Minimalist beauty tips: Aleppo soap.

   

                                                 

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One of the best decisions of my life was to stop using market/pharmaceutical ( even very expensive) cosmetics and stick to nature and what it can give us!

The most practical thing in my minimalist zero waste beauty routine is Aleppo soap! Purchased from Turkey ( after all these horrible things in Syria company moved there, even though it was functioning perfectly since 1975), Organic and Halal certified this soap bar is made of olive oil and laurel oil, which is responsible for the antibiotic, anti-fungal and anti-itching power of the soap. 

It can be used for babies washing, face and body cleaning, as a face mask, as shaving cream, self-hygiene product and shampoo ( I use Moroccan Ghassoul for my hair wash, because after soap usage it is very soft and I prefer it to be a bit harsh  so you can read about it here) and instead of the toilet paper (wash with it).

Aleppo soap is essential in minimalist zero waste beauty routine, It solves a lot of body/face care problems plus can be used for teeth cleaning and mouth hygiene! Naturally, beautifully and easy! 

How do I brush teeth with Aleppo soap?

Apply it on the wet toothbrush and clean your teeth for a minute or two. Thanks to laurel oil it kills all the bacterias and a bad smell.  As I have some gums problem ( bleeding) I use clove oil after.

Not only have I saved a lot of money by stopping buying and consuming chemical products, saved the space in my bathroom, but I got a great satisfaction with my natural care products. 

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Laura

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Moroccan ghassoul (clay) in zero waste beauty routine

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When I decided to get rid of chemical and all kinds of advertised but-never-worked-for-me face, hair and body care products, I started my experiments with natural cosmetics! They were limited a lot by my dry and super sensitive skin. So before applying something on my face or hair, I had to learn about possible and expected effects after the procedure. But anyhow I had a great variety of natural products to deal with only because I live in Morocco - a country of argan oil and ghassoul - the best things ever for your self-care if you are a natural cosmetics lover or a minimalist ( or both like me) or going a zero waste!

            So here I will talk about Moroccan Ghassoul (or Rhassoul) and its great benefits for skin and hair. It is also known by names Moroccan Clay of Moroccan Red Clay and is sourced from Atlas Mountains range, formed by volcanic activity and geothermal changes combination. An absolutely natural organic product which nourishes your skin and scalp. It is known by Nothern Africa's women for centuries, it's widely used for spa procedures in Moroccan and Turkish hammams ( traditional bath/sauna) and as an extra beneficial component of different mass-market beauty products ( creams, soap bars, and shampoos). By the way, these kinds of products are advertised and not cheap at all even though pure ghassoul costs literally nothing.

WHAT IS MOROCCAN CLAY USED FOR:

   Face cleaning. Just mix a tea spoon of clay with some water to get a smooth paste, apply it gently on your face while massaging it! Wash with water! Dead cells and dirt are gone! Enjoy the softness! 

   Face mask. Everything is the same, but leave ghassoul on your face to dry usually it takes 20 minutes ( it works wonders if instead of water you will use a rose water). Wash it gently with water. As I mentioned before, my skin is dry, so every contact with water makes it very tight, so I need some hydration - my rose water is always with me! 

  Body scrub. If you use a bigger portion of Ghassoul, mix it with more water and apply it on your body, gently massaging it, you'll get rid of dead cells and help your blood circulation! 

  Shampoo. And this is my favorite ghassoul usage! Because it is the most effective and natural way to clean my nasty hair ( oily roots, dry ends). I mix clay and water, making it not as thick as for face mask, or regular shampoo, 2 soup spoons of it with 50 ml of water work great! So when my hair is wet, I use this paste, massage my skin, leave it for 2 minutes and wash away! If you have time ( I do not have it) leave the paste on your hair to dry and wash after! 

  Hair mask. If you like me have no time to leave the paste on your hair to dry on the regular basis, try to do it once a week! Great benefits are guaranteed!

This is my shampoo

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MOROCCAN CLAY:

Appropriate for sensitive skin (and highly recommended );

Reduces dryness;

Improves skin firmness;

Cleans pores;

Nourishes skin;

Treats acne;

Detoxifies skin;

Soothes scalp problems - psoriasis, dandruff. 

So it is likely one product could be used for face, hair, and body - natural, waste free way to take care of yourself and environment. 

WHERE TO BUY NATURAL MOROCCAN GHASSOUL:

   In Moroccan souk (market). This is the best way if you're going zero waste! Because you are able to find the huge bags full of it (the pieces not the powder) and buy as much as you want! Which is great, no plastic, no garbage, just pure dirt!!! You can keep it a cotton bag or a glass jar after.

