by Ila Mishra
Beauty secrets of women from around the world
Chanakya wrote a long time ago, “The world’s biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman.” Women around the world have secrets to maintain their appearances, because they realize this powerful truth deep within. Apart from regular exercise and eating right, their beauty regimens are certainly to get inspired by.
India
Women in India unconsciously take care of their skin and hair. The Indian diet is full of medicinal herbs and spices which not only keep the skin looking healthy and glowing but also wrinkle free. Indian summers are really hot and the sun is cruel on the skin. The humble lime acts as fairness and cleansing agent. Applying lemon juice on the skin helps reduce tanning. Due to the heat, water intake is very high which keeps the pores breathing and clean. Multani mitti (clay), sandalwood and turmeric packs are very popular with women who love it for keeping their skin tight and moisturized. The Indian beauty also swears by regular oil massages of the hair and body to keep it looking young and supple. A typical bathing ritual is to oil the body before stepping in for a bath. This prevents soaps from taking away essential oils from the body.
Japan
Japanese women look young even when they are in their 40’s or 50’s. They take care of themselves meticulously. For their face, they use the rich Vitamin E based rice bran face wash. Face scrubs made of green tea leaves and azuki bean powder for gentle exfoliation. Rice bran is a multipurpose product – not only is it used in face wash, but also as a skin lightening agent. For a Japanese porcelain skin, the bird droppings of Nightingales have proved to be highly effective. This is an expensive therapy even for a Japanese woman. Their smooth hair can be attributed to seaweed hair washes which are rich in magnesium, calcium and iron. To brush one’s hair, Tsuge wood combs are used. They seem to glide through the hair, untangling it as they go. It promotes natural shine and gloss.
China
Beauty took a whole new route in China. Just as internal health is considered a must for the outer beauty in most parts of the world, China took to Acupuncture to promote the same. Usage of herbs was a supplementary way to enhance beauty. Organic rose tea is considered a powerhouse of antioxidants as it contains ascorbic acids, niacin, flavonoids, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, E and K. Rose helps in reducing wrinkles and makes one glow. Cactus and Dandelion flower are also used for skin elasticity and curing skin problems. Chinese also look to meditation for internal organ exercise which impacts outer beauty.
Korea
Koreans know how to take care of their skin. Their facial and neck skin are kept in perfect condition because of their cleansing and exfoliating practice. Here is a detailed look at their regime. The beauty regime is of elaborate 10-17 steps. However, it does make the skin look beautiful.
South East Asia (Pacific islands of Bali, Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand)
South East Asian women keep a strict check on their diet. It also helps that people pay a lot of attention to fresh food. Processed foods which have preservatives and chemicals are kept to a minimum. A healthy weight also keeps their body functioning at an optimum rate. For a fantabulous skin they use tamarind paste, papaya, lemon grass, banana paste and coconut oil to keep their skin looking younger and wrinkle free. Using Aloe gel as a hair mask for 10 minutes makes their hair shiny and smooth.
Africa
Preserving the natural oils of the skin is important in the world’s hottest continent. Soaps made of coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa pod powder, palm oil and ashes of plantain skins, do just those! Plants such as Buchu (Agothosma Betulina) and Rooibos are used for medicinal purposes to heal skin of diseases and maintaining flawless skin. The high amount of anti-oxidants help maintain elasticity of skin and keeps it looking youthful.
South America
Ancient Mayan beauty recipes are used in homes as well as beauty spas in the west. Applying a mash of ½ an Avocado and leaving it on the face for 20 minutes will hydrate your skin. Also applying slices of Avocado on your eyes will reduce puffiness. Rose Hip Seed Oil decreases scars and wrinkles and Acacia herb acts like an astringent and antibacterial. Crushed acacia herb mixed with honey helps (put on for 20 minutes) with skin outbreaks.
Brazil
Women in Brazil love to spend time on beaches. Thus cellulite and hair removal are one of their biggest concerns in the beauty department. Not only is there an emphasis on physical exercise to keep oneself fit, but also keeping one’s natural beauty intact. While spending time on the beach, Brazilian women rub sand onto their bodies – this is a natural treatment for cellulite reduction. It is also good for increasing circulation of blood on the surfaces being rubbed. Eating avocados is a great way to incorporate Vitamin E in their body systems for great skin and hair. Women drink raw carrot juice which gives a beautiful glow to the skin.
European Nations –
Bulgarian women swear by rose oil for a wrinkle free skin. Add 2-3 drops of organic rose oil into your daily moisturizer and protect your skin from inflammation of eczema and acne. Not only does it leave them with a wonderful smell, it keeps you feeling happy!
Women in France love to keep it simple and natural. For good looking hair try mixing in a drop of kosher oil with ½ cups of sea salt or kosher salt. This should be applied after bath and rinsed with cold water. Home made recipes for skin care are also popular. Dry skin can be taken care of by applying a paste of 1 tablespoon of honey, fresh thyme and the insides of an avocado. For oily skin ladies should mix up 1 table spoon of lemon, honey and fresh thyme. Keep the mixture on the face for 15 minutes before rinsing.
A quick Swedish face mask to exfoliate your skin is made of 1 egg white and ½ teaspoon of honey. Apply this on your face and neck for 15 minutes after steaming your face. Swedish women supplement homemade exfoliates and cleansers with a wholesome diet of Omega 3 rich fishes and anti oxidant rich berries. Also, Swedish women prefer Vitamin E rich rapeseed oil which does wonders to the skin.
How do Spanish women take care of those dark eye circles? Using thin slices of potato on eyes will help lighten those eye circles. Grecian women use rosemary water to rinse their hair for the shine. Polish women use a thin layer of honey on their faces to tighten the skin. Using olive oil for their skin, hair and food, Italians swear by this oil for keeping them looking young and fresh.
Greece
Greek women have a wonderful complexion and skin. To get it for yourself, apply olive oil with lemon juice on your skin and see it glow and becoming soft. Applying a blended paste of 1 tbsp of Greek yogurt, a 20 min soaked vanilla bean pod, 1 tsp of raw honey and ½ ripe tomato for 30 minutes which will lighten your blemishes and skin tone. Another ancient recipe is application of a mixture of 1/3 cup olive oil, 1/3 cup sea salt, 1 tbsp raw honey and 8-10 drops of lavender oil for five minutes on your skin. These, simple everyday ingredients will rejuvenate your skin.
Russia
Women take their beauty very seriously in Russia. However, they take the help of natural products more than anything else. For those rosy cheeks, the beetroot skin rubbed on to the high cheekbones gives a wonderful pink tone. Another way to have blood rushing to your face in the cold winters is washing it with ice water. Russian women also make their own creams which help smooth out wrinkles and prevent them from occurring. When we think of Russia we also think of Vodka. It is not surprising that Vodka has beauty benefits – it can be used as an astringent, cleanser to brighten your skin and in many more ways.
Australia
Usage of local ingredients means remedies become cost effective and suited to the environment you live in. Due to the highly dry and sunny climate of Australia, women have to take care of their skin and hair. A quick remedy to hydrate scalp is to add a few drops of Eucalyptus or tea tree oil to your shampoo. This will help dandruff go away! Also using seedless grapes to rub on the face, applying caster sugar on a damp face helps in reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
Local ingredients which are easily available form the basis of beauty regimens around the world. Herbs and plants have miraculous properties which if explored can enhance our beauty and preserve our youthful looks for a long time. Using these homemade beauty remedies from around the world is sure to make you glow! The only disadvantage is not having cost effective access to local ingredients of some of the above mentioned countries. However, if you can afford these natural treatments, then go for it!
Image source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
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