Explore 7 beauty benefits of diatomaceous earth in the post below! This ingredient actually has amazing benefits to offer your skin & hair!
First things first, what exactly is diatomaceous earth?! Well, it is a naturally occurring soft siliceous sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white or off white powder.
It is made up of the fossilized remains of diatoms, which are tiny aquatic organisms whose skeletons are made up of the mineral silica. Diatomaceous earth (DE) consists of about 80%-90% silica, 2%-4% alumina and 0.5%-2% iron dioxide.
The special component silica in diatomaceous earth is very important for beautiful skin, hair and nails! Silica is used to build & maintain healthy connective tissue, skin, bone, teeth, muscle and more!
Note: Ensure to only purchase and use food grade diatomaceous earth.
Without further ado, let’s explore 8 beauty benefits of diatomaceous earth for skin, hair and more!
7 Beauty Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth
Below are 7 amazing beauty benefits of diatomaceous earth for skin, hair and more!
1. Firm Wrinkle-Free Skin
When we’re young, we have high amounts of silica in our bodies which boosts collagen production and keeps our skin firm and wrinkle-free. As we age, silica levels decrease in our bodies leading to sagging skin and fine lines. You can take food grade diatomaceous earth internally for anti-aging benefits but it can also be applied as a firming facial mask!
- Firming Facial Mask: In a non-reactive bowl, add about 2 tbsp of water and 1 tbsp of diatomaceous earth. Now add ½ tsp of coconut oil and 3 drops of tea tree essential oil. Mix well and apply the paste on your face and neck, avoiding the eyes. Rinse off in the shower after 10 minutes. Tone with rose water and apply a pea-sized amount of shea butter all over your face to moisturize.
2. Thick Shiny Hair
You’ve probably seen silica as an ingredient in many hair supplements, haven’t you? Well diatomaceous earth is much better than any hair supplement you could buy because it contains over 80% of silica! Take 1 tbsp of food grade diatomaceous earth daily in smoothies and marvel at how thick, long and shiny your hair becomes!
3. Strong Long Nails
Weak nails that easily chip are so not attractive. It’s especially frustrating when you’re trying to grow your nails longer! Not to worry though, diatomaceous earth is there to make your nails stronger and longer! The key component in diatomaceous earth that promotes strong long nails is of course silica.
Above, I mentioned taking 1 tbsp of diatomaceous earth daily, which you can do but you can also make your own nail supplements! How? By filling up 00 vegetable capsules with diatomaceous earth! Check how many capsules 1 tbsp of DE can fill then consume that amount in a day. This way, you won’t have to worry about forgetting to mix up and eat the powdered form of DE!
4. Homemade Toothpaste
Diatomaceous earth is actually added to some toothpastes! But making your own homemade toothpaste sans the chemical additives found in store-bought toothpaste is a much better idea, don’t you agree? It not only promotes healthy teeth and gums with its high silica content but also removes plaque and tartar from teeth using its slight abrasive texture! Diatomaceous earth can also ‘remineralize’ your teeth! Try this homemade toothpaste starring diatomaceous earth obtained from Wellnessmama:
- Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste: In a medium sized glass bowl, add 1 tbsp diatomaceous earth, 5 tbsp calcium powder, 2 tbsp baking soda and 3 tbsp xylitol. Mix up the ingredients using a small whisk. Next, add about 3-5 tbsp of creamy coconut oil and mix well to get your desired toothpaste consistency. Finally, add 3 drops of peppermint essential oil and 3 drops of orange essential oil. Give everything a final stir and transfer to a clean dry container. Scoop a pea-sized amount onto your dry toothbrush, wet it and brush as usual.
5. Eliminates Head Lice
Naturally kill of head lice without the use of toxic head lice treatments using diatomaceous earth! It works because it’s tiny particles create cuts on the exoskeleton of the lice which dehydrates and kills them off. This helps eliminate lice from your child’s or your head forever!
To use, put DE in a cheese shaker and shake it all over the scalp. Work it in for a few minutes then leave it overnight. Shampoo the next morning and use a lice comb to remove dead lice. Repeat once a week in a period of three weeks to see results! Protect your nose from the tiny particles of DE which can cause sneezing by wearing a protective dust mask over your nose and mouth.
6. Natural Detoxifier
Diatomaceous earth is a natural detoxifying ingredient! It removes toxins from the body which helps clear your system of wastes and impurities that build up and cause acne, blemishes, cellulite and other problems! It works because of its negative charge that attracts positive charged heavy metals & toxins in the body and safely carries it to elimination sites. Do not consume DE while you’re on supplements or medication though, because it can render these useless by carrying them out of the body!
7. DIY Deodorant
As mentioned above, Diatomaceous earth is a natural detoxifier. It removes toxins from the body! So it makes for a great deodorant ingredient, especially if you’re just switching from store-bought to natural deodorants! It also neutralizes bad underarm odor and excess sweat, keeping your pits fresh.
- Detoxifying Deodorant: In a medium-sized bowl, add ¾ cup of arrow root powder and ¼ cup of diatomaceous earth. Mix well with a whisk then add about 7 tbsp of melted shea butter. Mix well and if the consistency is not what you desire, add more melted shea butter and mix again! Next you can add 10-20 drops of your favorite smelling essential oil. Lemongrass is amazing! Store in a cool dry place.
How to Take Diatomaceous Earth Internally
It’s best to take DE on an empty stomach. If you’re a beginner take 1 tsp of it every day, slowly working your way up to 1 tbsp, but not more than that.
You can mix it in water and immediately drink it up. But I find the best way to take it is to make capsules out of it by adding some into 00 vegetable capsules! Simply take 3 capsules with water 1-3 hours before consuming food.
Ensure to drink enough water throughout the day because for some people, DE can make them easily dehydrated.
Where to Buy Diatomaceous Earth
Always look for 100% pure food grade diatomaceous earth for internal and external use! The Food and Drug Administration rated food grade diatomaceous earth as ‘Generally Recognized as Safe’ so it’s the one you should buy when purchasing DE. I like and recommend Nature’s Wisdom Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth. It comes in a 1 pound jar which is extremely versatile and useful around the house! It’s a good carpet deodorizer, flea & tick killer for pets, cockroach & pest eradicator and scouring powder too!
In what ways are you going to use diatomaceous earth for beauty? Please share below!
Be very, VERY careful not to inhale diatomaceous earth or you’ll end up with silicosis, a horrible disease. (Look it up.) For this reason, you shouldn’t put it on your head!