Beautiful Skin and Hair in One Product - Rhassoul Clay

This article contains affiliate links from my favorite brand Mountain Rose Herbs. I love their high quality organic/fair trade products, and am blown away by their commitment to zero waste.

One of my main goals during my minimalist journey has been to pare down on my beauty products.  I’ve had a lot of skin care background working in the beauty industry, and I’m quite aware of the routine of cleanse, tone, treat, moisturize, and sunscreen.  The truth is that routine keeps you buying a lot of products.

I’ve noticed that a lot of commercial beauty cleansers are drying to the skin.  They strip the natural oils in your skin, and to compensate your skin will produce excess oil.  You’re then left with dehydrated oily skin.  Now you’re looking for another product to balance the oil production and then another product to hydrate the skin.  So now you are definitely using three products plus probably an eye cream, sunscreen, anti-aging, and treatment.

A Beauty Multitasker

One factor that is extremely appealing to any minimalist is an outstanding product that can do multiple jobs.  Rhassoul clay is one of those products.  It’s a clay from Morocco that has been used for 1,400 years to cleanse and detox the face and body, and as a shampoo.

I’ve always been a fan of bentonite clay, yet rhassoul clay is finer in texture and more oil balancing.  I usually mix vegetable glycerin with bentonite clay for hydration. With rhassoul clay I can use just water.  Rhassoul clay has a higher ratio of silica, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and other trace minerals compared to other clays, therefore it’s very nourishing to the skin.  It balances skin’s natural oil production, and is hydrating to dry skin and calming to oily skin.  It improves clarity, removes dead skin cells, and improves skin texture.

I mix about a teaspoon or less of clay in my hand with water and apply all over my face just like I would any face wash, gently massage, then rinse.   I make the consistency similar to a creamy cleanser.  Use less water creating a paste and use as a mask.  I’ve noticed my skin to be brighter, smoother, and clearer.

Rhassoul clay is surprisingly moisturizing as a shampoo, and because of it’s antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties it also treats dandruff.  You can mix the clay with aloe vera juice or water to use as a shampoo.  How much you will need to use depends on the length and thickness of your hair.  My hair was extremely soft after using it as a shampoo.

Simplicity is Freedom

It’s quite evident that the beauty industry can make you feel as if you need a lot to be beautiful.  After all that’s its job, and it is an industry.  While working in the beauty industry, I would watch women spend up to 150 dollars on skin creams expecting instant results.  The truth is taking good care of yourself is the key.  Keeping stress levels as low as possible, resting when tired, drinking tons of water, and eating a balanced diet full of fruits and veggies will make the major difference.   Finding a more relaxed minimal way to create beauty is peace of mind and freedom.  Plus it saves a ton of money!  (Just so you know... Always use a plastic or wooden spoon when working with clays.)

Rhassoul clay can be found on Mountain Rose Herbs for an amazing price.

Image by Dawn Michelle