10 Incredible Beauty Secrets of Ancient India That Every Modern Woman Must Know

There are two things the world has not stopped admiring about Indian women: their silky, thick hair and flawless skin that ages gracefully. What the world may not know, however, is that no matter where you were brought up, the women in your life—your mother, grandmother, or aunts—always made sure you were following the beauty regiment they did.

When my sister in middle school, there was no way her hair was not slathered in almond oil on weekends—sometimes, even weekdays! Regardless of oil stains everywhere and being unable to leave the house because she  looked like a grease ball, I am so grateful my mom forced her to keep up with our traditional beauty remedies for strong hair and skin. Thanks to her, My sister kept up with her beauty routines and continue to reap the benefits of natural ingredients that have been staples in Indian beauty for centuries.

The beauty of Indian women can’t be understated. They come in all beautiful colors—from fair, porcelain skin to dusky, cinnamon-kissed skin. Although every country has its exceptional beauty secrets, it seems that the wellness world in the United States has become infatuated with Indian health and beauty tips. From the yoga boom to Ayurvedic retreats popping up across the country, you shouldn’t be surprised if you read an ode to turmeric on your favorite wellness website or your non-Indian stylist recommending henna instead of hair dye.

Out of all the new “crazes” on the natural beauty market right now, these are 10 beauty secrets that Indian women have been using for decades and are now included in almost every beauty Pinterest board. If you haven’t started using them yet, get on it!

1. Coconut (for hair)

Coconuts have become the best thing since sliced bread. From coconut water in supermarkets to coconut milk now offered at Starbucks, people are putting coconut in everything. And when I say everything, I mean—they are adding it to their coffee, using it for oil pulling, cooking with it—and of course, adding it to their daily beauty regiment.While many of us have been switching it up between almond, olive, and coconut oil for years now, coconut oil is now being picked up by those who want a natural at-home deep conditioner for strong, silky long hair. This is because the chemical properties of coconut oil, compared to other oils, allow it to penetrate the hair, which help improve strength and growth, and keeps hair from getting damaged often.

Try it:
Heat coconut oil enough to coat your entire scalp and hair. Apply to hair and rinse 8-12 hours later.

2. Honey (for skin and hair)

Honey is a convenient alternative to sugar, but it is also a great staple to have in your beauty cabinet. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, Indian women have used honey to reduce blemishes and breakouts, clarify skin, and hydrate both the hair and face for ages. The trick is to always use raw honey, which is loaded with enzymes that draw moisture into the skin. These enzymes help strength hair follicles and also repair irritated skin.

Try it:
For a quick acne treatment, apply a dab of raw honey to the affected area and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry. For a super hair boost, mix 1-2 tablespoons of raw honey with 2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil, and apply thoroughly to damp hair. Let sit for 15-20 minutes and rinse well.

3. Turmeric (for Skin)

 Indian food is incomplete without this gorgeous yellow culinary spice. If we stick to the internal benefits of the spice, the list is endless. Turmeric has been hailed for centuries in the wellness world for its anti-inflammatory and immunity-booster goodness.

Given that it is a part of the ginger family, it is no surprise the external benefits of tumeric are also just as great. The healing properties of this spice reduce inflammation, redness, and are excellent in moisturizing and brightening the skin.

For Indian brides, beauty preparations are incomplete without a turmeric paste on the face and body the night before her wedding. Traditionally, a haldi and mehendi, which is a pre-wedding event that gathers families of the bride and groom to apply turmeric pastes and henna to the bride, does just that: clears the bride’s skin of any blemishes to make sure she is sparkling on her wedding day.

Try it: For a bride-like glow, mix 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric, 2 tablespoons of gram flour (chickpea flour), 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, pinch of sandalwood powder and rosewater. Apply to face and neck and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.

4. Henna (for hair)

If there is one beauty essential I wish my mom used a little less of, it would have to be henna: and not on herself, but on my father—whose hair would vary from dark brown to orange to deep red. Needless to say, my friends always had questions on the authenticity of his hair.

Henna is already popular because of the adornment Indians have on their hands, but many Indian women have been naturally dying their hair with the medicinal plant, due to its super-healthy benefits and beautiful, radiant color. If you look at the ingredients on the back of your regular hair dye, you probably can’t pronounce most of them.

