How to Use Aker Fassi as a Natural Lip Tint and Blush

Aker fassi is a traditional plant pigment made mainly from sun-dried poppy petals and pomegranate rind, spread over a terracotta clay base. It contains no wax or oil, so it does not glide like a lipstick: water releases the colour and the skin takes it as a stain.

We sell it in its small clay pot, exactly as it is made, in two versions that are used the same way. You will find them with the rest of our natural colour and skin care in the Skin & Body collection.

You only need the pot, a little water and something soft to apply with. Rose water is a lovely alternative to tap water if you enjoy a light floral scent.

• Botanical aker fassi lip & cheek stain — the buildable red tint in a terracotta pot.
• Traditional aker fassi pot — the same gesture, in its classic clay presentation.
• Natural distilled rose water — to dampen your brush with a fresh floral touch.
• A small lip brush, a cotton swab or simply a clean fingertip.

Start on clean, dry lips with no balm, so the pigment can grip evenly.

1. Dampen the tool: moisten your brush, swab or fingertip with a drop of water or rose water. Damp, not dripping.
2. Pick up the colour: rub the tool gently against the bottom of the pot a few times until it turns red.
3. Apply to the centre: press the colour onto the middle of your lips first, where you want it deepest.
4. Blend outwards: work quickly towards the corners with small dabbing movements before the tint sets.
5. Build if you like: let it dry for a few seconds, then add a second layer for a richer red.
6. Finish: aker fassi is a tint, not a balm. If your lips feel dry, smooth a thin layer of your usual lip balm on top once the colour has set.

On cheeks, less is more. Aker fassi is quite pigmented, so start with a very light touch and build slowly in daylight.

1. Prepare the skin: apply blush after your moisturiser has fully absorbed, so the pigment does not slide.
2. Load lightly: dampen a fingertip or brush and pick up only a small amount of colour.
3. Dot and smile: smile and dab two or three dots on the apples of your cheeks.
4. Blend up and back: blend quickly towards the temples with your fingertips until no edges remain.
5. Adjust: add another light layer if needed; if it is too strong, soften it with a clean damp sponge.

One pot gives you a whole range. A single damp, light layer gives a sheer rosy stain; two or three layers give a deeper berry red; a nearly dry brush pressed firmly gives the most intense matte finish.

• Too much water makes the colour run and look patchy, so blot your tool on a tissue first.
• Work fast: the stain sets in seconds, so blend straight away.
• For lips with fine lines, dab rather than drag, and keep layers thin.

Because it is small, light and does two jobs, aker fassi is also a favourite in a natural travel beauty routine and on wedding days, as you will see in our guide to Moroccan bridal beauty rituals.

Shop the traditional aker fassi pot

Aker fassi is also used in Moroccan body and hammam care for its colour and its warm, traditional character. Our body scrub with aker fassi and turmeric is designed for a weekly exfoliation that leaves skin feeling smooth.

You will also find aker fassi in several beldi soaps; our guide on how to choose your beldi soap explains which one suits which skin.

Aker fassi is a stain, so it fades gradually rather than smudging. To remove it, use your usual gentle cleanser; a few drops of facial oil on a cotton pad help lift a deeper layer, and any faint tint left will fade with the next wash.

After each use, leave the pot open for a minute so any moisture evaporates, then close it. Keep it in a dry place, away from steam, and never pour water straight into it. Use a clean tool every time and keep lip products for yourself.

Every order is dispatched within 1 working day and shipped worldwide with FedEx International Priority, with a tracking number (shipping details).

Want the whole look in one box? Shop the Moroccan Beauty Secrets set, with aker fassi, ithmid kohl, rose water and prickly pear seed oil.