Khloe Kardashian and Mindy Kaling swear by it, but is their $11 clay mask all it's cracked up to be? It's not just celebrities who've gone wild for Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay. The beauty product has received more than 10,000 five-star reviews on Amazon and is only growing in popularity.
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But we wanted to hear from an A-list skincare expert whether this product is as fabulous as it's made it out to be or if it's just a fad. And who better to give LIVESTRONG the low down on the mask than Hollywood esthetician Shani Darden — whose impressive clientele includes Chrissy Teigen, Jessica Alba, Rosie Huntington Whitely and Suki Waterhouse, just to name a few.
What Is Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay?
First, let's explain what this thing actually is. Considering the company describes their clay as "the world's most powerful facial and beauty product," there's a lot riding on it.
The clay is extracted from Death Valley, Calif., and made from 100-percent natural calcium bentonite clay — the lone ingredient on the back of the tub. "It's one of the strongest clays to draw out impurities and reduce inflammation," Darden says. "A lot of clay masks have multiple ingredients, not just one single clay like this one."
It promises deep pore cleansing, is fragrance-free and contains no additives or animal products. The Aztec Clay comes in a powdered form and needs to be mixed with water or apple cider so that it can be spread on the skin. Use the mask once a week for no more than five 10 minutes at a time.
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Celebrities Who Love Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
Khloe Kardashian gushed about the product on her former website writing: "Three words for you: Indian. Healing. Clay. Supposedly Cleopatra used clay to get a deep pore cleansing, so if it's good enough for her, you know it's good enough for me."
In Mindy Kaling's down-to-earth and honest review on Instagram, the actress said it packed an unexpected punch for the price. "Sometimes I put glop on my face for beauty reasons," she wrote. "This one was cheapo and fun to mix, and really worked." She added that it was particularly beneficial for her "mega oily skin."
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And 'Riverdale' star Lili Reinhardt hails the "super cheap" product for helping her cystic acne and said it was recommended to her by model Madeline Hill.
But Does Aztec Clay Work?
"Clay masks are beneficial because they draw impurities out of the skin and absorb excess oil," Darden says. "I likes clay masks in general for their pore-clearing benefits."
And who reaps the most benefits from a beauty product like this? "Acne prone and oily skin types will benefit from a clay mask," she says. "However, it's also a great option if you need to spot treat, so all skin types could benefit from it if they're experiencing a breakout or just overall pore congestion."
So does it get Darden's seal of approval? "There aren't any other skincare treatments or products I can think of that could produce the same results at that price," she says. "You may instantly be able to see a reduction in inflammation and clearer pores."
Darden's A-List Skincare Tips
Since Darden's verdict is an overwhelming thumbs up, we asked her for some more tips to get A-list skin on a budget, and she shared some of her skincare wisdom.
"A great skincare routine of the right products for your skin type is the most important thing," she says. "Skincare doesn't need to be complicated to be effective! A gentle cleanser, regular exfoliation, a treatment serum for what your skin needs, along with daily use of sunscreen are all a great starting point."
If you do have a little extra cash to invest in your beauty regime, she has a few recommendations. "Serums are the best to splurge on, because they contain the highest amount of active ingredients," she says. "Texture Reform is a great multi-tasking Retinyl Palmitate serum that boosts collagen in the skin, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, minimizes pigmentation and smoothes the texture of your skin."
And it's not just what you put on your skin that can benefit it, she vouches for supplements being on trend in 2019, too. "One of the best ways to care for your skin is by nourishing it from the inside out," she says. "I love the Lumity Day and Night Supplements because they contain antioxidants and omegas, which are essential for youthful, healthy skin!"
We can feel our skin glowing already!