Beauty Around The World: Myanmar

This chapter of the Beauty Around The World Series takes you to Myanmar!

It's written by Vivien Noir @100_black_shirts. And if you're interested in participating in the Beauty Around The World Series, drop me a line at eternalvoyageur (at) gmail (dot) com.

On the left side of Thailand lies the mysterious "golden country", the land of the thousand Pagodas: Myanmar. What was once called Burma lies between Thailand, Laos, China, India and Bangladesh, and it's population is just as diverse. A real mosaic of Burmese tribes, immigrants, and minorities populates green hills and wide plains, live along beaches, between thousand-year-old temple ruins and in vibrant cities. The people, the culture, the food: Myanmar is a unique, wonderful mixture and its diversity is tangible in every aspect of life

In the three weeks during which I travelled through this country I met almost only young people. And they all had enviously delicate, fine-pored skin, almost nobody seemed to have acne or struggled with other skin problems.

 

 

My own pale skin was for the Burmese something special, so that many requested me (rather shyly) for a photo with them, and very often I heard delighted calls of "beautiful, beautiful!" in the temples and pagodas. In Myanmar, as in many Asian countries, is light-coloured skin seen as desirable, which is why lightening creams are much sought-after (and expensive). It is difficult to get skin-care products and especially decorative cosmetics, they are mostly available in bigger cities and for much higher prices that in Europe. And it's mainly imported items -- Yves Rocher, Essence and Catrice, Maybelline and L'Oreal were next to Etude House and The Face Shop the most recognised brands.

But the Burmese don't need ready-made cosmetics -- they make them by themselves every day! In every home stands a flat grinding stone, the Kyauk Pyin, with which the traditional Thanaka (also spelled Thanakha) is made. For this the bark of the Thanaka tree (there are several spices of this tree) is ground with some water on the Kyauk Pyin, till a light beige paste is formed. The Thanaka paste is then applied in circles or rectangles especially on the cheeks but sometimes also on the forehead or the entire face. Sometimes one some cheeks pretty leaf-shaped Thanakas could be seen, where a toothpick was used to draw the stem and the leaf veining.

The kid is has Thanaka on his cheeks!He and his parents are wearing the traditional longhyi ("lontschi"), which most of the Burmese wear.

Thanaka is mainly used by women and girls, but also by men. I tried it myself, it feels pleasantly cool and smooth on the skin. Apart from the cooling effect Thanaka  has anti-inflammatory and gently lightening properties, which pleases everyone that aren't very fond of the pigmented patches on their face. On top of that Thanaka offers a light UV protection, which has also been proven in a scientific study.

In the meanwhile Thanaka is available powdered or even as a ready-made paste, but especially in rural areas still produced manually. The Burmese Miss Universe 2013, Moe Set Wine, sells a Thanaka sheet mask under the brand Moezy (however they are produced in Korea). I have bought one of these sheet masks and am excited about trying it out!

Check out the other posts in this series: Greece, Middle East, Pakistan, Germany, Australia.Would you like to write one about the country you live in? Write me at eternalvoyageur (at) gmail (dot) com. If your country has been "done" you can still do a new post about it!

Beauty Around The World: The Middle East

     As a kid I had neighbours from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, and I was always fascinated at how beautiful and well-groomed the women were, with their gorgeous hair and lashes, amazing skin and beautiful outfits. So I always perk up my ears when I hear about the beauty routines of women from the Levant. Amalia from Amalias Log has been living in the Middle East for quite a while, and today she will share with you all the beauty tips that she has picked up from the local women. Enjoy!

   Can I tell you a secret today? There is more to the Middle East than the sounds of bombs and war. I have been there, and I can tell you for a fact that there are beauty secrets that are the basis to a lot of today’s modern products. Cleopatra and her famous goat milk bath, started from here after all.

Here I’m going to share the tips and secrets I learnt, and how they work:

* In most of the Arab Gulf countries, ladies apply castor oil on their eyelashes with a cotton pad. The results are strong long lashes that rarely fall down.

* Also in the Arab Gulf, woman usually gently heat oil (Castor again, but olive oil is extremely popular, and so is coconut oil of late), then add rosemary and mint to the mix. They then apply this to the hair, wrap it around or use a shower cap. They then wash it off a few hours later to reveal shiny lustrous hair. I have seen some people use dish washing soap*  to remove the oil when stuck. But I do not recommend that at all. Applying the shampoo straight onto dry hair will help remove the oil faster. Oil on hair goes a long way and you may need no more than a table-spoon or two. Mint and rosemary stimulate hair growth but boosting the circulation near the scalp. I think adding rosemary and peppermint essential oil, just a drop or two each, would give and even more potent mix.

