker and more oily and would contribute to a more liquidy mask.

      Evening Primrose Extract: https://www.brambleberry.com/Evening-Primrose-Extract-P4937.aspx

  10. Hi! Can’t wait to try this recipe. I have two questions, though. Is it possible to replace the avocado oil for another one? Because where I live it’s really pricey. And question number two; I’m from Chile, and the preservatives you mentioned don’t exist here. Is it possible to replace them for any other liquid preservatives, such as Iscaguard?
    Thank you!

  11. I can’t wait to make this! But I goofed, and bought BTMS 25 instead of 50. Is that ok? And Also, I’d like to package this in single use packets. Would that work? Thanks for your time!

    • We haven’t tried using the Btms-25 before or in this recipe. From what I read online it should work similarly though. I would recommend a small test batch to make sure you like the results. If you can find packaging small enough I think single use mask packets would be a great idea!

  12. Hi there,
    I only have access to Emulsifying Wax NF and Silky Emulsifying Wax where I live. Are either of these a good alternative to the Polawax? If yes, would I use the same amounts? Thank you 🙂

    • We’ve used Emulsifying Wax instead of Polawax and have had good results. You can use the same amount.

      • Hi there, is it necessary to use both Polawax Emulsifying Wax and BTMS-50 Conditioning Wax? What is the difference between the two and will it work with only one emulsifier?

        • You can make it without the BTMS-50, but it will feel different. The BTMS-50 makes it more moisturizing and helps the mask emulsify. You will want to make a small test batch to see how you like it without the BTMS-50.

  13. I made this mask yesterday, but when I tried it before selling it. I felt very irritated in my skin. Is this Lavender essential oil and what is the solution to fix it?

    • If you find it irritating, you may be allergic to one of the ingredients. You should stop use and talk to a doctor.

      • Thanks for replying
        But I don’t have any allergy and my friends triad to and she is got the same feeling . That’s why I asked

          • We haven’t had that experience in testing. I’m not sure what is causing it. Did you change anything in the recipe besides the essential oil? Since you are having that reaction, it is best to stop use and consult a doctor.

          • Clay absorbs moisture from the skin, so if you have dry skin even this more moisturizing mask can irritate your skin. You could try reducing the amount of clay or leave it on your skin for a shorter amount of time.

  14. hello,
    made this mask and i divided the ingredients by 4, to make a smaller amount. however some of my liquid calculations may have been incorrect. my final product is very liquidy and not thickening. Is there something I can add to make it thicker? more clay? arrowroot powder? please help!
    thank you

    • I’m wondering if it may be separating. You may try putting it back into a bowl, heating to around 130-140F, and stick blending for another 3-5 minutes. Let me know if that helps.

  15. Hola, gracias por la receta. Podría reemplazar la polowax por montanov 82? Gracias

    • We haven’t worked with montanov 82 so I’m not sure. You may want to contact the manufacturer to learn more.

    • No, we don’t recommend goat milk for this recipe. It will shorten the shelf life to 6 weeks or less. After that time, the mask will go rancid.

  17. Also, I cannot find anywhere that sells the BTMS-50, but found BTMS-225.. Would I use the same amount as I would if I were using BTMS-50?

  18. Hi. I had created a green tea face mask using many local herbs along with green tea and fuller’s earth clay. The use of this mask gives a baby soft, clean and glowing skin. All my customers are really happy using it. But the problem is that this mask gives out a lot of moisture and damages the labels. How can I prevent this separation of water or release of moisture from my clay masks. Please help

  19. I want to make this mask but you guys are currently sold out of the preservative (Optiphen nd). If I don’t use the optiphen, will i still have a long shelf like? Or is there something else I can use to substitute it?

    • Most of our products are gluten free. However, they are not processed in a gluten-free warehouse, so we can’t guarantee there won’t be cross contamination. If you are highly allergic to gluten, that’s something you may want to discuss with your doctor.

  22. hello! what if i don’t add water,wax and preservative, just make this mask with plain clays and oils,will it still fulfil the purpose ??

    • Yes, you can make this mask with only clay and oils. The texture will be different – the water in this recipe makes it feel more like a lotion, while a mask with just clay and oil will feel more heavy on the skin.

      You may find the recipe below for the Rose Clay Exfoliating Mask helpful. We still used a preservative to prevent mold growth in case it came in contact with water, because it’s usually stored in the bathroom. It could be omitted if you like, but we like to use it to be on the safe side.

      Rose Clay Exfoliating Mask:
      https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/rose-clay-exfoliating-mask-soap-queen-tv/

  23. For clay masks, sugar and salt scrubs, which kinds of coloring can I use? Are micas okay, or labcolors?

    • Micas are a good option for scrubs and masks. They come in a variety of colors and you can mix them in with your liquid ingredients or with your dry ingredients. LabColors are water soluble, so they’re a bit more tricky to incorporate.

