Beauty in the Atlas Mountains
Beauty in the Atlas Mountains of Northern Africa is in abundance. The peaks rise up 4000m above sea level and are a sanctuary for wildlife and rugged, natural beauty. Fitting, then, that some of the biggest trends in natural beauty products have been used by women here for 1000s of years.
Argan Oil
Argan oil is milled from the nut of the Argan tree (Argania spinose). These grow at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and part of Algeria. The oil is used by many, but the native Berber people discovered the use of the oil for cosmetic purposes.
Today, the nuts are handpicked and milled by local, all female cooperatives and the trees are protected by UNESCO. The process from tree to oil is long and laborious and can take up to 3 days to make one litre. The nut grows slowly on the trees and appears like a dry olive with a thick peel.
Processing the nut
The process begins when the nuts are crushed between two stones. This removes the kernels from the hard outer shell. A stone grinder is used to transform the kernels into a flour. This is then mixed with water to create a dough. The oil is extracted from the dough by kneading for hours by hand.
The cosmetic benefits or Argan oil are many. The Berber people use it as a skin protector from the dry climate as it has moisturising and rejuvenating properties. The beauty industry today uses it for a similar purpose but it is rarely found in its purest form.
On our recent trip to the mountains we met some of the women involved in this process. They explained the different uses for the oils. Argon oil is an excellent, natural moisturiser and can help protect against premature aging by maintaining hydration of the skin. On hearing this we were keen to give it a try! As it was a recent trip, I can make no comment on the long term benefits. In the short term, my skin was hydrated, soft and had a very subtle sheen. It wasn’t heavy or greasy like olive oil might feel but was light and easily absorbed.
The oil is also great to use on stretch marks, as a post shave moisturiser and a hair mask as it is high in vitamin E and fatty acids.
One bottle of Argan oil is versatile, organic and handmade which is a really rare find in the beauty industry today.
Rhassoul Clay
Another beauty product we came across in Morocco was Rhassoul Clay (aka ghassoul). This little gem is also sourced in the Atlas Mountains and has been used by North African women for centuries. It has even been mentioned on Egyptian papyrus. Rhassoul contains many minerals including silica, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium and lithium – no lead.
How to use the clay
Use the clay as a face mask by mixing with rose water to form a silky paste. Smooth it onto the face and leave it to dry. You can also get a bit of exfoliation in when you gently rub it off with water. This mask will draw out impurities, increase skin elasticity and help to even skin tone.
The clay can also be used as a full body mask. Simply add water to it and smother yourself from head to toe. Then let it dry then jump in the bath or shower to remove it.
Clay in the souks
We first came across this clay in the souks of Marrakesh (you can read about that in more detail HERE. Our friendly Berber stall owner, Idir, insists that we try some of the magic powder (??!!) After a bit of hesitation, he brings out a jar of fine, grey powder and tells us this is the reason why Moroccan woman are so beautiful. Good enough for us, we give it a go.
He mixes a little bit of powder with rose water on a tray and spreads a patch on the back of each of our hands. While we wait for it to dry, he tells us that this clay is regularly used in Hammams all across Marrakesh and we shouldn’t leave without a full hammam experience. The paste is now dry and he removes it with a damp cloth. Sceptical at first, I have a look and feel of the chosen patch on my hand. The skin is soft, smooth and I’m impressed!
Since buying this “magic powder” I have tried using it as a face and body mask and it is really great for purifying and softening the skin. It is also organic and has no preservatives or other nasties in it making it kind on your skin and the environment.
Savon Noir
Black soap, or Savon Noir, was another traditional Moroccan beauty product we discovered in Marrakesh. Used mostly in Hammams, this soap is applied all over the body, left for about 10 minutes and then vigorously scrubbed off with a keesa (exfoliating mitt) removing toxins and dead skin from the body. Often this is followed by a Rhassoul clay wrap to purify the skin further. This leaves the skin silky smooth and will last for days.
Savon Noir is made from black olives, olive oil, water and sodium hydroxide (a necessary part of soap making). As it’s organic, it is safe for sensitive skin, lasts for ages and smells amazing.
Beauty in the Atlas Mountains
All of these products are locally sourced in North Africa and are organic and in their purest form. They are tried and tested over centuries, if not millennia, and I believe them to be well worth incorporating into your beauty regime. And as they are multipurpose, you may find you don’t even need as many products.
More Information
- For Morocco tourist info click HERE
Have you visited Morocco? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Or maybe you already use some of these products! Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!
Thanks Sarah. I find it interesting to learn about the old traditions that people always seem to go back to eventually.
That is so interesting about the argan nuts! I actually didn’t know much about them, other than occasionally I put some in my hair haha. I like how the women harvest them! It looks labour intensive. And I love clay masks. Neat info!