  

Plus, there are a lot of already packed 100g, 250g. bags or boxes. A lot of companies propose their products so it shouldn't be a problem to find and purchase it! But I would recommend to find a local Moroccan community in your city and buy from them - the chances to get a natural and valuable product are much higher! 

  Use natural cosmetics and be happy with your results! 
  Salam alaykum!

   

  

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Laura

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Henna in Moroccan culture

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Henna in Moroccan culture has deep roots as this type of art is tightly connected to religious celebrations ( Eid, circumcision, wedding ) and might be used by local women and girls of all ages on a regular basis after hammam (traditional Moroccan bath/spa)as well. As for the tourists and foreigners, it's one of "must do" while you are here in Morocco!

So here is everything we need to know about henna:

                                                      

                                   WHAT IS HENNA?

Henna is a paste, a type of "ink" made of dried leaves, water and egg whites. It is poured in syringe using which a local lady will decorate your skin. It lasts about 2 weeks and has a brown or bright orange colour. You will be asked to sit while Hennaya - it is the name for a professional Henna Artist is working on you and to rest another 30 minutes after she finishes, in order the paste to dry on your hands. Depending on an insensitivity of a colour you want to reach it might be a bit more ( actually the more the better). After the paste is totally dry all you need to do is to scrub it without using water or any product that contains oil ( because they will affect the colour of your tattoo). 

                   WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF HENNA? 

Red henna - the one we're talking about. It is used for a temporary tattoo, it is safe and absolutely natural, the real and original form of henna made of the plant Lawsonia inermis . It has well known in Morocco health benefits for skin: it helps in wounds healing and has a great antibacterial effect! 

By the way, do not forget that even the pure natural products can cause an allergy so it's always better to check it before making a tattoo. HOW? Just apply a little paste on your palm and wait 24 hours. Nothing happens? Run and make your henna tattoo!

Black henna - as chemicals are added to the natural henna powder to intensify the colour and make it black,  which makes use of this type of henna very risky in terms of allergic reactions! It is not used for tattoos in Morocco on a regular basis and in the popular touristic places, even though you can buy the black henna powder on the market easily!

WHERE CAN I HAVE A HENNA TATTOO IN MOROCCO?

Every Medina of each Moroccan city has places where you can see the advertising of henna craft shops or you can even see the ladies with a syringe who are proposing their services. Once you as a tourist is noticed by them, you will be asked if you are willed to have a henna tattoo!  

      WHAT IS KHAMSA IN MOROCCAN CULTURE?

Hamsa or the Hand of Fatima is a talisman widely popular in the Middle East and  Islamic countries just like among Jewish community (it is called the Hamsa Nand or the Hand of Miriam) which is believed has the power to protect people from an evil eye and harm, bringing them luck and goodness instead. While you can find khamsa on the doors and clothes, the symbol is used a lot by henna artists as well!  And it is very beautiful! 

                     WHAT IS A BRIDAL HENNA PARTY?

 So we came to the most important and interesting part of this article - the Moroccan Wedding Henna Party! First of all, Moroccan Wedding is a religious celebration ( as according to Quran, Marriage is a sacred union) with a lot of customs and traditions. One of them takes place a day before a Marriage Ceremony and is called a  Bridal Henna Party - when after Hammam, where the bride comes with her girlfriends and a family, she wears a traditional dress and Hennaya decorates her hands and feet with beautiful designs, which symbolize joy and beauty! The bride's family and friends who are participating in the party might have henna tattoos as well. It is must be mentioned that only close friends or relatives are attending this beautiful ceremony! 

And the next day is a Wedding Day, which is full of interesting traditions and customs as well!

Want to know about Morocco? Follow me on the Pinterest and Instagram! Salam Alaykum!

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Laura

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My Moroccan beauty routine

   As an owner of a super sensitive and dry skin, I used to be a classic consumer and an advertising victim. Plus since being 20 years old I became obsessed with an idea of fighting mine under eye wrinkles! I could not control myself, I was seeing them every time I looked in a mirror, I saw these fine lines and those crow's feet - a nightmare of every woman! Creams, serums, lotions, masks...everything you can find on the shelves of the beauty stores I tried. And guess what? I still have them ( probably because I am already 31). After some researches and consultations with generics and cosmetologists, I was assured - there is no way to get rid of wrinkles totally unless you'll have a surgery! We can take care of our skin and slow down the aging process, look much younger and have a shiny skin. But it is a complex process which includes sport, healthy diet, psychological comfort etc. We should not trick ourselves thinking that one cream will make us young and beautiful! There are no advertised wonders in cosmetology - there is an everyday work ( even though this work is pretty much interesting for me as I do it for myself)  in the taking care of your face and body. CONCLUSION: I spent these many years and this much money fighting my genetics and psychological complexes.

