Make Your Own Body Products: Body Muds

Body muds are an excellent way to condition the skin. In addition to introducing moisturizer to the skin, body muds can also be used to infuse vital nutrition. After rinsing, the skin is soft, smooth, and healthy. A wide variety of commercial products are sold to enhance skin health, but it is easy and fun to make your own body muds. It is also a very cost effective solution, because you can use high quality ingredients since you are not paying for expensive brand packaging.

Body muds start with a base which might be in a dried or mud form. Many supply companies sell Dead Sea Mud, Moor Mud, and other body muds in large tubs ready for use. These muds can be used right out of a tub, as most muds are designed to be used without essential oils or other additions. The mud should be applied in a thin even layer over the entire body, and allowed to dry before rinsing. If you warm the mud before application, it will feel much more pleasant, and activate some of the minerals inside. The body should be loosely wrapped in warm sheets while the mud is drying to enhance the effects and maximize comfort.

Mud can also be purchased in a dried form to which water can be added. Some muds leave room for more creativity. Options include a variety of clays, dried seaweeds, and dried green tea. While not always muds in the traditional sense, these materials are great for the skin and can be enhanced with essential oils depending on skin sensitivity. Additions to muds might include dried herbs and flowers as well.

Clays such as Bentonite, Dead Sea, Illite, Rhassoul, and Moroccan Red can be mixed so that you get a variety of skin effects. Most clays and muds will moisturize and firm the skin as well as pulling out toxins. Some are gentle enough to be used on the face as well. Green tea extract is often used in combination with a clay such as China White or Kaolin to soothe the skin. Other wrap materials such as seaweed tone the skin, reduce cellulite, and provide additional skin nutrition. While seaweed can have a strong odor, it can be mixed with essential oils such as lemon grass to mute the smell.