Skincare is not a one-time treatment but a dynamic habit. It hasn’t become a trend only today because of TickTock and Skinfluencers, but has been passed on through generations and ages. Today we decode the ancient skincare secrets you didn’t know about, taking you through the civilisations of Greece and the banks of the Nile, showing you how women have been keeping their skin bright and glowing.

1. Saffron from Ancient Egypt

Saffron or Zaffran as they call it in the Africas and the Middle East, is a wonder plant. It is not only used in delicacies to impart fragrance and strong yellow color but is also essential in skincare as was believed by the ancient Egyptians. Cleopatra, one of the most beautiful women to have ever walked this earth, was said to bathe in milk infused with saffron. This imparted a natural golden glow to her skin. Today, saffron is not used as extensively as it should be. So you can make your own saffron-infused oil or cream to rub it over your face and arms and other parts that you want glowing.

2. Whipped Cream & Sea Salt by the Geishas

In ancient Japan, the geishas, or the women who entrained men with their song and dance, had a lot of tricks up their sleeves. After all, they had to look stunning and attractive all the time to hold the attention of men coming to them. One of their well-kept secrets is a mix of whipped cream and sea salt to keep the face firm. They used to whip up a batch of cream, add a couple of tablespoons of sea salt into it and rub it generously on their faces. After washing it off, they would have firm, smooth and flawless skin.

3. Tea for the Greeks

Ancient Greek goddesses are so beautiful, aren’t they? How did the Greeks ensure this? Sure, they were blessed with chiselled faces and aquiline noses, but what were their skincare secrets? Turns out, it was tea. They found that using dried flowers or leaves or even herbs from some plants would help their skin’s complexion. So the Greeks used to infuse their baths in tea. What they didn’t know was that it was the bulk of antioxidants in the said tea that would keep their skin looking younger and firmer. An anti-ageing bath, if you will. The tea also helped refresh, detoxify and relax them.

4. Oils & Salts for Greek Elbows

The ancient Greeks were pretty in-depth when it came to skincare. One of their amazing skincare secrets is for the elbows and knees, two areas that even modern women seem to ignore. The ancient Greeks used Epsom salts or Mediterranean sea salt mixed into a jar of olive oil to rub over these dry and darker areas. This became an everyday habit while they bathed so that they could also rinse the areas and move on to daily chores. But in the long run, this skincare ritual gave them smooth and pretty elbows and knees. During rough weather, they also exfoliated and scrubbed away for extra detox of dead skin cells.

5. Pomegranate Extract for Greek Women

Pomegranate is a symbol of passion as well as power in ancient literature, but for the Greeks, this fruit was a wonder element. The pomegranate oil or extract is even today extensively used to push back ageing, promote younger skin and maintain the skin’s elasticity. It is believed to contain 3 times more antioxidants than your usual green tea or red wine. Pomegranate oil also has some astringent properties that help tighten the pores of the skin, making it suitable for even acne-prone and oily skin.

6. Sandalwood for Indian Skin

The Indians were pretty forward when it came to their skin back in the day. In fact, their ancient dynasties were known to export a rare ingredient called sandalwood, which is the bark of the sandalwood tree. Why was this such a prized possession all over the world? Because sandalwood paste was used by the Indians to cure skin problems like pimples, psoriasis and even dark circles. They used it in face packs, made soaps out of it and even took baths infused in sandalwood and honey. Today you will find soap bars and pimple creams rich in sandalwood.

The women that came before us had their own treasure chest of knowledge. Some of that knowledge, thanks to textual manuscripts and word of mouth, has reached us to this day. Most of that precious knowledge is lost. So it is our duty to cherish these ancient skincare secrets and pass them on to the next generation. At Savarnas Beauty Spa, we always try to bring a new perspective to skincare through our blogs. This is one, an important one. We hope you will keep these secrets alive.