The Orientalism art movement conjures up exotic beautiful women, with soft honey-colored skin and long dark luxurious hair, lounging on a chaise longue or around in hammam bathhouse. For sure, it is a stereotype of North African and Middle Eastern women but no doubt, one based on some fact, by the beauty secrets used by women in this region. We can’t speak for all, but we can share with you 7 Moroccan beauty products which local women swear by, for healthy skin and hair!
1. Argan oil is undisputedly the #1 of all Moroccan beauty products!
The argan nut tree is native to Morocco, and at one time, argan trees were grown only and specifically in one particular region in Morocco. By now, this “Moroccan Oil” is recognized worldwide as among the best Moroccan beauty products, and some other countries are benefitting from Moroccan argan oil’s popularity as “liquid gold” by planting trees and producing their own oil. Of course, we remain convinced that Moroccan argan oil is the BEST argan oil!
Moroccan argan oil can be used both externally and internally, and the major health benefits of argan oil seem countless. The major components of our most beloved of Moroccan beauty products are oleic and linoleic acid, as well as Vitamin E.
Argan oil earns its spot as the #1 of Moroccan beauty products because of its ability to protect against environmental damage, as well as help combat premature aging of skin. It is a wonderful moisturizer which hydrates deeply and is absorbed easily, which simply leaves soft skin with a warm glow! Moroccan argan oil has been used to help treat dandruff and acne, as well as eczema, dermatitis and rosacea.
Like many other Moroccan beauty products, argan oil has multiple uses, which can also be used on your hair to detangle, soften, manage frizz and help with split ends. Moroccan argan oil can also be used as a nail and cuticle cream, for optimal nail health.
But please don’t limit your use of this wonderful Moroccan beauty product argan oil to just external applications! Because argan oil is rich in oleic and linoleic acid, internal use of Moroccan argan oil claims wonderful benefits such as better heart health. With its high content of Vitamin E, argan oil also has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. You can use it for a nutty flavor in salad dressings, as a finishing oil for tagines, and even in baked goods!
Moroccans love the nutty taste of argan oil, which is similar to walnut oil. One very beloved and local food dish of Moroccans is “amlou” – you can consider it Morocco’s answer to peanut butter. Amlou is a paste made from almonds, honey and argan oil, and is quite popular spread on bread or “beghrir”, Moroccan pancakes.
2. Prickly Pear Oil is gaining popularity as one of the next best Moroccan beauty products!
Prickly Pear Oil is perhaps the newest and fast-growing in popularity on our list of Moroccan beauty products! Moroccan Prickly Pear Oil is actually made from the seeds within the fruit, and not the flesh of the fruit itself.
Somewhat similar in composition to argan oil, Prickly Pear Oil is even higher in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids which work against oxidation and inflammation. This makes prickly pear oil an outstanding choice for deeply nourishing your skin and helping to prevent pre-mature aging of your skin or treating fine lines and wrinkles. It is also rich in Vitamin K which can help with dark under-eye circles and hyperpigmentation, as well as amino acids which aid in cell rejuvenation and skin firming and healing.
Moroccan Prickly Pear Oil can also be used for softening cuticles while strengthening nails and is an especially wonderful choice as a moisturizer in winter months, to hydrate and act as a barrier against dry air and cold weather conditions.
Prickly Pear Oil deserves its spot as phenomenal Moroccan beauty products that perhaps the only downside is the price tag! Because of the nature of the prickly pear fruit with its relatively low seed count per fruit, and the cold pressing of the seeds, Moroccan Prickly Pear Oil is an expensive luxury oil but with so many benefits that it is worth it!
3. Hydrosols: Moroccan Rosewater and Moroccan Orange Blossom Water
Hydrosols are also known as floral waters or essential water, and are made from the steam distillation of fresh flowers. The result is a concentrated fragrant liquid with many uses. Hydrosols are NOT the same as essential oils but do retain the same properties, just in a more gentle version with less potency.
There are 2 very popular hydrosols in Morocco: Rosewater and Orange Blossom (Neroli) Water.
