11 Best Beauty Hacks From Around the World

From using sand from the beach as an exfoliator in Brazil, to putting potato slices on your eyes in Spain, the beauty tricks that people swear by vary from country to country. Online hair and beauty retailer Hairtrade.com have sourced some of the craziest beauty tips and hacks from around the globe.

Here are the best beauty tips from around the world:

Greece – Rosemary

Women in Greece are known to rinse their hair with rosemary water. Rosemary is known to be a natural conditioner, which can boost shine and prevent dry scalp, hair loss and anti-dandruff. The Greek women make herbal tea out of rosemary, and then rinse their hair with the cooled-down tea after shampooing.

China – Rice Water

According to ancient Chinese herbal medicine, leftover water from cooking rice can be used as a natural facial cleanser. It is believed that the nutrients left from the water can help lift dirt and oil from the skin, which softens it and reduces the size of pores. It is also believed that you can wash your hair with it, as this will make it grow faster.

India – Turmeric

Turmeric is not just a favourite in Indian cooking. For centuries women have been using it for skincare as well. It is custom in India for family members of a bride to apply a turmeric face mask the day before she marries, to ensure her skin is radiant on her big day.

If your skin is oily, it is recommended to mix turmeric with yoghurt and lemon juice. If you have dry skin, you should mix it with coconut or olive oil. Be careful not to use more than a ¼ teaspoon of turmeric though. The pigments can cause your skin to turn orange.

Chile – Grapes

To combat tired skin, women in Chile have been known to create a face mask containing a handful of mashed-up grapes and a few tablespoons of flour. They leave this on for a few short minutes, before rinsing it off as soon as it starts to harden. They believe the skin from the grape contains important antioxidants that can help make your skin glow.

Egypt – Milk & Honey

In the Ancient Egyptian days, Cleopatra herself was a big fan of milk baths. She believed the lactic acid exfoliated and moisturised the skin. She also loved adding milk and honey together, as honey was believed to also have hydration capabilities.

To bathe like an Egyptian, add three cups of whole milk and one cup of honey to a warm bath. Soak in it for 20 minutes then rinse for moisturised and exfoliated skin. Milk and honey can also be combined to make a moisturising face mask.

Brazil – Sand

Brazilian women have been known to take trips to the beach to get their favourite exfoliator – sand. The super fine texture and properties of sand make it a perfect way to get rid of dead skin cells. The Brazilian women believe exfoliating near the waters edge makes the sand a lot softer and cleaner.

Dominican Republic – Garlic

A great way to strengthen brittle nails that constantly break is to use garlic on them. Ladies from the Dominican Republic mince fresh garlic and add it to clear nail polish. They then leave it to sit for about a week and a half, before applying it to the nails. The smell is rancid, but this is known to eventually wear off, leaving your nails harder and stronger.

France – Lemon Juice

To get rid of polish stains on your nails, the French believe that by soaking your nails in lemon juice for ten minutes, these stains should disappear. This is a fast and easy technique that can help keep your nails healthy.

Spain – Potatoes

If you’re behind on sleep or suffering from allergies, your eyes will no doubt be a little puffy. In Spain, they believe a way to resurrect this is by putting thin potato slices on your eyes for ten minutes. This is intended to lighten the skin around your eyes.

Mexico – Spoons

Women in Mexico use the back of a teaspoon as an eyelash curler and mascara primer. To do this, simply hold the back of the spoon behind your lashes and use your thumb to press the hairs against the spoon. Leave for a few second before applying mascara to hold the shape.

Morocco – Argan Oil

Argan Oil is originally from Morocco, and is an amazing product that has a ton of different uses. It makes for an excellent moisturiser, lotion or bath oil due to its hydrating properties.

If you suffer from dry hair or dry skin, Argan oil can sort this- just add a few drops to your skin or face morning or at night. It’s also great to use as a conditioner, can tame flyaway hairs and can make hair easier to brush and style. It can do all of this as well as bringing out your hairs natural shine.

Danielle Mead