Beauty Secrets Around the World You Need to Try

Every single culture in the world has lore, advice, and remedies surrounding beauty and self-care. As time passes, peoples’ reliance on store-bought beauty products has started to fade in favor of more traditional, proven methods from all across the globe. However, you don’t need to grab your passport to experience the wonders of skin care from abroad. These more than 20 beauty secrets around the world will leave you not only looking better than ever, but have healthier skin and hair too.

Want to know how French women get that luscious hair? Have you ever visited a Russian banya to improve blood circulation and remove toxins? What about the way Israeli women use mud masks gives them such wonderful skin? Do you want to know why Haitian women massage castor oil into their hair? These incredible beauty secrets around the world are definitely going to enter into your daily beauty regimen. Be sure to SHARE them with your social media followers!

Permanent Body Hair Removal - India

Hate face and body hair, but can’t afford to do laser surgery? Well, in India, they have a recipe for that. To get a hairless look, mix gram flour and water together into a paste. Then, apply it to the area you want hairless and wait for it to dry. Once the paste dries, rub it off with your hands. According to this beauty tip, you will need to do it regularly in order to see permanent results. It’s also a good idea to do a small “spot test” to ensure that your skin can handle it. This treatment can be harsh for sensitive skin!

Healthier Hair - France

Parisian women are known for having that elegantly disheveled, super soft hair everyone covets. Most of us stateside are known for trying to get that look with tons of product, but that’s not the way they do it in France. The big secret to better hair in France boils down to less is more. French women only shampoo their hair two to three times per week, rather than the typical daily use. This lets the natural oils in your hair settle in and give your tresses a healthier shine!

Clearer Skin - China

In China, the biggest go-to product for cleansers doesn’t involve tea tree oil or soaps. Rather, it’s rice water! For decades, Chinese women have been using rice water to remove excess oil from skin and clear up acne. This beauty tip is backed by science, too. Rice water is rich in antioxidants that prevent sun damage, nourish skin, and also help slow down the aging process. Considering how affordable this product is, it’s hard to say no to this valuable tip.

Get Rid of Veins - Russia

Russia’s health practices are famous worldwide, especially when it comes to their use of banyas. Banyas, which are specialty saunas that include cold plunges, are known for improving circulation, regulating hormones, and helping the body remove toxins safely. It’s a practice loved by both men and women. Russian beauty experts swear by taking a trip to the sauna in order to improve circulation. Then, to reduce the appearance of veins, they rub coffee grounds on their problem areas. Once they’ve rubbed themselves down, a quick rinse will reveal healthier-looking legs. Not near a banya? No problem. You can get the same effects while taking a shower!

Exfoliate Naturally - Brazil

The beaches in Brazil are notorious for their beauty, and so are their ladies. Among Brazilian beachgoers, there’s a fairly open secret when it comes to getting softer skin. In this country, women actually use the beach sand as an exfoliator for their bodies. The grains of sand work wonders for removing dead skin off your body, but it’s still a better idea to use a gentler product for your face. After all, facial skin is a lot softer and more sensitive!

Cleopatra’s Bathing Advice - Egypt

For this global beauty tip, we decided to take a look at one of the most beautiful queens to ever live. Historical records revealed that Queen Cleopatra would take a bath in donkey’s milk to keep her skin soft and youthful. It seems like Cleopatra might have been onto something. Even pouring a little bit of milk into your bath can do wonders for your skin. The amino acids in regular cow’s milk have been proven to help remove dead skin and soften you up.

Shrink Your Pores - Costa Rica

On the island of Costa Rica, there are always plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to enjoy. The tropical paradise also has tons of beauty tips that use food to improve your complexion—and not just by adding more produce to your diet, either. Costa Ricans wipe down their faces with orange juice in order to shrink pores and give them a healthier glow. The juice’s acidity works to shrink pores, while the high levels of antioxidants keep you looking youthful.

