How Historical Figures Maintained Their Skin: Lessons from the Past
The pursuit of beauty has transcended borders, influenced by culture, geography and available resources in our history. In the ancient times, from Egyptian Queens to Indian Royal dynasties all the historical figures have maintained their skin in their unique ways. Let us delve into the history where we find different practices followed in various regions to obtain timeless wisdom in the skin care that remains the appropriate in the present day.
Ancient Egypt Cleopatra’s Milk Baths
Cleopatra, one of the most renowned Beauty icons from the past, maintained a youthful glow with luxurious milk baths. She used to take baths with sour donkey’s milk. Milk contains lactic acid, the secret ingredient behind her milk baths. Lactic acid is a gentle exfoliant that helps remove the impurities, dead skin cells and revitalizes the skin and generates a radiant skin complexion. The concept of exfoliation, a principle that’s followed in the present skin care.
Incorporating gentle exfoliants into our skincare routines enhances skin texture and clarity, echoing Cleopatra’s timeless wisdom.
Ancient Greece Olive Oil and Honey
Ancient Greeks use olive oil as skin’s natural moisturizer. Olive oil can protect skin from pollution and sun damage and was used in the preparation of facial masks and scrubs. Olive oil was used as a key ingredient in the dietary and cosmetic world. Honey was used as a skin moisturizer, skin cleaner and used to treat certain types of acne, improving skin brightening.
Greeks were thus reliable on natural ingredients to nourish the body.
The Renaissance Face Masks and Herbal Remedies
During the Renaissance, women started using facial masks made with natural ingredients like egg whites and herbs for their special advantages. Renaissance masks help brighten skin complexion by inhibiting the melanin production and makes the skin feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
It showcases the importance of personalized skin care routine for optimum results.
Victorian Era The Power of Hydration
There was a paradoxical relationship between beauty and the pursuit of fair skin during the Victorian Era. Various skin whitening products were emphasized for skin hydration women were encouraged to drink plenty of water every day. They believed staying hydrated makes the skin healthy, improves elasticity by promoting a radiant complexion.
Indian History Followed The Art of Ayurvedic Skincare
Ancient Practices
Ancient India is full of Ayurvedic skincare routine. Natural remedies were emphasized to ensure skin beauty along with safety. The main ingredients in ayurveda for skin care include turmeric, neem, sandalwood, aloe vera, besan. Ingredients were picked based on their properties of anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial that helped the skin to give a soothing and brightening effect.
Royal Beauty Secrets
In the Mughal’s time, Indian royalty was indulged in beauty rituals too. Queen’s used milk baths enriched with saffron and rose petals that enhance the skin glow with a luxurious skin experience. The purpose of using Rose petals was to keep the skin dehydrated. Also rose water is known to be a natural coolant. Their face mask was made with natural ingredients like honey, Chandan (sandal powder), besan and rose oil.
Queens would dress up their make up with the powder made from emeralds, turquoise and pearls to get the glamourous look.
The ingredients used were beneficial for the skin and elevated bathing into an art form.
Our history advises us to seek natural skin care methods and use natural ingredients that benefit the skin and promote its beauty.
East Asia Geisha Beauty Secrets
Geishas from Japan are admired for their flawless skin tone and beauty. Their skincare routine uses simple rice water for cleansing and moisturizing as well as it nourishes the skin. The milk white water we rinse off when cleaning the rice before cooking is known of rice water. Rice water acts as a UV ray skin barrier and is also a very good antioxidant.
This practice has been followed from many generations of Japan.
The disciplined skincare routine followed by geishas made them achieve a vibrant, glowing skin texture. Their consistent efforts in following the skin care routine to maintain the beauty of the skin made them stand out in beauty.
Modern Takeaways In Skin Care
Historical practices to maintain the beauty of skin might look outdated for the current generation of people. But they followed natural methods of skin care methods so that our skin does not get exposed to chemicals and preserve its natural beauty, glow and charm. The following are the modern skin care routines we follow.
- Regular exfoliation of the skin helps remove dead skin cells and promotes a vibrant skin complexion.
- Choose products that nourish the skin and keep it hydrated with natural oils and herbs.
- One must personalize their skin care routine depending on the skin type. Morning skin care routine with face wash, serum, moisturizer, sunscreen lotion and a day cream would suffice for the skin when you step out of the house. Likewise, a night skin care routine face wash, serum, moisturizer and night cream to rejuvenate and revitalize the tired skin and to wake up with a bright morning.
- To keep the skin hydrated internally, drink plenty of water.
Embrace our traditional skincare practices, as our historical figures followed unique and natural practices like Ayurveda, East Asian rituals that adds confidence in us, to bring out our inner beauty. The pursuit of glowing skin is truly a timeless endeavor, enriched by the diverse wisdom of cultures around the world!
