A mud pack makes for a great facial and can be found at all the best spas and resorts. As the mud dries on the skin, it shrinks and tightens the skin to exfoliate it while drawing out impurities and dirt. Mud also makes a great full-body treatment to relieve aches and pains. While any heavy clay dirt has the ability to make a good mud pack, not all mud is created equal. Follow these steps to ensure that you are using the good dirt.
Use only clean mud. Although that may sound like a contradiction in terms, spa-style mud is not your common, ordinary, backyard dirt. Clay that is found in many backyards can be used, but it should be baked at a temperature of at least 350 degrees for two hours to destroy bacteria.
Buy the best. Better than your backyard dirt, start with the types of dirt that spas and resorts use to create their mud treatments. Volcanic ash and bentonite clay are available online for easy purchase and make a fantastic base for a mud pack. Bentonite clay is especially well-known for its ability to draw out impurities from the body both inside and out.
Start mixing your dirt with purified water. Tap water is not as good as distilled water since it can contain impurities, as well as chemicals like chlorine.
Use just enough water to make a stiff mud that is firm to spread.
Apply the mud pack to your face or entire body and allow the mud to dry. Once dry, let sit for an additional 10 to 20 minutes and then wash off with warm water.
Add baking soda for additional cleansing or as a boil treatment. Add oatmeal to treat acne.
Writer Bio
Tami Parrington is the author of five novels along with being a successful SEO and content writer for the past three years. Parrington's journalism experience includes writing for eHow on medical, health and home-related topics as well as writing articles about the types of animals she has raised for years.