26 Dec Rhassoul Clay: An Ancient Beauty Secret from Morocco

The women of Morocco have been using rhassoul clay, as a skin and hair cleanser, for over 12 centuries. Mined from the ancient deposits of the Atlas Mountains, this mineral-rich clay has numerous virtues. Its name derives from the Arabic term for ‘washing’, rhassala, and has played an important part in the ancient ways of skin and hair care and was even used by the nobles and elite women in ancient Egypt and Rome. As an excellent cleanser and grease remover, the clay also has a natural foaming effect, making it an effective, natural shampoo. It decreases the secretion of sebum (the excess of which causes acne), fixed fats, absorbs impurities and allows better skin hydration. Particularly in the steam room of a hammam, where ancestral and natural recipes continue to be followed, rhassoul clay is traditionally mixed with water in order to produce a mud that can be applied to face, body and hair. It is often used for body wraps. To continue this tradition and enjoy its benefits, here are three uses of rhassoul powder!

FACE MASK

As a face mask, rhassoul cleanses impurities, particularly for those suffering from acne or oily skin. You can prepare a face mask by wetting a spoon of ultrafine powdered rhassoul with either a small amount of lukewarm water or orange blossom hydrosol for an even smoother result. You can apply the mixture onto your face and leave it on without letting it dry before rinsing thoroughly.

POULTRICE

As a poultrice, rhassoul is extremely useful to tighten skin and reduce cellulite. In order to treat a body area the size of an A4 sheet, mix rhassoul powder with warm water enough to make a stiff mud. You can also apply 6 drops of essential oils known lipolytic (verbenone rosemary, lemon, grapefruit.). Apply the paste onto the desired area and let it stand for approximately 15-20 minutes under a plastic film or cloth before rinsing off.

SHAMPOO

As a form of shampoo, rhassoul powder purifies the scalp, and strengthens and adds a gloss of shine to the hair. You can apply the powder on damp hair and begin to massage. You can gently add some water onto the scalp in order to prevent powdered lumps from forming. Drizzle the hair with a little water to prevent lumps from forming. Let stand for about a quarter of an hour and then proceed to rinse. This form of hair treatment is particularly effective for those suffering from oily hair.