For the face
Mixed into a paste, the powder cleanses the skin gently: its very fine grain helps remove impurities and leaves the skin soft and clean.
Plant powderMoroccan heritage
Chickpea
The plant a legume cultivated for about 7,500 years.
The pod swollen, it shelters the seeds.
The seed the dried chickpea, ground into a soft, blond powder.
The mask the powder mixed with rose water or honey.
INCI · CICER ARIETINUM SEED POWDERCreate my chickpea range
- INCI name
- CICER ARIETINUM SEED POWDER
- Other names
- Chickpea flour, lhemmes
- Family
- Plant powder (Fabaceae, legumes)
- Origin
- Legume cultivated for about 7,500 years in the Middle East
- Part used
- Dried, ground seeds
- Areas
- Face, masks, gentle scrubs
In brief
Chickpea in 30 seconds
By the Carmel Cosmetics Labs R&D team · updated October 18, 2026
- INCI nameCICER ARIETINUM SEED POWDER (chickpea seed powder)
- What it isthe chickpea seed, dried and ground into a fine powder
- For the facea mask base cited by Moroccan herbalists
- For the formulaan abrasive function according to CosIng: a very gentle grain
- Origina legume cultivated for about 7,500 years
( A )WHAT IT IS
What is chickpea powder in cosmetics?
Chickpea powder is the seed of Cicer arietinum, a legume, dried then ground into a fine flour. In cosmetics, it is declared as CICER ARIETINUM SEED POWDER and the CosIng database assigns it an abrasive function: a very gentle grain that helps cleanse the skin. Rich in starch and protein, it gives hold to mask pastes. In Morocco, herbalists cite it as a powder applied as a face mask.
Chickpea powder or chickpea extract: the difference
Seed powder
The whole seed, ground, declared as CICER ARIETINUM SEED POWDER. It serves as a mask base and a gentle grain for face scrubs.
Seed extract
An extract of the seed, declared as CICER ARIETINUM SEED EXTRACT, which CosIng classes as a skin and hair conditioning agent. It is used in creams or shampoos, not as a powder.
( B )ITS BENEFITS01 02 03
Benefits of chickpea for the face
For texture
Rich in starch and protein, it thickens masks and gives them a creamy hold, easy to spread and rinse.
For the formula
A simple, plant-based ingredient known to everyone, cited in Moroccan beauty recipes: it speaks to brands that want a short, readable ingredient list.
How to use chickpea flour on the face
- Mask
Two spoonfuls of powder mixed with rose water or honey, applied in a thin layer, then rinsed with lukewarm water after a few minutes.
- Scrub
Wet, the paste is gently massaged in small circles before rinsing, for a very mild face scrub.
- Powder
Sold as a ready-to-mix powder, it is prepared at the time of use, avoiding the eye area.
( C )IN OUR PRODUCTS
Launch your chickpea range
We build it into face masks, gentle scrubs and mix-it-yourself powders ready to carry your brand. Choose a category to see our formulas.
( D )FORMULATOR NOTES
How we build it in
What our formulators take into account when chickpea goes into your product.
Often paired with
- 01A fine grind
We choose a finely sifted powder, for a soft grain and a smooth, lump-free paste.
- 02Microbiological cleanliness
A raw plant material, it is checked on receipt. Dry, the powder keeps well; once mixed, the paste is prepared at the time of use.
- 03A legume
Chickpea is a legume: its presence is clearly indicated, and we advise a test on a small area before first use.
- 04No medical claims
Ethnobotanical surveys also cite traditional uses for blemishes: we keep them as tradition and write your claims within the cosmetic framework, cleanse and soften.
Did you know?
Lhemmes, the powder of Moroccan masks
- Lhemmes
In the Fès-Meknès region, herbalists call chickpea lhemmes and cite it as a powder, applied as a mask.
- 7,500 years
Chickpea has been cultivated for about 7,500 years in the Middle East.
- Desi and kabuli
Two main types are distinguished: kabuli, with a light, smooth seed, and desi, with a more angular, colored seed, which covers 80 to 85% of cultivated areas.
Chickpea flour for the face: your questions
A project with this ingredient?Our product specialist answers you on WhatsApp.Write on WhatsApp
Is chickpea flour good for the face?
Yes, as a mask base: mixed into a paste, chickpea flour cleanses the skin gently thanks to its very fine grain and leaves it soft. The CosIng database assigns it an abrasive function. It does not replace a moisturizing care: apply your usual cream afterward.
How do you make a chickpea flour mask?
Mix two spoonfuls of powder with rose water or honey until you get a smooth paste. Apply in a thin layer on clean face, avoiding the eye area, leave for a few minutes before the paste dries, then rinse with lukewarm water.
Which ingredients go with chickpea in a mask?
Honey and rose water mix the powder into a smooth paste. Carob and cinnamon bring a delicious note, with cinnamon to be dosed carefully. Panthenol or centella complete the formula for skin that feels soft and comfortable after rinsing.
Is chickpea powder an exfoliant?
Chickpea powder is a very gentle exfoliant: CosIng classes it as an abrasive, like other fine plant powders. Massaged on damp skin, it helps remove impurities. For a stronger scrub, it is combined with a powder with a coarser grain, such as argan shell.
Is chickpea used in beauty in Morocco?
Yes. A survey of 70 herbalists in the Fès-Meknès region cites chickpea, called lhemmes, as a powder applied as a face mask. The other uses recorded, on blemishes or spots, belong to tradition and not to a cosmetic promise.
Can you create a chickpea range with Carmel Cosmetics Labs?
Yes. Carmel Cosmetics Labs builds chickpea into face masks, gentle scrubs and mix-it-yourself powders in white label, or into an exclusive private label formula, made in our ISO 22716 factory in Aït Melloul, Morocco. We support you from choosing the formula through to packaging with your brand.
Sources
- European Commission, CosIng database: CICER ARIETINUM SEED POWDER (chickpea seed powder)
- European Commission, CosIng database: CICER ARIETINUM SEED EXTRACT (chickpea seed extract)
- Salhi N. et al., Traditional Knowledge of Medicinal Plants Used for Cosmetic Purposes in the Fez-Meknes Region, Trop J Nat Prod Res 7(11) (2023)
- Begum N. et al., Nutritional composition, health benefits and bio-active compounds of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), Frontiers in Nutrition 10 (2023)
Your chickpea range, made in Morocco
Send your brief: we formulate and manufacture your chickpea masks and powders in our ISO 22716 factory in Aït Melloul. Free consultation and a selection of formulas, no commitment.