Why Mindy Kaling (and 13,000 Amazon Reviewers) Are Obsessed With This $10 Clay Mask
This miracle clay has been a top-seller for years.
When you find a beauty product that actually works, and works well, you want to share it with the world. And in 2015, that’s exactly what Mindy Kaling did. The Mindy Project actress raved about her experience with an Aztec Indian healing clay ($9.95, Amazon) on Instagram, saying it was “fun to mix and really worked.”
Cut to five years later, and the product has taken off like none other, with everyone from Khloé and Kourtney Kardashian to Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart singing its praises. They’re not the only ones: Aztec Secret’s miracle clay has been given an awe-inducing number of five-star reviews from Amazon customers — more than 13,000 and counting!
So what’s so special about this simple powder that’s been dubbed “the world’s most popular facial” by the brand? It all comes down to one natural ingredient that’s been used in beauty routines dating back to the reign of Cleopatra: 100 percent pure calcium benzonite clay.
The brand gets its clay from Death Valley, California, where it’s dried in the sun for up to six months.
According to Medical News Today, this nature-harvested ingredient is loaded with calcium, magnesium, and iron that may have the power to absorb oils and bacteria from your skin.
Kaling seems to agree, noting in her social media post that it worked wonders for her oily skin. “It works!” she assured. “I don’t get paid by them or anything!”
Reviewers also praise it for its ability to clear up acne. Wrote one, “I have had a troubled patch of super small bumps … on my forehead for about a year now and this reduced the appearance overnight!!”
Added another, “This stuff is amazing for active cystic acne breakouts. Mix with apple cider vinegar for best results. Made a huge difference in just one treatment.”
Customers also note that this stuff works for anti-aging benefits: “This is the best mask!” one customer gushed. “Used it back in the day for my acne and now … I’m using it for age prevention! I have a lot of dry skin issues including psoriasis … and this works wonders!”
In addition to facials and acne spot treatments, it can also be used for body wraps, clay baths, foot soaks, insect bites, to name a few.
To use, simply mix enough powder with apple cider vinegar ($12.09, Amazon) at a 1:1 ratio to get a clay-like mixture or consistency several for five to 10 minutes roughly three times a week. It’s also recommended to do a forearm patch test to ensure no allergic reactions occur. (Slight redness for up to 30 minutes is normal.)
We, for one, will gladly deal with a little redness if we get the same results as this woman: “This product is AMAZING. It’s an official Holy Grail product of mine,” she wrote. “I ideally use it once a week, and it feels as if angels themselves have taken the time to delicately renew my skin with the magical touch of their wings.”
If that’s not a solid enough endorsement for you, we just don’t know what is!
Where to buy: $9.95, Amazon
