Why Persian Sefid-Ab Should Be Part Of Your Daily Beauty Routine

As a new mum over 40, I’m obsessed with Persian sefid-ab (white water) as I feel that it helps with my daily beauty routine and gets rid of lines and wrinkles.

I’ve never been afraid to dabble with things that help improve my skin, eyes and hands, so when I discovered an exfoliator called sefid-ab during a visit to see my in-laws in Persia, I was more than happy to try it out.

Cheaper Than Microdermabrasion

I’ve been using it weekly ever since. The only downside is that it’s hard to come by in the UK. That means every time the family asks what we would like, I ask if they could send me some. It’s a lot cheaper than the likes of microdermabrasion but has the same effect.

I’ve found it helps release toxins from my skin and works great on clogged pores, cellulite, stretch-marks and crow’s feet and fine lines under the eye area. Sefid-ab is an ancient Iranian cosmetic and cleanser that is used to exfoliate the skin.

It can be used by both men and women and works best on all skin types with a kiseh or exfoliator mitt. The sefid-ab is a white-coloured chalky substance made of animal fat and naturally occurring minerals. (Clearly no good for vegetarians or vegans or if you have an allergic reaction). It is made by mixing the ingredients with water to form a smooth paste. The animal fat is then heated until it melts.

After this, the mixture is added to the paste and added to small casts and left to dry. Application (body): I wet the sefid-ab and begin by rubbing it on to the kiseh (exfoliation mitt) in the shower. I rub it on to my skin in a circular motion to remove the dead skin and dirt before rinsing several times.

The circular motion is most effective as I find it less abrasive than the back and forth movement. The result is baby soft skin which feels rejuvenated and radiant and I haven’t spent a fortune.

A Harsh Exfoliator

Application (face): Sefid-ab is quite a harsh exfoliator, so I cover my face with Vaseline before applying it. Beginning with my forehead, I scrub in a circular motion towards one side of my face, down on to my chin and then on to the opposite side of my face. I then rinse several times with water and wipe away any debris.

How To Make Sefid-ab

During my stay with H’s khalleh (auntie) in Rasht, I stumbled upon what I thought was a brilliant hack – a crushed powder on the bathroom sink that looked suspiciously like sefid-ab. Excited about the prospect of avoiding the occasional struggle of crumbling sefid-ab, I decided to give it a try. As I applied it, the scent was oddly different, and there was a slight harshness to it. Puzzled, I brought it up with H later, only to discover that my brilliant discovery was nothing more than washing powder, not sefid-ab. Talk about a mix-up! This little incident taught me the importance of double-checking before experimenting with bathroom concoctions.

After using sefid-ab on my face, I apply a mixture of almond, olive oil and glycerin to moisturise my skin. One tsp of each is enough. Email saffronandcyrus@gmail.com for more information about sefid-ab.