Your self-perception can be influenced by your cultural context. We conducted a virtual journey across the globe to explore various cultural viewpoints and uncover health and beauty traditions, all while identifying emerging lifestyle trends related to wellness.
Global Insights
France—Embracing Natural Beauty
The French idealizes the au naturel aesthetic. However, they tend to keep their beauty secrets under wraps, striving to hide the effort that contributes to their seemingly effortless beauty. Rather than masking imperfections with makeup, most individuals in France focus on learning proper skin care routines from a young age.
India—Wisdom of Ayurvedic Practices
According to Professor Gayatri Kalia, an expert in Ayurvedic medicine, true beauty emanates from within, reflecting an individual’s holistic state of health that includes mind, body, and spirit.
Many Indians continue the legacy of age-old Ayurvedic solutions. “Ayurvedic practitioners can tailor these remedies based on your dosha,” she notes, which encompasses your hereditary traits along with dietary and lifestyle factors.
Your dosha reveals possible skin conditions—explaining reasons for dry, oily, or balanced skin. Contemporary cosmetics have increasingly turned to ancient Ayurvedic scriptures for inspiration on ingredients.
China—Insights from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Sherry Fang Liu, a TCM practitioner at Healing Arts Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine, emphasizes that genuine beauty indicates a balanced internal state along with harmonious circulation of blood and qi.
“The essence of natural beauty resonates with our inherent connectivity, evoking feelings of health and positivity when we are around those who exude natural beauty,” Liu explains.
Beauty Essentials
Kitchen Remedies—India
In India, the best beauty products can be found in your kitchen. Kalia suggests that if you’re applying something to your skin, it should ideally be edible to ensure safety and non-toxicity.
Brides are traditionally adorned before their weddings with a beauty paste of turmeric, chickpea flour, milk, and sandalwood to enhance their skin’s glow.
Tip: For hydration, blend equal parts virgin coconut oil and aloe vera, and massage it onto your face daily. Kalia recommends this blend for wrinkle prevention as well, since dryness can lead to creases.
Beauty Tools—China
Liu points out that outer beauty reflects one’s inner health. Thus, to maintain natural beauty, it’s essential to manage basic health practices, like minimizing stress and ensuring adequate sleep while steering clear of harmful habits.
Tip: To enhance facial circulation and alleviate puffiness, Liu advocates using a jade roller, ideally cooled before application to soothe the skin. “Start rolling from the center of the face outwards below the eyes and upwards on the forehead,” Liu advises, also suggesting a downward roll towards the neck to promote drainage.
A facial gua sha tool can aid circulation too, offering a gentle massage that eases tight facial muscles and diminishes the visibility of tension-induced wrinkles.
Coconut Oil—Brazil
In Brazil, coconut oil is lauded for its restorative properties against the harsh effects of sun and saltwater on the skin and hair. Research indicates that virgin coconut oil can alleviate symptoms of skin disorders by moisturizing and calming irritation.
Natural Lifestyle Trends for Enhanced Health and Beauty
Biking Over Driving—Scandinavia/Netherlands
A report from 2018 indicates cycling accounts for over 25% of trips in the Netherlands, while in Denmark, that figure is over 15%. In contrast, Canadians cycle for less than 5% of their travel.
Cold Water Therapy—Russia
In Russia, many enthusiasts advocate for cold water plunges that typically last between one to five minutes. Followers claim benefits including exhilaration, enhanced immunity, improved joint health, and reduced cellulite. However, caution is advised by Russian researchers who have noted potential long-term adverse effects.
Forest Bathing—Japan
Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is the practice of immersing oneself in the forest environment through mindful walking, engaging all senses. Inhalation of essential oils from trees serves as a natural aromatherapy, while visual and auditory stimuli enhance the experience.
Research confirms that forest bathing positively influences both physical and mental well-being, including lowering heart rates and alleviating mood disorders such as anxiety and fatigue.
Jjimjilbangs—South Korea
Visiting a jjimjilbang—a spa featuring a bathhouse and sauna with water temperatures between 38 to 42°C—is a common health and beauty ritual for South Koreans. While relaxing in the sauna, patrons can enjoy lying on mats made of hemp or offering the benefits of jade or salt minerals. Exfoliating is a highly valued activity; guests may opt to do it themselves or request an ajumma (literally, “auntie”) to assist.
