Pic: Unsplash
A wise woman once said 'don't catch feelings, catch flights', and frankly, we don't need to be told twice. With a world so big and beautiful to see, we'd happily swap Tinder tactics for an overseas adventure any day.
Aside from the breath-taking views, incredible cuisines and pretty postcard streets, the world has so many beauty secrets to discover.
Some you may already be familiar with, especially with the recent K-beauty and J-beauty phenomenon, but there's still a lot we can learn from the other 193 countries on the planet.
And if you don't have enough frequent flyer points to hit them all, never fear, because GLAMOUR's big global beauty guide is here...
BRAZIL: Guarana fruit & spa treatments
With one of the most luscious landscapes on the whole planet, Brazilians like to utilise their surrounding flora and fauna in skincare.
Homegrown Guarana fruit's high caffeine levels give new energy to the skin and help to banish cellulite, the native Brazil nut is packed with vital vitamins and Babbasu oil acts as a national beauty staple to nourish skin.
In comparison to London prices, treatments such as facials and pedicures are also much more affordable, making them a regular staple in the Brazillian beauty routine.
JAPAN: Shaggy bobs
When you think of Japan, many of us envision the locals to have youthful, glowing skin and long, shiny hair.
While the former is accurate due to science-first skincare dominating the Japanese beauty market, hair is getting a shaggy shape up.
While sleek glass hair is now popular in the Western world, Japan's capital has is swapping their signature look in favour of more texture and jagged layers. Say hello to the shaggy Tokyo bob...
AFRICA: Coconut oil & satin bonnets
Ask any celebrity what their DIY hair hack is and they're likely to say coconut oil for shiny hair.
Want to know where they got that tip from? African women. They've been using that jar of hydrating goodness to detangle their tricky texture for years.
And long silk pillowcases were a thing, African women have been wrapping their hair in silk bonnets and scarfs, to protect it from any friction and breakage caused by cotton sheets and pillowcases.
AUSTRALIA: Pink clay & Old man's weed
Australian's are all about natural beauty, so it comes as no surprise that they're all for quality skincare.
Remember Sand & Sky's viral face mask? The brand was founded in Australia and contains the hero ingredient pink clay, sourced from bushland in Alice Springs.
Australian finger lime extract is also being utilised as an AHA, while 'Old man's weed' found in the Murray River, helps to tackle pigmentation and stimulate skin regeneration.
KOREA: Skip-care
K-beauty first caught out our attention with the key to cloudless skin: a ten-step skincare routine.
But it seems the quirky rubber masks and constant layering of serums and creams has taken it's tole, with Korean's now embracing 'skip-care'.
It's basically your dermatologist's recommendation of 'cleanse, tone, moisturise' - where minimal products are used to allow the skin's natural oil production and regeneration to work how it was intended.
IRAN: Animal fat & saffron
Wondering how Iranian women have such amazing skin? Homemade remedies, that's how.
The first, kiseh and sefidab, is a traditional yet still widely used skincare combination. "A kiseh is a cloth-like loofah and sefidab is an exfoliator containing naturally occurring hardened minerals and animal fat", says Nas Ghaedi, a half-Iranian makeup artist. "When used together they achieve soft, luxurious and velevety skin.
The second, saffron masks, sees the spice mixed with yoghurt and honey and applied over the face as a treatment to help with dryness, dullness and discoloration.
MEXICO: Tequila treatments
If you find yourself gagging at the memory of your Saturday night shots, don't worry, you don't have to drink the tequila. Agave, the plant which tequila is made from, has a cooling and calming effect when applied to the skin and was traditionally used to heal burns and scars.
Diana F. Mestre, Spa Manager at Grand Velas, where they offer a 'tequila massage' said: “This is a treatment which my Nani used on me as a small child, applying a tequila and tobacco rub to my chest. Agave is a truly powerful healing ingredient, which we’re starting to see appearing in more beauty products and treatments.”
MOROCCO: Argan oil
Argan oil may not be a secret, but it's still an amazing, hydrating ingredient that's used in so many of our hair, body and skincare products. And Morrocco is the only place where the argan tree grows naturally.
Garnier UK utilises argan oil in their Ultimate Blends shampoos and conditioners, and as a result have employed over 600 women in Morrocco at fair wages to produce the ingredient. These women crack the nuts of the argan fruit with their bare hands, and if you were unsure about this ingredients power, all you have to do is feel their palms and the smoothness will make you a believer.
[Via Glamour UK]
