From ancient clay to slimy seaweed, women around the world turn to natural ingredients in their quest to beautify. Here are some of our favourite skincare traditions from around the world.
1. Moroccan Rhassoul Clay
Keeping skin blemish free for 1,500 years
What is it: Rhassoul, a brown clay found only beneath the Atlas mountain range has been used for 1,500 years to maintain the blemish-free skin of local women.
What it does: Rhassoul draws out impurities as it dries, like most clays, but unusually high levels of silica, calcium and potassium actually replenish and nourish the skin after it’s rinsed off.
Where you can get it: If you're not travelling to Morocco you may be able to find Rhassoul treatments if there is a Hammam (traditional Moroccan bathhouse/spa) near you.
2. Irish Seaweed
The Irish have a long tradition of soaking in seaweed-infused baths.
What is it: Essentially, seaweed baths are ordinary baths filled with hot seawater and seaweed.
What it does: For the treatment, seawater is pumped directly from the ocean into large tubs and then piles of locally harvested seaweed are added in. Within a few minutes, the plants release a silky compound of essential oils that nourishes and heals the skin.
Where you can get it: For a real seaweed bath you'll have to go to Ireland, more specifically the Connemara Seaweed Baths where you can reap the benefits of this slimy soak.
3. Indonesian Tamarind
The sweet & sour spice that's good for your skin
What is it: If you eat South Asian food you'll probably know tamarind for it's unique sweet/sour taste but the tamarind fruit is also a traditional Indonesian beauty treatment.
What it does: Packed with enzymes, fruit acids and Vitamin C, the pulp works as a gentle skin peel, exfoliating the top layer of the skin.
Where you can get it: Here's a recipe for a tamarind scrub, but if you don't want to make your own, you can try Vasanti's Brighten Up Scrub it's full of enzymes that will leave you with soft, smooth skin.
4. Egyptian Milk Bath
Milk really does do a body good
What is it: It's said that legendary beauty Cleopatra took baths of milk and honey. Eyptians have been using dairy, goat and camel milk as part of their cleansing rituals for centuries.
What it does: Lactic acid which occurs naturally in milk does act as a mild exfoliant and the Vitamins A and D help nourish and soften.
Where you can get it: Add 4 cups of whole milk to a warm bath for an at-home silky soak.
5. South African Rooibos
The hottest health drink
What is it: Rooibos is a South African shrub commonly used for making tea. Rooibos tea remained virtually unheard of for centuries, known only to the Khoisans, a tribe of South African Bushmen. It was used frequently by these people as an herbal remedy for a wide range of ailments.
What it does: In South African traditional medicine, a daily cup of rooibos, is said to help control eczema, psoriasis and rashes.
Where you can get it: You can find Rooibos tea at most tea shops and online here at David's Tea.
