Clay is one of the most popular natural materials added to cosmetics. It is especially valuable in products designed to improve the condition of the skin, reduce the appearance of cellulite and get rid of extra centimeters in the waist, hips and abdomen. Clay is also appreciated by visitors to beauty salons. Wraps with this natural material are very popular because they allow you to quickly and effectively remove several centimeters from problem areas, as well as significantly improve the condition of the skin.
The secret to the effectiveness of clay wraps is as follows. A mixture prepared from clay with the addition of various ingredients is applied to the skin, a plastic film is placed on top of it, and then the body is wrapped in a warm blanket. In this way it is possible to achieve the “sauna effect”. The skin warms up, the pores open, impurities and toxins come out of it. Meanwhile, beneficial substances from clay and other components of the wrapping mixture enter the epidermis.
The benefits of clay for losing weight and getting rid of cellulite can hardly be overestimated!
Heat improves blood microcirculation in the affected areas, accelerates metabolic processes, promotes the removal of fluid and decay products, due to which the “orange peel” tubercles are smoothed out, volumes are reduced, and the skin tightens, becomes smooth, elastic and pleasant to the touch.
Wraps are not suitable for everyone. They cannot be performed during pregnancy, problems with the cardiovascular system, cancer, or gynecological diseases. In addition, such procedures are contraindicated for varicose veins. If the skin in the treatment areas is damaged or irritated, the wrap will have to be postponed. In other cases, the procedure can and is even necessary.
To get a lasting effect, wraps should be performed in courses. The duration is determined individually, depending on the condition and the desired result. The minimum number of procedures is 10, the maximum is 25. You can pamper yourself with wraps no more than three times a week. The duration of the procedure is 30–60 minutes.
If your goal is to lose weight, and you are ready to put a little more effort into it, combine wraps with physical activity (at least minimal) and adjust your diet. 10–12 wraps can be done in a month. If at this time you should move more or sign up for fitness, exclude sweets and starchy foods from the menu, and by the time of your last cosmetic procedure you will have a completely new body!
Regular procedures with clay for a month will tighten and strengthen the skin
Features of using clay in care
Clay improves integumentary tissue and has a beneficial effect on the entire body. Peculiarities:
- When using a cold wrap, you should not prepare or pre-steam the skin.
- When hot, all areas are pre-steamed and scrubbed.
- The process should take from half an hour for cold and up to half an hour for hot wraps.
- The consistency of the composition is like thick sour cream or liquid porridge. Prepared only in ceramic, glass or earthenware containers. Under no circumstances should it be metal. It absorbs all nutrients, making the composition poorer.
- Before use, the clay is diluted in warm water. To improve nutritional qualities, water can be replaced with milk or green tea, which will provide additional hydration and nutrition.
- We wrap ourselves in cellophane film and cover ourselves with a towel and blanket. You can do several physical exercises during the session.
- Anti-cellulite clay wraps at home should be performed no more than 12 times a month.
- Using a clay composition is much more effective than applying masks or just oils and creams.
If you regularly do a clay wrap for cellulite, you can achieve the following:
- cleanse yourself of toxic substances and waste;
- reduce the likelihood of rashes and inflammation;
- get firm, elastic skin with increased tone;
- saturate the skin with nutrients, minerals and vitamins;
- improve blood circulation;
- accelerate cell regeneration, which successfully affects surface renewal and elimination of orange peel;
- slow down the aging process, the appearance of wrinkles, sagging.
Clay has a beneficial effect on the skin, makes it more tender, helps reduce redness, and relieves wounds, irritation and ulcers. It is possible to achieve excellent results at home.
What effect can you expect from wraps?
- Detoxification. Thanks to metabolic stimulation of skin cells, wraps remove toxins and breakdown products.
- Weight loss. Together with excess fluid, volumes go away, the body becomes more prominent.
- Exfoliation. The procedure includes the stage of removing dead skin flakes.
