Shailene Woodley Really Wants You to Try a Mud Bath.. And the science to...
Shailene Woodley has made it known she's all about that natural lifestyle. You are more likely to catch her raving about plants than injections, or chemical beauty treatments, and her latest endorsement went to a natural treatment that's been around for ages: mud baths. She recently shared a photo on Instagram of herself taking a soak.
She didn’t mince words in her endorsement, captioning the photo "bathe in mud. do it. DO it." And while you might want to think before sunbathing your vagina, this time around you should definitely take her advice. Mud baths have multiple skin benefits. "Most mud baths are made of volcanic ash that can exfoliate the skin, sloughing off dead skin cells and leaving it much softer," says Lily Talakoub, M D of McLean Dermatology and Skincare Center.
The minerals in the volcanic ash also help to balance out the skin's p H. If visiting a natural hot spring with mud, isn’t in the cards, you can also likely find these same volcanic ash mud treatments at your local spa. If you go the spa route, Dr. Talakoub suggests choosing a warm mud bath treatment over a cold one, since warm treatments have added anti-inflammatory benefits and increase circulation.
The benefits of mud baths aren’t just skin deep, either. Unsurprisingly, soaking in warm mud is known for being especially therapeutic. One study found that taking mud baths ,helped to reduce the symptoms of patients with arthritis.
There are also plenty of mud mask products designed to have the same pH-balancing ,and anti-inflammatory effects. Dr. Talakoub suggests Elemis Herbal Lavender Repair Mask , or Garnier Clean plus Pore Purifying 2 in 1 Clay Cleaner Mask .
To make your own mud bath at home, fill a bathtub with hot water. If desired, add several drops of organic essential oils, or bath salts to the water for fragrance. When the tub is filled with water, add 2 cups of moor mud ,or another mud of your choice. Break the mud clumps up with your hands, and swish it around. As the mud dissolves, get a cup of lukewarm water ,and put it next to the tub. Slowly get into the tub. Immerse your whole body, except for your head, in the muddy water. Soak for no more than 20 minutes, and then drain the tub. Rinse yourself off under a warm shower. After drying off. lie down in a comfortable place for at least 30 minutes.
You don’t need to soak in a bath to get benefits from mud -- a spot treatment works as well. Mix 1 cup of mud with enough warm water or green tea to make a thick paste. If desired, stir in a drop or two of essential oil to mask the pungent smell of the mud. Smooth the mud over your skin, and then cover the area with a warm, wet towel. Let the mud soak in for 20 minutes, and then rinse with warm water. If you’re using mud for a facial, be careful not to get it in your eyes or nose, or on your hair.
Note, Mud baths aren’t for everyone, however. Do not attempt a mud bath if you have open cuts, sores, heart disease or high blood pressure. If you have sensitive skin, mud may cause irritation. Thick mud may clog a home bathtub drain. Test any new skin treatment on a small patch of skin before using it.
https://www.livestrong.com
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