Have you always found yourself breathless marveling at the porcelain-like skin and silk-like hair of geishas? Well, it’s because they subscribe to some ancient Japanese beauty regimens that are a far cry from those that many women these days go for — usually entailing the use of skin and hair products containing harsh and poisonous chemicals.
If you are wishing to have even just a fraction of the complexion and locks of a geisha, then look no further. Below you will find some of the most impressive beauty secrets of women from ancient Japan.
They Relied on Rice Water for Toning the Face
Ancient Japanese women had a very simple solution to excess dirt, grime and oil on the face, as well as large pores: rice water. It is made by soaking unpolished rice in water until the water ends up with a milky appearance. Every nighttime, they apply it on their faces with a cotton ball for cleansing and toning the skin.
You, too, can take advantage of rice water if you want to get rid of impurities on the skin that can clog up the pores and potentially give rise to pimples and acne.
They Stayed Away From Direct Sunlight
When you hunt for geisha pictures on the internet, it’s very much likely for majority of the pictures you will come across involve beautiful geishas holding parasols. It’s because staying away from the sun is one of the best beauty regiments of women from Japan, both in the years gone by and nowadays.
The fact that the sun’s UV rays can damage the skin is no secret. So if you want to have youthful as well as cancer-free skin, make it a habit to apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 if you cannot say “no” to the sun.
They Took Luxurious Baths in Hot Springs
It is said that Japanese women in the years gone by loved to take baths together in large hot springs. They did it as a way to socialize and relax at the same time.
Everyone knows that taking a luxurious bath is an excellent stress-buster, and stress is something that can cause a lot of health and cosmetic problems, including accelerated skin aging. So to keep your skin looking young, consider taking warm baths to de-stress. Skincare experts say for you to avoid hot ones as it can dry up the skin.
They Ate Lots of Foods That Come From the Sea
One of the most impressive beauty secrets of attractive Japanese women in the past and including those in the present is a diet that is rich in anything that comes from the ocean. Sea foods are very rich in vitamins and minerals that help detoxify the body, and this makes the complexion look glowing.
Such ancient Japanese beauty secret can be easily carried out these days as there are plenty of sea foods to choose from. Aside from making you look phenomenal on the outside, sea foods can also make you healthy inside.
They Applied Camellia Oil on Their Tresses
One of the oldest, oldest beauty secrets from ancient Japan is the use of camellia oil on the hair. This routine made the hair of Japanese women feel really soft and look super shiny. Furthermore, fatty acids in camellia oil strengthened every hair strand, keeping ancient Japanese women from experiencing hair fall and hair thinning.
Actually, camellia oil is simply the oil obtained from the seeds of the camellia sinensis plant. Sounds familiar? Well, camellia sinensis is the plant where green tea comes from.
They Stayed Feeling Confident and Happy
Last but not least, women from ancient Japan looked for ways to stay confident and happy. That’s because they believe that beauty is something that is not always seen on the outside. In fact, they have a phrase for that: mie-nai oshareh. Literally, it means “hidden beauty”.
So if you want to become a complete head-turner, always be happy. Also, it will help a lot if you believe in yourself because the confidence you feel can make everyone find you attractive.
