Body & Fitness

Why a mud mask is exactly what you need if you want healthy, radiant skin

Want gloriously healthy and clear skin? Incorporating a mud mask into your skincare routine might do the trick!

Let’s be honest, the days when our skin is behaving (no shine, breakouts are minimal, dry patches are at bay) are the absolute best. There’s something about having healthy and clear skin that is so confidence-boosting.

This is why it’s important to keep your skin in tip-top condition all year round – we all love feeling good about our skin.

If your skin has been looking a little dull or less than healthy lately, and you feel it could do with a bit of oomph, it might be time to switch up your skincare routine – or at the very least, consider incorporating some new products and skincare ingredients to combat your skin concerns.

Now To Love‘s latest skincare find is a natural ingredient, used to nourish the skin – and you may already be familiar with it if you’ve done a roadie of New Zealand’s North Island lately. It’s Rotorua thermal mud. Yes, you read that correctly.

Whether your skin is blemish-prone, dehydrated, sensitive or oily (now that winter has passed our skin has doubled its production of oil!), Rotorua mud is perfect for nourishing the skin and helping it look its best.

Rotorua mud mask benefits

As anyone who has had a relaxing spa weekend away in ‘Rotovegas’ will know, Rotorua’s geothermal mud is often used to deeply cleanse, heal and rebalance the skin, which makes it a powerhouse skincare ingredient.

‘But what makes it different to other mud?’ I hear you ask. Good question. According to New Zealand skincare company Wild Ferns, Rotorua’s mud has contact with volcanic gases and minerals, which makes it richer in minerals than its ordinary clay and mud counterparts.

Not only does Rotorua mud contain silica, magnesium (a relatively new ingredient to the skincare world, but it apparently has anti-inflmmatory properties) and iron, it also contains small amounts of zinc and manganese!

Wild Ferns explains the benefits best: “This mud on drying will generate heat, increasing the blood circulation and perspiration which help eliminate toxins and other wastes.

“It easily absorbs excess oils and fatty secretions from within the skin’s pores, detoxifies and purifies and, as the mud dries on the skin, helps promote the regeneration of new cells.”

Healthy, vibrant new cells are exactly what we’d like to see!

Other benefits of mud masks include:

  • Mud masks draw oils and impurities from our pores – which is important; if our pores are left blocked it can lead to pimples.

  • Mud masks can exfoliate the skin and leave it glowing.

  • Mud is extremely cleansing and can remove any dirt or pollution accumulated over the course of the day.

  • A mud-based face mask is extremely relaxing.

How to use a mud mask

To make sure you get the most out of your mud mask, it’s important to apply and remove it properly.

  • Start by cleansing your face and remove any make-up. If you apply your mud mask over the top of make-up it will not be able to penetrate deep into your skin.

  • Apply a layer of your mask to your (damp) face and let it sit for the recommended time. Having said this, you should not leave your face mask on so long that your face and the product are bone-dry. You should be taking your mask off when it begins to dry but still feels a little sticky, any longer and you risk drying out your skin.

  • Rinse with warm water and apply a light moisturiser or facial oil afterwards.

Now To Love’s favourite Rotorua Mud skincare products

We’re proud patriots at Now To Love, which is why we love the Rotorua Mud range from New Zealand skincare brand Wild Ferns.

Wild Ferns are a bit of an authority in the Rotorua mud sector. Their equisite Rotorua Mud range utilises Rotorua grey mud, which is obtained from hot mud pools and then sterilised to remove any volcanic ash (this is how you know it’s a pure and natural skincare range – it’s incredibly earthy). What’s more, the range also includes other great ingredients that help support the health and wellbeing of your skin – think Manuka Honey, Lemongrass and Royal Jelly.

The combination of mud and other natural ingredients mean your skin’s biggest enemies – pollution, extreme temperature, stress and ageing – will have less of an effect on your skin.

Wild Ferns have explained how their incredible products work, saying: “Rotorua Mud penetrates the skin’s pores to absorb excess fatty secretions and remove impurities, detoxify and purify while simultaneously nourishing the skin with natural minerals.

“From the first treatment Wild Ferns Rotorua Mud will help create a smoother, softer and more radiant appearance.”

The extensive and efficient mud-based range contains everything from body scrubs and heat rubs to facial washes and, of course, mud masks.

Our favourite in the range is probably the Rotorua Mud Warm Face Pack with Ginger & Clovesor (a measly $22.70! Our inner bargain hunter is delighted!) The product is smooth and deeply cleansing and when applied on the face, it heats up to a nice, warm temperature. This warmth helps increase blood circulation and draws any impurities to the surface (which we wash away upon removing the mud mask).

While the Warm Face Pack is our favourite, we must also give props to the Rotorua Mud Facial Scrub with Grapefruit & Calendula and Rotorua Mud Face Mask with Aloe Vera & Cucumber, which is incredibly soothing.

If you’re looking to revamp tired and lifeless skin or want to give your skin a little boost, we can’t recommend Wild Ferns’ Rotorua Mud range enough!

Wild Fern products are available in souvenir shops, select pharmacies and online.

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