* Aleppo Soap, is no longer a middle eastern secret, (and sadly, not that easily available any more either) but worth listing here, as people there use it not only as a shower and hair washing soap, but apply it to their face and leave it for ten minutes or so, for a wonderful cleansing mask, thanks to its high laurel oil content.

* Woman of the Levant have long known how taking fenugreek would boost milk production for breast feeding. But did you know that applying fenugreek extract straight on your breasts and massaging each breast in an outer to inner movement, will increase your breast size by one whole cup size within six months to a year? The reason for this is that fenugreek increases the progesterone levels in the body… a hormone vital for breast enhancement, among many other things.

* The benefits of a Moroccan bath to glowing skin, are almost second to none. The real secrets to this are two items. “Beldi soap” a soap paste, made from the whole olive and potassium hydroxide. And a kissa, or a bath mitt. To repeat the process at home, simply do this:
    Turn the hot water on, and into any basin, but don’t use it, we just want to fill the bathroom with steam. Sit in the steam. When your skin is damp enough, but not wet, apply the soap paste all over. Now sit in the steam for a further ten minutes or so. In summary the soap paste, is acting as an enzyme peel, softening the skin, as it preps for a thorough exfoliation. Next, take your DRY kissa mitt, and start sloughing away the dead skin in a circular motion. Preferably do this in the bath tub. Once you're done, if you want simply use your normal shower gel or soap, and take a quick shower. Or wash the dead skin off with water, then apply a body mask made of rhassoul clay powder (also easily found online) and yogurt. Wait ten minutes, and wash this off well. Moisturize as you please, or just simply enjoy your now softer, lighter super cleaner skin!

* Another little trick I found was using alum crystals. Alum crystals are usually found in spice shops, or next to spices on a spice rack, however they are not used in cooking! Simply take the crystal, and either dissolve it in ethyl alcohol**, or use the crystal itself after rounding its edges, and apply it to your under arms. You may need to this for 5-10 minutes. But the result is the absence of body odour even of skin that has been sweating so badly! People who live in really hot weather most of the year do know these tricks!

* And finally petrol. This is not a ‘crude’ joke, pun intended. But the scare from petroleum jelly products of the past few years is no more than a marketing gimmick. The way it is used in beauty products, has been safe for centuries and still is today. Vaseline is ‘big’ in the middle east, and is the cliché go to product for moisturized lips. But did you know applying ichthammol ointment onto some gauze and then applying that onto any painful spot, will draw the pus out, and cause it to heal within 3 to 7 days? Simply apply it at night before going to bed, place a band-aid to be extra secure. Then the next morning remove it to see how the most potent products are usually cheaply available at the local chemist, not the posh department store. Repeat the process every night till you get rid of it!

   And there you go, now you know how these ladies, who have to tolerate harsh weather and at times living condition, manage to keep their skin glowing, and looking as if they have never seen a stressful day of their lives.

* If you can't get the oil off, try using conditioner -- that really works!

** I have had success dissolving it in just water and using that as a spray.

And if you're interested in participating in the Beauty Around The World Series, drop me a line at eternalvoyageur (at) gmail (dot) com. - See more at: http://www.venusianglow.com/2012/08/beauty-around-world-greece.html#sthash.5VZ18IFq.dpuf

And if you're interested in participating in the Beauty Around The World Series, drop me a line at eternalvoyageur (at) gmail (dot) com. - See more at: http://www.venusianglow.com/2012/08/beauty-around-world-greece.html#sthash.5VZ18IFq.dpuf

For more beauty inspirations from all over the globe, check out the Beauty Around The World Series. And if you're interested in writing a guest post for the series, drop me a line at eternalvoyageur (at) gmail (dot) com.

Beauty Around The World -- Pakistan

    Today's instalment of Beauty Around The World Series takes us to Pakistan, written by the lovely Abeeha. I have

And if you're interested in writing about your country / city / culture for the Beauty Around The World Series, drop me a line at eternalvoyageur (at) gmail (dot) com.

   Assalam-o-Alaikum, guys! That’s how we say “Hello” in Pakistan! It’s Arabic for “May peace be with you”, although our official languages are [British] English and Urdu, in that order! Today I’ll be going over four major categories; beauty obsessions, beauty rules and theories and products as well as homemade recipes. Let’s begin!

