As I was scrolling through TikTok on my lunch break, I came upon one of my favorite skincare TikTokers, Charlotte Palermino @charlotteparler, as she covered her body from head to toe in a clay-like mud from the sands of a beach called Kalogeros on the island of Paros in Greece. Palermino, a licensed esthetician and co-founder of Dieux Skin, has amazing skin already thanks to her die-hard SPF usage (seriously, if you aren’t wearing it every day, you are doing yourself a disservice). After giving herself an au naturale spa treatment and mud mask from this beach, letting it dry for 20 minutes, and washing herself in the curative waters of the Aegean Sea, she emerged with the ever-elusive dolphin skin we’ve all been pining for since we heard the term.
And so, naturally, I immediately went to research Kalogeros so I could find out everything I could about this magical clay.
Paros has a rich history, dating back to arcadian times in 7th Century BC. Kalogeros means “monk” in Greek, and the beach was named after an actual monk who dove into the waters from the tops of a cliff. You can get to this secluded beach from a dirt road at the south end of Molos Bay (by car, bus or walking!), according to reviewers on Tripadvisor, but it’s 100% worth it. Be sure to bring everything you need with you, like extra SPF, plenty of water/snacks, and your towel/umbrella, since there really is nothing else out there.
Once you’ve laid eyes on the crystal-clear waters and you’re on Kalogeros’ pebble-covered shores, take a scoop of the sand near the craggy rocks (dig deep) to emerge with the green-gray colored clay and start applying liberally!
This clay, sometimes known as argile or calcium bentonite clay, contains naturally occurring sulfur, silica, and minerals that exfoliate your skin and promote healthy skin-cell turnover creating baby-soft skin that shines.
Palermino warns against claims that the healing clay detoxifies, as these claims are typically not well researched, and your kidney and liver already does that for you. But as a natural exfoliant and an SPF – it’s the bee’s knees.
Anyway, who is booking a trip with us for a relaxing Greek vacation – spa included? *raises hand*
Donna + Donna 