One of the best parts of spending my honeymoon in Thailand was experiencing the spas! Southeast Asia is known for having an amazing spa culture — where you can walk into any place on the street and supposedly get an amazing hour-long massage for just $20. But since it was my honeymoon, I am beauty obsessed, and I knew my dollar would go far, I opted to get my treatments at some of the more upscale spots. (YOLO!)
The most impressive spa I visited during my week in Thailand was the Secret Garden Spa [1] at the Four Seasons Koh Samui. The name totally makes sense: from the front, the spa looks like a one-room shop. But go out the back, and there is a massive jungle terrain with huts. In each hut, treatments are offered. It feels like you're getting massaged in your own little villa.
What also made this experience so cool is that the Secret Garden Spa either grows on site or locally sources Thai ingredients and incorporates them into treatments. These were many of the same ingredients I was eating in authentic Thai food — coconut milk, lemongrass, kaffir lime, ginger, and turmeric. For example, I booked the Kala Coconut Massage, which involves a masseuse using warm coconut oil and a smooth coconut shell on my muscles. My husband got a massage that incorporated Thai spices being sprinkled on his back.
Since Koh Samui isn't the easiest place to get to, the Secret Garden Spa director Stephanie Arveux is sharing ways to make your own Thai spa at home. Here, she sheds light on why three Thai ingredients — coconut, kaffir lime, and ginger — have beauty benefits. She also cooked up three easy DIY [2] recipes you can try.
The Ingredient: Coconut
How it's beneficial for beauty: "Coconut is widely used in Thailand, especially the coconut milk in curries," Arveux said. "In spas we use coconut oils for massages as it was used in the olden days to treat stiff joints. Due to its various benefits, coconut is used from head to toe as the best hydrating companion for your skin. Coconut oil is known to be very nourishing to the skin and is especially useful in protecting the skin from the aging effects, because it has strong antioxidants to protect the skin cells and tissues. This is a fantastic ingredient for dry skin and to reduce the appearance of wrinkles."
DIY [3] recipe: Coconut with oatmeal and honey body scrub. Use fresh grated coconut and roast it in a pan. Mix three tablespoons roasted coconut together with three tablespoons oatmeal, one tablespoon honey, and one tablespoon coconut milk. Apply it on your body with warm water, and scrub gently before washing off with water. (Tip: if you cannot find fresh-grated coconut, you can soap dried coconut in water and use that.)
Why it works: "Oatmeal is rich in vitamin E, and when mixed with coconut, it will give a nice texture that will help to hydrate and get rid of dead skin cells," she explained. "Honey is antibacterial and full of antioxidants. It retains the moisture and gives a nice and soft feeling on the skin."
The Ingredient: Kaffir Lime Leaves and Lime
How it's beneficial for beauty: "The leaves of the kaffir limes are considered to be the aromatic scent of Thailand," Arveux explained. It's widely used in Thai kitchens for curries, soups, and stir-fries. The scent is fabulous and will help you relax. If you can find the fruit of the kaffir lime, it is a great ingredient to use for healthy hair and to prevent against dandruff and hair loss, and it also fights bacteria. Lime is again an essential ingredient in Thai kitchens, especially cooked with steamed fish and garlic! The lime essential oil mainly clears oily, congested skin, and it is a strong antiseptic to cure infections. Many people start their days by drinking warm water with lime, as this is a vitamin and mineral boost.
DIY [4] recipe: Kaffir lime leaves and lime foot soak. "After a long day at work, your foot needs a fresh break," she said. Cut four slices of lime, and use the rest for the juice. Mix the juice with one tablespoon of crushed Himalayan salt, which contains minerals and helps to stimulate the circulation and soothe the sore muscles. Fill a bowl with warm water, crushed kaffir lime leaves, and the lime slices. Soak your feet in the warm water and relax. Softly massage the lime juice and the Himalayan salt scrub on the feet with a focus on heels and hard skin. Cleanse with warm water. [Editor's note: this was done to my feet before my massage at the spa, and your feet feel seriously refreshed after!]
The Ingredient: Ginger
How it's beneficial for beauty: "In Thailand, ginger is used in foods and drinks, mainly to aid the digestion," Arveux said. "It is said that in the olden times, mothers would rub crashed ginger on their children's stomachs to facilitate the digestion. Ginger can be used in spas as essential oil to boost circulation and lymph drainage as well as muscle soreness. Ginger is known as a stimulant and has a heating effect on the body."
DIY [5] recipe: Fresh ginger paste. "You can make ginger paste by yourself to help to ease your muscle stiffness," she advised. Remove the skin of the ginger and cut it into small cubes, then blend it with water. Remove the water with a strainer, warm it a little, and apply it on your shoulders, spine, and other areas where you might be sore. "Leave it for 20 minutes, and you will feel the heat of your body coming up and tensions will be released," she said. "It's also good for fatigue and stress."