Eastern Wisdom: 8 Quirky ancient Asian beauty secrets that actually work

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Snail Mucus
Snail slime is a South Korean beauty ingredient with roots in ancient beauty traditions, but has recently been modernised into a slew of beauty innovations such as sheet masks, creams and serums.
While the idea of snail slime might seem a little off-putting to some, this is one beauty ingredient that offers a potent list of skin benefits. Snail mucus is a natural source of hyaluronic acid, enzymes and peptides, which hydrate, exfoliate and firm the skin all at once. It also has glycolic acid, collagen and elastin, which protect, soothe, hydrate and brighten the skin. Frankly, what's not to love?
Keen to try it out? Check out Korean beauty brands like TonyMoly and Missha which carry popular skincare items featuring snail mucus. We're confident they won't disappoint.
Photo: TonyMoly
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Mung Bean Face Mask
Mung bean masks are an ancient Chinese beauty tradition that the empresses swore by. While you might recognise the beans from your favourite childhood green bean dessert soup, it turns out that mung beans are good for healing acne and de-puffing the skin.
The mung beans are typically grounded to a paste and applied to skin as a mask after. Alternatively, you can purchase powdered mung beans and mix it with Greek yoghurt for a brightening face mask that is also less messy in execution. Beauty brands like The Face Shop also carry mung bean sheet masks, if you'd like to try this beauty secret without having to DIY.
Photo: Getty Images
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Jade Rollers
Jade rollers is an ancient Chinese beauty secret that dates as far back as seventh-century China, where the stone was believed to have healing and protective properties. Like most timeless beauty secrets, the jade roller is simple in its design. It features an oblong stone of pure jade attached to a handle (much like a paint roller), with some versions featuring a textured surface that increases its massaging properties.
Our facial muscles store a lot of tension, which can cause wrinkles and fine lines, which using a jade roller often can help to release. Using the jade roller also promotes circulation, which plumps and firms the skin and helps skincare absorb into the skin better.
Photo: Mmerci Encore
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Sake Baths
While we are all partial to a glass of sake to go along with our sushi, we might not be as predisposed to soaking ourselves in a tub of it. However, the potent skin benefits a sake bath can offer you might just change your mind.
According to dermatologists, sake is a type of rice wine that, through fermentation, produces kojic acid - an effective non-hydroquinone skin-lightening and brightening agent. It turns out that a sake bath proves to also be a thoroughly relaxing experience. While there are spas that offer a sake bath, you can also enjoy a relaxing DIY sake bath at home that can truly melt all the fatigue away. Simply pour in two 750ml bottles of sake in a tub of hot water, put on a playlist of your favourite tunes and be sure to sip on a glass of sake as you soak. You'll thank us later.
Photo: Getty Images
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Dry brushing your face
Dry brushing can detoxify and stimulate the circulation in your skin, and also effectively exfoliates it. This helps to defuse skin surface imperfections and also decongests pores, leaving your skin texture looking more refined. This exfoliation element also increases the absorption and efficacy of skincare products on the skin. Over time, dry brushing your skin can speed up cell turnover and help minimize some of the effects of aging.
It does seem like the West has caught onto this trend, with the popularity of the Clarisonic and other similar face-cleansing brush tools. Do note that if you have dry or sensitive skin, you might experience skin flare-ups, so be sure to consult a dermatologist first before you give this technique a go.
Photo: The Body Shop
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Turmeric Mask
Surprisingly, this spice that we use for whipping up fragrant curries also doubles as a skin-brightening face mask. This Ayurvedic face mask has been used for centuries in India for its brightening skin properties, especially for brides before their big day. Turmeric also has extraordinary anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, antibacterial, and anti-aging properties, which makes it an excellent face mask ingredient, and can also reduce the appearance of acne scars.
Photo: Getty Images
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Face Slapping
As aggressive as 'face slapping' sounds, it is actually popular beauty tip passed through generations in South Korea passed through generations that helps the skin absorb skincare more efficiently. Slapping or patting your skin aids with micro-circulation, leaving the skin firm and toned. It also helps dry the skin after cleansing, and many Korean women prefer it over using a towel as it leaves the skin feeling plump and the perfect canvas for skincare application. Start by using your finger tips to gently and briskly pat your serums and creams into the skin in upwards, circulation motion.
Photo: Getty Images
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Rice Water
Rice water has been used for centuries by women through generations in Asia for beautiful skin and hair.
Rice is rich in 'inositol', a complex of B vitamins that helps promote cell growth, slows down the aging process and stimulates circulation. You'll find that rice water is the perfect concoction to tighten pores and bring a brightening glow to the face, and also boasts of moisturising and antioxidant properties.
Keen on trying it out for yourself? Simply take a bowl of rice and pour enough water in it to have the rice be fully submerged by roughly an inch. Allow your rice to soak between 15 to 30 minutes, without boiling or cooking it.
Photo: Getty Images

A mere walk through through the streets of Myeongdong in Seoul will have you marveling at the supple, glowing complexions of South Korean women – a testament to the fact that something in their beauty regime truly works. It is therefore unsurprising that the global beauty industry has been looking to the East for inspiration of late in all its latest beauty innovations. Essences, BB creams, cushion compacts and more now deck the shelves in major beauty retailers in the West, and it looks like the Asian beauty craze is only here to stay.

No doubt, Asia is a treasure trove of timeless beauty wisdom passed through generations. After all, we can probably all name a beauty tip or two our mothers and grandmothers swear by. With this in mind, we’ve narrowed down 8 beauty secrets from around Asia that you definitely want to incorporate in your beauty routine. From decadent jade rollers to sake baths, keep scrolling above for 8 ancient, albeit quirky, beauty secrets from Asia that will promise you beautiful, healthy skin.

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