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Untitled #137 by patrice-washington74 featuring a lime crime lipstick
Alexander McQueen deep v neck cocktail dress / Black studded pumps, $74 / Lock jewelry, $4.99 / Lime crime lipstick
Untitled #137 by leowashington934 featuring peep-toe pumps
Alexander McQueen lace dress / Peep-toe pumps, $75 / Heart jewelry, $5.04 / Lime Crime lipstick
Beauty Secrets from Morocco 🇲🇦🪔🌹
Hey girls, after my post on the secrets to the Arab princess scent, I decided to write this second post on more generalized beauty tips from Morocco (some are also used throughout the Maghreb and MENA regions). I've tried to include not just beauty secrets that are internationally known, but also tips that you wouldn't know unless you grew up in a Moroccan household or live in Morocco. This ended up being another long post so most of it is under the cut. Enjoy ~
🌹 Use argan oil not just on your hair but on your skin too. It makes your skin feel supple and evens out skin tone. It doesn't clog the pores either so it's suitable for people who suffer from acne. At the end of my skincare routine I always massage 100% pure argan oil into my face, also rubbing it on my brows and lashes as it strengthens them (use it at the end of your routine after moisturising as oil can penetrate moisturiser but moisturizer can't penetrate oil).
🌹 As well as facial skin, argan oil is also used on the full body and argan oil massages are available in the hammam. Argan oil has healing properties, particularly for stretch marks and improves the elasticity of the skin.
🌹 Argan oil for haircare should be massaged into the scalp and all over the hair before double washing, and massaged on the ends of the hair daily to prevent them breaking due to daily friction.
🌹 Buy pure argan oil, not brands like MoroccanOil or OGX. Few people in Morocco use those brands (tbh I think it's a fairly common part of the Moroccan diaspora experience to buy Moroccan Oil because of the name and then feel sorely disappointed because if you've used real argan products from Morocco you'll instantly know how low the concentration of argan eil in it is). Instead, buy real argan oil beauty products from Moroccan or Middle Eastern supermarkets or order it online. It's about the same price as the Western brands that have a much lower concentration of argan oil. Real argan is yellow-gold and smells nutty.
🌹 You can use argan oil to remove makeup
🌹 Strengthen your fingernails by dipping them in a bowl with 5tbsp of argan oil and 5tbsp of lemon juice for 10 mins, then massage the nails and hands, pushing the cuticles back. The argan oil strengthens the nails while the lemon juice brightens them (especially helpful if you just removed nail polish and your nails are discoloured).
🌹 Use a mix of rosewater and argan oil to moisten aker fassi (powdered pomegranate rinds and dried poppies commonly used as lipstick) instead of plain water and olive oil, it feels more luxurious
🌹 You can use aker fassi not just as lipstick, but as a cheek tint, eyeshadow, face mask (combine into a thick paste with rosewater, honey or yoghurt and leave on for 15-20 mins), hair rinse (combine with warm water and pour over your hair and scalp after shampooing, leaving on for a few minutes before rinsing. If your hair is light enough it will give it a subtle red sheen), and body scrub (combine with sugar and olive oil and gently scrub it on your body in circular motions). You can also combine it with water and ghassoul clay to make a body mask which is left on for half an hour before being rinsed off.
🌹 There's no such thing as too much jewellery if you're going to a special event. Go all out with those intricate dangling earrings and that layered necklace and those gold bangles and that delicate anklet.
🌹 In Morocco women will commonly just throw a djellaba over their pyjamas in the morning to go to the bakery or market, so if you're having one of those days where you don't want to get dressed just throw on a loose, long dress, nobody will know.
🌹 Put some scented musk in a hanky, an unused bar of soap, or a sachet of potpourri or herbs in your drawers to make your clothes smell good
🌹 You can also use scented musk as a solid perfume (rub some on your pulse points), as a hair perfume (rub a small amount on your palms and run them through your hair), use it to perfume clothes by rubbing some on your clothes and scarves, add some to your bath for fragrant bathwater, and use it to perfume your home by leaving some in a bowl or using it like a wax melt.
🌹 You can also light bakhour (scented wood chips) or incense which as well as making your house smell good also permeates your clothes and hair
🌹 A few drops of essential oil (a light coloured one, not a dark one as that will stain your clothes) in your washing machine also makes your clothes smell amazing, like a bougie laundry detergent
🌹 Dried lavender is sprinkled under carpets to scent rooms
🌹 There's way more detail on this on the post I linked earlier, but ensuring your space smells good is a way of ensuring you smell good, because due to spending so much time there the smell will cling to your clothes and hair. If your home smells dingy, you'll smell dingy. But if it smells like lavender, you'll smell like lavender due to the fragrance in the air clinging to your clothes and hair. Which is why I include traditional ways we make our homes smell good in this post, as smelling good is a part of beauty and having a pleasant smelling living space is an oft forgotten but important part of that.
