Beauty was extremely important in ancient Greece, not only for women but also for men. As admirers of beauty, the ancient Greeks placed great importance on healthy skin and naturally developed many useful, natural beauty tips. Natural cosmetics were widely and regularly used, not only for physical appearance, but also to maintain the health of the skin and body. (Czytaj po polsku tutaj, läs på svenska här).
Even in modern Greece, a whole host of health and beauty treatments are used where the main ingredients are found in nature. I remember when Elias and I, before building our first house in Nomitsi, rented an accommodation in Stoupa. In the garden grew a large and very fruity avocado tree. Incredibly tasty fruits but how many salads with avocado, avocado salsa and avocado dip can you eat? Our landlady couldn’t help but notice that the fruits were disappearing a little too slowly. ‘Oh my god girl! Stop buying face creams and smear yourself with ripe avocado, then the wrinkles will be gone, look at me!’.
Another day when I was waiting in front of the pharmacy (You remember Corona times? Only a limited number of people could be in business), I explained to a woman behind me that I have a big problem with mosquito bites and should buy a cortisone ointment. ‘No, no, you shouldn’t have to do that! Cut some of the aloe vera cactus, put it in the freezer and lubricate mosquito bites or any other skin condition’.
But let’s go back to women in ancient Greece. The most common beauty ingredients, which we still have access to today, were olive oil, honey, yoghurt and salt.
- Olive oil. The ancient Greeks used olive oil not only in the kitchen but also as a moisturiser. Olive oil helps revitalise dry skin and contributes to the cell renewal process. Ancient Greek women also mixed olive oil with sugar or salt and used it as an exfoliant. The olive oil made the skin look shiny and healthy while adding some glowing colour.
- Honey. Honey has been used to make face masks or body scrubs. Honey has soothing properties and is even used today for wound care. Because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, honey has also helped with some types of acne.
- Yoghurt. Greek yoghurt is a miraculous ingredient, as it soothes and nourishes the skin. It is used to relieve sunburn or eczema, and also as a natural moisturiser. As Greek yoghurt contains probiotics, proteins, vitamins and minerals, it is also an excellent anti-aging mask.
- Sea salt. The ancient Greeks and Egyptians were known to use sea salt to exfoliate the skin. The salt was mixed with olive oil and used as a moisturising, natural exfoliant.
Want to delve deeper into these ancient beauty tips? Read on at Greekreporter.com!
