Ancient Egyptians Only Used Two Ingredients to Cleanse Their Faces

CLEANSE LIKE THE EGYPTIANSAncient Egyptians Only Used Two Ingredients to Cleanse Their FacesBoard-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara takes us back in time to explore why the royals used clay and olive oil. April 7, 2022Mixed race female smearing mud on faceGetty Images

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There are some skin-care treatments and ingredients that have existed since ancient times. As the years passed and we acquired more knowledge, some of those beloved skin-care traditions got left in the past for more effective treatments and new technologies. A handful, however, have stood the test of time because of their efficacy such as the use of sea salt for exfoliation.

In the first installment of Allure's Skinfluencer video series, Connecticut-based, board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, explained how ancient Egyptians used sea salt as an exfoliant to smooth the skin, giving rise to the myriad of body scrubs that exist today. She credited ancient Egyptians with being the original beauty influencers for their resourcefulness with natural materials to create skin-care concoctions that people still use to this day. 

In the latest installment of the video series, Gohara introduces another skin-care technique that we have adapted from the Egyptian queens. In ancient times, the African royalty combined clay and olive oil into a soap paste to cleanse their faces. The use of the two natural materials proved very useful. "They hit on the key to a multitasking product: clay that's absorbent and oil that's softening," Gohara explains.

Skinfix Barrier+ Foaming Clay Cleanser on white background

Courtesy of brand

Skinfix Barrier+ Foaming Clay Cleanser$30

It's a formulation that's still used in facial cleansers you can buy today. In fact, when her clients ask for products with basic ingredients, she'll recommend the Skinfix Barrier+ Foaming Clay Cleanser, which operates similar to the soap paste the ancients used. The foaming cleanser is packed with jojoba oil and kaolin and glacial clays to moisturize and purify the skin. New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, previously told Allure about the wonders of jojoba oil. "It acts as both a humectant to draw moisture in and an emollient that softens and smoothes the skin," she says.

Clearly, the Egyptian queens were onto something with their soap paste made of clay and olive oil. With experts like Dr. Gohara reminding us of history, their contributions and influence will not go unnoticed.  Enjoy part two of the Skinfluencer series from Dr. Gohara below. 

Meet the experts:
  • Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Dermatology of Physicians of Connecticut  and on the American Board of Dermatology.
  • Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Cornell - New York Presbyterian Medical Center.

Read more stories about skin care:

  • 23 Dermatologists' Skin-Care Routines That Are More Attainable Than You'd Think
  • The Right Way to Cocktail Your Skin-Care Ingredients
  • Why You Should Consider Adding a Body Mask to Your Skin-Care Routine

Now enjoy the unboxing of the April 2022 Allure Beauty Box:

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Gabi Thorne is the associate news editor at Allure. Since graduating from Harvard University, where she received a student writing fellowship from The Nation to research political news and social media as they pertain to students and communities of color, Gabi has covered beauty, pop culture, news, and more... Read moreAssociate News EditorKeywordsdermatologistsdermatologistwashing faceface cleanseroilsclayAncient Egyptiansskin carevideoMona Goharaskin

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Originally posted on: https://www.allure.com/story/ancient-egyptian-skin-care-video-part-two