Old Is Gold: 10 Beauty secrets from the ancient world

Karen GEORGE

06 May 2015

updated the 6 October 2015 à 23:07

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Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar was used in many ancient civilizations but the Greeks were foremost in utilizing the ingredient. Hippocrates used it to treat his patients for all sorts of ailments. Medical treatments aside, apple cider vinegar was also used to remove excess hair buildup and stimulate the scalp. It also works as a great skin toner and cure for acne.
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Green tea
Green tea seems to be the national drink in China and no wonder why. Besides being delicious, green tea is rich in anti-oxidants, which is what keeps the skin looking firm and young. Another plus? It boosts your metabolic rate, which leads to decreased fat storage, especially in the abdominal area.
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Egg whites
By way of China, eggs have been a primary ingredient in skincare for thousands of years. Apply egg whites to the face and neck for a tightening effect similar to a facelift. The protein in the egg whites also serves to hydrate the skin. Talk about killing two birds with one egg!
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Avocado
Avocado is a popular ingredient in many of today's beauty products. But did you know it was already a staple ingredient untilized by the Aztecs to moisturize their skin? It unclogs and reduces pore size. Best of all, the oil is easily absorbed by human skin.
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Rose water
Back in the day, when make up remover didn't exist, rose water did the job. Dating back to ancient Egypt, rose water also prevents aging by reducing wrinkles, tightening skin pores and giving the wearer a glowing complexion.
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Tumeric
It's no surprise the ancient Indians were obsessed with fair skin and did everything in their power to achieve it. One of these methods include using tumeric to balance the skin tone and reduce pigmentation. Another plus? Tumeric's anti-bacterial properties work to clear out skin blemishes.
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Milk and honey
Probably one of the most famous beauty secrets is Cleopatra's milk and honey bath. Famed for her flawless skin, history records that she constantly soaked in baths filled with milk and honey. Milk will retain the moisture of your skin while honey acts as a great anti-bacterial agent that will ward off acne while also maintaining the skin's elasticity.
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Rooibos
Mention rooibos and you might think of tea but tribal women in the mountains of Cape Town, South Africa have been grinding it rather than drinking it to achieve a flawless complexion. Rooibos has free-radical fighting antioxidants and vitamin C that helps increase collagen in the skin for a more youthful look.
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Rice water
Rice water is probably Asia's best kept beauty secret. Geishas used it to keep their skin fair and flawless. Rice water has inositol, a carbohydrate, that can repair and protect damaged hair, which is why The Yao ethnic women from the village of Huangluo in China use fermented rice water to maintain their thick, lustrous hair.
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Olive oil
The ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians very much utilized this oil rich in natural anti-oxidants and vitamin E. Benefits include smooth radiant skin, soft cuticles and thick shiny hair.

Women and vanity go hand in hand. Uncover the beauty secrets of our female ancestors from ancient times and don’t be surprised if you already utilize it.

Think your kohl eyeliner is some innovative new product that came from the creative minds of those at Sephora? Think again. It was in fact famed Egyptian beauty Cleopatra who started the trend, although back in the day, the kohl she used was poisonous powdered lead sulphite mixed with animal fat. Thankfully her other beauty routines didn’t involve life-shortening ingredients.

Given their limited scientific knowledge at the time, women of ancient eras had to play Russian Roulette with their faces, trying and testing new “products” till they got it right. While some beauty ideals of the time have luckily gone off the radar, (crocodile dung face masks and crushed beetle lipstick anyone?) there are some time-tested ancient beauty tricks we can steal from our ancestors to maintain flawless skin and a youthful glow. From Egypt to China, click through the gallery to uncover 10 beauty secrets that will make you feel like a modern-day Cleopatra.

You know what they say, old is gold!

Karen George

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Old Is Gold: 10 Beauty secrets from the ancient world

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