🌹 Applying attar (perfume oil) on your pulse points before spraying perfume will make it last longer.
🌹 Musk Al Tahara (white musk) is an especially popular perfume oil. Seen as purifying, it's traditionally used after a period, applied externally with a piece of cloth or tissue on the vulva. It smells like soft musk, vanilla and flowers.
🌹 As well as on your skin, attars can also be used in diffusers, and applied to cotton balls and left in the closet to scent your clothes and linens.
🌹 Gardenia is currently the most popular perfume scent in Morocco. Other popular scents include oud, neroli, amber, orange blossom, musk, jasmine and rose.
🌹 You can use a slice of beetroot to tint your lips and cheeks
🌹 Full hammam routines honestly feel healing as well as beautifying. A typical hammam routine will consist of laying in the sauna room, leaving sabon beldi on your skin for a few minutes, an attendant scrubbing your skin vigorously with a kessa glove, rinsing, applying a ghassoul clay mask to your hair and skin, and rinsing again. You can also get massages with argan oil or red ghassoul clay and full body treatments with tabrima in some hammams. And afterwards, you go to a different area and relax on a chaise loungue while adjusting to room temperature with peppermint tea and cold water.
🌹 Tabrima is a full body treatment made from herbs like henna, rosemary, chamomile, thyme, verbena, lavender, basil, rose, nila, and white ghassoul clay, which is moistened with rosewater or argan oil. It brightens skin, improves circulation, and reduces blemishes, scars, and hyperpigmentation. Gently massage in circles and then leave it on your body for 15 mins before rinsing off. You can also dissolve some of the herb mixture in a basin of water to use as a relaxing foot soak, mix it into a paste with water (or argan oil for a more nourishing treatment) and apply it on your hair and scalp, leaving on for 20 mins before washing out with shampoo, put some in a sachet and use it as a bath soak, or use it as a facial steam by adding some to a large bowl and pouring boiling water on top, holding your face over the steam for 10-15 mins.
🌹 Korean bath towels from Amazon do the same job as the kessa gloves we use in the hammam, they're the only exfoliating glove I've found that are as good (most physical exfoliaters are disappointing).
🌹 Ghassoul clay is a volcanic rock sourced from the Atlas Mountains and is detoxifying, softening and cleansing. Rich in calcium, saponins, potassium and iron, it is most commonly used as a face mask (mix 1-2tbsp with orange blossom water or rosewater until it forms a smooth paste and leave on for 10-15 mins. Moisten the mask with floral water or face mist if it starts drying out as it should always be a bit damp) and a natural shampoo (mix 3-4tbsp with enough water or rosewater to form a paste and apply to damp hair, starting at the scalp and making your way to the ends of the hair. You can add aloe vera, argan oil, honey, or anything you want to make the treatment more nourishing. Leave on for 15-20 mins, preferably with a protective cap on to keep it moist, before thoroughly rinsing off with warm water and following up with conditioner). You can also add 1-2 cups of ghassoul clay to warm water to make a detoxifying bath, add a tbsp of it to a litre of water, mix it until it foams and use it as a cleanser, or make a thick paste with water and a few drops of essential oil (optional) and use it as a foot mask, leaving on for 15-20 mins before rinsing with warm water and moisturising. Make sure not to use metal tools to mix ghassoul clay as metal can react with it.
🌹 Some women also like to infuse rose, lavender and cloves in boiling water and then combine it with ghassoul before applying it to the body or hair.
🌹 Kohl is a black powder that has been used as eyeliner since ancient times and is still popular today. Traditionally it is applied using a wooden stick. It can also be used to darken the eyelashes and eyelids.
🌹 Shampoo brushes (small, round silicone brushes) are a non-negotiable part of hair care. Massaging your scalp with them greatly reduces dandruff and stimulates hair growth
🌹 Get your clothes tailored if possible. When you buy clothes from shops in the qissaria, there will be a tailor there who will take your measurements after you try them on and make adjustments accordingly. Clothes look sooo much better when they're tailored to your body instead of straight off the rack.
🌹 If like me you live somewhere you can't easily get your henna done, order some henna and a henna stencil online for when those random urges to get henna hit
🌹 Mix henna powder with an acidic liquid like lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to make it last longer
🌹 Henna can be used as a natural dye for hair and nails (it strengthens them too) as well as for temporary tattoos.
