Skincare secrets through history to try today ( part 2)

I really enjoyed writing the first part of this post so here’s three more of history’s skincare secrets.

Ancient japan ( Geisha)

Geishas were well known for their beauty and allure so taking care of their skin was an important part of everyday life. Geishas used Rice bran ( Komenuka) to cleanse and exfoliate their skin as well as hydrating it.
Camellia oil was also very popular and was used to remove their heavy makeup and cleanse their skin as well as well as helping it to retain moisture and to fight signs of aging.
A piece of silk was also dampened with flower water and placed on the face to bring extra moisture to the sk.in. This could easily be described as the origins of the sheet masks we see today
Geishas not only realised the importance of hydrating their skin but they also knew the benefits of exfoliating it.
Powered Adzuki bean has been used in Japanese skincare for over a thousand years as it gently exfoliates and cleans pores.

Cruelty free products you could use today. 

Good Day Organics Certified Organic Pure Camellia Oil Moisturiser

Lush’s Mask Of Magnaminty contains exfoliating adzuki beans

What you wouldn’t want to use today.

Nightingale droppings were applied to the face as a skin treatment.

Ancient India

Women of Ancient India believed that skin care that wasn’t harmful when ingested was the most beneficial for the skin.
Turmeric was a very popular Ancient Indian skin care ingredient because of it’s anti-inflammatory properties and it’s ability to stop inflammation as well as brightening the skin.
Gram flour ( chickpea flour) was also a well used ingredient and was well known for retaining moisture in the skin so was used as a cleanser and face mask and also a targeted spot treatment.
Rose water and saffron was also used to improve complexion and Neem leaves were used to treat skincare problems and blemishes.

Cruelty free products you could use today. 

Ayumi naturals do a whole range of turmeric and Neem skincare.

 

What you wouldn’t want to use today. 

Ancient Indian women used cow dung and urine to help treat problem skin.

Victorian

In  Victorian England  skincare was very important as makeup was frowned upon women invested a lot of time looking after their skin. During this time skin care started to be manufactured by companies but a lot of the products contained dangerous ingredients such as lime, arsenic, chalk and mercury. Pale skin was the ideal and women would go to great lengths to achieve this look.

Recipes were also produced so women could make their own skincare at home. These ranged from dangerous concoctions that also contained awful ingredients such as whale sperm to simple recipes that were harmless.

This recipe is from a book published in 1886 called Health, Beauty and the toliet:Letters to Ladies from a Lady Doctor  on how to lighten the skin

” A quarter of an ounce of red rose leaves steeped in a quarter pint each of fresh lemon juice and brandy for about three hours and then pressed, strained and decanted, makes a good lotion for whitening the skin”

Amongst safe skincare ingredients were glycerin, cucumber and strawberries to cure blemishes.

The Victorians also favoured infused waters ( toilet waters) that were made using a variety of flowers such as rose, elderflower, lavender and violet. Peppermint and orange water was also a favourite.

Cruelty free products you could use today. 

Although the Victorians got their skincare deadly wrong most of the time so of the ingredients were actually beneficial to the skin such as the toilet waters and fruit.

Mario Badescu strawberry tonic mask

Neal’s yard remedies Nourishing Orange Flower Toner

What you wouldn’t want to use today. 

Anything containing ingredients such as arsenic or mercury that could potentially kill you.