Glowing skin, thick hair, black coffee eyes, prominent facial features – middle Eastern women are blessed with the best. Just how Indian women turn to Ayurveda to nurse their skin and hair back to health, Arab women turn to rich ingredients native to their land. They’re either bottled and sold by homegrown brands or made from scratch by using kitchen ingredients. The latter not only is an affordable alternative, but they’re as effective as commercial products!
5 Natural Beauty Ingredients Middle Eastern Women Swear By
The best part is that some of these ingredients are available here in India as well!
1. Golden Drops aka Argan Oil
Popularly known as ‘liquid gold’ in the middle east, argan oil has been religiously used by Arab women from head to toe. Packed with fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, argan oil is one of the best oils to invest in. While it protects the skin from sun damage, it also moisturises and softens the skin at the same time! Since the oil is neither too heavy nor light, you won’t have to worry about the oil clogging your pores.
2. Dead Sea Mud Has Superpowers!
Rich in magnesium, iron, sodium and calcium, dead sea mud is another beauty secret Arab women love with all their heart. The mud is often used as a face mask or a body mask to exfoliate the skin and draw out impurities and sebum. Unlike other mud masks, this one will not dry out your skin, but on the contrary, nourish, soften and moisturise it.
3. Good Old Rose Water
If there’s one natural ingredient Indian and Arab women both love, it would be rose water. Known for its astringent properties, rose water also helps to maintain the skin’s pH balance and soothes inflammation. It can also be used as a natural cleanser to remove dirt and oil trapped in the pores. For a natural flush, pour them into an ice-tray, make ice cubes out of them and rub all over your face and neck.
4. Sour Cream For The Win
Sour cream looks like dahi, but has a richer aftertaste. Like milk and curd, sour cream also contains lactic acid. When used a moisturising mask, it helps brighten the skin and boost cell turnover. To make a natural exfoliating face scrub out of it, just add ground almonds to the sour cream.
5. Camel Milk
When one thinks of the middle east, camels, deserts and pyramids. Interestingly, camel milk has been used for centuries in the middle east and it’s used for its medicinal and beauty properties. Compared to cow’s milk, camel’s milk contains more iron and is rich in Alpha and Beta Hydroxy acids which helps to improve the texture of the skin by making it plump and supple. A bowl of camel milk is mixed with 1 tbsp of salt (helps to absorb excess sebum) and left on the skin for a minute and later washed off with chilled water.