🌹 Colourless henna can be used as a face and body mask as it leaves no stain
🌹 In most of Morocco floral henna designs are the most popular, but in Southern Morocco geometrical shapes are often drawn
🌹 Natural soap is the best soap. Sabon beldi (black soap) made of olive oil, crushed black olives, and sometimes a second oil like lavender or rose, is the best known soap in Morocco, but there's a whole world of natural soaps made from ingredients that have more benefits than just getting your skin clean, like sandalwood, milk and honey, chamomile, and charcoal. You should wash with natural soap and leave it to rest on your skin for a few minutes before rinsing off at least once a week.
🌹 Prickly pear oil isn't as well known as argan oil outside of Morocco, but it's three times higher in vitamin E than argan oil is (and argan oil is high in vitamin E). It's also high in vitamin K which helps reduce dark circles. It's ideal for plumping and firming the skin. You can moisturise your hair, face, under eyes, and nails with it. Just mix a few drops of prickly pear oil with a tsp of almond or olive oil and apply to your face, hands, and body. Or mix a tsp of olive oil, a tsp of honey and a few drops of prickly pear oil and use as a mask.
🌹 Apply rosewater or orange blossom water after shaving to soothe irritation
🌹 Rosewater and orange blossom water are also commonly spritzed on the body after a vigorous scrub at the hammam.
🌹 Rosewater and orange blossom water are also good toners
🌹 Orange blossom water is a good toner for oily skin as it is mildly astringent
🌹 If your eyes are tired, soak two cotton pads in rose water or orange blossom water and place them on your eyes for a few minutes
🌹 Women often scent their hands with floral water after a meal
🌹 You can also keep floral water in a spray bottle and use it as a facial mist if your skin feels dry or tired throughout the day
🌹 Orange blossom water is a nice hair rinse. It adds shine and gives your hair a subtle fragrance.
🌹 Rosewater is used as a makeup remover
🌹 Rose oil is good for dry and irritated skin
🌹 Dried rose petals can be ground into a powder and mixed with honey or water to create a face mask
🌹 Gold embroidery on your clothes and shoes feels really delicate and pretty
🌹 Small silk or satin headscarves (foulard) are lifesavers when you're having a bad hair day
🌹 In some parts of Morocco it's common to embellish a foulard by hanging ornaments such as silver pendants, beads, and tassels from it.
🌹 This is well-known in pretty much every country, but I'm including it because my Moroccan mother drilled it into me from a young age: don't forget your neck, decolletage, and hands when doing skincare! The skin in these areas is thin and they're often the first parts of your body to show signs of aging even before your face. Whatever you do to your face, do to your neck and decolletage during skincare, and reapply hand cream and SPF every time you wash your hands (personally, I apply SPF on every part of my body that shows).
🌹 Gandouras are the best nighties. They look so pretty with their jewel colours and embroidery, and they're also light and perfect for hot weather. They'll make you feel extra pretty when you're going to bed.
🌹 Souak/swak is the dried bark of black walnut, which comes in small brown strips wrapped around a rosewood branch. It's used as a natural toothpaste due to its antiseptic and whitening qualities. You can chew a scrap of it or rub it directly on your teeth and gums.
🌹 Chewing mastic gum also whitens the teeth and freshens breath
🌹 Aloe juice or aloe gruel is applied morning and evening and face masks are made from a mix of aloe and honey. It's good to apply after shaving as it's soothing and non irritating.
🌹 Louban (frankincense) is ground into powder, then mixed with honey and rosewater and used as a face mask. It can also be added to a bowl of hot water and used as a facial steam, used in toner (add a few pieces of resin to hot water, let steep until the water is cool and slightly milky, strain and add to a spray bottle), and added to sugar, olive oil, and essential oil to create a body scrub.
🌹 Chaba/shabbi is an alum stone which is used as a natural deodorant. You moisten it lightly with water and rub on clean underarms. It can also be used to reduce acne and as an antiseptic for minor cuts and burns. It is an astringent so it may be irritating if you have sensitive skin.
🌹 Sefidah (dried sea foam) is exfoliating and brightening. It's combined with plain water or rosewater and mixed until a paste forms. You massage the paste on your face in circular motions, avoiding the eye area before rinsing and patting dry. It can also be combined with an equal amount of sugar and enough argan or olive oil to form a thick paste to form a body exfoliater. It can be used in face masks too, combined with yoghurt or honey and applied for 10-15 mins, or used as a foot exfoliater by adding some to a basin of warm water, soaking your feet for 15-20mins and then scrubbing with a pumice stone. It can also be used to cleanse the scalp of excess oils, by combining with water and gently massaging the paste into your scalp, rinsing out with warm water after 10-15 mins.
