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How Koreans manage to get anything done in between the many stages of their extensive skincare regimes is anybody's guess. The famous '10-step' routine will keep your skin looking immaculate, but it might also make you late for work!
A common ingredient in Korean skincare, ginseng is sometimes called "the root of immortality" on account of its potent anti-aging, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. You might know it better as an edible ingredient, but Koreans know the wonders it can work when mixed with hydrating ingredients for the skin.
Want to get blood circulating to all the right places, and get that healthy glow? Germans swear by a water-based approach to wellness. Known as Kneipp treatments, these health-giving activities include literally treading in cold water: immersing first one foot and lower leg and then the other, for as long as you can handle.
How to extract the maximum goodness from your food and avoid over-eating? Make like the Japanese and remember to chew 20 times before swallowing food, and stop eating when you feel 80% full.
Olive oil brings a whole host of body benefits when ingested internally, so it stands to reason that it should do our outer extremities good as well. Generations of Romanians have kept nails strong and split-free by soaking them in olive oil.
Dry saunas bring a whole range of benefits, from boosting the circulation for a radiant complexion, to reducing stress. With temperatures at sub-zero during the harsh winter, it's no wonder that a soothing home sauna isn't out of the ordinary in Swedish homes.
As well as being sweet-smelling, daisies are known in Turkey as a natural way to highlight blonde hair. Boil a cup of daisies in water, leave it to cool and remove the flowers, then pour over the hair. Just add Turkish sunshine to do the rest!
Shea tree nuts are found in abundance in eastern and western Africa, and locals know their power as a moisturizing ingredient. The fat extracted from the nuts is a rich treatment for skin and hair.
Stinging nettles are more often seen as a pest than a positive, but Croatians have found a use that goes beyond nettle soup. Nettles boiled in water, which is then left to cool and used to wash hair, is known as a scalp-soothing alternative to shampoo.
Oatmeal is full of goodness, and that extends to the wonders it can do for your skin. Skincare-savvy Brazilians know that blitzing oatmeal and dissolving it in a warm bath makes a nourishing, anti-inflammatory soak for sunburned skin.
Red grapes are used in Chile to make more than just superior red wine. Crushed and mixed with flour, locals use them for a radiance-boosting face mask.
The anti-inflammatory properties of the yarrow plant are recognized by Australians for their powerful impact aiding the conversion of stretch marks and scar tissue into healthy skin.
The fatty acids in avocado aren't just great for you as a food—they help soften hair, too. Just mush up and use as a mask!
No, not the dressing for your salad! The Italians combine nourishing olive oil and yogurt to make an all-natural hair mask.
Forget cucumbers: the Spanish harness the powerful enzymes of the humble potato to help reduce under eye puffiness.
Full of vitamin C goodness, Costa Rica oranges are used by some locals as a pore-shrinking skin treatment. Just be sure to mix it with water, and rinse properly to avoid attracting wasps!
Ooh la la! The super-chic French would never let a stained nail ruin their look. A time-honored trick in France is to soak nails in lemon juice. The lightening and brightening effect of the juice is a neat hack—but don't forget to dilute the juice in a cup of warm water.
The famously body-conscious Brazilians have a natural resource at their fingertips: the sand on those famous beaches doubles as an exfoliating scrub to keep booties in peachy condition.
As well as being a natural antiseptic, the nutrients in rosemary water have conditioning properties, and protect against sun damage.
Turmeric is widely acknowledged as a superfood packing a range of health benefits, but did you know you can apply it directly to your skin?
That powerful rice water comes into its own when it comes to haircare, too. Applied as a rinse or spray, it's sometimes fermented for an extra powerful aid to growing long, strong locks.
Lavender is known to help induce sleep, and Croatians also use it as a breakout treatment thanks to its astringent properties. No more sleepless nights worrying about spots!
Cleopatra clearly had the right idea: milk and honey have moisturizing and exfoliating properties, making for a wonderfully nourishing soak, as the Egyptians are well aware.
Sources: (Society19) (TheTravel) (Bondi Beauty)
See also: Is the fountain of youth real?
The Chinese know that rice is more than just a carb source. Believe it or not, water left over from cooking rice makes a skin-nourishing cleanser.
Touted as a quick route to glowing skin, Indian women have used turmeric as a face mask ingredient for generations. Blending with olive or coconut oil makes a moisturizing mask, or mix with yogurt to help fight acne.
Who needs eyelash curlers? Savvy Mexican beauty buffs use a spoon. There's a knack to it, but it works!
Egg yolks don't only belong in your protein shake. Russian women embrace egg yolk, honey, and cucumber as an aid for shiny hair and glowing skin.
You might think you have your beauty regime all sewn up, but have you ever tried a bird-poop facial? Cracked an egg yolk onto your hair? You might be missing a trick. Around the world, hair-and-beauty enthusiasts use all manner of unusual ingredients to keep their skin and hair in tip-top condition. You've probably come across many of these ingredients before, but are perhaps used to seeing them in recipe books rather than in skincare regimes. Curious? Click through this gallery to discover some oddly-effective beauty hacks from around the world.
Oddly-effective beauty hacks from around the world
Anybody up for a nightingale poop facial?
LIFESTYLE Tips
You might think you have your beauty regime all sewn up, but have you ever tried a bird-poop facial? Cracked an egg yolk onto your hair? You might be missing a trick. Around the world, hair-and-beauty enthusiasts use all manner of unusual ingredients to keep their skin and hair in tip-top condition. You've probably come across many of these ingredients before, but are perhaps used to seeing them in recipe books rather than in skincare regimes. Curious? Click through this gallery to discover some oddly-effective beauty hacks from around the world.