Fourth Episode - The Culture of Beauty, Morocco

Sample Episode: Morocco 

Morocco is an unforgettable introduction to the Middle East; the cultural fusion of African, Spanish and French influence ensures breathtaking beauty on every corner. In this episode, host Stephanie Flor meets local beauty shop owners, artisans, and indigenous Berber villagers, while immersing herself in the full sensory experience of Marrakech. This ancient city is alive with colors, aromas, ornate details, and history dating back thousands of years. 

Our episode opens in Marrakech’s renowned souk (open-air market), Jemaa El-Fnaa, which is a vibrant hub of trade, social life, and cultural expression. Here Stephanie meets local guide Sara, the co-owner of an argan cooperative. Together they set off into the colorful and bustling bazaar to shop for argan oil, ude, amber perfumes, tea, spices, and the beauty products that locals love. Stephanie also learns about the ancient history of indigo pigment; this rich blue color has been used in fabric dyes, medicine and beauty for centuries. Morocco’s long history of cosmetics trade means it continues to influence beauty trends worldwide.

Next Stephanie explores the ancient tradition of eye kohl. Originating from the Arabian Peninsula, this stone-based cosmetic was introduced to North Africa in the 7th century; traditionally, it protects Saharan nomads from the sun’s rays and ward off evil energies. Stephanie will learn more about galena ore preparation in the souk, and will demonstrate an application of kohl later in the episode.  

As a quick break after the crowded souk, it’s time for some Moroccan mint tea. Tea signifies hospitality and friendship, and it’s a time-honored Moroccan tradition. While the delicious aroma of green tea, mint leaves and sugar wafts in the air, the elaborate pouring ritual becomes an art form all its own. 

Stephanie visits Lori Gordon who owns the Henna Art Cafe, a non-profit that creates cultural henna experiences. While preparing the henna by transforming it from leaf to paste, [woman’s name TK] explains the traditional uses and designs of henna. Stephanie meets Nezha, a tattoo artist who works at the Henna Art Café to support her family as a single mother (still a taboo in Morocco). Nezha’s love for her work comes through in her beautiful henna designs, which she explains to Stephanie as she works. 

Next, Stephanie ventures to guide Sara’s argan cooperative, just outside the city, to learn more about one of the most sought after beauty ingredients in the world: argan oil, the golden liquid that put Morocco on the beauty map. Sara walks her through the process of making argan oil, along with the history of this unique ingredient that’s become a beauty staple for women around the world. 

Along the road, Stephanie spots an unusual sight: goats in trees. The hardy animals climb 30 feet in the air on a quest for argan fruit. But they’re not the only ones interested in the argan trees. Greeting Stephanie with another cup of mint tea, Sara’s uncle, the co-owner of the cooperative, will share his inspiring story. He began by selling argan oil door-to-door, then opened a cooperative that focuses on hiring women and making a difference in the community. The staff is eager to demonstrate the healing properties of each product. These coveted rituals are usually not shared among strangers or tourists, but we’re considered family. 

After a beautiful afternoon meeting incredible women and sharing in beauty, Stephanie travels to the Atlas Mountains for an authentic hammam experience. In Morocco, all wellness rituals begin at the hammam (bathhouse); women and men from all economic backgrounds take part in separate bathhouse practices as a way of life. She meets with Berber women and follows their bathing ritual with black olive soap, rhassoul mineral mud, and an orange blossom cleanse. 

Feeling refreshed, Stephanie meets Kenza, local beauty expert and owner of La Roseraie Spa Retreat, for an unforgettable beauty experience. Kenza’s extensive gardens are filled with roses, medicinal herbs, and native ingredients for the spa’s beauty treatments. Kenza walks Stephanie through making the famous rhassoul clay mask, and takes a deep dive into her personal story through these beauty products. Stephanie enters the hammam to experience the ritual from head to toe, with an accompanying voiceover on the history of the bathhouse—including the fact that at one point, Moroccan men ran the risk of arrest if they tried to keep their wives from going to the hammam. Now it’s a place for both beauty routines and celebrations. 

Back in Marrakech, Stephanie meets Fatima, owner of a fashion boutique at the YSL Museum and Le Majorelle gardens, where she learns the history of Berber fashion and what wearing a hijab means in the Muslim culture. Many designers, including Yves Saint Laurent, have used Morocco as a haven of fashion inspiration, even bringing head-covers into their work to convey a message of purity. Here, especially for the Berber people, the face, not the body, is the beauty focal point. Fatima takes Stephanie to her shop to show off her latest creations, and gets Stephanie ready to shine like a Moroccan, with the most fashion-forward makeup and clothing Marrakech has to offer.

After her dive into fashion history, Stephanie departs for a Moroccan fragrance experience. She meets master perfumer, Abderrezzak Benchaabane, the founder of the Jardins du Maroc (Gardens of Morocco) Magazine and the Festival Jardin'Art (Garden Art Festival) in Marrakech. He guides Stephanie’s creation of a personal fragrance, for a unique and emotional experience. Sitting in one of the city’s famed gardens, he shares insight on the future of the fragrance industry, and the importance of Moroccan-based scents. Abderrezzak takes Stephanie back to the Jemaa el-Fnaa souk for a private tour of the Fragrance Museum of Marrakesh. 

The night ends with a shikhat dance performance showcasing the modern and globalizing Morocco. As she takes in the mesmerizing and spirited nightlife, Stephanie ends the episode pouring mint tea in the traditional manner she leaned in the souk. This grounding ritual signifies that in this ever-changing world, old and new ideas of beauty can harmoniously coexist. 

As a postscript, we travel to a modern studio, where our host is applying dark eyeliner to Imaan Hammam, a Moroccan model, and sharing the tips on achieving the darkest eyeliner line that doesn’t smear. Stephanie and Imaan reflect on the long history of kohl and its influence on today’s beauty culture, sharing the beauty of Morocco with the world. 

The episode familiarizes the audience with the diversity and vibrancy of Morocco. The viewer is left with an expanded understanding of Morocco as a multicultural crossroads, all while uncovering the beauty of shared rituals that Moroccan women swear by.