It is said that some of the world’s most beautiful women are found in Southeast Asia. This should come as no surprise as the unique cultures and traditions of the region reflect a rich history of beauty practices and rituals that have helped shape current beauty trends.
Most of these local traditions take root in the deep understanding of nature and the environment, as well as of the cultural values and sentiments of our people.
According to Emilie Singh, brand manager for a global skincare product, different segments of the population in Southeast Asia, especially women, lean towards a particular beauty standard.
“In some countries, the focus is on achieving a natural and flawless complexion. Some emphasize a lighter and brighter skin.
Others simply try to promote overall skin health and a youthful appearance. Then, there are those who try to achieve a porcelain-like complexion popularly known nowadays as the glass skin,” she told Thai PBS World.
These current beauty worries are nothing new. They all reflect the aspirations of women across the region since olden times.
“The use of ingredients known for their natural benefits helped early Southeast Asian women in their pursuit of certain beauty standards, whether it was creating a flawless complexion, achieving a brighter skin, or maintaining a youthful glow,” Emilie revealed.
Crowning glory
The hair is a woman’s crowning glory. In Southeast Asia, different hair care traditions may have waned in popularity due to the abundance of modern hair care products. However, there are still a few who practice time-tested hair-care traditions.
Jeannine, producer of the documentary film “Oriental Strands” about the hair-care culture and traditions in Southeast Asia, emphasizes the cultural value placed on hair as a symbol of beauty.
“For centuries, women in the region have used rice water to maintain lustrous and healthy hair. It has been passed down through the generations, although the number of those doing it is now dwindling,” she told Thai PBS World.
“The practice involves using the liquid produced from soaking or fermenting rice in water, as a hair rinse. Southeast Asian women believed that rice water helps strengthen the hair, improves elasticity, and promotes hair growth. I have been told that rice water used for hair care and treatment is still quite common in some parts of Thailand,” she said.
The documentary also featured the traditional shampoo from the Philippines called gugo, which is extracted from the bark of a large woody vine.
“Traditionally, the bark is soaked in water and produces a rich lather, just like a shampoo, when rubbed onto the scalp. It’s still used by a few people as an alternative to commercial shampoos, as it helps in strengthening the hair strands, preventing hair fall, and ensuring a healthy scalp. Also common in the region is the use of coconut oil as an overnight hair treatment or as a hair mask,” Jeannine explained.
Glowing skin
One’s health, vitality, and overall well-being are mirrored in the skin. “Although modern beauty and skin treatments now abound, it is safe to say that traditional methods still have many followers,” said Emilie.
Southeast Asia has diverse natural resources and many types of traditional skin care treatments still exist. That is probably why Asian women are always complimented by their western counterparts for having youthful looking skin.
One secret to glowing skin is proper bathing. Bathing is a valued ritual in Southeast Asia because of the healing power of water and the therapeutic benefits derived from nature. One peculiarity is the use of a stone made from volcanic pumice to scrub away dead skin.
Using natural scrubs is a common practice in Thailand. “One beauty secret of Thai women is using tamarind as a natural exfoliant when bathing,” revealed Na, a Bangkok spa owner.
Using natural scrubs is also popular in Indonesia, where scrub recipes are usually handed down through the generations.
“Some of the earliest varieties of traditional body scrub recipes were made from a mixture of turmeric, rice flour, pandan leaves, and other natural ingredients,” one local explains.
Clean, moisturize, protect
Early Southeast Asian women had their own version of the modern facial care products.
“For cleaning the face, the use of such natural ingredients such as marine extracts, papaya, turmeric, and tamarind were the popular choices. Coconut oil was the preferred moisturizing agent. In Thailand, early women used a concoction made from lemongrass as a facial astringent and for tightening the pores,” Emilie said.
Other natural cleansing agents used by early Southeast Asian women were powdered nuts of an indigenous variety, aloe vera, lime, ginger, jasmine flowers, and moringa. For sun protection, they made a paste from ground tree bark and used it as a natural sunscreen and protection.
Folk wisdom
Throughout history, various cultures in the region have developed unique beauty rituals, practices, and traditions that have evolved and adapted to modern times.
“Now that the modern world tends to set certain old traditions aside, we need to be reminded that these traditions are rooted in a deep understanding of our environment and how it affects our cultural values and beliefs. There is so much to learn from these ancient practices,” Emilie concluded.
(This story is part of a series about the vanishing cultural traditions in Southeast Asia.)
