Beauty secrets from around the world

How often you might have been told to drink gallons of water daily , sleep early and eat enough fruit. We’ve all heard of these tips to look beautiful. But these are just the tip of the iceberg. Here’s more advice on what women across the globe have been doing to look good…

JAPAN: GEISHA SURPRISE

The soft, white unblemished skin of a Geisha can be attributed to rice water! The story goes that for years these women used the rice water leftover from cooking to wash their face. Full of antioxidants and a rich source of vitamin E, this water helped protect the face from free radicals. The Chinese are also said to create a face mask by mixing green tea powder brewed with white tea. This is applied to the face and helps fight wrinkles.

AFRICA: BLACK SOAP

A beauty regimen that Africans use can be traced to black soap. Made with the ash of cocoa pods, plantain skin and palm leaves this is then added to palm and oils as well as shea butter. It helps battle acne and psoriasis, while vitamin A, vitamin E and iron present in it nourish the skin.

BRAZIL: OATMEAL FOR SUNBURNS

Oats are not just good in your breakfast bowl.In Brazil, they are used to cure sunburn. The oats are tied in a muslin cloth and water is allowed to flow through it onto the skin. You can also soak in a bath with it, as oats are anti inflammatory and can treat acne effectively .

COLUMBIA: AVOCADO FOR SHINY HAIR

In Columbia, avocado is one of their top beauty secrets. From avocado facial masks to conditioners and creams, the ingredient is in big demand. To enhance your hair, try this pack: Mash together avocado, banana and some olive oil. Rub this into your hair roots and rinse it off after 20 minutes to see the difference!

ISRAEL: WATERS OF THE DEAD SEA

One of the most popular secrets to a glow comes from The Dead Sea in Israel. The waters have restorative properties and the mud in it is rich in salts and minerals as well as magnesium, potassium and calcium. When applied to the face, it helps draw out impurities and minimise lines. Cleopatra herself is said to have visited the therapeutic sea.

CHILE: RED GRAPES

One of the Chilean beauty secrets lies in red grapes. The fruit has flavonoids and resveratrol, which has anti-inflammatory properties and can increase regeneration of skin cells. The women use a mask made of red grapes mashed into flour to brighten the skin.

BULGARIA: ROSE WATER

Bulgarian rose water and oil are famous.People splash it on skin to keep the face toned and moisturised.

THE PHILIPPINES: ALOE VERA

For their shiny tresses, Philipino ladies use aloe vera juice on the hair and scalp. It also works well to moisturise the hair. The soothing gel is also used in face packs to keep the skin smooth.