- Hydration. The oils in the mixture nourish, moisturize and soften the skin.
- Elasticity. Wraps contain acids, vitamins and antioxidants for skin elasticity and regeneration.
For a noticeable effect, wraps are done every other day in a course of 10-14 procedures.
Which clay is best for wraps?
The most commonly used are five types of clay, which have become very popular in cosmetology.
Blue clay has a beneficial effect on metabolic rate. Due to this, active burning of subcutaneous fat and removal of excess moisture from the body begins. It is famous for the presence of electrostatic electricity, which improves the permeability of cell membranes.
Black clay – contains quartz, iron and magnesium. It has a strong fat-burning effect, removes lumpy skin, making it elastic and toned. Effectively cleansing pores, stimulates tissue respiration, perfectly moisturizes and tones the epidermis.
White clay – includes manganese, nitrogen, aluminum and silicon. It is a powerful adsorbent composition. The elements contribute to additional cleansing of problem areas, increasing elasticity and smoothness.
Pink clay – has a strong rejuvenating effect, smoothes the skin texture and improves its structure. Cleanses, nourishes and tones the epidermis. Deeply moisturizes and tones the skin, accelerates metabolic processes in it.
Green clay – contains iron, potassium, copper and phosphorus. Rejuvenates the skin, slows down all aging processes, and actively removes impurities and toxins. An ideal remedy for regulating the sebaceous glands, stimulating blood circulation and relieving swelling.
The use of one type or another depends on personal characteristics. To select, you need to alternate compositions. For example, a week is done with one clay, then a week with another clay. Then you will find out which of them has the maximum effect on your body.
However, blue and black are considered the best. Blue, due to its silicon content, has the greatest regenerating and restorative effect. Contains electrostatic electricity, penetrates better into the body at the cellular level. This promotes the rapid removal of cellulite tubercles on the skin and good absorption of minerals.
Why does cellulite appear?
Scientifically speaking, cellulite is a change in subcutaneous fat tissue.
Where do you think it comes from? This is not always associated with excess weight, because “orange peel” often occurs in slender girls. It is not age related, so it can occur even in those under 18.
According to statistics, 85-90% of women and only 10-15% of men have cellulite, and the reasons for its appearance are usually:
- metabolic disease;
- low physical activity;
- a diet dominated by fast carbohydrates and saturated fats;
- hormonal changes;
- stress;
- poor blood circulation;
- weak production of natural skin collagen;
- dehydration.
As a rule, cellulite appears due to a combination of these factors, and its “favorite places” can be called the hips, buttocks, shoulders, stomach, and sides. From the inside it looks like this: subcutaneous fat increases over time, and connective tissue weakens. Because of this, part of the fat layer appears outward, through the mesh, forming tubercles. Gradually, the skin loses its elasticity, and the body produces less collagen, and cellulite appears more clearly.
Recipes
Clay + salt
Ingredients
- Clay
- Sea salt
- Tangerine essential oil – 3 drops
Preparation
Mix all components in equal proportions until smooth with a small amount of water. Tangerine oil has an excellent anti-cellulite effect; in combination with other ingredients, it saturates the skin with minerals and improves blood circulation. Before the procedure, it is useful to drink a cup of green tea.
Clay + essential oils
Ingredients
- Clay
- Aromatic oil (optional: citrus, tea tree, bergamot, mint, and others) – 3-7 drops
Preparation
Mix the main component with warm water until a paste-like mass is obtained. A couple of drops of essential oil, which has an anti-cellulite effect, is added to enrich it. If your skin is prone to dryness, you should add a spoonful of vegetable oil to the recipe to moisturize (almond, olive, sunflower, or flaxseed).
Anti-cellulite wraps
Caffeine, algae, minerals, plant extracts, essential oils - all these are active natural ingredients to combat cellulite. Based on them, various anti-cellulite cosmetics are produced: creams, gels, serums, wraps.