    As a natural cosmetics lover, firstly I started using aloe juice, then natural masks and then...I moved to Morocco with its argan oil! Probably it was the best decision I made because I stopped fighting my wrinkles and started a battle with my complexes- the main source of my cosmetic consuming problems( only face care cosmetics by the way). So instead of using zillions of things like I used to do ( my husband was laughing at me every time he saw my huge pink "beauty case"), I keep only 3 Essentials- Nigella soap (absolutely natural on the olive oil basis with coconut oil, which gently scrubs my skin), I use it every evening before 11 PM, a moisturizer BIO Rose water ( I still have some Avene thermal water left, that I have to finish and stick to my Rose water) which is the best if you are looking for something with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant which means anti-aging ( hooray!!!) effects. By the way, I can use it during a day when I want to refresh my skin a bit, especially I like to put it in the fridge and apply it while it's cold.
And last but not the least  BIO argan oil - the queen of all cosmetics. I used it in the mornings for the first couple of months (like I mentioned my skin is very dry, and I always had to have day and night creams)but now I apply it gently only in the evenings, including my under eye zone! I do not feel that my skin needs it in the morning because I do not feel any dryness anymore! No more eye cream, day cream and night cream! And NO MORE CHEMICAL PRODUCTS!

 I am absolutely happy with my argan and here are some details why:

Argan oil is a perfect moisturizer! Yes, it is. With the whole varieties of vitamins, it has, it nourishes your skin in the best way plus it dries very fast so no sticky oily spots on your pillows!

Argan oil is fighting wrinkles ( eye wrinkles as well)! I do not want to be a fairy taller and assure everyone that I do not have them anymore! Yes, I have, because I am alive and very emotional, so my mimic muscles work all the time,! and I am aging of course!  But I am absolutely satisfied with the results I see now and the way my skin feels after the argan oil usage!

Argan oil will make your hair shiny and healthy! And no more dry ends! If you will not become Rapunzel immediately, you have to use it for about two weeks to see the results! I apply it on my ends - no more dryness,  hooray!

Argan oil fights stretch marks! Are you pregnant? It is time for using argan oil on the places you are not satisfied with! Natural, cheap, safe!

Argan oil is great for nails! Apply it on your cuticula, gently massage and voila!

   What else do I need if I am absolutely satisfied with my pretty little bottle! I hope my experience will be useful for you and you'll find your oil or any other natural product which will make your skin happy!

 Be healthy and beautiful! And let me know if you're coming to Morocco, we will find you the purest argan oil together!

 Salam Alaykum!

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Laura

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"The Danish Girl" and me. A short instruction on femininity.

   Some weeks ago at the end of June I had some free time and free wi fi so I took a chance and watched a movie "The Danish Girl". It is a story about Danish artist Einer Wegener, who was identifying himself as a woman. So he started wearing women's clothes, accessories and called himself Lily.

   At some moment, while watching the movie, I asked myself:"How on Earth this man, who thinks he's a woman inside looks more feminine than me?". We are not talking about acting of an artist in the film, which is great,of course, but about the general feeling of femininity through the film, which made me think on these questions:
  What does it mean to be a woman? And does femininity come automatically?
  I am sure it doesn't. And I am sure we all have different image of womanliness itself. But definitely there are a few basic things which will characterize every woman, here they are:
 You are comfortable with yourself and your body;
 You are filled with piece. This inner piece which attracts the others ( you know this kind of people the other always want to talk to);
 You take care of yourself both physically and psychologically;
 You know your values;
 You have a Dream or  Dreams and follow them;
 You are not trying to fit someone else's expectations;
 You are creative;
 You probably like some form of an Art because you are a masterpiece yourself.

I strongly believe that environments effects your inner femininity a lot and to make it stronger we all should  try to surround ourselves with beautiful things and activities -  painting, dancing, reading. And it doesn't mean we have to be week, being more feminine, and it doesn't matter if we have a man next to us or no ( NB I think nothing boosts our womanliness as much as a right man  ), because we are coming to the origins of being and we are becoming someone we always meant to be - women.

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Laura

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