Beauty Obsessions

image courtesy theperson12353

image courtesy Ingrid92x

    Although the most common impression of Pakistanis in the media is that they are pretty much brown all over, that is hardly the case. Pakistan, as a result of being a geographically significant location (for trade and such), contains many ethnicities. In fact, every single ethnic group in the world can be found here. Most of us fall under the umbrella of “Caucasian”. In the northern provinces, most gals have a light sort of coloring, and I’m pretty sure that our northern provinces has more natural blue eyed-blondes than the USA does! In the south, most of us can pass for Filipino, Mexican, North African, and such. Our coloring and facial figures vary wildly, and so do our heights! I’m a mixture of north and south Pakistani, my father being 66 inches tall and my mother beings 63 inches tall. I fall right in between, but we’ve got big and small people in our family! (It is worth noting though, that a US size 4 is a Pakistani size L; as many gals here have small frames) 
    Sadly, with the worldwide depiction of the perfect women being, well, a Barbie doll, many Pakistani girls have been trying to achieve this look. They use things like BB Creams, hair dye, contacts, etc. And to make matters worse, the men here only go for white women. Which isn’t bad or anything, it’s just that not many men have a preference for Pakistani women. To summarize: we have a lot of sad, really well educated bachelorettes. 

Beauty Rules and Theories

via beautifully-invisible.com

via RenassanceHenna.com

     In Pakistan, there are three types of makeup; no makeup, eyeliner, and so much makeup that you can’t breathe. Thankfully, the latter of those three options is usually reserved for parties and weddings. Most of the time for married women, the only ones who wear makeup in our culture; Kohl is the way to go. Also known as Kajal in Urdu, it is applied soon after an infant’s birth to protect its eyes from the harsh rays of the desert sun, and regularly afterwards to ward off evil spirits.
    Another regular application is Henna, or Mehindi in Urdu, which we put in our hair. In addition to giving it a healthy glow and tint, our hair becomes moisturized.
    Fun fact! In Pakistan, everyone is nice to cats, as it’s an ancient belief that if you care for cats, they pray for you. I really hope my cat likes me.

Products and Homemade Recipes

 

image courtesy Ingrid92x

   One of the most popular creams in Pakistan is Fair and Lovely. It’s a lot like BB creams, with a high SPF and whitening properties. We use this cream in addition to homemade remedies, like:

• Yogurt/Lemon/Egg/Honey face and hair masks. It’s literally just all that mixed together and applied liberally.
• Dried orange peel masks. Super easy to make and super cleansing. Just let the orange peels dry for a day or two, powder them, and mix with equal parts milk, rose water, or regular water.
• Mint water: leave a glass of water with mint leaves in it out overnight, and drink regularly to help relieve acne. 
   

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

XOXO, Abeeha     

   Any lovely readers from Pakistan or have been there? Do you have questions for Abeeha or comments about beauty in Pakistan? Anyone else tempted to try out the orange peel mask?

Beauty Around The World -- Germany

    So I managed to bully convince Katrin to write the Beauty Around The World Post is about Germany! Enjoy! And if you're interested in participating in the Beauty Around The World Series, drop me a line at eternalvoyageur (at) gmail (dot) com.

    Hey everyone, I'm happy to be writing this post about beauty in Germany. First thing I want to say is that it's myth that all German girls are blond, blue eyed and powerfully/heavily built. Well, maybe in the north you will find some such examples, but most Germans are brown-haired or at least dark blonde. Most German friends that I asked saw Heidi Klum as the best example of "typical" German beauty, but I think it's more Diane Kruger. Also, modern Germany has a quite large number of immigrants, which means ethnic diversity and many different types of beauty.
 
   I will try to write about what beauty means to the German women based on my experience and observation. Hope you like it!


* Natural beauty is valued in Germany, and most women see beauty as a matter of "Ausstrahlung" which means 'glow' or being radiant -- it is the internal beauty and inner poise that shines out. Beauty surgeries are not very popular here, nor is overdone makeup.

* Beauty is closely connected to Wellness -- a concept that combines cosmetic care with a woman's alone time for the relaxation and rejuvenation of both the body and soul. If a Germany woman makes a wellness evening for herself it means she wants to take time for herself in her own home spa -- probably a scented bath, candles, facial treatment, hair masque, exfoliation with natural salts, a foot massage, herbal tea and a good book.

* Makeup is discreet -- most German girls prefer to err on the side of too little rather than too much makeup. Makeup should look polished but natural.

* The commonly-seen makeup is a subtle layer of foundation, a touch of blush or lip gloss and eyeshadow. And of course mascara -- German women love accentuating their eyes with mascara and kajal. If German girls want to go crazy with their makeup, they will apply tons of mascara. Most eye makeup is done in neutral colours, even when it is very dark and intensive.

