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find your dream career! ascpskincare.com/career-toolkits 39 expertadvice INGREDIENTS Down to Earth Diatomaceous earth helps reduce the signs of aging, inflammation, acne, and more by Lauren Snow Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring substance found buried in the earth that has long been used in hundreds of products from organic gardening and pest control to odor control, dental care, and skin care—and even as a stabilizing component of dynamite! In 1867, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel sought to stabilize nitroglycerin (an explosive) and discovered diatomaceous earth. He found that the addition of diatomaceous earth allowed nitroglycerin to be made into a paste that was then placed in cylinder-shaped sticks (dynamite) to aid in mining operations. FOSSILIZED ALGAE Millions of years ago, microscopic single- celled organisms called diatoms lived in places where lakes and water once covered the earth. These tiny algae species eventually died, and their skeletal remains were left encapsulated in the ground, leaving fossilized algae. Because the cells of these algae were high in a compound called silica, the dried sediment produced from these fossils is also exceedingly high in silica.1 There are several versions of diatomaceous earth reserved for various uses; however, the food-grade version is mined from freshwater deposits. This "clean" version is the type that is used in skin care products and other consumables and contains 80– 90 percent silica, a highly valuable mineral to the human body. EMBRACE THE EXFOLIANT One of the best uses of diatomaceous earth in personal care is as a mild exfoliant. It has been used in toothpaste and facial scrubs because of its powdery, light texture that blends easily with other additives and gently buffs away dead skin cells without harming the skin. For topical use, diatomaceous earth powder proves to be gentle and high in mineral content to help deliver essential nutrients to the skin, including silica, calcium, iron, sodium, and magnesium.