Wrapping is a procedure that will correct the figure and reduce cellulite due to the greenhouse effect. It is he who disperses lymph, removes excess water, and helps burn subcutaneous fat. Depending on the effect when applied, wraps are divided into cold and hot.
- Cold ones tighten pores, tone the skin and increase blood flow from the problem area. They are chosen for varicose veins, swelling, inflammation and other cases when warming up the body is undesirable.
- Hot wraps do exactly the opposite. When exposed to heat, the pores open, blood supply becomes more intense, and beneficial substances from the mixture are absorbed faster.
Blue clay + coffee
Ingredients
- Natural coarse ground coffee
- Blue clay
- Hot water
Preparation
Blue clay anti-cellulite wrap is considered one of the most effective. Therefore, we take the main component and mix it with coffee in equal proportions. Everything is poured with hot water until a thick consistency is obtained. Apply an even layer to the desired areas, cover with film and leave for half an hour.
Clay + cinnamon
Ingredients
- Clay
- Herbal decoction
- Cinnamon
Preparation
We dilute powder and ground cinnamon in a decoction of herbs (ratio 2 to 1). The procedure is carried out for no more than 30 minutes, because the wrap is hot and you will feel a burning and tingling sensation. To reduce discomfort, you can use equal parts of all components.
White clay + honey
Ingredients
- White clay
- Liquid honey
- Warm water
Preparation
The main components are mixed 2 to 1 (less in the proportion of honey). Until a thick paste forms, dilute everything with slightly warmed water. Apply for about one hour. Thanks to this recipe, the body will get rid of cellulite, become elastic and without “goose bumps”.
When procedures are contraindicated
Despite the beneficial properties of clay, there are contraindications, in the presence of which it is prohibited to do wraps, baths or other methods of home treatment. These include:
- Pregnancy;
- Varicose veins;
- Pathologies of the heart, liver or kidneys;
- The presence of open wounds, trophic ulcers on the surface of the skin;
- Various dermatitis;
- Oncology;
- Infectious pathologies.
If you are a member of groups that limit the use of clay, you should choose a different method of treatment. Otherwise, local inflammatory reactions and pain may occur, which will require surgical intervention. Also, after applying clay, some of its components are absorbed into the bloodstream, which can lead to systemic disorders.
Contraindications to the use of clay for treatment
Contraindications
In addition to its excellent effect on the body, clay wrap has a specific number of contraindications:
- vascular and heart diseases;
- breastfeeding and pregnancy;
- varicose veins;
- acute infections;
- menstruation;
- malignant formations;
- thyroid diseases;
- diseases of the reproductive organs;
- skin allergies, wounds and inflammation;
- elevated body temperature.
The most basic contraindications are given. But if you feel unwell, you don’t need to overpower yourself and do the procedure. This could make things even worse. Therefore, it is better to lie down and rest.
Remember, the causes of cellulite are poor sleep, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and lack of exercise. The sooner you understand this, the more likely it is that “orange peel” will not affect you, and your figure will be beautiful and slim.
Stages of cellulite
Doctors distinguish three stages of cellulite, you can determine yours right now:
- Squeeze the skin on your thigh and if bumps appear on it and the skin itself becomes hard, this is the first stage. Elasticity is lost, and toxins accumulate in the connective tissue. At this stage, nutritional correction and a light massage with anti-cellulite oil help.
- If the bumps on the skin are visible to the naked eye, then this is the second stage. The skin feels like rubber, and when squeezed you feel pain. At this stage, the blood vessels are compressed, resulting in fluid and fat being trapped under the skin. Here you need a more intense massage to improve blood circulation, a balanced diet, sports and regular cosmetic procedures: scrubbing, body wraps.
- If the skin is very dense and cold when compressed, scars and compactions appear - this is the third stage. Blood circulation is severely impaired, and nerve endings are pinched, so sensitivity is zero. But even at this stage, home anti-cellulite treatments can help, the main thing is to choose the right products.