* When it comes to skin care, women don't go fancy but instead like to get the basics right. Most women's skin care routines are very basic and don't involve a million products: cleansing, moisturising, and under-eye cream for elder women. German girls love to use face masks and exfoliate their face and body. Oh, and they like perfumes quite a lot.

* German women don't spend a lot on cosmetics. Their practical outlook on beauty means there is no shame in buying inexpensive cosmetics from the local drug store. And for good reason too -- often supermarket brands have nicer ingredients with less toxins than cosmetics from multinational companies.

* Organic cosmetics are booming. German women understand how natural ingredients are much better for their skin. There are so many certified organic brands to choose from for both skin care and makeup, from cheap to expensive. Favourite brands include Weleda which is an anthroposophic cosmetic/natural medicine brand, and the dirt cheap Alnatura from the DM stores.

* Hair salons are expensive in Germany so women end up spending quite a bit on haircuts and colouring -- even if the results are not terribly good. I have travelled a bit in Europe and must say that German hair stylists are not very talented (often people that have not made any othet job training get ained as hair stylists!). On the positive side is that women are very careful to always have their hair clean and neatly styled.

* Some women choose not to remove body hair -- this is not terribly wide-spread but doesn't rise any eyebrows. Even women who religiously shave or wax in the summer often don't in the winter. Removing body hair is seen as an aesthetic choice, not a matter of hygiene.

* Cared-for hands are quite important, but nail salons are pretty costly. At home manicures are popular. Most women will at least have a decent self-done manicure.

* Clothes are usually on the casual and comfortable side, yet stylish. A casual outfit for a younger girl might mean combining jeans and sneakers with more fashionable stuff. Even women who dress in a more stylish or elegant way will usually not sacrifice comfort for fashion.

* Women do sports regularly -- or at least try to. Most go to a fitness studio, jog or do classes at least semi-regularly. They like to go hiking and swimming, and often leave their cars at home and bike to work in the warm part of the year. Being physically active is a strong part of the German culture. The motivation is partially vanity (a good figure), but also being healthy and strong -- a part of the ideal of an independent person (every German wants to be an independent person).

* Germany is the country of beer, so I cannot forget to write about the beer hair rinse! EternalVoyageur has already written about that here.

* If you are looking for nice Germany beauty products, try Lavera, Weleda or Dr Hauschka. If you have Rossman drugstores in your country, you are lucky -- there are so many inexpensive great products there! And of course Nivea -- we Germans are proud of our Nivea. Oh, and Essence mascara and nail polish.

   Hey German girls, would you add anything to this list? To everyone else -- what comes into your mind when you think Germany + beauty? Any German products that you would recommend?

Beauty Around The World: Greece

       This chapter of the Beauty Around The World Series takes you to Greece!

It's written by Penelope, a New York City blogger who loves to write about fashion and beauty on her blog Penelope's Oasis. Check her out! And if you're interested in participating in the Beauty Around The World Series, drop me a line at eternalvoyageur (at) gmail (dot) com.

    The women of Greece are known for several things, among them having beautiful olive skin, well shaped curves, and thick, lustrous hair. This Mediterranean beauty is typical of the region, where the sun is plentiful, and outdoor activities provides lots of fresh air and movement.

   The diet in Greece (seafood, goat cheese, greens, olives and bread are popular) are super healthy, and combines with a lifestyle that often has the women are outdoors enjoying the air and getting exercise (if you aren't on a mo-ped you are usually walking), and you have a recipe for strong, healthy bodies! What we call hiking in the US is a way of life in Greece, and all those omega fatty acids and vitamins in their food makes for great skin.

Want To Emulate The Beauty Of Grecian Woman? Here are the steps!

1. Eat a diet rich in healthy fats and vitamins, including greens (spinach is terrific!), seafood (calamari is a favorite, not fried of course!), and olive oil. These are healthy for the heart and also great for beautiful skin and healthy hair.

2. Get lots of exercise, and if you can, walk instead of driving to get around. It's great to keep in shape, not to mention a good way to get a little sun and socialize with neighbors and friends.

3. Spend lots of time outdoors where the fresh air makes for great skin and a glowing overall appearance. 

4. Don't be afraid to use some of that famous Greek olive in your hair as a moisturizer for thick, shiny, healthy hair. It's great as a conditioner, and use a much lighter touch if you decide to leave it in (but only use as a leave in if you have thick hair, or it will way your light hair down).

5. Don't be afraid to eat! Greek women love pastries and bread (how do you think they got so curvy) but combined with healthy outdoor exercise, they manage to keep things in great proportion, so eat well, enjoy food, and enjoy life!

