What is it? | A heavy, fine grey clay (Calcium Bentonite). |
Appearance | A fine grey powder with light and dark flecks. |
Texture | Smooth and dusty. |
Scent | Dusty and rather unremarkable. |
pH | ~9 |
Solubility | Insoluble |
Why do we use it in formulations? | It’s a strong clay that’s amazing at cleaning out pores. |
Do you need it? | Bentonite is pretty weird—some people love it and some people don’t. I could live without it. |
Strengths | It’s a very strong clay with a really unique texture when it gets wet—it gets all jelloid and is way more absorbent than other clays. |
Weaknesses | It has a high pH that can irritate more sensitive skin. |
Alternatives & Substitutions | It’s really unique and weird; it’s not a good substitute for other clays, and other clays are not a good substitute for it. |
How to Work with It | I mostly use it for face masks. |
Storage & Shelf Life | Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, |
Tips, Tricks, and Quirks | Check out this experiment to learn about how absorbent and weird it is!
You’ll commonly read that bentonite clay should never, ever come into contact with metal because it carries a charge. This is not true. |
Recommended starter amount | 100g (3.3oz) |
Where to Buy it | Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier or Amazon. |