Getting down to earth
When my editor handed me a bag of gritty brown powder and a gleaming rock of crystal and told me, with a glint in her eye, that this would keep me clean for a week, I felt a twinge of panic. It's not that I'm one of those precious city girls who can't take a bit of dirt or struggle: I've backpacked through Africa, ridden mangy steeds across the dry plains of Utah, and staggered breathless up mountains, skipping a number of showers along the way. But facing a normal, working routine with colleagues who may find a whiff of sweat and lank hair unappealing is a different story altogether.
What helped steel myself for the challenge was that the products - the Moroccan Rhassoul Clay mineral wash for hair and body and the Alum Crystal (pictured), a 100 per cent earth-grown crystal deodorant of volcanic origin - are completely natural and biodegradable. Available at Natural Spa Supplies, the products are ideal for those of us concerned about our daily impact on the environment.
On the first night I followed the instructions, mixing a small amount of clay with a dash of water and leaving it for 10 minutes to soak. I applied the clay, rubbing it briskly and not letting it dry. Brown drops flicked all over the white bathroom tiles, so I hopped into the shower. I removed the clay with a wet facecloth, but you can just rinse off with water. Once towelled dry, I was surprised to find my skin perfectly clean and refreshed, and soft and moisturised.
The clay is made from just one ingredient - the natural clay mineral montmorillonite - and it's kind to sensitive skin, and skin prone to acne, eczema and psoriasis. It's safe for intimate areas, if rinsed properly. For a body scrub, add sea salt for exfoliation and a touch of oil for moisturising. For a bath soak, add salt, medicinal herbs or essential oils. The clay can also be used as a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner.
At the end of the trial week, my skin was more supple, and I felt good about being more earth-friendly. The downside is that extra bit of effort it takes to mix the powder, and I have to admit that on busy mornings I reach for my regular bar of soap.
The crystal deodorant is pure potassium alum, collected from the Western Desert in Africa. I have used crystal deodorants before, and still do on days when I wear white shirts to avoid the chemicals in antiperspirants staining the armpits yellow. But this was something else: cutting down on packaging, the crystal comes simply as a shard of rock, sharp edges and all. I felt very 'Earth Mother' wiping it in my armpits, but it did the job; it doesn't stop you perspiring but it prevents malodours for several hours. You can either apply it to damp skin or dampen the stone and apply to dry skin.
