Pretty and Powerful: The Superpowers of Australian Pink Clay
My combination skin has overstayed its welcome well beyond adolescence and puberty.
My nose is a catastrophe upon close inspection; my cheeks are prone to breakouts under stress or drastic weather changes. I wish I were born with refined, undetectable pores on my face, but sadly that’s not meant to be. And every time I get a facial, I’m almost a little self-conscious as I know my beautician will scrutinise my clogged pores and note in dismay that we’ll have to amp up the treatment strength (again).
I kid you not, but my combination skin has become increasingly unstable as we move into typhoon season. So I’ve once again turned to my trusty pink clay products for a quick SOS.
What is Pink Clay?
Pink clay is no stranger – it’s been patrolling ads for years, aided by its distinct millennial pink hue. If you know your colour theory, you may have guessed correctly that pink clay is a combination of red and white clays, usually of the kaolin type, a natural emollient that can soften skin when topically applied. It’s most often used in face masks, as white clay is ultra-gentle on sensitive skin, while red clay helps unclog pores for oily skin. Fun fact: the name “kaolin” is derived from the Mandarin “gao-ling” (高嶺), which translates to “high ridge”, even though the clay can be found worldwide.
Popular pink clay in beauty products include the French Bentonite clay, praised for being rich in minerals, and the Australian pink clay, an all-natural ingredient that reinforced A-Beauty’s rising dominance in the skincare world. Depending on the brand, pink clay is usually found in either a powder form for mixing with water or a moist cream ready to go in tubes and jars.
Pink clay is pretty and powerful, working overtime for wonders on your skin. It’s often touted for being rich in minerals that refine complexions: silica, with anti-inflammatory properties and boosts collagen production; magnesium, which retains natural fatty acids to keep skin plump; and zinc, anti-inflammatory (again) and helps with acne by promoting natural cell regeneration.
Sand & Sky’s Detoxifying Range
If you’re interested in beauty products and you also scroll on Instagram, you’d probably have seen Sand & Sky’s ads plastered all over the platform at the time of their launch around 2017. But, wary of their newfound popularity, I didn’t jump on the bandwagon until Sephora started stocking their little pink pots. The very same products that have gone on to become award-winning cult favourites and regular staples in my skincare routine.
A proud A-beauty brand, Sand & Sky sources Australian botanical ingredients responsibly “from bush to bathroom”, with Australian pink clay being the hero of their detoxifying range. And like their sister brand Coco & Eve, Sand & Sky uses clean formulas free of common nasties like sulphates, silicones, parabens, petroleum, phthalates or mineral oils. They’re also cruelty-free and PETA-approved, and the brand aims to be fully vegan by the end of 2022.
Porefining Face Mask
Sand & Sky’s real OG is a 4-in-1 treatment that detoxifies skin by removing excess sebum and refining pores while resurfacing skin and locking in moisture. So much for multi-tasking! The Porefining Face Mask contains power-packed ingredients on top of its hero pink clay – witch hazel is naturally astringent and soothes irritation; pomegranate and Kakadu plum contain antioxidants and vitamin C to even complexions. The resulting product is a creamy, moist clay that spreads smoothly and doesn’t feel harsh or abrasive against the skin.
A little goes a long way, and the mask dries quickly to a fine powdery texture that will crumble to the touch. The mask washes off easily without having to deploy cotton pads or a face cloth. Excessive tugging on your skin may cause inflammation and wrinkles to form, so always avoid it when you can!
I love that every pot comes with its own mini brush applicator (that has been noticeably upgraded from several years ago!), which I use for other clay masks and products, too – it makes hard-to-spread consistencies a breeze to work with and ensures even application without excessive product use.
I use it around 2 times a week on my T-zone (and apples of my cheeks if my skin feels particularly clogged). You can always multi-mask to detox and glow in parallel by applying a hydrating cream mask to the rest of your face. The Super Bounce Mask by Sand & Sky is a fantastic option for this, which I love big time. When using the pink clay mask, I deliberately avoid days where I may also use the Flash Perfection Exfoliating Treatment (more on that below).
Towards the end of the pot, the product may start feeling a bit dry, so always keep it tightly lidded and check on the consistency before putting it away. I add several drops of water if it does start to dry out, so that the product will absorb it and even out by the time I reach for the pot again. As much as I love this clay mask, I don’t recommend using it as an overnight spot treatment, as it may end up all over your pillowcase if you move in your sleep.
Flash Perfection Exfoliating Treatment
Our skin naturally sheds dead skin cells every 30 days, which, when accumulated, results in dry, flaky patches. As layers of dead skin cells build up, it becomes harder for your skin to absorb and lock in hydration from skincare products. This is why exfoliation is so important! If you have pigmented skin, you’ll also find that regular exfoliation over time helps break up pigmented cells and retain that glowy smooth complexion as your skin matures.
The Flash Perfection Exfoliating Treatment is a combination of physical and chemical exfoliation – super-fine bamboo and macadamia particles manually slough off debris from the surface of your skin, while AHAs in Australian finger lime extract break up the bonds between skin cells so that the dead skin cells can be easily wiped away.
I like to gently massage the product onto damp skin, as it’s important to be gentle with physical exfoliants so that they don’t become too harsh or create microtears. If you have sensitive skin, you can skip this step and allow the mask to sit for a while, which lets the chemical exfoliants do their work. Follow with hydrating products so your decongested skin can drink it all up!
I use exfoliators once a week. This tube does a fantastic job of keeping dull, patchy skin at bay without stripping away my skin’s natural oils. Remember, never use exfoliators on the same day as other drying treatments, and never on open wounds or irritated/inflamed skin – your skin needs time to repair itself too!
Thoughts
Because of the pink clay used, Sand & Sky’s detoxifying range is somewhat in the middle of the spectrum for deep-cleansing products: the products are not so intense that it may be uncomfortable for someone not used to high-strength exfoliants and such, though results may take several uses to become noticeable. The great thing is that there’s no discernible fragrance in either of the products used, and they leave my skin feeling clean but not stretched tight.
You can purchase the products separately or together as the discounted Perfect Skin Kit, which alone already qualifies for free shipping to Hong Kong (>USD60). Sand & Sky also rotates its discounts all year round. So take your pick; there’s no need to wait until Black Friday for your skincare haul!
So, What Do You Think?
Have you tried pink clay products before? Or maybe you prefer other products for your skin type.
Let me know by leaving a comment below. I’d love to hear what your favourite skincare products are!
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we receive a commission when you click and make a purchase.
Feeling inspired?
Check out more posts below!