      Micas: https://www.brambleberry.com/Micas-C46.aspx

      Learn more about micas here:

  25. Purple Brazilian clay and BMTS-50 conditioning wax are not available in India. Do you have alternatives to these?

  27. Hello there,

    I used plastic jars that I bought from a body product packaging supplier. A few weeks after jarring it, there is moisture on the inside of the container and inside the lid. I’m assuming I have to throw them out now, as that moisture isn’t protected by the preservative. Do you know why this would have happened?

    • As long as those jars were sealed, they should be protected by the Optiphen. I’m thinking the mask may have separated, causing that moisture. You can drain that out of the mask. You can also heat the mask up to around 140F and stick blend for a few more minutes to get everything emulsified.

  29. Hi there
    Looks wonderful!
    was just wondering about packaging. I was hoping to make this but transfer it to heat sealable pouches instead of jars, lighter to post. Would i just pour it into a jar let it set , then scoop it in? Or would it go weird?

    • You can let the masks cool down right in the bowl and then scoop it into the pouches. I think that would be the easiest way, plus there’d be fewer dishes (which is always a good thing).

  30. I made this face mask the other day and it turned out perfect, I put it in the containers and left the lids off for 2 days (and covered them with a paper towel) to allow any condensation to evaporate. The thing I’ve found is some still have condensation trapped in the bubbles of air at the bottom and near the top. The few that didn’t, I put lids on but a few hours later condensation formed on the lid. Is there anything I can do to fix this? As I am worried the condensation might form mold and as I was hoping to sell them, the condensation might not look to good. Lol
    Also, Thanks for all the amazing recipes!

    • We did have a bit of condensation on some of our masks as well, although I’m not quite sure why. It may be that there’s a lot of water that can surface with temperature change. Try to keep the mask in a cool, dry place. The preservative does protect against mold, and the masks have a shelf life of about 3-6 months.

  31. Would it be possible to combine everything but the clay, and then add the clay to the mixture for one time uses? Would it be difficult to mix with a spoon?

    • We haven’t given that a try, so I’m not entirely sure. Essentially you’d be mixing the clay into a lotion, so it should mix in with a spoon for a one-time use. I would recommend a small test batch to see how it works.

  32. I tried my second batch, I used French Green Clay. It separated like 1st batch, blended for a long time, it helped but still watery. I blended it more and let it sit in glass bowl 2 days, it helped, like loose pudding. I poured it into jars, water showed on top, dumped water out. More water on top, poured few more drops out. I mixed in 1 tsp kaolin, maybe it helped. The only different thing I used is French Green Clay. I tried mask today and it peeled my skin, flaky spots! Your chat said French Green Clay is very drying. Is there anything I can add to help these batches? Do you have a recipe for French Green Clay? Is this usable if I label it for Very Oily Skin Only? Thank you.

    • Yes, you can use all Polawax in this recipe in place of the BTMS-50. The BTMS adds conditioning properties, so the mask will feel different. You may want to make a small test batch to see what you think.

  35. Do you know of an alternative to bleach to safely disinfect? I tried searching for a post on this topic but couldn’t find one!

  36. thank you for all your recipes! I JUST made this and it’s cooling on my counter. I had added the brazilian clay with the kaolin clay. When pouring into the jars, there was some purple clay granules at the bottom of my pot. I’m thinking next time, it would be better to add the purple clay later like on your tutorial after everything is all emulsified.. No biggie. I made the rose clay weeks ago and am going to make the sea clay mask next.

    • That’s awesome, glad you’re loving this recipe! Which one is your favorite so far? 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  37. Hi, I’m wandering if I made this just in powder form, can bentonite clay be added in addition to the purple and kaolin clays and how much would you recommend? And would I keep the same amounts of the argan oil, etc…..Thanks!

  39. I love love love this recipe. I have used it with tons of other oils and essential oils! I did have a burning sensation with the purple Brazilian clay. I’m wondering if it was from too much Optiphen? Also, how do I prevent condensation from forming? I let the jars sit out without the lid for at least 2-3 hours and I’m still getting condensation on the lids weeks later. Some of them had mold after a week! What am I doing wrong? 🙁

    • So glad you’re loving this recipe Monica. I’m not quite sure why it’s molding so quickly, it should have a shelf life of 3-6 months. How are you disinfecting your containers? Also, how are you incorporating the Optiphen? As for the skin irritation, it is likely an ingredient in the mask. The ingredients are skin safe but you can have sensitivities to a certain one. For instance, my skin is sensitive to rose. I would recommend checking with your doctor to learn more.

