Cactus Water – North America
Everyone knows the classic cartoon scene of a man stranded in an endless desert finally spotting a lifesaving, thirst-quenching green cactus among the sand dunes that, when broken open, gushes with pure glistening water as if on tap. Turns out that’s not the reality of cactus innards. Most protect their valuable water stores with needles, alkaline chemicals, acid, and flesh that is toxic for us to consume. They are engineered to keep thirsty desert animals away from their valuable liquid – except the prickly pear.
If you’ve ever wondered what that cactus cup contains, now is your chance to quench that curiosity. Generally derived from the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, which contains all known powerful antioxidants and is one of the few cactus species with flesh that isn’t dangerous for humans to ingest, cactus water is a popular drink in Mexico that’s going international.
Cactus water is low in sugar and calories, making it healthier than coconut water. Electrolytes in the water reduce inflammation, not to mention it’s extremely hydrating with a hint of fruity flavour. And it’s pink – yes, millennial pink! Another perk for millennials; it’s a hangover helper – drinking it before and after alcohol reduces dehydration, dry mouth, and nausea (though it can’t un-text your ex, sorry).
Facial Massage – Europe
There’s a reason that Paris is one of the four major fashion capitals of the world – the French know what’s in style. And they also know what never goes out of style. The Pincements Jacquet method of facial massage dates to 1930s with French dermatologist Dr. Leonard Marie Lucien Jacquet, who engineered a deep massage method for the face that included light pinching of the skin accompanied by gentle twisting that Dr. Jacquet believed would help bring impurities under the skin to the surface where the pimples could then be cut open and drained.
Facial massage is meant to tone and tighten the face by stimulating the circulation, which creates an anti-ageing effect and could reduce the look of lines, wrinkles and scarring. If performing massage on yourself, first hydrate your skin with lotion or facial oil that facilitates a gliding motion of the fingers over your face, neck and décolleté. Lightly pinch and knead the skin around your face, and rub the skin in an upwards motion around your mouth and cheekbones towards your forehead.
There are many facial massage techniques dating back to even before Dr. Jacquet, that are guided by the same idea that just how we work out our body muscles, so too do our facial muscles need stimulation.
Marula Oil – Africa
Our next skincare secret comes from the nut of the fruit of the marula tree and is the Ovambo women of Namibia’s best kept beauty secret. Marula oil is a one-stop-shop for your skin, hair, and nail care needs. It contains plenty of antioxidants and nutrients and is great for any type of skin by being naturally hydrating and fast-absorbing so it won’t sit on top of your pores and feel heavy.
Marula oil is full of fatty acids and vitamins and fights against bacteria to clear your skin. It’s also great for moisturizing and protecting your hair and nails. Heck, you may as well bathe in this stuff!
Aburatorigami – Asia
Aburatorigami are traditional Japanese blotting papers made from the leaves of the abacá banana plant. The paper was originally used to protect gold leaf, but was repurposed by geisha and kabuki performers in the 1600s to absorb excess facial oils during their performances so their makeup would stay intact longer.
In modern times, blotting papers are popular staples of a makeup bag or quick on-the-go solution to shine and oil control for anyone. They can be made of different types of paper but all have the same end goal: to absorb the excess oil your skin produces throughout the day without having to cleanse your face. They help to prevent acne and clogged pores, and can be relatively inexpensive and even environmentally conscious.
Pumice Stone – Middle East
It’s time to lose the loofah. Turkey has the scoop on a more environmentally-friendly and longer-lasting exfoliator that is actually made by lava. Pumice stone is hard but porous and lightweight, making it the perfect natural material to exfoliate tough and dry skin, especially on the bottom of feet or from calluses and corns.
To properly utilise the stone, first soak it and your skin in warm water, and then gently rub it over the tough areas in a circular motion to get rid of the dead skin. It’s great to use the stone in the shower when the hot water and steam has softened the skin. After use, clean the stone and let it air dry, and occasionally boil the stone for deep cleaning and to kill any bacteria that may have accumulated.
