Moroccan black soap (sabon beldi or savon noir) is a soft brown soap made from pureed black olives, glycerol, essential oils and plant extracts. Every region in Morocco has its own exclusive recipe with its own unique additions of plants and oils.

SKIN APPLICATION

Moroccan black soap is famously used to help exfoliate the skin. Rich in Vitamin E, it softens the skin and cleanses it while adding moisturizing nutrients. Some versions contain lavender oil, others rose oil; in fact, you can find black soaps containing many different extracts. Black soap is scooped onto the hand and lathered onto the body. It’s left on for at least a few minutes for maximum benefits, then washed off. Next the body is scrubbed to remove dead skin cells. This leaves the skin glowing, clean, and extra smooth and soft.

Moroccan red clay (rhassoul or ghassoul) is mineral rich clay that’s mined exclusively from the Atlas Mountains. The word “rhassoul” in Arabic means “to wash”, and Moroccan women have long used the clay as a beauty treatment for their skin and hair. Rich in magnesium and potassium, the Moroccan clay’s molecular structure and negative charge enables it to draw excess oil, dirt and other impurities and toxins out of skin and hair. This makes it a great deep pore cleanser, plus its abundant minerals nourish and smooth the skin.

Used once a week, a Rassoul clay mask is the perfect deep cleanser to give your skin an improved texture and glow. However, it may not be suitable for sensitive or dry skin.

Ingredients Needed for a cleaning face mask:

• Some Rassoul Clay
• Rose Water or Regular Water

For a brighter, more even skin tone, mix Rassoul clay with rosewater or regular water to make a paste. Apply the mixture to your face and neck (avoiding the eyes) and allow it partially to dry for about five minutes. When the edges of the mask begin to dry, rinse off with lukewarm water. Make sure that you don’t leave the clay mask on your face so long that it fully dries.

Rassoul clay is also used by Moroccan women to cleanse and detox their hair and scalp and help soften and relax natural textured hair. 

To use as a shampoo and hair treatment, make a paste as described on your left, adding in essential oils if desired. Rub the paste into your scalp and distribute it evenly throughout your hair. Leave for five minutes, then rinse well. Note that because Moroccan red clay is alkaline, your hair might lose some luster after use. To restore shine, be sure to follow up with an apple cider rinse, conditioning oil, or shine-enhancement treatment.

Akar Fasi (also akar fassi, aker fasi or aker fassi) is a ground red or pink powder extracted from poppy flowers and pomegranate rinds. It’s sold by weight or in small packets and is used as a natural skin and hair treatment as well as a cosmetic. Akar Fasi deserves further mention as a cosmetic. Since well before the advent of lipsticks and blushes, Amazigh women have traditionally been applying the powder to their faces as a rouge for the lips and cheeks.

Because Akar Fasi contains antioxidants, flavonoids, and alkaloids, it can help soothe and calm irritated skin. It’s also used as a a natural skin and hair softener, particularly at the hammam. To soften and brighten the skin, women mix Akar Fasi with water and rhassoul clay to make a body mask. The mask is left on for half an hour, then washed off. To make the hair soft and give it sheen, the powder is mixed with henna and water and applied to the hair as a paste. It’s left for 30 minutes and then washed off.

Orange flower water (orange blossom water or Neroli water) is distilled from the fragrant bitter orange flowers of North Africa. It’s a common aromatic ingredient in Moroccan cuisine, showing up in dishes such as Carrot and Orange Salad and pastries such as Almond Briouats. A little-known fact is that orange blossom water is also used as a skin toner, specifically to treat and prevent acne due to its mild astringent and antibacterial properties. Moroccan women with oily skin regularly use orange blossom water to tone their skin after face washes and mask treatments.

To use the floral fruit-scented water this way, simply dab some onto a cotton ball or makeup pad and gently rubb onto the entire face, avoiding the eye area. It not only soothes and calms the skin, but also encourages regeneration.

Prickly pear oil, also known as Barbary fig oil, comes from the seeds of the fruit of the Opuntia ficus-indica cactus. In Morocco the cactus fruit is called karmouss el hindi or “the Indian fig.” While prickly pear oil has only recently come to the world’s attention due to its incredible anti-aging properties, Moroccan women have been extracting and using prickly pear oil for centuries. We regard it as the richest oil in nutrients in the world, a treasure from our land.

The nutrients packed in this oil include Vitamin E, Vitamin K, fatty acids and antioxidants. This miracle oil delivers intense hydration to the skin, minimizes under eye circles, and treats hyperpigmentation. It soothes redness and inflammation of the skin and helps treat and prevent acne and rosacea.

Thanks to its strong anti-aging power, and it is moisturizing, firming, and sebum-regulating action, it would serve as the perfect base for your anti-aging facial products and ranges: creams, serums, and lotions. Products made from prickly pear seed oil are suitable for all skin categories but work mainly on mature and dry skin.
It offers a tightening effect coupled with protection against free radicals which makes it possible to erase wrinkles, prevent their appearance, and fight against sagging skin. It is also rich in vitamin K for spider veins, and betalains for whitening, thus stimulating cell growth and reducing inflammation.

• Scars: Prickly pear seed oil has a healing action that will be very useful in reducing the appearance of scars, but also stretch marks. This makes it perfect for making serums, creams, and body lotions.
• Hair: It balances the production of sebum if applied to the scalp, and deeply nourishes if applied to the lengths of the hair. This oil can therefore be used as a base for your products and ranges of shampoos and hair care.
• Nails: It is excellent for boosting their strength and shine; enough to inspire you with new ideas for natural cosmetic products, even for nail care.