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Attaining flawless skin doesn’t require frequent salon visits or extravagant treatments. Instead, natural ingredients like Multani mitti can provide a safe and cost-effective solution to various skin concerns. Whether you aim for a clear complexion or wish to restore your skin’s original tone, incorporating Multani mitti face packs into your skincare routine can be beneficial. In this discussion, we’ll explore how it effectively addresses common skin issues, including acne, scars, and pigmentation, offering a simple yet powerful approach to skincare.
What is Multani Mitti?
Multani Mitti, or Fuller’s Earth, is a mineral-rich, porous, colloidal clay called calcium bentonite. Though it looks precisely like clay, it has finer grains and a much higher water content than regular clay. The mitti can be brown, white, yellow, and green (1). It contains plenty of aluminum-magnesium silicate, which makes it highly absorbent. Due to its strong astringent properties, it works great for oily and acne-prone skin. Multani mitti also deep cleanses the skin by removing whiteheads, blackheads, etc., and decreases the size of large skin pores. It also cools down the skin by relieving acne-related inflammation while treating several other skin conditions. You can get fresher, tighter, and brighter skin by including Multani mitti in your regular face packs.
Multani mitti (the mud from Multan) is named after Multan – a city in Pakistan. The lime clay was first extracted from this place in the 18th century and got extreme popularity for its amazing cleansing properties. Initially, it was used only for cleansing and replenishing old monuments. However, the scenario changed gradually with the revelation of its cosmetics benefits.
Benefits of Multani Mitti for Skin
Multani mitti has distinct properties, making it a traditional base ingredient in homemade skin care recipes. In addition, it has now become a standard component in several herbal products available on the market. Following are the benefits offered by the clay for our skin:
- Multani mitti is an excellent natural exfoliant. It gently sloughs away the dead cells from the skin’s surface and reveals the fresh layer of cells underneath to make the skin glow (2).
- The clay cleanses the skin deeply and opens up clogged pores, which helps lighten blemishes by reducing issues like blackheads and whiteheads (3).
- Regularly applying Multani mitti may remove excess oil, dirt, and grime from the skin, keeping acne and pimples at bay.
- The soothing properties of the ingredient effectively reduce acne-related inflammation, sunburns, etc.
- The amazing toning effects of the clay can make your skin even and smooth by shrinking the pores in size. In addition, it improves the overall texture of your skin.
- Massage onto the skin promotes blood circulation and nourishes the skin. Therefore, the skin looks healthy and radiant.
- Multani mitti does not cause discomfort or irritation during cleansing, exfoliating, or toning. Hence, people with sensitive skin can use it easily.
Being an easily available clay, Multani mitti is truly inexpensive. So, it is considered as a great alternative to store-bought pricey skincare products.
Multani Mitti For Different Skin Types
Multani Mitti’s oil-absorbing quality efficiently clears excess oil, eliminating dirt and impurities from the skin. It is crucial in regulating oil production preventing breakouts and pimples. Additionally, its exfoliating properties contribute to removing dead cells and enhancing blood circulation. To counterbalance its drying effect, it is advisable to incorporate other ingredients when using Multani mitti in skincare routines. This ensures a well-rounded approach, addressing various skin concerns while maintaining a balanced and nourished complexion.
Dry Skin – Always add hydrating ingredients to your Multani mitti face packs if you have dry skin. Honey or cucumber can be good options.
Oily Skin – Add sandalwood powder/gram flour to your Multani mitti mix if you have oily skin. Since Multani mitti has a drying effect, you can apply it directly without adding additional ingredients.
Sensitive Skin – Add rose water to your Multani mitti pack if you have sensitive skin. Do a patch test to avoid any unwanted results.
Normal Skin – Mix rose water/yogurt/egg whites into your Multani mitti packs.
Best Multani Mitti Face Packs to Try at Home
Multani mitti itself has terrific benefits for our skin. But when combined with other skin-friendly natural ingredients, it works even better. Here are a few recipes of homemade Multani mitti face packs for different skin concerns, such as acne, scars, and pigmentation:
1. Multani Mitti, Orange Peel Powder, and Lemon Juice
(Recommended for Acne)
Mix two teaspoons of Multani mitti with one teaspoon of orange peel powder. Add some water and a teaspoon of lemon juice to make a smooth paste. Apply all over your skin and leave until it tightens around the skin. Then, wash it off with cold water and pat the skin dry. Multani Mitti dries out excess sebum in the skin, while the antibacterial properties in orange peel powder help fight acne-causing bacteria. Try this face mask weekly to get the best results.
