Art, obsession, and identity
Women in Elizabethan England practiced some strange beauty rituals, including applying raw egg whites to their skin. The proteins from it enriched their skin, leaving a glowing and bright complexion.
This 2,000-year-old Chinese therapy has proven efficacy in the medical field. It's also used in skin treatments, targeting conditions such as eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.
In India, coconut oil has been an all-in-one beauty solution since ancient times. Intensely hydrating, it can be used in multiple ways to moisturize your skin and hair.
Loaded with rich antioxidants, rejuvenating vitamin E, and fatty acids, argan oil has been used by Berber women in Morocco for centuries. Applied regularly to their faces, nails, hair, and body, this golden oil is packed with health benefits.
Rich in essential fatty acids, the Aztecs reportedly used avocado oil as a moisturizer. So think about that next time you see your favorite breakfast topping!
One of the most popular beauty techniques today, gua sha dates back to China's Paleolithic area. It's basically a smooth-edged stone pressed along the skin of the body, and it's been adapted for the face and neck. The purpose is to help release facial and muscular tension, as well as move sluggish lymph fluids to tone the face.
If it was good enough for Marie Antoinette, it's good enough for us! The infamous French queen would apply balms to her hands and then put on a pair of gloves to sleep. Imagine the softness in the morning!
Saunas were first adopted in Finland as early as 1112. The benefits include stabilizing the nervous system, improving heart health, and reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and arterial stiffness.
Aboriginal Australians have been using lemon myrtle for beauty treatments, medicine, and cooking for thousands of years. The flowering plant is used as an antioxidant, antiviral, and antiseptic.
Milk baths help ease a number of skin conditions that cause irritation. They also gently exfoliate and leave a much smoother skin texture. There are even legends that Cleopatra bathed in fermented mare’s milk with honey.
While turmeric is a recent trend in the Western world, it has been used for over 4,500 years in India and Pakistan. An antiseptic that can heal and repair skin, Haldi Ubtan is a popular mask where Turmeric is an important ingredient.
The mud baths in Napa Valley, California, have for over 1,000 years been used by the indigenous Wappo people. Thanks to the region's thermal springs and volcanic history, these mud baths offer relief to weary backs and muscles.
A purifier and antioxidant-rich ingredient, neem has been used in ancient Indian traditions, and it's still popular in skincare products.
The ancient Mayans were masters at cultivating this rare honey, which is only harvested once a year from the hives of stingless bees. It has antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Soaking the petals of Tahitian gardenias in coconut oil creates a beautifully scented oil called monoi. Dating back 2,000 years to the indigenous Maohi people of Polynesia, the oil is still revered as a skin and hair softener.
Mashed mung were the go-to face masks for Chinese empresses. Packed with vitamins and protein, these beans were crushed and ground into a paste to soothe and heal acne, wrinkles, and puffy skin.
The ancient Greeks faked blushing cheeks and red lips with the help of crushed mulberries. That's the ancient version of a cheek and lip tint!
The women of Crete used olive oil to hydrate their hair, faces, bodies, and to protect against sun damage. A natural source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it deeply nourishes the skin, while locking in moisture.
Ancient Egyptians, Indians, Greeks, and Romans used saffron for a number of purposes. From dye to medicine and beauty, it's believed that Cleopatra bathed in saffron-infused water.
Some believe that the concubine-turned-Empress Dowager Cixi, who ruled for 47 years in the 19th century, popularized Chinese pearl powder for its beauty benefits. Rubbed onto the face, it's said to promote brightening, exfoliation, and anti-wrinkling.
An amazing moisturizer, people in Western Africa have been using shea butter for years to protect their skin from drying out due to the hot climate. Mainly sourced from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Benin, Nigeria, Togo, and the Ivory Coast, these are the only countries where the Shea tree grows naturally.
The earliest written history of bathing in dried flowers and herbs dates back to 1500 BCE. The Indian Vedas, Egyptians, Babylonians, and Assyrians were all enjoying tea baths before Greek philosophers popularized the practice further. Benefits include muscle tension relief, detoxification, inflammation reduction, and skin tone balancing.
Since Egyptians were obsessed with cleanliness, hair removal was a fundamental part of their grooming habits. Probably the original wax, sugaring was made with sugar, lemon, and water, which was boiled to form a gooey paste. The paste was then applied to the hair, without sticking to the skin, and pulled off.
Dating back 2,000 years, rose essence has long been used in Turkey. Rose essence is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that moisturize the skin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce redness and soothe skin irritation.
The high heat and humidity from traditional Turkish baths promote sweating, which in turn causes the extraction of uric acid and toxins. It helps improve the quality of the skin, while also easing muscle tension and stress.
Yogurt isn’t just good enough to eat, in Greece it makes for an effective face mask, too. Containing lactic acid, it works to clean out pores. Locals even use yogurt on their skin to soothe sunburns.
Women in Myanmar have been using their own SPF for centuries. Thanaka powder, which originates from grinding the wood of the tropical thanaka tree, helps brighten complexion and aids in shielding the skin against harmful UV rays.
While the gua sha may be part of ancient Chinese tradition, the rose quartz was a beloved beauty tool in ancient Egypt. It's believed that Cleopatra showered with these crystals for their healing powers, while goddess Isis used them to massage her face for their anti-aging properties.
A powerful antioxidant, the ancient Chinese would consume goji berries for healthy and glowing skin. They would either eat it raw, use it in tea, or apply it straight to their skin.
Sources: (Vogue) (CNN) (Elle) (Vanity Fair)
See also: Bad beauty habits we all need to break
Some of these are as old as human civilization and have been found in ancient scriptures. Click to know more.
Ancient beauty treatments from around the world
From hair removal to UV protection, these techniques still work
LIFESTYLE Self-care
Ancient beauty treatments were very much influenced by geography, availability, and, perhaps less obvious, the gods. Today, the world has gotten much smaller, giving us access to many of the treatments enjoyed by people worldwide. From rubbing powder made from real pearls to sinking into warm mud baths, ancient beauty rituals have withstood the test of time.
Click on to discover ancient beauty treatments that are still just as effective today.