Evidently, this isn’t a good thing—henna reduces the chemical damage you get from hair dyes and gives you a more natural color that stays longer. Using henna to color hair also prevents dandruff, is cooling for the scalp, and reduces hair fall.

Try it:
24 hours before applying, brew approx. 4-5 cups of strong coffee. Mix approx. 1/4 cup of henna powder with some of the freshly brewed coffee into a glass/ceramic mixing bowl. Continue to pour coffee into henna mix until it has the consistency of thick yogurt/or curd. Add some lemon juice and mix. Saran wrap bowl and leave on room temperature overnight. Apply next day.  Optional: Before applying, mix essential oils, almond/coconut oil, or honey to your mix and stir.

5. Yogurt (for skin)

Like most of the beauty fundamentals on this list, yogurt is one that is not only delicious and healthy internally, it is even better when applied topically.

During the summer, which lasts the entire year in India, yogurt is a skin lifesaver. It hydrates the skin tremendously and its cooling properties are anti-inflammatory, reduce acne, and are rich in protein. The lactic acid, zinc, and vitamins B also help remove dead skin cells and smooth lines. All of these benefits are reaped when applied directly to the face in homemade masks.

Yogurt is also a staple in Indian curries, and is almost always mixed with henna, turmeric, and honey for super-beauty boosting masks.

Try it:
For a hydrating summer facial, slather on plain, unsweetened yogurt all over face and neck. Leave on for 10-12 minutes and rinse off with cold water.

6. Gram flour (for skin)

Gram flour has been traditionally used in beauty care, mainly to deep cleanse and exfoliate the skin.  It can be added to face packs to remove tan and to cleanse and tighten the skin.
Try it : 

·         Mix it with yogurt, lemon juice and a pinch of turmeric or mix ground almonds with gram flour, milk and lemon juice. Apply it on the face and wash off after 20 to 30 minutes. It helps to remove tan and lighten skin colour.

·         To reduce oiliness, mix it with yogurt and apply. Wash it off after 20 minutes.

·         For pimple prone skin, mix it with sandalwood paste, turmeric and milk to make it into a paste. Apply on the face and wash it off after 20 minutes.

·         To discourage facial hair, mix gram flour with water into a paste and apply on the area. Wash it off when it dries.

7. Egg (for skin)

 

Eggs are often used in cooking and baking, but can also be applied on the face to help ward off wrinkles and to potentially tighten sagging skin . By applying egg whites directly onto your skin, you can give yourself an effective facial without spending a lot of money. Egg whites can be used as a mask to make the skin tighter and firmer.
Try it :

·         To make your own firming mask, separate two eggs into egg whites and yolk.

·         Whip the egg whites with a fork for 10 seconds, and then spread the egg whites over your skin with your fingers.

·         Leave the egg whites on your skin for 30 minutes, or until they dry completely.

·         Wash the dried egg whites off your skin using warm water.

·         8) Potato (for skin)

      

There is a particular compound in potatoes that helps to reduce swelling and puffiness. Using a vegetable peeler, shred a small amount of potato, let it chill in the fridge for a while, and then place the chilled potato under your eyes for 15 minutes. When you remove them, you will find less puffiness under those eyes and it also helps in reducing dark circles if used regularly. You can also use a potato slice instead of shredding them but shredded potato is definitely more effective.

·         9)Aloe vera (for hair)

Aloe Vera is an effective home remedy for hair loss and to boost hair growth. It is also effective in reducing problems of scalp like itching and flaking.

Try it :

·         1. Take the stalk of Aloe Vera and extract the pulp.
2. Apply it to your hair and scalp and leave it for about 45 minutes.
3. Rinse with normal water. You can do this three to four times a week to see better results.

10)Amla (for hair)

Indian Gooseberry or Amla is another effective home remedy to stop hair fall. One of the causes is the deficiency of vitamin C, hence consuming amla will strengthen the hair follicles and help you to control it. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory and the exfoliating properties, amla helps promote faster growth of hair, maintain a healthy scalp and prevents premature greying.
Try it :
1. You can mix lime juice and the amla powder to make a paste. 
2. Massage it to your scalp and hair. 
3. Use a shower cap to cover your head so that the paste doesn’t dry out. 
4. Keep it for an hour and then rinse it off with normal water.