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Oatmeal and Aloe Vera Super Soother Mask

by Nadine Shemilt, Miss Facial Clay Masks | Last updated Jun 23, 2020 | Published on May 25, 2020 | Recipes

All of us have had one of those days…

Yes, one of those days where our skin is mysteriously “moody” and doesn´t seem to “calm down” regardless of how many old wives´ remedies we smother it with.

Sometimes the “cutaneous fire” has nothing to do with “strange forces” that alter the “skin´s temper”, but with constant exposure to pollution, solar radiation, harsh chemicals, extreme cold and windy weather.

Speaking about the sun, we know all too well what could potentially happen when we neglect ourselves essential UV protection. Those burns are very hard to deal with (been there, done that) and the skin might never go back to normal.

Without a doubt, prevention is always the best course of action against all sorts of reactions and inflammatory conditions.

The problem is that there are situations where irritation could not be avoided, just minimized.

We all have different skin types and they are determined by genetics; that is, our very unique genetic makeup dictates the water vs oil ratio (acid mantle) that is found on the skin´s surface.

Sensitivity issues will arise whenever the ratio is too high on any of these components. There is a common misconception that only dry complexions can experience them.

Although they do have a natural tendency to develop an intense response, the other skin types are not completely flare-up proof.

Even though this might look like a no-way-out affair for all of us, we can keep it under control.

enter our Super Soother Pack.

Oatmeal and Aloe Vera Super Soother Mask 1

What’s inside the mask?

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

Aloe Vera Gel
Rhassoul (Moroccan) clay
Oatmeal
Carrot Seed Oil
Lavender Essential Oil

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

The Benefits, at a glance

You do not have to be an expert in order to understand that this pack is ultra therapeutic. I mean, our list of ingredients is shouting right out at your skin: we want to soothe you!

Ok, let´s start again with the ubiquitous rhassoul clay.

You might think that we have developed an obsession for this Moroccan clay. Well, not yet! It´s just that we can´t have enough of it.

It is hard to believe that something as simple as a clay could exert so many health benefits (and beautify the skin in the process).

The properties of rhassoul´s minerals and trace minerals are not merely limited to a detoxification action^[1]. Did you know that they can too strengthen the skin´s protecting barrier by restoring proper hydration levels?

Read more: Definitive Guide to Rhassoul Clay

This is where it gets really complicated. How do we summarize aloe vera´s and lavender´s goodness? We could write a whole encyclopedia about them!

The perennial aloe vera has been used for thousands of years due to its medicinal properties, all of which have been scientifically demonstrated.

Aloe´s mucopolysaccharides, amino acids and zinc bring about a potent anti-inflammatory effect and speed up tissue recovery^[2].

Eczema, psoriasis and wounds are just a few of the ailments that benefit from its application. Furthermore, aloe´s water content can promote skin integrity and help retain skin moisture ^[2].

I also like to combine bentonite in this aloe vera mask.

Moving onto lavender, this North African/Mediterranean herb is highly regarded for its skin properties. It’s commonly known for it’s anxiety reducing and calming effects.

Though, there are few studies, lavender oil has been found to reduce inflammatory responses and accelerate wound healing^[3].

And here comes the perfect skin polish: oatmeal! We all know that you can get baby´s skin after a good oat scrub.

Oatmeal is one of Nature´s ultimate soothing agents.

Oatmeal is one of a group of 20 distinctive phenolic compounds that have exhibited strong anti-itching and anti-inflammatory activity^[4].

Completing this recipe is carrot seed oil, which is extracted from wild carrots. This oil boasts inflammation fighting antioxidants and anti bacterial effects^[5].

Ingredients:

You will need:

1 tbps Rhassoul (Moroccan) clay (part of clay mask assortment pack)
3 tbps pure aloe vera juice (if you can’t get juice I also like this gel)
1/2 tsp blended oatmeal
1/2 tsp carrot seed oil
1 drop lavender essential oil

Oatmeal and Aloe Vera Super Soother Mask 2

How to Mix

Start with oatmeal. A lot of skincare recipes call for collodial oatmeal. You don’t need this, simply use rolled outs and put them through the spice grinder.

The main difference between ground oatmeal and collodial oatmeal is the fine grind.

Oatmeal and Aloe Vera Super Soother Mask 3

Next, we start with our dry ingredients.

It always works best for me mixing the dry ingredients first and then the liquid ones. That way I can determine if I need more of the latter.

I prefer to stick to wooden and glass tools for blending.

Start with 1/2 teaspoon oatmeal.

Oatmeal and Aloe Vera Super Soother Mask 4

Mix with 1 tablespoon of Moroccan Rhassoul Clay.

Rhassoul Clay is one of my 4 favorite types of clay, that’s why I chose it for our clay mask assortment pack.

Oatmeal and Aloe Vera Super Soother Mask 5

Add aloe vera gel, carrot seed oil, and lavender essential oil.

Mix together into a smooth consistency.

With a variation of ingredients, it might mix up differently for you. So you might need to add a bit of extra clay or aloe vera juice to get the consistency right.

Oatmeal and Aloe Vera Super Soother Mask 6

Application Techniques

If this is your first time with clay, here’s how to use a clay mask.

The basic clay mask application goes like this:

1. Cleanse

2. Mix and apply.

3. Relax and remove BEFORE the clay dries

4. Follow up with toner and moisturizer.

Remember to do a skin patch test first by applying the pack onto a small area first.

Or if you are curious about a particular detail:

Oatmeal and Aloe Vera Super Soother Mask 7

FAQ

Which Aloe Vera Gel do you recommend?

Any brand that contains the pure, cold pressed aloe vera will do. Preferably, it should be organic and non-GMO. This is my favorite.

Beware of those formulas that dilute the aloe vera with water. Aloe should come as the first ingredient and be free from nasty chemicals such as acrylates and parabens.

I have oily-combination skin, will carrot seed oil clog my pores?

By all means! The ingredients were carefully selected so as not to cause any clogged pores.

Combination skins are prone to irritation on the U-Zone (cheek and chin areas). Oily complexions, on the other hand, can suffer inflammation when the sebum production goes overboard.

I consider this pack to be a cosmetic first aid kit. Hopefully, you will never need to use it and, if you do, it will become your skin´s best friend.

I am allergic to essential oils, how can I replace the lavender oil?

Lavender oil is not something you would usually associate with an allergy, quite the opposite.

However, it does contain high concentrations of specific components — geraniol, linalool, linalylacetate— that could cause allergic contact dermatitis^[6].

In fact, a Japanese clinical research showed that 4% of patients with cosmetic allergy were sensitive to lavender oil. Back in 1997, this rate increased abruptly and experts have linked it to an increase in the practice of aromatherapy^[6].

To enjoy the properties of lavender without being exposed to the elevated levels of it’s allergenic compounds, you could add instead a spritz or two of lavender hydrosol.

A hydrosol, also called floral water, is the watery and aromatic byproduct of the hydro or steam-distillation process of botanical materials.

When compared to the oil lavender hydrosol is remarkably less potent, hence the likelihood of a reaction is minimal^[7] —provided, of course, you are only allergic to essential oils and not to lavender—. If the latter is your case, steer clear of lavender in all its forms: tea, extract, essential oil, hydrosol and even the plant for decorative purposes.