I'd like to introduce you to a new cleansing favourite of mine. Marokko clay, also called Rhassoul or Ghassoul mineral clay. It is found in the mountains of Morocco and is traditionally used in Turkish baths. Rhassoul contains silicon, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, lithium, and trace elements.
Rhassoul clay is the softest, gentlest and smoothest clay I have ever used. Unlike green (Aztec) clay or the I popular in Germany which are great for pulling out impurities but also a bit drying, Rhassoul clay is smooth and creamy. It reminds me a bit of an oatmeal scrub (which is by the way a lovely, gentle scrub).
Rhassoul clay cleanses impurities and regulates the sebum production, evens out the skin tone, firms the skin, matts oily skin, tightens pores and calms down the skin. It's great for greyish skin and acne. Rhassoul clay is great for gentle cleansing, everyday use, and exfoliation. You can use it even if your skin is too dry or too sensitive for regular clays. And of course also on normal and problem skin.
I bought my Rhassoul clay in a tiny store with Maroccan stuff. The clay was available in two formats: a fine powder in a small pretty flask, for around 20€; and what looked like chunks and chips of earth in a paper bag, at around 5€. I picked the cheap version, expecting to have to grind it in a mortar.
After some research, I realised I have to add a bit of water to the clay chips, wait a couple of minutes, and in a few minutes I get a very smooth soft clay. Now I keep a slightly bigger quantity in a glass jar, with rose water instead of water. You can also add a bit of oil.
I gently massage this paste onto my face and wash off with water. You can also try adding Rhassoul clay to your regular facial cleanser, home-made masques, or the DIY almond peel. If you leave the clay on the face for a bit longer you get a nice cleansing mask. Don't forget to mist your face and keep the clay wet.
After washing of any kid of clay scrub, there are always very small amounts of clay left on the skin, which can cause a feeling of dryness. I like to cleanse this off with a wet microfibre cloth or cotton pad, and then apply a moisturiser.
Generally, the skin shouldn't be scrubbed more than once a week. Though regular scrubs are great for the skin (they remove the dead skin cells and stimulate the skin), too frequent and ungentle exfoliation can do more harm than good (although I heard that east Asian skin needs scrubbing because it lacks an enzyme that naturally loosens dead cells -- can anyone tell me if this is true?)
The many uses of Rhassoul clay:
Rhassoul clay can also be used to wash hair, especially if you have a greasy scalp. The clay does not strip away the natural oils and cause the scalp to produce even more oil. It adds a bit of volume to the hair, lifts it at the roots, but also makes it a bit stiffer. Mix it with a dab of conditioner or a gentle shampoo or aloe vera gel if the texture is difficult to work with. Or oil, if you have dry hair.You can apply it on the scalp as a masque to deal with a very oily scalp.
Rhassoul clay is a great body cleanser and exfoliator. It can be mixed with a soap or a body wash. You can also add some to your bath, or massage some onto your body with a peeling glove for a very intensive peel.
You can find Rhassoul clay online, try looking for it under other names such as Moroccan Lava Clay or Ghassoul. I recommend buying pure clay instead of a product with Rhassoul clay in it.
The Rhassoul clay has earned a permanent place in my bathroom cabinet. I totally recommend it to everybody, regardless of skin type. It's one of the best cosmetics I have ever used!
Have you ever tried Rhassoul or any other cosmetic? What is your favourite clay?