2. Multani Mitti and Neem Leaves
(Recommended for Acne)
Prepare a mixture of 2 teaspoons of Multani mitti and one teaspoon of neem leaf powder. Make a paste by adding some water to it. Apply this to your skin uniformly and leave it on to dry. Neem is antibacterial and anti-fungal by nature. It controls the overproduction of sebum in the skin and fights breakouts, thereby giving you acne-free skin. Weekly use of this face pack can give you noticeable results. (4)
3. Multani Mitti, Sandalwood Powder, and Turmeric
(Recommended for Scar)
Combine two teaspoons of Multani mitti with a pinch of turmeric and 1/2 teaspoon of sandalwood powder. Make a paste using water and lemon juice or milk, depending on whether you have oily or dry skin. Apply this paste to your face and allow it to dry. Wash off once it dries up. Turmeric and sandalwood help lighten the marks of scars (5) (6), while milk helps lighten the complexion. Using this face pack once a week will give your skin a healthy glow and effectively remove all the blemishes.
Also Read – 10 Best Acne Soaps Available In India to Keep Your Pesky Acne Away
4. Multani Mitti, Carrot, Honey, and Cinnamon
(Recommended for Scar)
Take one tablespoon of Multani mitti, grated or pulped carrot, a pinch of cinnamon, and one teaspoon of honey. Mix them all to form a homogeneous mixture. Apply all over the face and allow it to dry. Then, wash it off with water and pat dry your skin. Both honey and cinnamon help lighten scars, while the carrot promotes skin rejuvenation. Also, Multani mitti tones up the skin. Hence, using this pack gives you an overall even skin tone.
5. Multani Mitti and Tomato
(Recommended for Pigmentation/Blemish)
When used along with Multani mitti, tomatoes help remove blemishes and pigmentation. To make this face mask, grate half a tomato and add one tablespoon of Multani mitti. Mix them well to form a smooth, lump-free paste. Apply it all over the face and let it dry. Then, wash off with tepid water. Regularly using this pack will lighten your pigmentation and give you flawlessly even-toned skin.
6. Multani Mitti and Potato Juice
(Recommended for Pigmentation/Blemish)
Just like tomatoes, potatoes are also great for blemishes. Grate a whole potato and extract its juice. Do not throw away the gratings. First, wet your face and scrub it with the potato gratings. Next, mix the potato juice with one tablespoon of Multani mitti and make a fine paste. Apply this paste all over your face and let it dry. You can also use some potato gratings on your eyes to remove dark circles. Wash it off and wipe dry. Continuous use of this pack will help you get rid of blemishes in a few weeks.
Tips to Use Multani Mitti Face Packs
Preparing and applying Multani mitti face packs is easy. But knowing a few simple tips is essential to maximize your efforts. Check them out below:
- Adding other ingredients to Multani mitti helps in balancing its drying effect. So, please do not use it alone.
- Always take a plastic mixing bowl to prepare Multani mitti face packs.
- Whip all ingredients nicely into a smooth, uniform paste without lumps or bubbles.
- The consistency of the packs should be medium. Make sure that they are neither too tight nor too runny.
- Before trying any Multani mitti face pack, do a patch test to know whether you are allergic to it.
- Wash the plastic bowl right after applying the pack. Otherwise, the mitti will harden and stick to the bowl.
Adverse Effects of Multani Mitti
Generally, no severe side effect is associated with topical applications of Multani mitti. However, if you have sensitive skin, you should be careful while using the ingredients in your face packs. It may cause mild to moderate skin irritation, often experienced during patch tests.
Summary:
Multani mitti is the clay obtained from the city of Multan in Pakistan. It is a highly absorbent clay with great cleansing and exfoliating properties, which make it a reliable ingredient in traditional skincare practices. Multani mitti face packs are used for treating a number of skin troubles including acne, scars, and pigmentation. All you need to do is follow a few simple homemade Multani mitti recipes and some essential tips to get a toned, bright, and flawless skin.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can We Use Multani Mitti Face Pack Daily?
Yes, of course. Being a natural clay, Multani mitti can be used on the skin daily as a face pack. However, if you have dry/sensitive skin, you can use it once a week after adding hydrating ingredients like honey or cucumber.
Does Multani Mitti Make Skin Fair?
Multani mitti eliminates dead skin cells and stimulates blood flow throughout the skin, which gives the skin a fresh, healthy, and glowing look. As a result, your overall complexion becomes brighter and fairer.
Does Multani Mitti Expire?
Multani mitti does not have any specific shelf life. Hence, without worry, you can use it even 1-2 years after purchasing.
Can We Mix Aloe Vera Gel with Multani Mitti?
When hydrating and moisturizing dry skin, a mixture of Multani mitti and aloe vera gel works like a wonder.
Can Multani Mitti Remove Dark Circles?
Yes, Multani mitti can remove dark circles from the under-eye area. Mix it with freshly extracted cucumber juice and apply it to the affected part of the skin for 10-15 minutes daily.
References:
- “Fuller’s Earth – Medical Countermeasures Database,” chemm.nlm.nih.gov
- “In-House Preparation and Standardization of Herbal Face Pack,” pdfs.semanticscholar.org
- “Formulation and Evaluation of Cosmetic Herbal Face Pack for Glowing Skin,” ijrap.net
- “Neem (Azadirachta indica): Prehistory to Contemporary Medicinal Uses to Humankind,” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence,” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Sandalwood Album Oil as a Botanical Therapeutic in Dermatology,” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
