French Ivory Clay

Elevate your skincare formulations with French Ivory Clay — a premium, ECOCERT/COSMOS-approved natural clay from the mineral-rich soils of France. This ultra-gentle, silky-smooth clay is an upgraded alternative to traditional Kaolin Clay, delivering superior performance while remaining exceptionally kind to even the most delicate skin types. 

Why French Ivory Clay is the superior upgrade to Kaolin:

- Primarily composed of Montmorillonite — a swelling smectite mineral that provides enhanced natural absorbent power compared to Kaolin's milder kaolinite base. It gently draws out impurities, excess oil, and toxins without stripping or over-drying the skin.

- Silkier, lighter texture — Described as "light as air, soft as silk," it blends effortlessly into masks, scrubs, and wraps for a luxurious, weightless feel that leaves skin feeling refreshed, supple, and beautifully renewed.

- Naturally enriched with minerals and trace elements — Offers added conditioning and balancing benefits, helping maintain the skin’s natural moisture barrier while purifying — ideal for sensitive, dry, mature, or reactive skin where standard Kaolin might fall short in gentle detoxification.

- Subtle ivory hue — Adds an elegant, minimalist aesthetic to white or neutral-toned products, enhancing visual appeal in clean-beauty lines without artificial colorants.

Perfect for facial masks, body wraps, gentle exfoliants, soothing baths, mature and sensitive-skin formulations. 100% natural, mechanically extracted without chemicals, and refined through crushing, oven-drying, and sorting to preserve its purity and high-performance qualities.

Key Benefits:

- Lifts away impurities while preserving skin's natural balance

- Provides gentle purification and refinement

- Leaves skin calm, smooth, supple, and glowing

- Ideal for sensitive, mature, or dry skin types

How to Use French Clay - Ivory in Soap Making This versatile clay adds a luxurious silky feel, gentle cleansing, natural off-white to ivory color, and enhanced skin-conditioning benefits to both cold process and melt & pour soaps. It's especially great for sensitive-skin bars, shaving soaps, or face soaps where you want mild exfoliation without irritation.

Recommended Usage Rate:

• 1–2 teaspoons per pound (454 g / 500 g) of oils in cold process soap (start at 1 tsp for subtle color and slip; increase to 2 tsp for stronger ivory tone and gentle scrub).
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) per pound (500 g) of soap in melt & pour (as per supplier guidelines).
• Up to 5–10% of total formulation for stronger effects (test for trace acceleration).

Incorporation Tips for Cold Process Soap (Recommended Methods):

1. Slurry Method (Best for Lump-Free Results):
   • Disperse the clay in a small amount of your distilled water (or part of your lye water) at a ratio of 1 tablespoon water per teaspoon clay. Mix into a smooth, milkshake-like slurry using a mini mixer or fork.
   • Add the slurry to your soap batter at light trace (after oils and lye are fully emulsified).
   • Stick blend thoroughly to avoid clumps — this ensures even distribution and a silky finish.
2. Oil Dispersion Method:
   • Mix the clay into a small portion of your base oils (e.g., olive or castor) before adding lye water.
   • Stir well, then add to the main oils. This works well for subtle color and added slip.
3. Lye Water Method (for Single-Color Bars):
   • Stir the clay directly into your cooled lye solution before mixing with oils. This helps release minerals and gives a uniform ivory hue.

For Melt & Pour Soap:

• Melt your base as usual.
• Disperse the clay in a small amount of glycerin or 99% isopropyl alcohol (1–2 tsp liquid per tsp clay) to prevent clumping.
• Stir into the melted base at around 100–120°F (when it starts to thicken slightly).
• Pour into molds — the clay suspends well and adds a creamy texture.

Tips for Best Results:

• Clays can speed up trace slightly — work quickly or add at light trace.
• For a luxurious shaving soap, combine with kaolin or bentonite for extra glide.
• Always do a small test batch to check color (subtle ivory/off-white) and feel (adds slip and mild exfoliation).
• Enhances essential oil retention and gives a natural, clean look to white or pastel soaps.

INCI: Montmorillonite 

Origin: France 

Certifications: ECOCERT / COSMOS Approved, Vegan