Do Acne and Pores annoy you? Switch to Skin Friendly Clay – Multani Mitti

What is Multani Mitti?

India, the motherland of the ancient medical system of Ayurveda, is a place with tons of DIY beauty secrets. A science much ahead of its time, Ayurveda mentions various botanical ingredients to treat the simple as well as the complex problems of the human body. Although invented to keep the body healthy and prevent diseases, Ayurveda quickly branched into the land of beauty. The study of natural and botanical ingredients turned out to give an understanding of their effects on enhancing beauty, amongst the many other health benefits those ingredients have. 

Even in a land and an era of no cosmetics, beauty thrived in India. However, the world has gone global and cosmetics are available for all skin types and issues. The grandmother-approved home remedies have taken a back seat and we are running around, trying to find the product(s) that heal the skin and make us look spotless, radiant and flawless. This search often leads us to the use of multiple products and the compromising of the skin's barrier. Once the skin barrier is compromised, you face plenty of skin-related problems like excessive oil production, visible pores and acne. Now it is completely up to you, to either stick to cosmetics to help with such problems or take the natural route and find home remedies for the same. The excessive use of cosmetics laden with parabens may make the problems worse and compromise your skin's barrier. If you do decide to treat your skin issues using natural ingredients, consider using Multani mitti. It is a multipurpose product that has exceptional cooling and healing properties. 

Multani mitti, as the name suggests, is mud from Multan. Multani mitti English translation is Fuller's Earth. It is a common household item in India. Loved by teens, mothers and grandmothers alike, Multani mitti is a multipurpose product. It is a natural cleanser that cleanses the face, body as well as hair. 

It is known to remove dirt and oil from the skin, making it a boon for people with oily skin. The skin has pores which produce oil, to keep the skin moisturized. People with pores that produce little or no oil have dry skin, people with pores that produce little oil have normal skin and people with pores that produce excessive oil have oily skin. The excessive oil sits on the skin and attracts dust. The dust gets trapped in the pores and causes acne. The excess sebum produced in the pores is absorbed by the Multani mitti with its deep cleaning properties. This helps prevent acne, whiteheads and blackheads. 

Benefits of Using Multani Mitti

As stated above, Multani mitti is a multipurpose product with many benefits. Its clay-like properties pull the oil out of your pores thereby deeply cleansing the skin. A clean skin, without excess oil, is less likely to trap dirt in the pores and develop acne. 

When the skin produces excessive oil, it sits on the surface of the skin, which makes it appear as if the pores are huge. Clean pores without oil make the pores look smaller and give the skin a smooth appearance. 

Multani mitti benefits include a cooling effect which works wonders for treating sunburns. It has slight bleaching properties that help with hyperpigmentation and lightening dark spots. Regular application of Multani mitti gives you an even-toned and brighter skin. 

The cooling properties also help calm down irritated skin. Stress, pollution and cosmetic products can sometimes compromise the skin barrier and cause irritation and acne. Applying Multani mitti to the face is a great home remedy that can soothe the skin and repair the barrier. 

Multani mitti is a completely natural product that is free of toxins. There is a tsunami of cosmetic products available in the market that are loaded with toxins that may harm your skin. Many brands do not mention a complete list of their ingredients, so you never really know what you're putting on your skin. 

Multani mitti has the properties of clay and it pulls the oil from the pores to the surface of the skin. It also regularizes the production of oil and is a boon to oily skin in the summer. 

The skin tends to sweat a lot during summer and monsoon, due to hot and humid conditions. That with the oil and dirt makes the skin a playground for bacterial infestation. Multani mitti cleanses the skin and is a great blessing for those hot and humid months. 

Points to Remember

As many Multani mitti uses there may be, there are still a few points that need to be taken into consideration before applying to your face. 

Multani mitti is a completely natural product without any parabens. However, each person's skin is different and people with sensitive skin may react to it. It is advised that you do a patch test on the nape of your neck or your forearm before you completely apply it to your face. 

It is said that talking while having Multani mitti on your face may cause wrinkles. It is an old wives' tale that does not have much evidentiary support but it is not very difficult to stay silent as most masks are to be applied and kept for 10-15 minutes.

Multani mitti has properties that soothe the skin with its cooling effect. It is advised that it should not be applied when you are suffering from a cold because the cooling effect can mess up your health and make your cold worse. 

One of the various Multani mitti uses includes that it is a natural face cleanser, which means it is meant to clean your skin but it is mostly applied as a face mask and conventionally face masks are applied on a clean face. If you are going the green route, wash your face with an ayurvedic face wash and then apply Multani mitti as the face pack to give your skin a deep cleanse. 

As stated above, Multani mitti is known to be a deep face cleanser which pulls out oil and controls its production. It works well for oily skin but it may make dry skin drier. People with dry skin should remember to add moisturizing ingredients to their Multani mitti face mask and moisturize well after using it. 

