These natural beauty secrets of the ancients are just as useful today as they were 2000 years ago!
By Diane Small
Women have long been obsessed with looking their best. From the ancient Egyptians’ use of perfumes and cosmetics to the long-gone Chinese Empresses’ obsession with skin lightening and tightening, it seems that the desire to maintain and enhance beauty is something that never fades.
Long before commercial cosmetics were invented (only around a century ago, in fact), women relied on naturally derived extracts and remedies to keep their skin glowing. Plant based products would also emphasise the loveliness of their lips, cheeks and cheeks. Some of those products were so effective, they’re still in use today. However, now, large cosmetic and skincare firms currently dominate the beauty industry with their promotion of chemical formulas.
We say: shun the toxic products on the department store shelves! Learn the natural beauty secrets of the ancients instead. You may be delighted by what you find!
Natural Beauty Secrets of the Ancients
1. Jade Facial Rollers
One of the most important natural beauty secrets of the ancients is the jade roller.
In ancient times, a jade roller was used to target acupuncture points and a special flat stone made of jade would help open meridian blockages, allowing your Qi [Chi] and blood circulation to flow better. Jade has been used for centuries by Chinese royalty to rid the body of bad Qi, and using a smooth, polished roller on your face will soothe, de-puff, and even supposedly decrease wrinkles.
Nowadays, you can buy a jade roller easily and re-create this ancient ritual at home. First, begin with a detoxifying mask, like Circ Cell’s Red Algae Mask. After rinsing off, apply a serum or moisturizer, like the awesome Take the jade roller and slowly roll it upward and outward from the center of your face. This will help circulation immediately, and give your complexion a glow.
Where to find one: There are plenty of reasonably priced rollers available here.
2. Pearl Powder
Ming Dynasty beauties applied pearl powder to moisturise their skin. And here’s one of the weirdest natural beauty secrets of the ancients: Chinese empresses even ingested the stuff! In the Dongui Bogam (a book on traditional medicine from Korea’s Joseon Dynasty), a recipe recommends mixing the powder with milk for a DIY dark-spot corrector.
Today, we’ve learned these ancients were right. A recent Taiwanese study demonstrated that pearl powder does indeed help hydrate skin, reduce melanin production, build collagen and help solidify bones with its naturally occurring calcium. Pearls also give the complexion a light-diffusing glow that minimises imperfections, and reduces redness with its anti-inflammatory properties.
Where to find it: Moroccan Natural makes a wonderful pearl powder. Just mix it into your favourite night cream or facial oil.
3. Skullcap
The Chinese hold some of the best natural beauty secrets of the ancients! They have known for centuries that this member of the mint family is the ideal herb to treat acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Taken orally, skullcap has anti-inflammatory and even possible anti-cancer benefits. This natural root is packed with the antioxidants baicalin, oroxylin A, and wogonin.
Oroxylin A and wogonin are particularly potent antioxidants and superoxide scavengers which inhibit melanin production and brighten the skin, as well as blasting acne, sun damage and brown spots beautifully.
Find It Today: Get pure Skullcap tincture here.
4. Frankincense
One of the most beautiful natural beauty secrets of the ancients is frankincense! Ever since biblical times, this fragrant resin has been used to heal blemishes and cuts. In fact, before antibiotics were invented, frankincense was more valuable than gold due to its natural antibacterial qualities. But that’s not the only benefit of frankincense! It’s rich in collagen boosting boswellic acid, which also reduces scarring and the signs of ageing. And of course, frankincense smells headily wonderful, too!
Get it today: Neal’s Yard Remedies makes a gorgeously thick cream for mature skins called Frankincense Intense. They also have a wonderful frankincense perfume that’s 100% natural.
5. Saffron Oil
Cleopatra herself knew plenty of the natural beauty secrets of the ancients. She was said to have taken long baths in donkey milk infused with saffron to help her improve her skin. And she was a wise woman: in 2010, an Iranian study found that saffron is a natural sunscreen. In addition, scientists have discovered that saffron from Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains contains very high levels of protective antioxidants and firming glycans, which can help wrinkles, sagging, brown spots, and dullness.
Today, some Indian and Moroccan women still apply a saffron oil stain on cheeks as a traditional form of makeup that helps balance hormones and improves the complexion.
Find It Today: There are few natural creams that use saffron oil, but never fear: making your own is easier and cheaper. You can also buy it infused with olive oil, here.
6. Commiphora
Along with frankincense, commiphora is one of the top natural beauty secrets of the ancients. In fact, the three Biblical wise men highly valued this resin, which is related to myrrh. They used it as an incense, perfume, and medicine. Today, its uses are a bit different. A recent study has shown that an Indian variety plumps and firms the face by increasing hyaluronic acid production in the skin, and targets both wrinkles and sagging.
