Have you ever thought of how huge and diverse our planet is? Even in the most distant and unexplored places on Earth, you will find amazing lifelong traditions passed down through generations. Only by travelling to these places and talking to locals you can find out beauty tips, rituals and traditions that worked for centuries or thousands of years. We teamed up with 11 amazing travel writers and beauty bloggers to create this list of beauty tips and traditions from Europe, Asia and North America:
- SAUNAS IN LATVIA
One of the oldest beauty tips in Latvian culture is going to the sauna. Unlike some saunas where you soak in the water, in traditional Latvian saunas you sit or lie on a bench in a steamy room (optimal is 86 degrees Celsius, steam is obtained by pouring water on hot stones) and another person uses bath broom or whisk to gently massage you. The brooms are made from various tree branches and leaves with different effects – birch to sooth and regenerate skin, oak for oily skin, linden to relieve a headache, among many other aromatic shrubs and trees.
After some good sweating and massaging, one must go outside and jump in cold water or roll in the snow. All of this promotes circulation, scrubs the dead skin cells and enriches your health!
Alina from www.reveriechaser.com
- NEEM IN SRI LANKA
After travelling to 50+ countries in just over two years of full-time exploring, I’ve learned to embrace local beauty norms, including products. I always try to stick with natural remedies and natural ingredients. In Sri Lanka, I learned to use Neem for my acne-prone skin. This local leaf has combated my acne, helped eliminate scars and keep my oily skin at bay. I use a neem bar soap on my body and a face mask every few days. Nothing has dried out my pimples faster in the past! Neem was actually declared as the Tree of the 21st Century by the United Nations due to its plethora of benefits.
Lola from Miss Filatelista
- CASTOR OIL IN RUSSIA
When I think about beauty tips from Russia, I always think about castor oil and its endless uses. Castor oil is used for hair (scalp), eyebrows, eyelashes and even skin. Castor oil actually has almost immediate effects – after just a week of using it on your eyelashes and eyebrows, you can see them grow longer and thicker. The only problem: the oil is extremely hard to rinse off your hair and skin, so it makes sense to apply it at night, before going to sleep.
Liza from Tripsget
- ROSES IN BULGARIA
Bulgaria is one of the biggest rose oil exporters in the world and has a region named The Rose Valley where in June everything is soaked with the aroma and colours of roses. One of the beauty secrets of Bulgarian women is using products with rose extracts or simply cleansing their face with rose water before going to bed. Rose water and rose oil are produced from a special kind of rose called Rosa Damascena, which is richer in oils than the roses grown for flower shops. The flower is picked before sunrise so that the sweet scent and the precious oils are kept inside the petals. You could actually join the rose-picking ritual every year during the Rose Festival in the small town of Kazanlak, in the Rose Valley.
Maria from 203challenges.com
- BEAUTY ROUTINES FROM INDIA
- DIY face pack: Add a drop or two of rose water to a small sachet of fuller’s clay (known as Multani Mitti in Hindi) that you can purchase from an Indian grocery store and a tablespoon of water to create your own face pack. Some people use milk instead of water to moisten it as well. Apply it on your face for 1-2 hours and then wash off with warm water for that instant facelift.
- Rub lemon juice on your scalp for that acidity to get rid of your dandruff before shampooing. Indian women also massage their scalp with warm coconut oil and leave it on for at least 30 min before shampooing to get that lustrous glow.
Paroma from yrofthemonkey.com
- USING A DEEP CLEANSING OIL IN JAPAN
Living in Japan taught me one thing: care for your skin! To do so, I’ve started using a deep cleansing oil in the morning and afternoon. It replaced any harsh makeup remover which normally contains a ton of chemicals. Ever since I’ve been using my deep cleansing oil, my skin looks amazing and is softer, which means I don’t even need to use moisturiser anymore. It doesn’t cost much; it beats any soap or gel on the market and it lasts for ages. This should be a top priority for anyone wanting a glowing, radiant skin.
Cory Varga from www.youcouldtravel.com
- SOAPHORIA CARBONE FACIAL CLEANSING BAR FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC
I have very oily skin, and, like others, found this to make my skin feel oil-free and tight after use, but not over-dried. I always seem to go back to this cleanser when others either dry my face out or don’t clean it well enough. In my journey of looking for the right products to clear my acne skin, this has been the safest bet. I found these bars really practical for travelling, as you can have them in your carry-ons and they can’t spill. Basically, I am in love with this vegan cleansing bar, which is produced in the Czech Republic.
Michaela from www.czechsouls.com
- NATURAL REMEDIES IN POLAND
Hand-written notes from my mum’s diary and traditional recipes for the home-made face masks. Those were my main sources for beauty tips as a teenager. I didn’t need a big budget. I could prepare many beauty products just from the simple ingredients, usually found in the fridge or the cupboard. Face masks from yoghurt and honey, coarse salt and olive oil for the body scrub, lemon and warm water for healthy nails and soft skin. Cold tea bags put on the eyes for better sight and a raw egg for stronger hair. For more traditional treatments, in Poland, we also use the famous amber stone. It comes from the Baltic Sea and is valued in cosmetology for its antioxidant and energizing properties. Would you like to try some of those beauty methods?
Aga from www.worlderingaround.com
- FACE MASKS FROM CHINA
The use of pearl powder in China dates back to ancient times, and it wasn’t the only country that reaped the benefits of this magic ingredient – the Ancient Egyptians were also highly fond of it. Pearl powder is a key ingredient in giving your skin a youthful glow as it naturally detoxes your skin and helps replace collagen. What more could you ask for in a natural ingredient? One of the most effective ways of using the powder is to create your own two-ingredient face mask. Simply mix ½ or 1 teaspoon of pearl powder with enough milk to form a paste, then apply liberally over your face. Leave it on for 10 minutes, wash it off with some warm water and voilà, you’re one step closer to a porcelain complexion!
James Xu from maleeonline.com
- NETTLE IN LITHUANIA
Growing up in Lithuania, I would often find a lot of health and beauty solutions just outside of my doorstep. Spring summer and early autumn are perfect for stocking up on natural ingredients. Stinging nettle, packed with magnesium, calcium, iron, A and B group vitamins not only can boost your immune and nervous system when blended in a smoothie or tossed in a salad but is also a great way to bring glow and strength to your hair and skin. Simply rinse your hair with fresh nettle infusion after each wash! Thin and brittle hair becomes stronger and shinier within a few weeks. The only thing to keep in mind is that nettle could slightly tint your hair, so it might not be for those rocking blonde-does.
Ieva from www.ievamakselyte.com
- NOPAL CACTUS IN MEXICO
Spending 5 months travelling the Baja peninsula of Mexico allowed me to pick up a few fantastic beauty tips that are unique to Mexican culture. The most amazing tip I picked up was the use of the nopal cactus for hair and skin health. The nopal cactus is the most common cactus we saw in Mexico, and it is often grilled and eaten. If you cut this cactus open you will find a liquid similar in texture to aloe vera gel. The liquid from the nopal cactus makes a fantastic hair mask, providing moisture and protection. When showering, wash your hair first, then apply the cactus liquid all over your hair including the scalp and ends. Let this sit in your hair for 5-10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Mexican women have been using the nopal cactus to make their hair softer and healthier for centuries!
Brittany from www.therollingpack.com
Have you heard of any of these beauty tips and traditions before? Which ones? Comment them below and follow us on Social Media – @maleeonline
