Skin benefits of Dead Sea mud
History of Dead Sea mud in skincare
Which skincare ingredient did Cleopatra deem in such high regard that she went to great lengths to claim the exclusive rights for the region that produced it? Did you guess Dead Sea mud?
The Dead Sea is considered the largest “Natural Spa” in the world with tens of thousands visitors each year soaking in the therapeutic water.
Nearly 10 times saltier than the ocean, the Dead Sea was the site of one of the world’s first health resorts established during the reign of King Herod the Great. To say its therapeutic properties have long been known is an understatement. King Solomon gifted the Queen of Sheba with Dead Sea salts harvested from its shores.
Skin beneficial properties of Dead Sea mud
Dead Sea mud stimulates, tightens, & brightens the skin imbuing it with a fresh glow. Rich in a variety of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, & potassium along with a number of mico-nutrient minerals such as strontium and organic matter.
Magnesium reduces inflammation in allergic contact dermatitis. Potassium can help fortify the skin’s natural barrier. These minerals contribute to Dead Sea mud’s ability to moisturize the skin, helping your skin retain water. Minor minerals like strontium are also found both in Dead Sea mud and exhibits a powerful anti-inflammatory ability for the skin. The anti-inflammatory properties of many of these minerals make Dead Sea mud powerful for acne prone skin.
Dead Sea mud also helps boost blood circulation giving you a lit from within look. Increased blood flow also helps your skin clear toxins quicker and receive nourishment faster.
The organic matter in Dead Sea mud is mostly composed of humic acid. Humic acid is a complex mixture of a number of molecules with phenolic substances and sugar-like compounds linked into a large molecule capable of holding onto water. Dead Sea mud’s ability to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and soften skin is likely largely due to its high humic acid content.
Dead Sea mud also contains clay, dolomite, gypsum, kaolinite, pyrite (Fool’s Gold), quartz, carbonates, & feldspar.
Therapeutic clays (bentonite, illite, kaolin, and zeolite) have several properties making them useful. The include their structure, specific surface area, grain size distribution (which determines absorption/adsorption properties) and cation exchange capacity.
Dead Sea mud also exhibits antioxidant properites protecting skin from the effects of UV exposure. A water and methanol extract of Dead Sea mud showed anti-inflammatory protective properties on PGE2. The water extract showed a higher inhibitory capability than the methanol extract suggesting that the minerals in Dead Sea mud contribute to its anti-inflammatory properties.
You'll find Dead Sea mud in Rain Organica's gentle facial cream cleanser.
About the Author
Brandy's a formulation scientist and self-proclaimed health geek who loves hiking, gardening, bird-watching, and body boarding.
Her struggle with acne during her teens and 20s led to a holistic and healthy approach to skincare, embracing skin as an organ to be loved and cared for rather than a canvas to wage war on.
Since 2008, she's been developing all-in-one products for a simple routine at home, & Rain Organica started when her backpacking friends asked for a portable skincare routine to keep their skin healthy & happy on and off the trails.
You can try Rain Organica for yourself with The Essentials Kit, a complete skincare routine in just 3 steps.
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