What is Kaolin Clay

Kaolin clay is a naturally occurring soft white clay mainly composed of the mineral kaolinite. It is widely used in a variety of industries due to its fine particle size, chemical inertness, and other beneficial properties. It gets its name from a hill in China where it was originally discovered. It is now mined all over the world including countries like France, Germany, and the United States.

How is Kaolin Clay Made

Kaolin Clay is formed from the mineral kaolinite. Kaolinite forms best in soil and rocks that are in hot and humid climates. The clay is mined, and then goes through a refining process where it is dried, ground, and filtered.

About Kaolin Clay

The use of kaolin clay dates back thousands of years. It was first used by the Chinese during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) for making porcelain. This was later adopted by the Europeans in the early 18th century. In addition to its use in pottery and porcelain, kaolin clay has been historically valued for its medicinal properties, used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various ailments, and in Western medicine as an ingredient in gastrointestinal treatments. Over the centuries, kaolin clay's applications have expanded to include uses in cosmetics, paper production, and industrial processes, showcasing its versatility and enduring importance.

Benefits of Kaolin Clay

• Fine particle size makes Kaolin clay a great gentle exfoliant. It’s helpful in removing dead skin cells without causing irritation.

• Kaolin clay aids in absorbing excess oils from the skin.

• Kaolin clay can help to cleanse and detoxify the skin by drawing out impurities and toxins.

• Its soothing properties calm irritated and sensitive skin.

• Medicinal properties in the clay have been used to support the body with digestive issues like diarrhea

Common Ways to Use Kaolin Clay

Kaolin clay is an extremely versatile clay used in many ways including:

• Skin care

• Cleansers

• Scrubs

• Facial masks

• Make up

• Powders

• Foundations

• Ceramics

• Paint

• Manufacturing

• Paper

• Rubber

• Plastics

Safety Concerns

Kaolin clay is considered safe for external use.

Drug Interaction: May interfere with topical prescription medical.

Breastfeeding and Pregnancy: Safe for both

Other Concerns: None

Select Studies About Kaolin Clay

Adsorptive performance of lanthanum encapsulated biopolymer chitosan-kaolin clay hybrid composite for the recovery of nitrate and phosphate from water - PubMed (nih.gov)

This study shows that kaolin clay absorbs nitrates and phosphates from water as a cost-effective way to clean and remediate water.