1. Make Your Dermatologist Your Best Friend
Most of us only visit the dermatologist when something is wrong. In Brazil, however, upper-class women check in with their dermatologists about once per month to make sure that everything is on track in terms of their skin health and skin care routine. When you develop a close, long-term relationship with your dermatologist, they'll be able to provide you with access to prescription skin care solutions, and they'll also suggest particular skin care practices that are perfect for your skin.2. Spend Some Time in the Ocean
Brazilian women spend a lot of time at the beach. After all, Brazil has so many sunny beaches that it's almost impossible to stay away from the ocean if you're a resident of this country. While hanging out in the sand is certainly a great way to get a tan, there's another benefit to hanging out in the ocean that many aspiring beauty divas overlook: seawater contains over 20 vitamins and minerals that will help your skin thrive. The more time that you spend in the surf, the more opportunities your skin will have to soak in these essential nutrients, and floating along in the waves or snorkeling under the surface is one of the most fun activities you can enjoy when the weather is nice.3. Give Lymphatic Drainage Massage a Try
Another practice that the upper crust of Brazilian women enjoy that most Americans have never heard of is called lymphatic drainage. This type of massage directly stimulates your lymph nodes through hand pressure, and these nodes then process toxins better than they did before. If you decide to give lymphatic drainage a shot, you should keep in mind that this process is relatively uncomfortable at first, but you'll get used to it over time. The more efficiently that the lymphatic system is at processing toxins, the more healthy you'll be in general, and your skin will be one of the first parts of your body to benefit from this Brazilian skin care practice.4. Use Carrot Juice for Boosted Tans
It's natural to be envious of the tanned Brazilian bodies that are always popping up in travel magazines and skin care websites. While it's true that Brazilian women spend a lot of time out in the sun, that's not the only secret to their tanning success: Brazilians also drink lots of carrot juice before they go out tanning for the best possible effect. Carrots contain tons of beta-carotene, which is a special type of nutrient that helps your skin tan faster. If you want to get the best possible effect out of your carrot drinking habits, you'll want to start ingesting higher amounts of beta-carotene about two weeks before you hit the beach or the tanning bed. As always, remember to use plenty of safe, non-toxic sunscreen to make sure that you don't prematurely age your skin.
5. Scrub Your Skin with Sand
While many Western women might balk at this beauty tip, applying sand to your skin is actually one of the best ways to keep it healthy. Since Brazilian women generally spend such a large portion of their time at the beach, they don't need really need to supplement with sand scrubs, but it's just as common to see women in Brazil rubbing sand on each other's backs as it is to see them applying sunscreen. The best way to get your sand fix is to make a trip down to the beach, but you can also get sand in jars or canisters that you can apply at home.6. Eat Some Imported Cupuacu
You might not have heard of this fruit until right now, but cupuacu is a big part of the average Brazilian's diet. This brown fruit is filled with flavonoids, which are special types of chemicals found in fruits that prevent cancer, reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, and fight back against aging.7. Do not Skimp on the Acai
If you've been anywhere near a health food store in the last decade, you've probably heard about all of the benefits of acai, which health food fanatics commonly list as a "superfood." This berry, which is native to the Amazon region, is packed full of antioxidants, which are special types of compounds that maintain your cellular integrity. When free radicals come knocking through your system, destroying all of the cells in their paths, antioxidants come to the rescue and provide free radicals with the electrons that they need to create a full valence and quiet their rage. The more antioxidants you have in your system, the better your body will be able to respond to normal stressors, and your skin will look younger if you make sure to ingest plenty of antioxidants.
8. Use Plenty of Lipstick
According to renowned Brazilian makeup artist Fabiana Gomes, lipstick is an integral part of the beauty routine of most Brazilian women. This skin care expert says that applying lipstick during the day makes your lips more noticeable, and this basic makeup item also brings out your eyes at night. According to Gomes, the most popular colors of lipstick used in Brazil today are bubblegum pink and retro red matte. After you're done tanning and applying salt scrubs for the day, apply some lipstick to look like a true Brazilian when you go out at night.9. Drink Some Coconut Water
Brazil's coastal regions are home to millions of coconut palms, and the fruits that these trees bear have a number of impressive beauty benefits. If you drink the water derived from the center of a coconut, for instance, you enjoy much more than a delicious beverage. This milk floods your body with cytokinins, which are anti-aging compounds that protect your cellular integrity. Coconut water also contains tons of vitamins such as B vitamins, zinc, magnesium, and iron, which all add to your skin's youth and beauty.
