“Soon their energies and backgrounds all came together and they formed Mississippi Miracle Clay in 2008, launching an old and long forgotten concept in natural skin care.”
Glenda Boren-Paschal, her son, Cliff Boren, and daughter, Suzanne Boren-Davis, started Mississippi Miracle Clay based on southern simplicity and tradition. Their philosophy was pure and simple - start a natural skin care line based on the belief that “if you can’t eat it, it shouldn’t go on your skin.” Glenda, a natural health enthusiast since the 1970’s (when being natural was a little more controversial than today), began her own journey into discovering clays while trying to find relief for her terminally ill husband’s burns and irritation caused from radiation treatments. During her clay research, she became impressed with all the uses of clay. Being a beautiful southern woman, she always took good care of her skin and began using the different clays for facial masks. She became quite a well-studied expert on the uses and types of clays. It was well known to all her grand kids to keep their hands out her cookie jar as they never knew which cookies were chocolate chip or clay-chip cookies. She was a strong advocate of using clays for healing and skin care.
As they say “apples don’t fall far from the tree”. Cliff, raised in Glenda’s health conscious environment, also researched and practiced natural health. He graduated from Millsaps, a small Mississippi college, and ventured across state lines to live and work in Asia. While there he became intrigued in a culture strongly interwoven with traditional medicine. He spent years working in product development in a polluted environment with constant exposure to chemicals, so in 2006 he decided to do a water fast in Thailand to detox the chemicals out of his system. During the fast he was given clay to eat daily to help detox the system. Fascinated with the results, Cliff began his research into clays and the paths of Glenda and Cliff converged in their shared interest. Cliff has recorded some of their findings in the book Healing Clays: History, Science and Uses of the Earth's Best Kept Secret detailing some of the history and uses of clay. In addition to researching clays, Cliff continues to train and study in natural health, receiving certifications as a Ayurvedic Health Counselor and as a Dharma Yoga teacher.
Suzanne Boren-Davis, a former Miss Tupelo, Mississippi, Ole Miss alumni, and real southern beauty, had over 20 years in the cosmetic industry. She began using the clays her mom and brother were sending her and was amazed at the difference in her skin. She became their first and biggest fan, changed her skin care regimen to include clay, and quickly started helping find a way to get the message out.
Soon their energies and backgrounds all came together and they formed Mississippi Miracle Clay in 2008, launching an old and long forgotten concept in natural skin care.
In memory of our Mom, Glenda (1944-2014). The funniest, most loving mother and brightest star in our lives.