Clay, Kaolin (white cosmetic)

Background: From Gaolin in the Jiangzi province of China a consistent source of this mineral clay was mined, and so the name kaolin was derived. Kaolinite was first described as a mineral species in the mid 1800s. It is widely used in a variety of processes and added to everyday items. You will find kaolinite in ceramics, in cosmetics, as a food additive, in toothpastes, as a diffusing coating of glass items- including lightbulbs. Used in papermaking, Kaolin clay is added to paper pulp and surface coatings where it improves body, color, opacity, and printability. Kaolin is an important ingredient in inks, organic plastics, some cosmetics, and many other products where its very fine particle size, whiteness, chemical inertness, and absorption properties give it particular value. It is the requisite ingredient in porcelain.

It has long been used in natural, organic farming to prevent certain pests from feeding on crops.

Assisting with their digestion and providing much needed minerals, it is sought out by certain parrots of tropical South America, who include it as a part of their regular diet.

Kaolin has been mined in France, England, Germany, the Czech Republic, and in the United States, where the most well known deposits reside in southeastern states. Kaolin is one of Georgia's largest natural resources, with 8 million metric tons mined there every year.

This white powder is insoluble and has excellent absorbent qualities. These qualities in the clay draw out impurities and toxins, thereby clearing the skin of excess oil, impurities, pollutants and other undesired residues.