We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:
  • Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
  • Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
  • Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.
Was this helpful?

Calcium bentonite clay is an absorbent kind of clay that typically forms after volcanic ash ages. It’s named after Fort Benton, Wyoming, where the largest source of the clay can be found, but calcium bentonite clay is found all over the world.

This clay has a unique composition and can absorb “negatively charged” toxins. People have been using calcium bentonite clay for centuries as a way to detoxify the body, improve digestion, improve skin tone, and more.

Our everyday lives expose us to pesticides, lead, and trace metals like copper on a regular basis. These toxins can accumulate in the body and keep it from functioning correctly.

Bentonite clay has been studied and found to absorb these toxins and others. In fact, some people even eat small amounts of calcium bentonite clay as a way to cleanse the body of these harmful elements.

Calcium bentonite clay is also a popular ingredient in skincare products. Applying a lotion or cream with bentonite clay in it creates a barrier between your skin and possible irritants.

Bentonite clay also helps skincare products adhere to your skin and be more water resistant. Sunscreen that contains bentonite clay has been found to be more effective than some other sunscreens without it.

In Iran, the clay is used as a hair cleanser and softener. Bentonite has also been shown to be an effective healing ingredient on your skin and is sometimes used in creams to treat diaper rash.

You can use calcium bentonite clay in several ways, depending on what you’re hoping it will do.

On the skin

To use bentonite clay to cleanse impurities for your skin, consider a calcium bentonite clay mask. You can make a mask like this at home by purchasing bentonite clay powder.

After adding purified water to the powder, you’ll have a clay paste that you can layer on your face. The paste will carry a slight electrical charge that will attract toxins deep in your skin.

Leave the clay on your face as it dries, usually for about 10 minutes. Remove the clay gently using a wet washcloth.

Internally

Bentonite clay can also be consumed in small amounts. You can purchase bentonite clay capsules online or from a health food store.

Taking the capsules may boost immunity by fighting off bacteria that could make you sick. It may also help cleanse your body of built-up toxins like aluminum, mercury, and lead.

Bentonite clay might even help your gut absorb more nutrients by increasing the flora in your intestines. Eating bentonite clay does have benefits for some people looking to improve symptoms of IBS, leaky gut, and other digestive conditions.

There’s no known serious side effect to using calcium bentonite clay. It’s possible to consume too much of this product, so always follow package instructions and don’t consume the clay for more than four weeks in a row without taking a break.

There have been some cases of people getting sick from consuming too much bentonite clay, but these cases are very rare with normal use.

If you’re using the clay for your skin, do a patch test on a small, hidden area of your skin before you try it on your face. It’s always a good idea to test a new product or ingredient on your skin to see if you have a skin-sensitive or allergic reaction.

There’s very little risk in trying calcium bentonite clay for its health benefits. While we need more research to understand this ancient ingredient, we do have evidence of its powerful cleansing and detoxifying properties.

Using a bentonite clay mask is a healthy alternative to masks with chemicals and harsher synthetic ingredients. And bentonite clay has proven nutritional and digestive properties.