Moroccan Rosewater
Moroccan Rosewater is sourced from the Rose Valley of Kalaat M’Gouna, which is a popular place to visit on a Moroccan Sahara Desert Tour. This Moroccan rose hydrosol is so great for skin, and of course, it smells divine! With anti-inflammatory properties, it helps to reduce redness and calm the skin. Moroccan rosewater is also a gentle toner which can balance the skin and hydrate, giving your skin a vibrant and fresh glow. One of our favorite Moroccan beauty products, it also supports aging skin, by helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Moroccan Rosewater is great for all skin types but especially dry skin.
Moroccan Orange Blossom Water
Moroccan Orange Blossom Water,also known under the name Neroli, also tops our list of great Moroccan beauty products which also does double duty as emotional support to combat anxiety and depression. Orange Blossom hydrosol can be used as a make-up remover and toner, to to help soothe red or inflamed skin and it also works to help lighten dark spots. Moroccan Orange Blossom Water is great for all skin types but especially oily skin.
4. Ghassoul, the Moroccan clay powder – one of many multi-use Moroccan beauty products!
Ghassoul is clay in Moroccan Arabic, and that “GH” is actually pronounced as a guttural “R” sound. Sometimes you will also see it written “Rhassoul”. The benefits of Moroccan Ghassoul seem endless, and you should definitely add this to your arsenal of Moroccan beauty products! Moroccan Clay helps to de-tox your skin by drawing out impurities, such as dirt and oil. The result is unclogged clear clean skin! And with its slightly abrasive texture, Moroccan clay also helps to gently exfoliate to smooth and soften your skin. Ghassoul can also be used as a natural shampoo which can help to elimate dandruff.
5. Kees, or Moroccan hammam glove, exfoliates your skin like no other product!
One of the most affordable but indispensable Moroccan beauty products is the “kees”, also known as the Moroccan hammam glove or exfoliating mitt. It is a necessary item to take with you to a steamy Moroccan Hammam or to use at home in your own shower and bath.
The Moroccan kees is made out of a coarse material, which is great for exfoliating, de-toxing and softening your skin. However, it is so coarse that you may not want to use the Moroccan kees on your face, or only very gently.
6. Moroccan Black Soap is excellent for removing dead skin cells and unclogging pores!
Add Morccan Black Soap to the list of very common and affordable Moroccan beauty products that you can find throughout Morocco. Another name for Moroccan Black Soap is “sabon beldi”. Moroccan black soap is actually in a paste form, made as a by-product from olive processing, and so it is rich in vitamin E. It has a rather strong “natural” or “green” scent from the olives, and can be mixed with fragrant oils such as orange blossom or rose for an exotic and luxurious scent.
Moroccan Black Soap has many great properties. It helps to soften the skin, get rid of dead skin cells and also to moisturize. However, Moroccan Black Soap is not meant to be used as an every-day soap, but rather 1-2 times a week for a special Moroccan beauty routine. It is almost always used alongside the Moroccan hammam glove “kees” for a 1-2 punch of exfoliation!
7. Iconic Tazi Hair Brush – a humble Moroccan invention has taken the world by storm!
This might be the most surprising choice on our list of Moroccan beauty products, but the Tazi Hair Brush is definitely one that local women (and men!) swear by! You may not actually know the true name of this Moroccan creation, but the humble plastic Tazi hairbrush is undoubtedly recognized world-wide. This small round plastic hairbrush with short soft bristles was launched in 1954 by Fassi native, Abdelaziz Tazi.
Since then, the Moroccan Tazi hair brush has gained so much popularity that it has been also re-imagined. It is available in different qualities, sold on countless platforms and under different names, such as shampoo brush, scalp massager, hair massager, etc. The Tazi hairbrush can be found in every souk in Morocco, in every “hanut” (neighborhood store), and in every household, not to mention even some Moroccan beauty salons!
This simple little brush is easy to grasp, and with its short soft plastic bristles, the Moroccan Tazi hair brush is great at detangling and smoothing the hair. It can be used with hair serums or shampoo to massage the scalp, to penetrate the solution more easily into the skin for better hair health and to stimulate hair follicles.
