Did you know that Indonesia has a treasure trove of unique body care treatments from different regions? Since ancient times, women in Indonesia have not only used local spices to enhance their cooking but also to care for their bodies.
These rich and diverse traditions of beauty treatments passed down through generations utilise the finest natural ingredients. More so, these traditional practices, from various regions, propose a myriad of benefits, rooted in the country's renowned spice quality.
Indonesia’s traditional beauty treatments are an enriching experience for anyone seeking the timeless beauty of the archipelago.
It’s easy to see why local women have glowing skin under the scorching tropical sun. Look out for these traditional beauty rituals of Indonesia in spas around your area. What to expect? Of course radiant skin and rejuvenated mind and body!
Bakera - Minahasa
Minahasa's beauty ritual is specifically designed for women who have just given birth, comprising suji leaves, balacai leaves, puring leaves, lime leaves, and cinnamon bark. Known as bakancing among the Minahasa community in North Sulawesi, this treatment serves a special purpose: tightening the intimate areas of women. Additionally, this treatment is known to relieve muscle and joint aches while detoxifying the body. Bakera, over time, has become accessible to everyone, regardless of gender.
Batangeh - Minangkabau
Renowned for its mouthwatering dishes like rendang and Padang cassava chips, Minangkabau also presents a distinctive body treatment called batangeh. This steam bath ritual is traditionally aimed at caring for the female intimate areas, particularly for those preparing for marriage or who have recently given birth. The Minangkabau people also use it to rejuvenate and cleanse the body after recovering from a long illness. Expect to smell fragrant spices like lemongrass, pandan, ylang-ylang flowers, betel leaves, and cinnamon, which are believed to refresh the body and neutralise unwanted odours.
Batimung - South Kalimantan
Originating in South Kalimantan, batimung is a distinctive beauty ritual often used for healing, pre-marital preparations, and maintaining the health of both young women and men. The body treatment utilises traditional ingredients, including vetiver root, temulawak (Javanese turmeric), ginseng, lime leaves, fennel, and more. These ingredients are boiled together to produce steam, which is believed to purify the body by removing toxins and dead skin cells while leaving a fresh, fragrant scent.
Boreh - Bali
Historically, Balinese women used boreh after returning from the rice fields, crafting body masks from kitchen ingredients. Cloves, ginger, cinnamon, coriander seeds, rice, turmeric root, and nutmeg were pounded together with water into a thick aromatic paste. This paste was then applied to the entire body and left overnight. Boreh helps keep the body warm, preventing colds and relaxes tense muscles while healing joint pain. Today, women no longer need to leave the paste overnight; now it’s applied for about 30 minutes before being rinsed off with rose water.
Lulur - Java
A beauty ritual popularised among royal princesses, lulur (or ngadi saliro) is well-known throughout Indonesia and frequently offered in salons and spas. Using ingredients like rice, kencur (aromatic ginger), turmeric, and bengkuang (jicama), lulur exfoliates and moisturises the skin, leaving it looking healthy and radiant.
Oukup - Batak
This traditional steam bath, similar to Minangkabau's batangeh, offers both therapeutic and cosmetic benefits. The Batak people use this treatment to alleviate ailments like gout and respiratory issues. Moreover, it works wonders for the skin, tightening, brightening, and softening its texture.
Tangas - Betawi
Unlike the steam baths of Minang and Batak, Betawi's tangas involves a more intricate process with multiple steps: massage, lulur, and steam bath. The ingredients used in tangas include fragrant flowers like kantil, jasmine, and roses, along with ginger, lime, pandan, and Betawi's signature tangas oil. This treatment, traditionally for brides, aims to refresh and tighten the skin. Over time, tangas has evolved to become a rejuvenating experience for anyone interested in trying it.