A multani mitti face pack is a paste of multani mitti clay and water or rosewater, spread over the face for a few minutes and then rinsed off. "Face pack" is another name for a face mask, and the powder has been mixed with water and worn as a mask for generations.
Here is the short version. It is a plausible oil-absorbing step for oily and combination skin, used once or twice a week, but we found no published trial of a multani mitti face pack, so we keep the promises modest. Below we cover how to make one, how often to use it, and who should skip it.
• A multani mitti face pack is just clay plus water or rosewater. Mix about 1 teaspoon with enough liquid for a smooth paste, then rinse it off while it is still slightly tacky.
• We found no published trial of multani mitti on skin. The closest evidence is a 4-week kaolin-and-bentonite mask study where skin oiliness readings fell 29.90%, with no comparison group.
• Use it once or twice a week, not daily, and rinse before it cracks. Wash it off at once if you feel itching, burning or stinging, which can signal irritation or an allergy.
• It suits oily and combination skin. If your skin is dry or sensitive, multani mitti is the wrong clay for a face pack, and a gentler one such as rhassoul is the better pick.
What Is a Multani Mitti Face Pack?
It is a mask made by mixing multani mitti with a liquid, usually water or rosewater. Multani mitti is fuller's earth, a naturally absorbent clay traditionally prized for drawing oil, and the powder has long been mixed with water and worn as a mask. A face pack and a face mask are the same thing: "face pack" is just another name.
For the clay itself, see What Is Multani Mitti?.
Does a Multani Mitti Face Pack Actually Work?
It may help control oil, but there is no direct proof for multani mitti itself. We searched the Europe PMC research database and found no published trial of a multani mitti face pack on human skin.
The closest evidence is for other clays. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) lists clay such as kaolin or bentonite among facial-mask ingredients for oily or acne-prone skin, to help absorb oil; multani mitti is a different clay, so that is guidance by analogy. In a 2023 study in Skin Research and Technology, 60 adults with oily or combination skin completed a 4-week trial of a commercial kaolin-and-bentonite mask used twice a week, and skin oiliness readings were down 29.90% by week 4. Clay minerals are widely used in cosmetics as adsorbents or absorbents, according to a 2017 review in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics.
The limits matter as much as the number. The paper describes a single group with no comparison group, so it cannot show how much of the change came from the mask. It was funded by L'Oréal, which owns the mask's brand, La Roche-Posay. And the mask contained other ingredients, so its result cannot be assumed to carry over to raw multani mitti.
The honest read: a weekly oil-absorbing step for oily skin, not a fix for anything else.
How Do You Make a Multani Mitti Face Pack?
Mix about 1 teaspoon of multani mitti with enough water or rosewater to make a smooth, spreadable paste, spread a thin even layer, and rinse before it dries hard.
- Mix. Combine roughly 1 teaspoon of multani mitti with enough water or rosewater to form a smooth paste, thin enough to spread evenly and thick enough not to run. Use a non-metal bowl and spoon.
- Apply. Spread an even layer over clean skin, avoiding the eye area.
- Wait. Leave it on until it is dry to the touch but still slightly tacky, not cracked.
- Rinse. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Moisturize. Follow with a light moisturizer if your skin feels tight.
Do not let the pack dry to a hard crack. Our product page advises rinsing while it is still slightly tacky, because once it cracks it pulls at the skin rather than the oil. And if it is your first time, test a small area first. The AAD advises testing a new facial mask on small areas of skin to help prevent reactions.
Sampson Multani Mitti Clay
Multani Mitti Clay
Single-ingredient fuller's earth, milled ultra-fine and sold as a raw powder. No water, fragrance or preservative. The strong absorber, for oily and combination skin.
Shop now → ✓ 30-day money-back guarantee · Free shipping over $75Should You Add Honey, Yogurt, Turmeric or Lemon Juice?
We suggest starting with water or rosewater only. Honey, yogurt, turmeric and lemon juice appear in many face pack recipes, but we found no clay-pack trial for any of them, and the AAD's facial-mask guidance does not cover them, so we give no measurements for them.
Every extra ingredient is one more thing your skin could react to, which makes the patch test more important, not less, if you decide to add one.
How Often Can You Use a Multani Mitti Face Pack?
Once or twice a week is enough, and more than that is more than oily skin needs. The AAD warns that leaving a facial mask on longer than intended or using it too often can cause side effects, like irritation.
Is a Multani Mitti Face Pack Right for Dry or Sensitive Skin?
Usually not. Our product page places multani mitti at the strong-absorber end of the clay range and says that if your skin is dry or sensitive, it is the wrong clay. The AAD lists clay among mask ingredients for oily or acne-prone skin, while its list for dry or sensitive skin names hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerin, colloidal oatmeal and green tea extract, not clay.
If your skin is dry or sensitive but still gets congested, rhassoul is the gentler choice. Our comparison, Rhassoul Clay vs Multani Mitti, explains the difference, and you can browse Rhassoul Clay directly.
When Should You Stop Using a Face Pack or See a Dermatologist?
Wash it off immediately if you feel itching, burning or stinging, which the AAD says could be a sign of skin irritation or an allergy.
If breakouts keep coming back, see a board-certified dermatologist. An AAD news release on do-it-yourself acne tricks quotes a board-certified dermatologist advising people to be cautious and make an appointment with one before trying new treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is multani mitti the same as fuller's earth?
Yes. Multani mitti is fuller's earth, a naturally absorbent sedimentary clay. Sampson's Multani Mitti Clay is pure fuller's earth with nothing added.
Can you use a multani mitti face pack every day?
No. Once or twice a week is enough, and the AAD warns that using a facial mask too often can cause irritation.
Can you leave a multani mitti face pack on overnight?
No. Rinse it while it is still slightly tacky, before it cracks. The AAD warns that leaving a facial mask on longer than intended can cause irritation.
Do you need rosewater for a face pack?
No. Plain water works, and rosewater is the other liquid our product page lists.