Kaolin Clay Benefits & Uses [The Definitive Guide]

Our “definitive” guide of Kaolin Clay is super thorough, so feel free to skip to one of these sections below: 

• What is Kaolin Clay?
• Kaolin Clay Buying Guide
• Benefits of Kaolin Clay
• What are the everyday uses of Kaolin Clay
• What are the side effects of Kaolin Clay?

What is Kaolin Clay?

Kaolin clay is a mineral called Kaolinte, one of the most common minerals.

It has been nicknamed White China Clay, but can also be called Kao-ling, after a mountain in Jiangxi province of China where Kaolin has been well known.  The name Kaolin is derived from the word Gaoling, meaning high ridge.

Used by the chinese in porcelain products, it was first discovered by a french missionary and sent to europe in 1727.  It’s considered one of the most important prehistoric clays in pottery.

Despite being named China Clay, Kaolin can be mined all around the world, including these countries (wikipedia):

Top 3 Producers:

• United States
• Brazil
• United Kingdom
• Malaysia
• Pakistan
• Vietnam
• Bulgaria
• Bangladesh
• France
• Iran
• Germany
• India
• Australia
• South Korea
• China
• Czech REpublic,
• Spain
• South Africa

How is Kaolin Clay Made?

Kaolin clay is simple a mineral called kaolinite.  The 4 types of minerals in the kaolinite group are dickite, kaolinite, nacrite, and halloysite.

Kaolin clay is a 1:1 clay mineral (read more about clay structures in how clay works).

The Bentonite is from the smectite family of minerals. It’s a super small particulate, less than 2 micro meters.  That’s the smallest of the 3 particles in dirt, sand or silt.

For kaolin clay to form, chemical weathering of aluminum silicates needs to take place.

It’s often mined beneath the earth surface, here’s what a quarry looks like:

When it’s mined, it’s often in a semi hydrated state and can be removed from the earth in chunks like these:

Using a sundried or heat method, the kaolin clay is cleaned and dried.  Then it’s milled into a fine powder and looks like this beautiful fluffly clay:

The powder above is from our facial clay assortment pack, sourced from France.

What are the minerals in Kaolin Clay?

The Kaolinite mineral is made up of hydrated aluminum silicate using this empirical formula Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄.  Those minerals in the formula are:

• Silicon (Si₂)
• Aluminum (Al₂)
• Oxygen (O₅) and Hydroxide (OH)₄

To be considered kaolin clay, the clay musts contain 10-95% of the mineral kaolinite. (source).

The kaolin clay in our clay assortment pack has a 85% kaolinite mineral concentrate.  Our kaolin clay is mined in France.

What are the Benefits of Kaolin Clay?

With anything you put on your skin you should know the “what”, the “how” and the “why”.  The how is a much more vast topic which we cover in the science of how clay works.

These benefits are the “why” for the reasons to use kaolin clay:

1. Cleansing

While Kaolin clay is not antibacterial in that it does not kill the bacteria, it will adsorb it from your skin. Kaolin also absorbs excess oils, secrations, and toxins from the skin.  Most types of clay do a really good job at cleansing your skin.

As a natural cleanser, kaolin is able to gently remove impurities from your skin.  Commercial cleansers often contain harsh surfactants to cleanse your skin.  Some commercial cleansers are also very alkaline and can cause an imbalance to your skin’s natural acid mantle protective barrier.

Pro tip: if you have oily skin kaolin clay also makes a great daily cleanser.

2. Exfoliating

The aluminum silicate in kaolin clay is not fully absorbed by water.  This results in a gentle exfoliation removing dead skin cells from your skin.

Pro tip: apply a kaolin body or face mask with your fingers in wide circular motions to exfoliate. Always massage your skin “up and out”, never in a downward motion.

3. Acne Fighting

The combination of adsorbing impurities from your pores and excess oils from your skin fight some of the main causes of acne.

Acne is often caused by dead skin cells, dirt, or oils getting trapped in your pores.  Keeping your pores cleansed of these impurities fights off future acne causing bacteria.

4. Reduce Excess Shine

AKA oily skin.

All clay are pretty darn effective for adsorbing excess oil from your skin.

Kaolin clay is not as effective as bentonite clay for absorbing excess oils.  It gently removes excess oil from your skin while not absorbing your skin’s natural oils.  This is why most people don’t experience a red face after using kaolin clay.

By removing excess oils, it helps your skin to regulate the oil production.  Say goodbye to the 5 o’clock oily skin shine.

5. Improve Skin Circulation

There’s not much definitive research that proves this benefit.  However just like dry brushing and facial massages, clay is thought to increase skin circulation.

Stimulating your skin lymph nodes by gentle massages and removing dead skin cells improve oxygen and enhance delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the skin cells.

Kaolin clay is a gentle exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and while applying with your fingers a gentle massage promotes skin circulation.

Proper blood and lymph circulation in your skin is very important for healthy skin.

Pro tip: take an extra minute every morning and night during your skin cleanser application to gently massage and stimulate that circulation.