🌹 Cowrie powder, made from ground cowrie shells, is also used in the same ways that sefidah is used. A face exfoliator can be made by mixing cowrie powder with water or rosewater, and a body scrub can be made from combining it with a few drops of olive or argan oil. A foot scrub is made by mixing cowrie powder with coconut oil until it forms a paste, soaking your feet in warm water for 10 mins to soften them up, and then slathering your feet with the paste, scrubbing gently. A brightening face mask can be made by combining cowrie powder with lemon juice and plain yoghurt to create a thick paste, and massaging a mix of cowrie powder with argan oil into your scalp before washing your hair promotes hair growth and stimulates blood flow.
🌹 Ground almond shells can also be used as an exfoliater
🌹 Nila powder (also known as indigo powder) is brightening, soothing, and antiinflammatory. For a face mask: mix 1tsp nila powder with 2tsp yoghurt or honey. Add a few drops of rosewater and then apply the paste to your face for 10-15 mins. Another kind of face mask consists of combining 1tsp nila powder with 1tsp aloe vera gel and adding a pinch of turmeric powder. You can also combine it with equal parts of henna and water and apply the mixture to your hair for 1-2 hours to tint your hair black or dark brown. A body mask can be made from 2tbsp nila powder, 1tbsp olive oil, and enough milk to form a paste. Leave on for 20-30 mins before rinsing to even out and brighten your skin.
🌹 Sulfur is used for fighting acne. Combine a small amount of sulfur powder with water or aloe vera gel to form a paste, applying to acne prone areas or individual pimples for 10-15 mins. Moisturise afterwards as it is drying.
🌹 Mhakka is a volcanic rock used similarly to a pumice stone. Use on your feet and other areas with rough skin like the elbows and knees, rubbing in a gentle circular motion.
🌹 Mint leaves can be steeped in boiling water so that the steam will open up your pores before cleansing. It is cooling and refreshing.
🌹 In some parts of Morocco bordering Algeria, a long, thin piece of cloth or ribbon called a kardoune is tightly wrapped around damp hair in a low ponytail, starting from the top and tightly rolling until you reach the bottom. It prevents frizz and stops your hair getting tangled during the night. You can secure it using scrunchies or use hair oil beforehand. You can also slip your hair in a fluffy sock instead of wrapping ribbon around it if you want. This tip is more specifically Algerian, but I included it because there is some limited use of kardoune in Morocco among people who share a lot of culture with Algeria. And it's also just a good tip for preventing frizzy hair.
🌹 Lavender oil is used to promote hair growth and help reduce scars. Usually it's used in its pure form but you can also mix it with almond oil before applying directly to the scalp, hair and skin.
🌹 Sweet almond oil is high in vitamin A and used to moisturise skin, nails and hair. It can be applied in its pure form or mixed with argan oil.
🌹 Hare Moroccan Magic Lipstick is a popular colour changing lipstick which looks like a funky colour in the tube (like green or purple), but turns red when it makes contact with your skin. The colour is buildable and can go from light pink to terracotta red. It's moisturising as it contains argan oil. It also lasts for hours.
🌹 Fenugreek seeds are used for hair growth. The seeds are soaked overnight and ground into a paste, which is applied to the hair and scalp to boost growth and prevent dandruff.
🌹 Eating fenugreek also makes your natural scent sweeter and is said to help naturally enlarge breasts.
🌹 Carob powder can be mixed with water to create a paste that strengthens and adds shine to your hair
🌹 Black seed oil reduces acne and strengthens hair
🌹 Camel milk (or just whole cow's milk) can be used to soften and moisturise skin and is mildly exfoliating. Adding two cups of milk, one cup of honey, a cup of sea salt, 1/2 cup of olive oil, and some essential oil to a bath makes it feel really luxurious and is really moisturizing. Mixing equal parts milk and honey makes a good face mask. Mixing milk with egg or banana is nourishing for hair. Rinsing your hair with milk and leaving it for a few minutes before rinsing it out makes it softer and shinier. Dipping a cotton pad in milk and wiping it on your face helps cleanse impurities and dead skin. And combining milk with oatmeal creates a gentle exfoliating scrub.
That's all I have for now, hope you enjoyed ~
Ornella Muti
Dear diary,
I want to *scribble scribble* fucking *scribble* kill myself. *scribble scribble scribble*
Make Ornella Muti popular again.
(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8ktbz585t4)
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