When we find pure elements that we know were used by the ancients, we always wonder, “how did they figure out to use that?” This time, we imagine a potter, hands covered in the wet clay—maybe even mixing up some working clay from the dry mineral and adding a bit too much water. A little bug lands on her cheek and she reaches up instinctively to brush it away, spreading some of the clay across her face. Later on, she scrubs it off and her face is soft and beautiful in that spot. Tah-da! A new beauty ingredient was discovered. Since then, it has been used in cleansers, shampoos, toothpastes, and beauty products abound