Ipsum, you had us at ‘hammam’.

Because frankly, much as we’d like to take time out and visit a real-life hammam – ideally in Morocco – it hasn’t happened for a very long time, and isn’t likely to do so anytime soon. So, products that allow us to recreate the experience via some D-I-Y are infinitely welcome.

There are several products in this Ipsum SPA Hammam range – created by a former journalist with over 25 years of experience, Janet Hayward, who happens to be based NOT in Morocco, but in Byron Bay, in Australia. And they feel very authentically hammam-y – a sort of east-meets-west aesthetic, with the sort of textures you’d encounter in a Moroccan spa. So, here are our thoughts…

Ipsum Spa Hammam Soap/£40 for 175g. It’s gooey. It’s sort of bouncy and stretchy. It’s gel-like. But this amber-coloured, clear body product has its roots in traditional Moroccan black soap, which is used for cleansing everything from the neck down. Really, really cleansing. We’d bet it’s not like anything you’ve tried before, but – particularly when used in tandem with the most BRILLIANT, textured jute exfoliating Hamman Mitt/£9 – it leaves skin clean (but not squeaky), soft and (quite surprisingly) not tight at all. There are natural exfoliants in the formula itself, meanwhile, in the form of AHAS and enzymes (botanicals include olive and olive oil) – no scratchy scrubby bits, though – and there’s squalane and vitamin E to nourish. This is a hefty jar, BTW, and will last you ages.

Ipsum SPA Hammam Mask for Neck & Décolleté/£65 for 2 x 45g. So… slightly inexplicably, the carton for this contains a stack of two small jars. Reading between the ingredient lines, we’re assuming this is because the formula contains mineral-packed Moroccan lava clay and kaolin clay, both of which might dry out if there was a large surface area across one jar. For us, however, this product is very unlikely to stick around long enough for that to happen! The neck and décolletage rarely get this kind of TLC, despite desperately needing it, and a 10-minute slather of this is pretty transforming. Macadamia oil has a softening effect, while various different antioxidant-rich limes even out skintone, while boosting cell regeneration. It’s a delicious deep treat, and afterwards the neck and chest skin looks pplumper and smoother, no question. We’re a little bit addicted…

Ipsum SPA Body Oil Native Plums Sandalwood/£68 for 100ml. The finishing touch, to leave skin really supple and velvety – and gosh, does it ever do that. The plums referred to glory in the names of Kakadu, Illawara and Burdekin (referencing different areas where the plums are grown in Australia), which are supposedly offer higher concentration of vitamin C than any other natural source. As for the sandalwood? There are question marks over the ethics of sandalwood production in India, but Australia has a burgeoning, ethical and sustainable sandalwood industry, allowing us to wallow in the gently woody warmth of this essential oil, which infuses the blend here with a touch of sandalwood and bergamot. Ipsum recommend using on damp skin, whereby you get gorgeous glide, leaving skin super-smooth.

As you can see, nothing in the range is ‘cheap’ – but for the quality, it’s honestly good value. And when you think of the savings on: parking at airport, return flights to Marrakech, hotel, food, actual hammam treatments (never mind the discombobulation and hassle of air travel) – well, it starts to look really rather reasonable, as well as downright heavenly...

Hamman Mitt/£9 – buy here

Ipsum Spa Hammam Soap/£40 for 175g – buy here

Ipsum SPA Hammam Mask for Neck & Décolleté/£65 for 2 x 45g

Ipsum SPA Body Oil Native Plums Sandalwood/£68 for 100ml – buy here

PS A few months ago, we ran an interview with Ipsum founder Janet, which you can read here.

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