The exotic beauties of the East have been utilizing for centuries beauty rituals emphasizing the unity of body and spirit and the harmony with nature.
Before every major holiday, the palms and soles of Indian women transform into virtual works of art. On them, birds and butterflies “come alive”, countless flowers bloom, while light shines from sacred symbols and mandalas. The beautiful tradition of decorating the body with henna is called “mehndi” and is been preserved for 9000 years. Besides bringing aesthetic pleasure, this ancient form of body art calms the mind, strengthens the nails and becomes a life-giving oasis for the skin in the hot summer days.
Besides the natural dye, dozens of plants with impressive names and no less amazing properties are used in the beauty practices of Indian women. Among them is one of the secrets for silky shiny hair of Bollywood actresses – the “free tree” Neem, from whose leaves, fruits, seeds and even bark, the locals make shampoos and nourishing masks. Used alone or in combination with the “rays-spraying” mung beans or other Gaia’s gifts, the evergreen Neem keeps the hair forever young.
India is the motherland of plastic surgery, but its people prefer the natural methods for enhancing beauty, offered by another Indian offspring – Ayurveda. As a science of health, Ayurveda perceives the skin as a living organism and recommends that it should be cared for using “living” cosmetics only – herbs, fruits, honey, vegetable oils … Along with this, the millennial healing system sees the toxins accumulating in the body as the root cause for skin problems, while the regular detoxification – as an integral part of the beauty routine.
Following the ayurvedic doctrine, Indian brides drink a glass of milk with saffron on the night of their wedding to obtain a flawless complexion. The “red gold”, as the most expensive spice in the world is rightfully called, has the ability to purify the blood, which results in visibly shining skin. The bride strengthens the effect of the beautification beverage, rubbing her face with a paste of turmeric, which, in addition to its ability to rejuvenate the skin, has excellent depigmentation and depilation properties.
Whether weekday or holiday, Indian women never skip another interesting beauty ritual, the so-called “dry brushing” – a practice as simple as it is effective in the fight against rough “orange peel” skin. During the procedure, women do not use any ointment, but only a silk glove to rub their whole bodies starting from the feet. Thus they do not only remove the dead layer of epithelial cells, but also awaken the natural “flow” within themselves – the lymphatic system, which purifies the body from all toxins.
The colorful saris, the “Bindi” dot on the forehead and the sound of numerous adornments give Indian women a specific charm. But the secret to their incredible charisma lies most of all in living in harmony with nature and the utilization of the beauty elixirs created by it. This charisma can be acquired by any woman in the world, thanks to the modern cosmetic products bearing the exotic spirit of India.