A Fragrant Facial Cleanser - Bulgaria

Did you know that Bulgaria’s Rose Valley creates 85 percent of the world’s rose oil? Considering how much the country loves roses, it’s no surprise that they have tons of beauty uses for the famously romantic flower. Rose water is used by Bulgarian beauty experts as a gentle facial cleanser. This beauty treatment will leave you smelling wonderful and keep your skin glowing.

Bye, Bye Undereye - Spain

It’s no secret that partying in Ibiza can lead to some dark circles underneath your eyes, but don’t worry! There’s a beauty tip from Spain that works wonders for tired eyes and costs next to nothing to do. To get rid of under-eye circles and puffy eyes, put two raw potato slices right underneath your eyes. The cold temperature of the slices, plus the potato’s enzymes, will help brighten your skin and give you a more rested look.

Stay Younger, Longer - Japan

Japanese women are famous for aging slowly and having a very involved skincare routine, but you don’t need to spend hours every week to reap their beauty rewards. Women from this country are able to stay younger by avoiding sunlight and shunning the practice of sunbathing. Sun damage is no laughing matter. Scientists revealed that sun exposure is one of the top causes of premature aging in the world. By avoiding the harsh UV rays, you’ll keep your skin younger for longer than everyone around you.

Firm Up Your Skin - Israel

Israel has a lot of healthy practices that contribute to a younger, fitter look. The Mediterranean diet they follow is scientifically proven to aid in weight loss, better heart health, and a glowing complexion. But, diet alone can only do so much. Women in this country swear by mud masks and bathing in salts from the Dead Sea to tone up their skin and keep them looking amazing. They’re not wrong for using this, either. Dead Sea salts and mud masks have been proven to work throughout the centuries.

Natural Hair Shine - Saudi Arabia

Arab women have some of the most enviable hair in the world, and for good reason. Ladies in this region use olive oil to add extra shine to their hair. Whether you spritz it on with a spray bottle or massage it into your scalp doesn’t seem to matter. As long as you’re adding it to your hair routine, it works. Much like other tips on here, using olive oil to improve your hair quality is a tip backed by science. The moisturizing lipids and high levels of antioxidants are a perfect tool for anyone looking to lock in moisture.

DIY Moisturizer - Nigeria

Africa has a wealth of untapped beauty secrets that are only now beginning to go mainstream. Nigeria, in particular, is experiencing a well-earned boom of popularity in the beauty industry. The awesome thing about this country’s beauty treatments is that they are so simple! A simple way to get a better moisturizer in your life is to use Macadamia nut oil directly on your skin. This oil adds moisture to your skin, locks it in, and also has the perk of keeping you super soft.

Super Youthful Skin - Somalia

Somali women never look their age, and part of the reason for their perennially youthful appearance deals with their traditional recipes. Women from this country use a face mask that’s made up of turmeric, water and a Somali spice known as qasil. They then leave it on for five to 10 minutes, and rinse it off. Qasil isn’t easy to find stateside, but it still is doable thanks to the internet. The glow your skin will have is reason enough to give this beauty tip a try.

Soothing Facial Massages - Korea

Korean skincare products are now flying off the shelves, but not all beauty tips from this country involve lotions and potions. One of the most common skin-clearing treatments in Korea is a simple face washing method using a textured cloth. To wash your face using this traditional method, start by soaking a washcloth in hot water. Then, gently use the washcloth to massage your face in upward, circular motions. This improves circulation and wipes grit away from your skin.

Dramatic Smoky Eyes - Turkey

For centuries, women in Turkey were known for their love of bold eyeliner and dramatic, smoky looks. The fashion look came around long before the days of NYX liners and liquid liners. The old school way Turkish women got that sexy look is through using kohl kajal liner. Kohl kajal liner is a lot creamier than your typical pencil liner, but can still be shaped into sharp lines. It’s dark as sin, and stays on all day long. You will love it.