Get It Today: Origins Plant-scription Powerful Lifting Cream is rich in the stuff.
7. Kohl
The Ancient Egyptians are perhaps most famous for the use of this cosmetic as a thick eye and brow liner, traditionally made by grinding stibnite. It was – and is – widely used in South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and parts of West Africa as eyeliner as well as mascara. It’s worn mostly by women, but also by some men and children.
Kohl has also been used in India as a cosmetic for a long time. In addition, mothers would apply kohl to their children’s eyes soon after birth. Apparently this would “strengthen the child’s eyes,” and could also prevent the child from being cursed by the evil eye.
Today, the cosmetic is still going strong, and is used in mainly commercial eye makeup formulations.
Get it today: You can get kohl in mineral form and use it with a brush like this, or in pencil form like this cruelty free one from e.l.f.
8. Henna
The henna plant has been converted to a dye for many centuries in the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa and South Asia. It’s used to stain skin, hair and fingernails, as well as silk, wool and leather fabrics. Today, it’s commonly used as a chemical-free hair dye. And of course, in parts of the Orient, henna nights are an important and beautiful ritual for brides and their families.
Get it today: Saach Organics makes 100% natural and safe hair dye based on Indian henna.
9. Argan Oil
Moroccan women have long known that one of the best natural beauty secrets of the ancients is Argan oil.. It’s a bit of a miracle worker! It can treat skin diseases, like psoriasis and acne, and also nourishes hair and skin, fortifying both with its naturally beneficial, moisturising fats. This oil also has medicinal uses against rheumatism and the healing of burns.
It’s no wonder that Argan oil has become increasingly popular for cosmetic use today. But just ensure that any product you buy is 100% pure Argan oil! Some, like the popularly marketed Moroccan Oil, only contains a teeny, tiny amount.
Get it today: There are plenty of brands packaging pure Argan Oil, like Moroccan Natural, Sprekenhaus and Art Naturals, seen below.
10. Rose Petals
It’s not really the petals themselves, but the rose oil and rose water derived from them that constitute some of the natural beauty secrets of the ancients. The ancient Babylonians knew that rose water is an excellent skin conditioner and toner, for example. And rose oil has antioxidant, moisturising and aromatherapeutic qualities. It can be dabbed onto the face, body or hair to give your skin and hair a glow.
As for its aromatherapy benefits, rose oil has antidepressant, antiphlogistic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral and aphrodisiac qualities, and more!
Look for Bulgarian Rose or Rosa Damascena on the label. For extra purity, go for certified organic, therapeutic grade rose water and oils to ensure you’re not dousing your face with pesticide by-products!
Get it today: There are plenty of good organic rose oils and rosewater tonics on the market.
11. Natural Clay
Clay has been used since caveman times to purify the body of toxins. Some animals, like elephants and hippos, even use it to cool their skin, and eat it to detox! In fact, pure Bentonite clay can also be drunk in water by we humans. It has a powerful ability to clean the body of heavy metals and other strong impurities. But more commonly, we use clay in mask form to do this and to tone the skin.
You can smother yourself in pure clay mixed with water from head to toe to pamper your skin all over. Some find this a bit drying, so a few brands will include natural rose or other oils to allow the mask to hydrate, too.
Find it today: John Masters makes a lovely, hydrating clay-based mask, but there are loads of other brands we like too, like Moroccan Naturals and Circ Cell.
12. The Hammam
From North Africa to Eastern Europe and beyond, the hammam has long played a role in women’s lives.
The whole process is extremely invigorating: normally you go from a warm room, into 2 or 3 increasingly hotter rooms. In the last chamber, there will be someone there to scrub you down with a loofah body brush or glove. And when I say ‘scrub’, I mean within an inch of your life! You’ll be shedding more dead skin than you ever imagined possible, and after you’re rinsed off and massaged by the hammam matron, your skin will be as dewy as a child’s. Of course, in addition to toning and firming your skin, the hammam gives you a feeling of being super-invigorated!
Find one today: There are hammams in just about every major city around the world today. Click here to see the one nearest you.
Image: tjoritreasures.wordpress.com
Images courtesy the brands or Wikicommons (artwork).
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Very informative and interesting post! I have used Argan oil lately and it helped me to resolve acne scars and skin issues. The final results of Argan oil on my acne scars are much better than those achieved by other scar treatments. Thank you very much for sharing this with us 1 I really enjoyed reading it 🙂