Desert Daughter

A unique line of cosmetic and herbal healing products

 Mariam Abu Rkeek created Desert Daughter to preserve and share centuries-old Bedouin herbal tradition with the world.

As a young child she was taught about natural herbal formulas by my grandmother that had been passed down orally from generation to generation. Her grandmother showed her how to pick the herbs using old methods that preserved the plant and did not harm its reproductive capacity. Her native Negev landscape called out to her and as a child she would wander the wide desert, returning home with armfuls of different kinds of plants.

Meanwhile, she worked very hard in school and when she graduated she was awarded a scholarship to study in England for a B.A. in business. She was one of the first Bedouin women of her tribe to study abroad for a college degree.

At the time, her Bedouin community was leaving behind their holistic lifestyle in an effort to adapt to an urbanizing Negev Desert. Being a student abroad, she was surprised to see everyone interested in the reverse: an increasing interest in natural healing products.

 After graduating from university in the UK, many were surprised that she chose to return to her Bedouin roots, rather than leaving her heritage behind. Inspired by her love for the desert and her grandmother’s teachings, she launched a small business in her home village. Working out of her parents home she sold facial and body products based on my grandmother’s recipes. Over time, the business grew and in 2005 Desert Daughter was formally established. Now Desert Daughter offers many cosmetic and healing collections based on traditional ingredients.