Mud may be dirty murky and impossible to remove but it has its beauty benefits too!

Mud is dirty and gloopy - yet we're more than willing to smear it on our faces and slather it all over our bodies in the name of beauty.

And for good reason. Despite its yucky and murky nature, the humble mud is packed with beauty benefits.

Many tourists visit Korea every year to take part in its Boryeong Mud Festival, in July. Participants are treated to a goo-filled day, where they can paint themselves with the famous mud.

Oher types of mud from around the world - sadly not the ones you can dig up in your back garden or on festival fields - are often used in beauty products, such as Dead Sea mud, rhassoul mud from Africa and Moor mud in Austria and Hungary.

Natural mud is rich in minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium.

All are essential to skin metabolism, especially as we get older when mineral levels in the body fall.

Mud also has a high cleansing ability. It gets rid of fats and dirt, discards dead skin cells and exposes a fresh skin layer, while soothing and moisturising.

A lot of mud types have antiseptic and oil controlling properties, making them perfect to use on people who suffer from frequent spotty break-outs or those with oily skin.

Lush's Reincarnate with rhassoul mud, £2.75, strengthens the hair and treats scalp conditions. It also leaves your hair ultra-shiny.

L'Anza's Manuka Mud conditioner, £17.95 (01296 612 062), is a daily formula that transforms weak, dull, aged hair into strong, radiant, youthful-looking hair.

Get a sense of indulgence with The Sanctuary's Rasul Mud, £5.95, from Boots, which works well to detoxify skin.

Malki Dead Sea Black Mud Mask soap, £3.29 at Boots, will get to work removing rough skin from elbows, knees and feet.

Guam Seaweed Mud, £29.95 for a starter pack (08700 589 661), uses natural seaweed mud to help reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Moor Spa's Refining Facial Mask, £15.95, (0845 130 6768/www.moorspa.co.uk), is made of pure herbal dark mud, containing extracts from herbs, grasses and minerals to nourish the skin.

It can be used on all skin types, ideally twice or three times a week.