Despite cultural differences and influences, one thing women have in common the world over is their desire to look good, be healthy and make the best of themselves. Equally though, another thing that all women can identify with is that inbuilt reluctance to share those well-kept beauty secrets, yet we have managed to stumble upon a few hints and tips from around the world!
Women everywhere have a natural curiosity towards far-flung beauty treatments, which explains why we all have shelves of products from a number of countries and are keener still to learn from the nations around us. Starting in Europe, the diversity alone leads to a potent melting pot of great ideas, many of them thrifty and all of them worth trying.
☸ Italy
For example, Italian women are known to have beautiful, glossy locks and apparently the secret to shiny hair is an old-fashioned and natural concoction made up of olive oil and yoghurt and then applied to the hair and scalp as a conditioner. For those of us feeling the effects of the credit crunch it pays to know that olive oil is in fact every Italian woman’s secret weapon and is cheap and cheerful too. Use it as a moisturiser, lip oil, or intensive hand treatment and see the benefits of softer, smoother skin.
☸ France
Another nation known for its commitment to staying youthful and beautiful is France and women here take care in everything they do in relation to maintaining a radiant complexion. From a rich, but balanced diet, through to regular spa visits and facials, French women certainly know how to take care of themselves, inside and out. There is a lot to be said for generational advice and French women pay particular heed to family secrets and tricks such as bracing cold showers and home-made face masks and scrubs using everyday ingredients like almond oil, oatmeal and lemon juice.
☸ Sweden
Sweden, meanwhile, has a reputation for producing distinctly beautiful women and one of the reasons behind this is their love of traditional facial steamer treatments and, of course, massage. To swap tired skin for a luminous complexion, ladies in Sweden swear by rosehip oil in the form of steam treatments and vigorous body buffing and deep massage to boost circulation.
☸ Japan
Much further afield in exotic Japan, where women are also keen to look good and also rely on beautifying ingredients, which are close at hand, seaweed and fish oils are preferred. Iodine is essential for healthy hair growth, so with this in mind, Japanese ladies use seaweed wraps to nourish hair to achieve a natural, glossy finish. Products made from coconut extracts are also popular for similar reasons.
Of course, we could go on and on, as the world is an interesting place, but whether you try out a green tea hair rinse from China or a Manuka honey facemask from New Zealand, there is certainly a wealth of ideas for spicing up your skincare routine.
Whatever your preferred route to achieving glowing skin and lustrous hair, try a few of these home-made remedies, or if time is too precious, hunt out some excellent products on the market which do the same thing, in a little less time. Just identify your problem area, research your solution and then find a product containing your ideal ingredients to make you look worldly wise in no time at all!
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