Bentonite clay, also known as Aztec clay, is well known as one of nature’s best detoxers. It’s chock-full of minerals like calcium, sodium, copper, magnesium, iron, and potassium, and as mbg’s senior wellness editor Steph Eckelkamp wrote, “Many toxins, heavy metals, and free radicals are said to carry a positive charge, and some research suggests that negatively charged bentonite is able to attach to these substances and help remove them from the body.”
Because of this, bentonite clay is often used in face masks—like this $11 cult-favorite you can buy on Amazon—to purge the skin and combat acne. So why put bentonite clay in your bath? Sweat can lead to clogged pores, and in the summer, that can mean pimples cropping up on your back, shoulders, chest—basically anywhere. Adding a few tablespoons of Aztec clay to your bath could help balance your skin’s oil production. Plus, a tub is only around $10, so there’s nothing stopping you from giving it a try.