DIY Recipes for Multani Mitti

The sky's the limit when you choose to use Multani mitti in your skincare routine. It is useful for a myriad of skin issues like acne, pigmentation and oiliness, etc. It may be mixed with other ingredients that also tackle different or the same issues to give your skin the truth, love and care it needs. Here are a few DIY recipes for whenever your skin feels under the weather:

Multani Mitti for Acne

Ingredients Required:

• Multani Mitti- 2 tsp. 
• Orange Peel Powder- 1 tsp
• Grinded Neem Leaves/Neem Powder- 1 tsp
• Water/Rose Water- As required. 

Add all the ingredients to a bowl and mix until you get a smooth paste. Apply on a clean face after using an ayurvedic face wash of your choice. Wash it off with water when completely dry. Moisturise using aloe vera gel or any moisturiser that suits your skin. 

Orange peel powder is rich in vitamin C, which deep cleanses the skin and removes excess oil. It helps to prevent and treat breakouts. 

One of the most common types of acne is bacterial acne. Neem has antibacterial properties and antioxidants it has help with dark spots and acne scars. 

Rose water calms and soothes your skin. It is known to be suitable for all skin types and is very effective in hydrating the outer layers of the skin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that help with inflamed skin and soothes the discomfort caused by acne. 

Multani Mitti for Glowing Skin

Ingredients required:

• Multani mitti 2 tsp. 
• Curd 1 tsp. 
• Honey 1 tsp. 
• Turmeric- ¼ tsp 

Put all the ingredients into a bowl and mix until a smooth paste is formed. Apply on a clean face using a brush (turmeric may stain your fingers) after using an ayurvedic face wash of your choice. Wash it off with water when completely dry. Moisturise with a product that suits your skin. 

The lactic acid in curd helps exfoliate the skin, thereby helping with dark spots and hyperpigmentation and the fats in it keep the skin moisturised. 

Honey is very moisturising and has lightening properties so it helps with tan removal and dark spots. 

Turmeric is the magic ingredient that Indian brides have been using for centuries. Turmeric paste is applied to an Indian bride's body for a month or so, every day to give her that glow. This practice has been around for centuries. 

Multani Mitti for Even Skin Tone

Ingredients required:

• Multani mitti- 2 tsp
• Besan/Gram Flour- 1tsp
• Sandalwood powder- 1 tsp
• Cold milk- as required

Make a fine paste using all the ingredients in a bowl and apply it on a cleansed face. Wash it off once it dries. 

Besan or gram flour is a natural exfoliant. It scrubs away dead skin and leaves you with new and smooth skin. 

Sandalwood inhibits the production of melanin and has amazing cooling properties. It helps in the treatment of hyperpigmentation and gives you overall even-toned skin. 

The fats present in the milk are deeply moisturizing and nourishing to the skin. Using milk makes sure you don't dry your skin out. 

Multani Mitti for Dry Skin

Ingredients required:

• Multani mitti- 2 tsp
• Aloe Vera Gel- 1 tsp
• Amla Powder- 1 tsp
• Olive oil- 1 tsp

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and add water until you achieve a smooth consistency. Apply on the face and wash after it is completely dry. Moisturize well. 

Just like Multani mitti, Aloe Vera gel is a multifarious product. It has countless benefits and uses. It soothes and hydrates the skin. It also helps immensely with tan removal and gives you a brighter skin tone

Amla powder is packed with antioxidants and is a great source of Vitamin C. It has mildly exfoliating properties that help in getting rid of dead skin cells. The antioxidants also help in treating the damage caused by the sun. 

Olive oil is one of the most skin-friendly and moisturizing oils. It acts as a second barrier for dry and cracked skin. People with dry skin too may have a compromised barrier. Olive oil will help them restore skin health by moisturizing it. Dry skin is more prone to suffer from premature wrinkles, and keeping it moisturized would help to prevent these issues. 

Parting Note

To sum things up, Multani mitti is indeed a magical solution to all your skin problems, when it is mixed with other kitchen secrets that tackle various skin issues. It is calming, soothing, and helpful in reducing oil production and preventing acne. There is a reason that this is grandmother approved and has continued to be a part of our lives for as long as we can remember, and we are here for it. It is natural, organic, and free from toxins and preservatives, which make it a perfect match for sensitive skin. The fact that it can be mixed with anything only adds to the beauty that this multipurpose product has. Apply it regularly in a manner that suits you best and moonwalk to the skin of your dreams! 

Recommended Products by Blue Nectar: 

Shubhr Vitamin C Face Serum with Hyaluronic Acid for Dark Spot Correction and Glowing Skin

Shubhr Volcanic Clay Face Mask with Green Tea Deep Cleansing Face Pack for Glowing Skin