In the days of yore, goddesses like Cleopatra would bask in mud to enhance their natural glow. Then, when everyone became obsessed with cleanliness and antibacterials (like, when they were invented), people avoided dirt and dirty-seeming ingredients.
But those earth-derived elements like charcoals, clays, and muds are back baby! And they’re being touted as trusty aids when it comes to beautifying your skin.
“They’re like vacuums—great at sucking out impurities,” says Mona Gohara, MD, a Danbury, Connecticut-based dermatologist. Basically, if you’re acne-prone or your pores are clogged, it’s good to slather on the mud, charcoal, and clays to clear out the gunk.
Thankfully, there’s no shortage of these earthy beauty products on the shelves to save your pores and get you really clean. Consider these your skin salves, straight from the…well, dirt.
Keep scrolling to shop dirty—but glow-inducing—beauty buys for yourself.
Shop beauty muds

Ahava Brightening & Hydrating Facial Treatment Mask $32

Rituals Hammam Body Mud $17

Kypris Beauty Deep Forest Clay $88

Soapwalla Activated Charcoal And Petitgrain Soap Bar $13
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African Botanics Marula African Muti Mud Body Scrub $65

Cocovit Coconut Charcoal Face Mask $38

Garnier Pore Purifying 2-in-1 Clay Cleanser/Mask $8

Kaia Naturals The Takesumi Detox Charcoal Deodorant $22

Osea Ocean Cleansing Mudd $44

May Lindstorm Honey Mud $90
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