Amazonian Fresh Skin - Ecuador

Ecuador is right in the middle of the Amazonian rainforest, one of the most life-giving regions on Earth. With all the exotic flora and fauna in the area, it’s no surprise that Ecuadorians use what they have available to them to keep their skin glowing, nourished, and healthy. One of the most common ways that Ecuadorian women prep their skin for a major event is to use white clay from the Amazon. The clay mask draws out impurities and softens skin amazingly well. Sometimes, they even do full body masks!

Super Soap - Zanzibar

Zanzibar is a remote area of Africa surrounded by the sea, so it’s only fair that their beauty products reflect the world around them. Among locals of Zanzibar, the best beauty secret involves using seaweed soap to clean themselves and protect their skin from outbreaks. Seaweed is known for moisturizing and nourishing the skin. That might be why so many island nations swear by it.

Longer, Stronger Hair - Haiti

Haiti is a country filled with beautiful women famous for shiny, healthy hair. Considering how richly cared-for Haitian hair can be, it’s pretty shocking to find out that their local remedies are impressively affordable. Their number one secret is using black castor oil as a way to keep hair shiny and healthy. Scientific studies show that the high levels of omega-3 fatty acids are what make this oil work so well for hair. Massaging it into your scalp works best, and is even said to aid in hair regrowth.

A Beauty Inside and Out - Italy

Italian women aren’t just gorgeous, they’re super stylish bon vivants, too! The women here are known for their love of olive oil skin care, fine perfumes, and epic makeup routines. Of course, they’re also known for both looking and being healthy as can be. The Italian way is to focus on enjoying life, rather than stressing out about it all. So, go ahead, kick back with a glass of vino and relax. You’ll look and feel a lot better.

A Really Sweet Moisturizer - Iran

Iran has a very long history that dates back millennia, and has sealed its reputation as one of the most ancient beauty hotspots in the world. Persian women are known for keeping their looks beautifully, aging gracefully, and having amazing features. Much of their beauty secrets can be traced back to ancient Persian remedies. One of their most popular treatments is using honey as a moisturizer for your face, as well as a chapped lip treatment. It’s a pretty sweet deal!

Smack It - Ukraine

Ukrainian women have glowing complexions that are recognized around the world, but the way they get them might raise an eyebrow. Though they also use great cleansers and make a point of eating well, they use the practice of face slapping to help improve circulation. You don’t have to slap your face hard to get the benefits. Light slaps, or even taps, in an upwards motion can offer a nice, revitalizing boost.

A Grape Idea - Chile

Red grapes are rich in resveratol, a powerful antioxidant linked to anti-aging properties. It seems like Chilean women already knew this, since one of their more popular home remedies involves a mask made of crushed red grapes, flour, and water. To try this practice out, make a paste of the three ingredients, place it on your face, and rinse it off after 20 minutes. When you rinse off the mask, you’ll notice that your face will feel soft, moisturized, and younger than ever.

Scandinavian-Style Health - Sweden

Along with being avid fans of steam rooms and saunas, Scandinavian women are famous for having a diet that’s rich in fish, wild berries, and oil. This combination of treats doesn’t just bode well for heart health; it’s a great formula for long-term skin, hair, and nail health. Studies show that having a diet rich in fresh fish and berries improve skin suppleness and health. The mix of vitamins, protein, and fatty acids make this a great investment in both your looks and overall well being.

Oil It Up - Algeria

Old tales say that marrying a Berber woman is the easiest way to get happiness, inspiration, and resistance. Anyone lucky enough to marry a woman from this region of North Africa can definitely take pride in their legendary beauty. Along with other treatments like rose water, Algerian women are known for using Argan oil to smoothe out their hair. This beauty treatment is now gaining a lot of traction stateside, and the results couldn’t be better.

Drink It Up - Tibet

Tibet is located on top of some of the highest mountains in the world, where water is extremely quick to evaporate. Among the people there, this means a higher risk of dehydration and dry skin. In ultra-high elevations, moisturizers can only do so much. To keep your skin supple and moisturized in areas of Tibet, it’s absolutely crucial to drink as much water as you can. Even if you’re not at a mountain top, staying hydrated works wonders for your skin, body, and mind.