Amazing Brazilian DIY Beauty Recipes
Now that you understand the background behind why Brazilian skin care products and practices have become so popular, it's time to learn how to make these incredible products in your own home. Each of these Brazilian DIY skin care recipes is simple, but some of them may require a visit to your local exotic or natural foods store. Here are just a few of the ways that you can emulate the stirring beauty successes of Brazil from the comfort of your home:1. Brazilian Sand Scrub
While the best way to experience the benefits of sand for your skin is to head down to your local beach, you can also make a sand scrub at home that might even work better (especially during the winter months). To make and use this scrub, simply follow these steps:• Mix 1 cup dry sand with 1/4 cup olive oil
• Add 5 drops of almond oil, and mix thoroughly
• Apply scrub to your skin in a circular motion
• Rinse scrub with cool water
• Repeat weekly or as frequently as you like
2. Seaweed Super-Solution
The oceans where Brazilian beauties commonly swim are usually packed full of seaweed, which is possibly why this sea plant is a common part of Brazilian beauty routines. Even though seaweed is so different from the human body, its molecular structure is surprisingly similar to human skin, which means that it absorbs very easily when you apply it topically. This excellent absorption action is incredibly important because seaweed is incredibly rich in various vitamins and minerals, and your body is always in need of nutrients that it can absorb without much effort. If you want to add a glow to your skin that makes you look like you just stepped out from a dip in a Brazilian ocean, give this DIY skin care recipe a try:
• Place 1 cup seaweed and 1 cup ripe avocado in a blender
• Add 1 tablespoon plain or greek yogurt and 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Blend until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed
• Apply the solution to your face and neck
• Allow it to sit on your skin for about 20 minutes
• Finally, rinse the solution off of your face with cool water
3. Acai Power Smoothie
Grasp the incredible power of acai with a delicious smoothie. In Brazil, these berries are used in popular "beauty juices," which are called "sucos" in the native tongue, and the antioxidants in these berries are the reason why they make such great smoothie ingredients. Follow these steps to try your own acai smoothie today:• Add 2 cups acai juice or 2/3 cup dried acai berries to a blender
• Add 1 cup plain yogurt and 1 teaspoon raw honey
• Add 1 banana and 3 tablespoons of cooked oatmeal
• Blend these ingredients and drink
• Use a frozen banana for a colder smoothie
4. Nutrient-Rich Seawater Spray
Even if you don't have the time to soak in nutrient-rich seawater at the beach, you can bring the beach into your bathroom with a seawater spray. Seawater is good for your hair, but it's also great for your skin, so don't hold back when you spray this natural substance all around the region of your head. The best way to make this spray is with sea salt derived from an actual Brazilian beach, but any type of raw sea salt will do the trick:• Mix 1 cup of filtered water with a tablespoon of sea salt in a spray bottle
• Add 1 cup of coconut oil if you want a thicker consistency
• Make sure that the salt is dissolved completely, then spray the solution on your face and hair
5. Rejuvenating Sea Salt Paste
Besides adding nutrients to your skin, sea salt also boosts your skin's healing functions. Whether you want to reverse the effects of aging, heal old scars, or stop acne in its tracks, applying sea salt to your face is one of the best things you can do to make sure that your skin stays beautiful and healthy at any age. This substance can even fix common issues like hyperpigmentation, and here's how to use sea salt to cure your acne or help your skin heal better:
• Place 1 tablespoon of sea salt in a shallow bowl
• Use an eyedropper to add water until the salt has reached a paste-like consistency. Alternatively, you can allow a trickle of water out of your bathroom faucet to land on the salt.
• Mix the salt paste with your finger, and then apply it to your face. You can either apply it all over your face or only on problem areas.
• Leave the salt paste on until the next time you wash your face
6. Cupuacu Pulp Smoothie
Head to your local specialty store to pick up some fresh or frozen cupuacu. As you follow this simple recipe, keep in mind that only the pulp of this fruit is edible:
• Add 1 cup cupuacu pulp, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 cups cold milk, and 2 tablespoons chopped lemongrass
• Thoroughly blend the ingredients, and enjoy your smoothie
Featured Image Credit to CSG Ltd