Changing appearance the objectives of the lesson

5 BEAUTY RITUALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Thanaka Powder, Myanmar.For more than 2,000 years, women of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) have been using ground wood or roots of the thanaka tree to make a cosmetic paste which protects their skin from the sun.

This yellowish paste has a pleasant smell, and it is often applied to the face in very attractive designs, covering cheeks and forehead. Besides cooling the skin and providing protection from sunburn, thanaka is also used against acne (red spots on the skin).
Believed to be Myanmar's secret to smooth skin, thanaka powder is also used in other neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.

Monoi Oil, Tahiti. Popularly used as a skin and hair softener among French Polynesians, monoi oil has also become a promising beauty product in Europe.The method of soaking petals, the colored parts of Tiaré flowers in coconut oil is 2,000 years old. First European explorers who came to Polynesia documented that the locals used monoi oil at every stage of their lives - from birth until death - not only for cosmetic purposes, but also as medicine. Nowadays, monoi oil is used as an after-shower lotion to rehydrate the skin. It is a great tanning oil because it protects from any harmful effects of the sun, yet it still allows the skin to tan.

Pearl Powder, China. The empress Wu Ze Tian of China (7th century) regularly put pearl powder on her skin. Hundreds of year later, Chinese medical books recorded that oyster pearls encourage skin growth and remove any signs of ageing. This beauty method is still used in China and other parts of Asia. In fact, in the Shanghai area, oysters are cultivated especially for the purpose of making pearl powder. To produce the powder, freshwater pearls are first boiled and then milled, either using porcelain or stainless steel. The powder can be used on its own, or added to creams.

Shea Butter, Sub-Saharan Africa. This beauty product, made from fat extracted from the shea tree nut, is widely used in cosmetics. Traditionally applied in its crude form, it is nowadays added to widespread cosmetics products such as body lotions and soaps. The butter works as a moisturizer for dry skin and a hair conditioner for brittle hair. The earliest records show even Cleopatra had caravans of shea butter delivered to her to use for her skin. Shea butter is particularly useful during the dry season in countries like Ghana to prevent skin damage. What's more, it can also be edible and can be used instead of cooking oil.