Beauty Traveler: Inspiring Beauty Treatments From Around the World

The world has a variety of different cultures, each complete with their own way of approaching life. From exotic and amazing cuisine to diverse musical tastes, we are continuously inspired to try new and daring things every day.

That goes double for beauty treatments. Each culture has their own version of self-care, and we have been obsessed with learning about as many of them as possible. 

Our goal? To provide you with a list of some of the most inspiring beauty treatments from around the world. But you don’t have to have a plane ticket to try one.  Here, we’ve gathered some of our favorite treatments from around the world, what to look for at your favorite salon or spa to sample this experience, as well as shared our tips on how to recreate the experience within “the spa” of your very own bathroom. Enjoy!

1. Europe

Thallasotherapy

What it is
For centuries, people all over the world including Japan, Italy and Greece have sought out the therapeutic benefits of sea water therapy. Ancient Egyptians and Greeks are often credited for understanding the curative properties of the ocean. Stemming from the Greek word for sea, Thalassa, the term was coined by French doctor Dr. Jacques de la Bonnardière in the 1860s to describe the use of seawater for healing and preventative measures, based on the belief that immersion in seawater revitalizes and cleanses the system.

Since then, people have turned to the sea for rejuvenating treatments, incorporating seawater as part of self-care rituals. Now used in European spas, it has become popular with those who love organic and natural processes when it comes to taking care of their body. 

How it works
Seaweed, seawater baths, and seaweed body treatments.

As thalassotherapy focuses on seawater and seaweed, it should come as no surprise to you that the therapy works as a detox bath. Most therapy sessions begin with a short health assessment; after that, you are submerged in a pool of seawater, heated to room temperature, while pressurized jets stimulate a massage and open your pores to soak in the minerals, such as iodine and magnesium, which are found in the seawater.

Most therapy sessions end with a complementary treatment. This can include anything from a full seaweed wrap to a seaweed facial; the treatment is really up to you. 

How to enjoy at home
You can try thalassotherapy at home! Fill your bathtub with luke-warm water, add a few cups of seaweed bath and self-massage yourself while you soak. Go ahead and step up your spa situation by using some professional seaweed products, like our Seaweed Spa Glow scrub, in the shower. Finish off your spa day by slathering yourself in Seaweed Body Cream.

2. India

Ayurveda

What it is
Ayurveda is thousands of years old and is one of the most ancient systems of mind-body medicine that is still used today. It stems from two ideas: one, that the body and mind are linked and that two, the mind has all the power in the world to heal the body. 

How it works
The system works by categorizing you in one of three different physiological constitutions. Each constitution has its own imbalances that you’ll need to watch out for and include activity, diet, and self-care; aromatherapy also plays a large role.

The self-care aspects are important and can include what oils to get with massages when to practice your chosen form of exercise, and how often you should detox.

How to enjoy at home
There are a number of professional skin care products that you can use in conjunction with Ayurveda. Using a body oil, such as the Vita Cura® Triple Action Nutrí Oil, can be a great way to relax and infuse your moisturizing regimen with a little bit of Indian love.

3. Bali

Balinese Body Treatments

What it is
Balinese body treatments date back thousands of years to the ancient Indonesian traditional medicine system known as Jamu. It is part of a collection of natural body treatments that are currently being used. With a special attention to scents during massages and baths, you will never regret taking time out to try a new Balinese body treatment.

How it works
Most treatments revolve around massages, scrubs, floral baths, and hair cream baths.

Massages and scrubs, which generally go hand in hand, take time to incorporate indigenous scents, such as vanilla, ginger, jasmine, and coconut. If you take on a massage-scrub treatment, you can expect it to be followed by a floral bath.

How to enjoy at home
You can do your own Balinese body treatments at home. Just take your favorite fragrant products used at spas, massage your body, then slink into a bath filled with your favorite scents. We recommend trying this with our Vita Cura Triple Action Nutri Crème, made with Vanilla and Coconut.

4. Japan

Shiatsu

What it is
Shiatsu is a form of therapy that comes from Japan. Commonly known as Shiatsu massage, it’s actually more comprehensive than that. In Japan is known as an interventionist measure to complement or enhance conventional medicine. It also shares many of the same principles as acupuncture, but instead of needles, a practitioner uses their hands to firmly apply pressure to specific points on the body.

How it works
Shiatsu massage is the same whether it’s being done on your body or on your face. The practitioner applies pressure on specific points in the body to release energy blockages, which is also known as Qi.

 
How to enjoy at home
Shiatsu facial massages are commonly incorporated into facial treatments. But you can do an abbreviated version of it yourself, just by performing a short facial massage while using your favorite serum, such as C-Serum® Seaweed Filtrate Face Serum and finishing with some shiatsu pressure points. (Watch how to perform a facial massage)

5. Sweden

Swedish Sauna

What it is
Known as "batsu" in Sweden, Swedish saunas are one of the most popular professional spa treatments in the world. It is a great way for you to unwind, release the tension in your body, and, it’s believed, help sweat out any toxins that may be in your skin. Saunas are very popular in Sweden for these benefits.

How it works
Swedish saunas work by heating an insulated room; this can be done with either stones heated by a fire or through electrical means. The stones are then doused with water, leading to steam filling the room. All you have to do is sit in the room for a few minutes to half an hour and then take a cool shower. It really is that simple.

How to enjoy at home
Trying to make a sauna at home is possible. All you have to do is go into your bathroom, close the door, try to plug up any drafts, fill the tub with hot water, and lean over the tub for 15 to 20 minutes. After that, rinse your body off with some cool water and indulge in one of our skin kits to complete your self-care ritual.

Beauty treatments from around the world are an incredible way to switch up your self-care routine. From Sweden to Indonesia, there are a variety of treatments you can try right now, in your own home, to reap the benefits immediately.

We hope that you try some of these treatments out for yourself. If you do, let us know! We’d love to hear about your experiences.

Put yourself first in 2018, and don’t forget to remind your friends and family by sharing this article with them!