Rhassoul- Moroccan beauty secret for hair and skin

Found only in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, rhassoul is a type of saponified clay that when mixed with water creates a mud which can be used as shampoo/hair treatment as well as a face/skin treatment; the mud is absorbant and cleansing, getting rid of oil and toxins from hair and skin; it minimizes pores in the skin, clarifies skin color, eliminates blackheads, gives body to hair, regulates the excretion of sebum in the scalp and makes the hair shiny. Rhassoul has extraordinary ability to absorb oil and impurities from both the skin and hair. This clay achieves desired results on all types of skin. It is also non-irritating to the skin and eyes; rhassoul is excellent for those with sensitive skin.

Rhassoul: Reduces dryness Reduces flakiness Improves skin clarity Improves skin elasticity / firmness Improves skin texture Removes surface oil and oil from inside and around clogged pores Removes dead skin layers, resulting in a general smoothing of the surface skin

Rhassoul clay is an ancient clay which was formed deep under the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. It was formed in deposits during the Jurassic period in the Mesozoic era, 208 to 144 million years ago. Because the rhassoul clay deposits are deeply buried, it takes great effort to mine them. Rhassoul clay has very long history of use in beauty care, used in ancient Rome and Egypt by the nobility. Today it remains a favorite beauty treatments in high-end spas and salons.

Rhassoul clay is a smectic or swelling clay. Smectites are three-layer clay minerals. They consist of two layers of interconnected silica-tetrahedrons which enclose a central Metal hydroxide -octahedron layer. A water layer is sandwiched between the layers. The silicate layers have a slightly negative charge. This weak charge absorbs cations such as sodium, calcium and others in the natural state. Rhassoul clay is very rich in trace minerals which detoxify the skin using by exchanging themselves for a variety of compounds including toxic metals and polar organic (oily) compounds. Rhassoul clay is different from other clays due to its unique composition. Its extraordinary power of absorption makes it more effective than other clays for cleansing.

Methods

Pour hot or boiling water over the pieces of rhassoul in a ceramic or glass bowl, just enough water to cover the rhassoul, and let this sit for about 5-10 minutes until all the pieces dissolve. You may have to mix it up to break down all the pieces. Mix in any other ingredients you want for other effects and add more water to achieve the consistency of yoghurt. For frangrance, add rose or orange blossom water, or your favorite essential oils (just a drop of essential oil as they can irritate the skin).

On skin: apply a thin layer, massaging skin gently, and obtaining full coverage; avoid eye area; leave on until it dries and then gently rinse with warm water; rhassoul mud can be used on all parts of the body, just apply a thicker layer than you would for the face.

On hair: massage a generous amount of clay into the hair, right down to the roots, massaging gently, comb mixture through hair using a wide-toothed comb to distribute it more evenly. Leave on hair for about 15-30 minutes and then rinse thoroughly, preferably under the shower; it may be hard to get out all the tiny bits from your roots, so you may want to follow this up with regular shampoo, or simply comb your hair under running water with fine-toothed comb.

Recipes

Rhassoul AHA Mask
(for normal-oily skin)

This quick-drying rhassoul mask draws out impurities and leaves skin fresh and glowing. The clay tones and detoxifies while AHA-rich pineapple juice and lemon essential oil rejuvenates. Use once weekly. Yield: 1 mask

Please note, this mask does not contain any preservatives. Please hydrate the mix (with the oil and the juice) only when ready to use and dispose of any unused mask.

Clay Mix (dry):

rhassoul clay, 1/4 to 1/3 cup - ground into powder using a mortar and pestle
ground rosehip seeds, 1/2 teaspoon
citric acid, 1/4 teaspoon

Oil Mix (wet):
apricot kernel oil, 1 tablespoon
rosehip seed oil, 1 teaspoon
lemon essential oil, 10 drops
jasmin absolute, 5 drops
tea tree oil, 5 drops

Juice Mix (wet):
enough pineapple juice to hydrate the Clay and Oil phases to make a smooth, non-drippy mask.

Process:
Combine ingredients for clay mix, set aside. Combine ingredients for oil mix and add to clay mix. Use a kitchen whisk to mix and add volume. You may add more juice or distilled water as needed, if rhassoul becomes to thick. Add juice to desired consistency and apply to clean, dry skin. Avoid eye area. Allow mask to dry then rinse with warm water. Use a fresh toner applied with a cotton ball to remove last traces of clay.

Rhassoul, Grapefruit and Lavender Mask
(normal skin)

Another AHA mask, with a twist.

Refreshing grapefruit adds alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) to clear away dead skin cells; rhassoul to pull impurities and excess oiliness; lavender to soothe and clarify.

Clay Mix (dry):
1/8 cup rhassoul clay - ground into powder using a mortar and pestle
1/4 cup pulverized lavender buds

Lotion-Juice Mix (wet):
3 oz. Alba Botanica unscented lotion base - or some other unscented lotion base
1/2 tablespoon freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
15 drops Bulgarian lavender essential oil
distilled water, as needed

Process:

Combine ingredients for clay mix, set aside. Combine ingredients for oil mix and add to clay mix using a sterile kitchen whisk. Add distilled water as needed to make a smooth consistency. Wet face and apply cheesecloth to face, avoiding eyes and nose. Cover face with mask. Apply it as thickly as you like. Lie back and relax, allowing mask to set on face for up to 15 minutes. Remove cheesecloth and mask, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. Finish with a fresh toner.