Kaolin, also called china clay, soft white clay that is an essential ingredient in the manufacture of china and porcelain and is widely used in the making of paper, rubber, paint, and many other products. Kaolin is named after the hill in China (Kao-ling) from which it was mined for centuries. Samples of kaolin were first sent to Europe by a French Jesuit missionary around 1700 as examples of the materials used by the Chinese in the manufacture of porcelain.
In its natural state kaolin is a white, soft powder consisting principally of the mineral kaolinite, which, under the electron microscope, is seen to consist of roughly hexagonal, platy crystals ranging in size from about 0.1 micrometre to 10 micrometres or even larger. These crystals may take vermicular and booklike forms, and occasionally macroscopic forms approaching millimetre size are found. Kaolin as found in nature usually contains varying amounts of other minerals such as muscovite, quartz, feldspar, and anatase. In addition, crude kaolin is frequently stained yellow by iron hydroxide pigments. It is often necessary to bleach the clay chemically to remove the iron pigment and to wash it with water to remove the other minerals in order to prepare kaolin for commercial use.
Kaolin clay in cosmetics use is very popular. Kaolin clay is white powder that is produced in limestone mines. It is also sold as white clay because of its white color. Kaolin is a common mineral all over the globe but it is more common in tropical countries. The origin of the name of kaolin comes from Chinese language, “Gaoling” and is a name of a village in Jiangxing province, southeast China. Gaoling means a high ridge in English. Kaolin clay is the raw material for top quality Chinese porcelain.
Kaolin clay contains mainly natural kaolin, silicon and aluminum. In addition, it is rich of zinc, potassium, calcium and magnesium. The color is light, more white than grey. In case the kaolin has red or yellow tincture, it contains also iron oxide. Kaolin clay contains some aluminum as well but it is not dangerous for your health. Skin does not absorb the clay but vice versa; the clay absorbs pollutants from the skin.
Kaolin clay in cosmetics is the gentlest clay. Kaolin clay does not make your skin dry and it does not absorb moisture or skin’s natural grease comparing to bentonite clay or illite clay. You can feel the difference easily. After kaolin clay treatment the skin will not become red. After bentonite or illite clay treatment this is usually what happens. This effect is because of blood starts to circulate quicker on your skin and it is not dangerous. You can prepare a kaolin clay mask on weekly basis and your skin will not get too dry. Kaolin clay is so gentle that you can prepare even products for children like talc. Kaolin clay makes thickens liquid products. You can use it as a thickener together with emulsifier if you need thicker emulsions. In thinner emulsions the clay would naturally sink to bottom.
Most popular material for cleansing masks is probably the French green clay but it cannot beat kaolin in efficiency. Kaolin clay’s quality-price ratio is outstanding. Kaolin is very common mineral all over the world and that is why it is so affordable. For example, kaolin is very popular in beauty care in Western Africa. Kaolin is sold as a stone over there. Users break small pieces out of the stone and then grind them to powder. Kaolin clay absorbs the skin’s impurities like a magnet. Pollution particles originated from air and remains of cosmetics are easy to clean from the skin using kaolin clay mask. Usually one treatment in a week is enough to keep your skin in good condition.
