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Berry Minty Purifying Face Mask

Name: Berry Minty Strawberry Face Mask
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 8 min
Yield: 3
Ingredients: 1 tbps Rhassoul Clay; 1 tbps mashed ripe Strawberry; 1 tsp agave syrup; 1 tsp coconut kefir; 1 tsp finely chopped fresh mint

by Nadine Shemilt, Miss Facial Clay Masks | Last updated Jul 27, 2020 | Published on May 24, 2020 | Recipes

Jump to Recipe

Raise your hand those of you who have never ever had an unsightly zit in your life (please, be honest!).

I bet none of you raised it. Am I a clairvoyant? No, let´s put it this way: I simply realize that the mechanics of the skin are very dynamic and that it thrives in an environment full of clogging and pro-inflammatory elements.

Even though we are persistently being bombarded with all sorts of acne facts, I have noticed that people still feel very confused about it.

Acne affects approximately 85% of teenagers, but can can persist into adulthood. It is estimated that the cost of the disease exceeds $3 billion per year^[1].

I wouldn´t blame them at all. There is so much misinformation being shared that you no longer know what´s true and what´s false.

That´s why I love clinical studies; they really provide us with evidence that debunk all the nonsense myths.

Because we are so science-based, I want to start having this acne conversation by turning to one of the greatest authorities in skin care: The American Academy of Dermatology.

Among the many factors that play an important role in the development of acne are^[1]:

Diet
Genetics
Sebum oversecretion
Propionibacterium acnes overgrowth
Neuroendrocrine imbalances
Immune-related inflammatory processes
Hyperkeratinization of the follicles: keratin builds up inside the follicle because the cells that line it fail to detach.

Don´t fall into the mistake of thinking that, just because you got one nasty breakout, you have acne. It is actually way more complex than that.

In order to keep things simple, we decided to share the following grading system developed by Indian doctors Tutakne and Chari^[2]:

Grade 1: Comedones (blackheads, whiteheads) and occasional papules.
Grade 2: Papules, comedones and a few pustules.
Grade 3: Predominant pustules, nodules and abscesses.
Grade 4: Mainly cysts, abscesses and widespread scarring.

As every different type of acne case is different, you can´t expect to offer exactly the same treatment to all patients. The good news is that there are very simple, natural and cost-effective measures that you can incorporate into most acne skin regimes.

Guess what! We specifically designed a recipe keeping in mind the various acne challenges that are our readers have to face.

So, we hope you enjoy this very luscious berry-minty blend. We can assure you it will help purge the clogged-up pores and leave your skin feeling super smooth.

What’s inside the mask?

For this lovely recipe, here’s the ingredients we will need:

Rhassoul (Moroccan) clay
Strawberries
Agave Syrup
Coconut Kefir
Fresh Mint

You can get Rhassoul Clay as one of the 4 types of clay in our clay mask assortment pack. ????????

The Benefits At a Glance,

Rhassoul Clay | Oil Absorbing Clay that also helps with ongoing Sebum Production

Let’s start in Morocco

The famous Moroccan clay is made up of very small particles that, when in contact with water, expand and pull all the impurities that have accumulated both on the follicle and the skin´s surface.

They can also produce a similar effect but through an ion exchange action: rhassoul´s negative charge swaps the toxins which are positively charged.

Related: Find the Science Behind How Clay Works.

This mask is berry special

Strawberries are a surprising source of naturally occurring Salicylates, an organic compound that contains salicylic acid^[3]. Salicylic acid has renowned pore unclogging benefits and it also normalizes cell turnover^[4].

Like our mango face mask, strawberries are also rich in Vitamin C.

Agave nectar, the new maple syrup alternative

Despite being controversial as a sweetener, agave nectar is a fructose higher in sugar levels. And it’s also high in antioxidants, that skin loving ingredient^[⁶^].

Did you know that agave has antibacterial activity?^[⁷^]. Its use as a preventative agent and treatment for infections looks quite promising^[⁷^].

Bacteria Rich Kefir benefits

Coconut kefir is a probiotic, which means it contains friendly bacteria such as Lactobacillus kefiri^[8^]

Probiotics have been shown to be effective for gut health as well as skin health. Who knew gut friendly bacteria could help acne and photoaging^[9].

Minty Goodness

There haven’t been a lot of studies about mint. There have been studies that adding mint to food increases the antioxidant content^[9].

Mint contains elevated concentrations of vitamin A (retinol) which significantly diminishes acne-associated inflammation by deeply cleansing the pores^[10].

Plus, mint adds a minty freshness to this mask that I’m completely loving. I just happened to have moroccan mint on my patio garden this year and seemed like an amazing fit with moroccan clay.

Ingredients:

You will need:

1 tbps Rhassoul (Moroccan) clay (part of clay mask assortment pack)
1 tbps mashed ripe Strawberry
1 tsp agave syrup (substitute with maple syrup or honey)
1 tsp coconut kefir
1 tsp finely chopped fresh mint

How to Mix

Grab some spring favorites of strawberry and some fresh mint.

Start with ripe strawberries. It’s strawberry season right now and I’m loving strawberry rhubarb crumble right now. So set aside a single strawberry should do for this mask.

You can mash with a fork or blend in a spice grinder.

Add the rest of the liquids, agave syrup and coconut kefir to the strawberry.

If you don’t have agave syrup you can also substitute with maple syrup or raw honey. I ordered mine here from amazon and I’m pretty darn excited to experiment with it and some fruity iced teas this summer.

Add 1 tablespoon of Rhassoul Clay to the mix and mix thoroughly.

Because you may use different ingredients your mask consistency might vary. Add more water or clay to your mask to get the desired consistency.

To apply the mask, follow these steps:

1. Cleanse your face.

2. Apply the mask in an even layer.

3. Enjoy and leave the mask on for approx 5-10 minutes. Always remove BEFORE dry.

4. After your mask, toner and moisturize.

If you are new to face masks, I have a detailed guide on how to use dry clay masks here.

FAQ

What skin types is this mask good for?

This mask is good for all skin types.

I do recommend that sensitive complexions replace the strawberry with fruits that are not so astringent and more soothing.

Blueberries are a great option; they are loaded with anthocyanins which are powerful anti-inflammatory compounds as well as free radical scavengers^[12].

I can´t seem to find agave nectar, what should I use instead?

If agave nectar is not available, just swap it out for honey and even best if it´s the Manuka variety. Honey is loaded with oligosaccharides (sugars) that promote a prebiotic effect ^[18].

This golden elixir also has a long-standing tradition as an antimicrobial and wound healing agent^[18]. Read more about Manuka Honey in our Manuka Face Mask Recipe.

Does this face mask help with acne?

Will this mask help with papules, pustules, cysts, and nodules?

When those lesions are present, we are talking about an active infectious condition that extends deeper down into the skin. If you only have a few papules and pustules, I do not see why you shouldn´t be applying this mask.

However, do consult your physicianfirst if the affected area is literally riddled with them and you have developed the moderate to severe forms of acne —cysts and nodules—.

You should be particularly careful with lesions that are continuously oozing and raise the temperature of the skin.

If you still have questions about using clay, visit our clay mask FAQ’s.