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  40. Hi I was wondering if i have to use a blender stick. I have a mixer. Could i use that instead?

  41. I have tried twice and fail twice i can not get this to go thick r to stop separating on me.
    I followed each step correctly but still no luck at all.
    I think i may give up now

    • I’m sorry about that Samantha. How long are you stick blending the mask for? Let me know and we’ll get this figured out. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

      • i stick blended for at least 5 mins then once all the clay was added i blended for another 5mins

        • That should be enough to help the mask emulsify, so I’m not sure why it’s separating. Did you make any substitutions? What temperature is the oil and water at? Thanks for answering my questions.

          -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  42. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I made it twice with different set of liquid oils and different preservatives. The consistency of the final product was beautiful – very smooth and creamy. Unfortunately, while trying on, my skin was burning very badly. I would assume I have some sort of allergies on some ingredients in this recipe. I never had any allergic reaction to any liquid oils, clays, emulsifiers or even essential oils. I tried to eliminate certain ingredients by trying them on a small skin area:
    kaolin clay
    rose kaolin clay
    sunflower oil
    argan oil

    None of them cause any reaction. I wonder if it is combination of Polawax and BTMS-50 or maybe even the kind of preservatives I used (I used lotioncrafter NeDefend preservative). During my second trial, I tested mask with and without essential oil and got pretty bad reaction in both cases.

    To summarize, I substituted avocado oil to sunflower oil, optiphen to NeoDefend and eliminated Purple Brazilian Clay. I would greatly appreciate any help on this.

    Thanks a lot

  43. Hey, I have some Emulsifying wax on hand. Traditional and soft & Silky. Which can I use in place of the Polawax?

    • Polawax Emulsifying Wax is a highly reliable and strong emulsifier. It could be substituted for the generic version, Emulsifying Wax, if you prefer, although this recipe was not tested with Emulsifying Wax. Due to the clay in the recipe, we splurged and used Polawax Emulsifying Wax to avoid any chance of separation. I would recommend a small test batch with the traditional and soft and silky to ensure everything stays mixed, and to see which wax you like better. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

      E-wax: https://www.brambleberry.com/Emulsifying-Wax-P4896.aspx

    • I made this mask and it didn’t harden like a mask, jut sits on my face like a lotion.
      Thoughts? Suggestions?

      • This mask has a lotion-like texture that spreads easily on the skin. Because it’s formulated with dry skin in mind, it contains a fairly small amount of clay. If you apply a very thin layer to the skin, you’ll find that after about 10 minutes it will dry. But if a heavier application is used, it may not fully dry and will continue to have a wet, lotion feel. If you prefer the mask to fully dry on the skin, increase the amount of total clay in the recipe to about 6 ounces. 🙂

        -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  44. What is the expiration date for these formulations? Thank you for sharing this great formulation!

  45. First of all congrats for your amazing site and thanks for sharing!
    I made this mask using the following :
    633gr Distilled Water
    30gr Hemp oil
    38gr Avocado Oil
    30gr Polawax Emulsifying Wax
    24gr BTMS-50 Conditioning Wax
    134gr French Clay
    2 mL Rose Essential Oil
    15gr Pomegranate Extract
    6gr Preservative 12
    The result was a very nice creamy mask, but as the hours pass by, it turns to a thinner mixture instead of getting thicker.
    Any ideas of what I did wrong please?
    Thank you in advance!

    • Do you notice any liquid separating from the mixture? If so, it may need more stick blending! I would recommend popping it back in a bowl and heating to about 140F (don’t go over or the preservative can degrade). Then, stick blend for another couple minutes. That should help the mask stay emulsified. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  46. I have everything except for the Argan Oil and the PolaWax. Are there are substitutions?

    Also, could I use this recipe as a template for other masks, like a French Green Clay or Bentonite based mask?

  47. My winter dry face has been so red and painful and no amount of moisturizing has helped. I decided to try this last night to see if it would help at all, but I was skeptical because I thought the clay might be too drying. I used rose clay because I didn’t have the purple clay. And, because it is a pretty big batch, I split it into two and only put clay in half and left the rest as a lotion. When I first applied it, it felt a little uncomfortable, but quickly became cool and soothing!! I left it on about 15 minutes, cleaned it off and applied some of the lotion from the other half of the batch. OMG!!! Relief!! The redness, inflammation and bumps are almost completely gone and my skin feels amazing. After I washed my face this morning, I applied more of the lotion portion instead of my usual moisturizer. You guys hit it out of the park with this one!!