6. Go natural -- Greek women depend on the sun for their glow, and not so much on make-up, but too much tanning isn't safe, so for a lovely Grecian glow, go easy on the makeup and keep things more natural (the color you get during your walks will be plenty!)

7. Work with your hair -- Greek women tend to have thick, strong, healthy dark hair, and if it's curly they let it curl, and if it's straight they leave it straight. They work with what they have instead of processing it too much, which is why it always looks so healthy and natural. If you have curly or straight hair, consider loving what you got and learning to make it beautiful, instead of fighting nature and possibly damaging your hair. Remember, there are women who want exactly what you have!

8. When it comes to clothes, classic is best. Because the weather is so hot, white is a popular color, as is cotton and linen for material, and the styles are classic and simple. The focus is on flattering the woman, not being trendy, so pick clothes that flatter you and are monochrome if you want to emulate the fashion of Greece!


    Anyone of you been to Greece, or is Greek? Feel free to discuss Greek beauty in the comments.

Beauty Around The World -- Australia

   Friends! I'm so excited to present the first of the Beauty Around The World posts, in which women from all around the world talk about beauty routines, popular products and attitudes towards beauty in their countries and cultures. If you'd me interested in participating, drop me a line! Kicking off the series is Sarah from a beautiful story

   Australia is my home and has been all my life (ok, so almost 30 years now!). When I saw the call for bloggers to participate in a “Beauty Around the World” series, I was keen to get involved!  You can find my blog, a beautiful story, over at http://abeautifulstory.net
   Please keep in mind that I am sharing with you my thoughts on the Australian notions of beauty from my own personal perspective. There are many possible points of view on this topic and I would be interested to hear what fellow Aussies think of my post!

   Australia is a culturally diverse nation. As such, people have brought trends and approaches to life – including beauty – from around the world. A large percentage of Australia’s population has Asian heritage, due to our close proximity to Asia and historical factors. Whilst this has been the case for many years, I have personally noticed that only in the last 5 years or so there has been a dramatically increased focus on products that are popular in Asia, which I love! (Consequently BB creams have recently made a big splash here.) :-)

  Given Australia’s history and Westernised nature, beauty trends here are very similar to countries that have a similar history and makeup, like the United States of America and the United Kingdom. However, particularly when compared to the USA, there are some key differences:

1) Preference for natural looking makeup effects and use of natural products. This means a tendency to enhance one’s natural features and show them off without necessarily resorting to use of bold colours, tonnes of false lashes, etc. Products which are naturally derived and paraben, etc, free are also surging in popularity.

2) Real tanning and tanning beds are NOT cool. Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. As such, in the summer, there are often awareness campaigns (such as the famous “Slip. Slop. Slap!” – slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen, and slap on a hat). Some Australian states have also now BANNED the operation and use of tanning beds. Having said this, you will still see some people tanning on the beaches and the tanned look is popular in the summer – however most achieve this with a spray tan these days.

3) Products containing SPF are very popular. This is for obvious reasons (see point 2! ). Until 10 years or so ago it was not easy to obtain sunscreen above SPF 15 in Australia. This may have been due to the rigorous review and testing standards that SPF containing products must go through here to verify the true SPF properties. These days it is easy to find SPF 30+ products but that is typically as high as it goes, unless you are purchasing international brands at higher end beauty counters. I have written more about sunscreens and what to look for in more detail on my blog if you’d like to learn more!

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   I’d also like to take this opportunity to tell you about some of my favourite beauty products from Australian brands! You may or may not be able to find these locally, if not, eBay is your best bet. Visit my site for more thorough reviews on these star products:

1) Face Of Australia Face Base Primer. This product now also comes in an SPF 15 version and works just as effectively as higher end primers. Light on the skin and your makeup will last all day and well into the night. I like to use this product when I have plans to go out for dinner after work.

2) Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner. This is a refreshing spray toner that is ideal for use in summer and ideal for combination to oily skin like mine. Containing only naturally derived ingredients, it is very good to your skin and body!

3) Australis Ready Set Go finishing powder. Super fine particles set your makeup without a cakey or chalky look. The fact it is translucent rather than skin toned means that it can be used effectively on any skin tone.

All of the above are high performing bargains, retailing for  less than $20 AUD  each!

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I hope that you’ve enjoyed this post! If you’d like to read more from me, please visit a beautiful story at http://abeautifulstory.net


   Do any of you live in Australia? What do you think is typical for the beauty scene over there? Any questions for Sarah?