Indonesian beauty is based on the concept of getting back to nature with a holistic approach. The ancient tradition of natural health and wellness in the region is called Jamu. Jamu is the Indonesian tradition of using medicinal herbs to treat every aspect of life. In terms of beauty this means blending the leaves, roots, fruits, flowers and barks of various plants into treatments that rejuvenate and nourish the body and also create inner peace which translates to outer beauty. For an Indonesian beauty experience at home, try some of these tips based on traditional Jamu beauty treatments utilized by Indonesian and Javanese royalty for hundreds of years.

Get a Foot Massage

For a traditional Indonesian style foot massage, have the masseuse focus on foot reflexology, and soak your feet in flower water before your massage treatment. Use pumice made from volcanic stone to remove dead skin from your feet before the massage as well.

Use Coconut Milk as a Hair Conditioner

For dry, brittle hair try using the ancient Indonesian remedy of rinsing the hair with coconut milk instead of a commercial conditioner during your shower. The milk will leave your hair moisturized and smelling like coconut.

Give your Body a Steam Treatment

Traditional Indonesian spas offer steam treatments to specific parts of the body to tone the skin and flush toxins. To mimic these treatments, steam parts of the body for a ½ hour at a time. Steam your face by holding it over a sink full of hot water with a towel over your head. Steam other parts of your body by turning your bathroom into a steam-room after a shower.

Try Eating Indonesian Kepel Fruit

Kepel fruit is a brown fruit that is about the size of an egg. The fruit is known in Indonesian beauty as a natural deodorant and eating the fruit is supposed to cause the body tsmell like the aromatic fruit.

Keep Coconut Oil in Close Reach

In Indonesia and Java coconut oil is used to massage the skin and to treat damaged hair. Add a small amount of essential oil of orange flower or rose for added fragrance.

Soak in Goat’s Milk

Mandi Susu is an ancient beauty bath used for princesses of Java to help them maintain soft and youthful looking skin. The old-fashioned treatment was to sit in a goat’s milk bath for 30 minutes and do not rinse afterwards. In a big city Indonesian spa you can get this treatment with new products that take out the taste and smell of the milk but keep the protein content for soft skin. Sheep’s milk or cow’s milk can also be used for mandi susu.

Relax with a Floral Bath

Treat yourself to an Indonesian style floral bath after your home spa treatments. Add fresh or dried petals of jasmine, gardenia, hibiscus, magnolia, and rose to bathwater and soak for 20 minutes to relax your muscles and help build internal wellness.

Related Articles
	Mayan Beauty Tips The ancient Mayan culture utilized natural herbal remedies for beauty over 3000 years ago all over South and Central America. Today, their beauty secrets are used in products and spa treatments throughout the world. You can get a taste of Mayan herbal beauty by trying some of these ancient   ...Read more		Ancient Cosmetics When we think about cosmetics, we think about the ritual of beautification and relaxation. What we tend to forget is that cosmetic use often sprang from a necessity, and cosmetic rituals can be used to increase the health and well being of the entire body. The cosmetics of the ancients reflect   ...Read more