    • That’s awesome Melissa, glad you’re enjoying this recipe! I love the idea of splitting it and using half as regular lotion. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  48. I wonder, would it be possible to use a hydrosol instead of regular water? If so, would you still need the preservative?

    • You can use a hydrosol in place of the distilled water if you like! Most hydrosols are already preserved. If that’s the case with yours, we recommend being extra careful and still adding a preservative to this recipe, but using it on the lower end (.5%). That way you can be sure it won’t grow mold or bacteria. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  49. Can I add activated charcoal in this recipe instead of the Purple clay and witch hazel extract instead of the evening primrose if I wanted to make a mask tailored for acne/oily skin?

      • I love the idea of using Aloe Vera! You mentioned using Phenonip as the preservative, so which ingredient that you listed originally in the DIY would I be swapping out if I am using the phenonip?

        • Oh whoops, that’s my mistake, sorry. You can use the Optiphen in this recipe with the aloe vera liquid! Phenonip can be used in place of the Optiphen if you like. 🙂

          -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  52. Hi! Thank for sharing this recipe.
    I already do my shopping to try this recipe. I just want to have an idea of the price per jar of these amazing clay.
    Thank you!

    • These are about $20 per jar. However, you do have a few ingredients leftover to make more if you like. 🙂

      Also, some of the ingredients are 20% off with the code SKINCARE. Find those items here: http://bbshare.co/36

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  53. Hi there! Major love for this wet clay mask recipe & I cant wait to try it. But I have a question, can I substitute 1 oz Polawax & 0.8 oz BTMS-50 with 1.8 oz emulsifying wax NF instead?

    • Polawax Emulsifying Wax is a highly reliable and strong emulsifier. It could be substituted for the generic version, Emulsifying Wax, if you prefer, although this recipe was not tested with Emulsifying Wax. Due to the clay in the recipe, we splurged and used Polawax Emulsifying Wax to avoid any chance of separation. I would recommend a small test batch to ensure everything stays mixed. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

      • Thank you for the reply. The reason is because I could not find any supplier for Polawax and BTMS-50 in my country (Malaysia). They only have Emulsifying Wax NF.
        I’ll try a small batch and will let you know how it goes. =D

  54. Hello this is exciting! I’ve been looking for recipes that are wet clay masks that I can keep in my shower ready.

    I was wondering why don’t we have to pre hydrate the clay first like we do in CP? If we did would that make it better in any way? I’m concerned about chunks not getting fully hydrated but I’m sure stick blending it enough would fix that. I’m also wondering about the poof factor lol. Would it hurt to pre soak the clay? (In sterile stuff etc?) Also instead of essential oils could we take part of the water and use hydrozols and keep the preservative the same? Example like chamomile or cucumber?

    Thank you so so much for this fun great recipe. Great for winter and dry skin. I love any recipe for dry skin!!!! I feel often dry skin gets ignored but you didnt.:)

    • You’re welcome Lisa, so glad you’re going to give this recipe a try! This recipe has quite a bit of water, there is no need to hydrate the clay. Adding it straight to the mix and blending will get it hydrated and mixed in well. To prevent the poofing, it helps to put the clay in and then put your stick blender head right on top of it (make sure to burp it). That will push the clay down so it mixes in. It also helps to start on the lower setting. If you want to hydrate it you can as well. Just take a few drops of water from the main batch and mix them in.

      Also, you can use hydrosols! You can use them for all of the water, or do a mix. If the hydrosols already have a preservative, you’ll want to add the Optiphen at a lower amount (.5%) to be extra careful. If they are unpreserved, add the Optiphen at 1%. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  55. This looks fabulous, but I have one question: will this mask dry on the skin or does it remain wet until you wash it off? Thinking about making it, but was curious about how it behaves. Thanks for your answer!

  57. Is it possible to make this recipe without BTMS-50 and use 1.8 oz of polowax instead? Thanks:)

    • We didn’t test this recipe with just Polawax, but I think that would be OK! BTMS-50 emulsifies and adds conditioning properties, so the recipe may feel a bit different. I would recommend making a small test batch to see what you think. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  58. What a great looking tutorial! And I have everything on the list, but the argan (easy swap out). I think I may try this with Rose clay and Rose absolute as well for a variation. Thank you again, Brambleberry, for your great recipes and info. I appreciate the continued investment you make in your customers, and the small business support you provide with all these ideas, info, tutorials not to mention selling great raw materials to make these things 🙂
    Best,
    Anna

    • You’re welcome Anna, thanks for your sweet comment! Let us know how your mask turns out. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  60. This looks lovely, just wondering if I could substitute some of the wax with Bees wax, my sister has bees and has offered me the wax.
    thanks
    janet

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