How to Choose Beldi Soap (and 6 Mistakes to Avoid)

Beldi soap is not a bar or a gel. It is a soft, dark paste traditionally made from olive oil and olives, applied to warm, damp skin, left on for a few minutes and rinsed before exfoliation. It is designed for the hammam, not for a quick daily wash.

If you are completely new to it, start with what Moroccan beldi soap is, then come back here to choose your variant. You can also see where it fits in the full ritual in our guide to the Moroccan hammam at home.

Start from how your skin usually feels after a shower, and what you want from the ritual: comfort, a fresher-looking complexion, or a little extra polish.

1. Skin often feels tight or dry: black soap with argan.
2. You want a fresher, brighter-looking complexion: black soap with nila.
3. You want glow and gentle exfoliation: beldi soap with aker fassi.
4. You prefer the classic olive-oil base: olive oil beldi soap with aker fassi.
5. You want a healthy-looking glow before an occasion: Moroccan soap with aker fassi.

Whatever you choose, all of them work the same way in the ritual, so you can rotate jars as the seasons change.

The Moroccan black soap with argan is blended with argan oil, which gives it a comfortable, slightly richer feel. It cleanses without leaving the skin feeling stripped and prepares it well for the kessa.

It is the easiest first jar: a reliable all-rounder for most skin types, and a natural choice in winter or if your skin tends to feel tight after washing.

Nila is a traditional Moroccan indigo powder. In the black soap with nila, it is blended into the beldi base for a ritual that is traditionally used to leave the complexion looking fresher and more even.

Choose it if your skin is normal to combination and you enjoy a deep-cleansing feel. As with any new product, do a patch test on the forearm first.

Aker fassi is the traditional plant-based pigment Moroccan women use as a lip and cheek tint. Blended into beldi soap, it brings a gentle polishing touch and a healthy-looking glow. We offer three versions, so pick the one whose base suits you.

Beldi soap with aker fassi

The beldi soap with aker fassi focuses on gentle exfoliation and natural cleansing, a good match if you want skin to feel smoother after the kessa.

Olive oil beldi soap with aker fassi

The organic olive oil beldi soap with aker fassi keeps the classic olive-oil base of traditional beldi soap, in a 200 g jar. Choose it if you like the heritage recipe.

Moroccan soap with aker fassi

The Moroccan soap with aker fassi is a black soap made for a healthy-looking glow, ideal before a special occasion or simply as part of your weekly ritual.

Shop the olive oil beldi soap with aker fassi if you want the most traditional of the three.

The right jar only shines if you use it the right way. This is the short version of the ritual.

1. Steam first: run a hot shower in a closed bathroom for 5 to 10 minutes until your skin feels warm and damp.
2. Apply a thin layer: warm a walnut-sized amount between your palms and spread it over damp skin, avoiding the eyes.
3. Leave it on: wait about 5 to 10 minutes in the steam without rinsing.
4. Rinse well: use warm water until the skin no longer feels slippery.
5. Exfoliate: use a kessa glove in long, firm strokes, as explained in our kessa glove guide.
6. Finish: rinse, pat dry, then apply rose water and your usual moisturiser.

Most disappointing beldi soap experiences come from one of these habits. They are all easy to fix.

1. Using it like shower gel: beldi soap barely foams and is not meant to be lathered and rinsed straight away. Spread it as a thin layer instead.
2. Rinsing too soon: the waiting time is what softens the skin. Give it at least 5 minutes.
3. Using it on the face too often: the face is more delicate than the body. If you use beldi soap there, keep it brief, gentle and occasional, and never use the kessa on the face.
4. Skipping the steam: on cold, dry skin the soap cannot do its job, and exfoliation feels rough.
5. Scrubbing dry or irritated skin: never exfoliate dry skin, and skip any area that is sunburnt, broken or irritated.
6. Storing the jar wet: water left in the jar changes the texture. Scoop with dry fingers or a small spatula and close the lid tightly.

Ready to choose? Browse every jar in our Hammam Ritual category, or read how to build a hammam gift box if you are shopping for someone else. Every order is dispatched within 1 working day and shipped worldwide with FedEx International Priority, with a tracking number (shipping details).

Start with the black soap with argan if you are unsure: it suits most skin types.