Indonesia, just a bathtub away

Indonesia is full of ancient beauty secrets just now making their way over to us. One ancient hour-long ritual, boreh, is quite easy to achieve in your own home.

Not only is the boreh an amazing, moisturizing skin treatment, it is relatively inexpensive. Although, you might have to go to a specialty grocery store to find some of the ingredients, it is well worth the trip.

For your own Indonesian beauty ritual, try out the following boreh:

What you need:

• Soft music (try some traditional Indonesian to set the mood)
• Incense
• Flower Petals
• Borah spice past (recipe bellow)
• Ginger or coconut massage oil
• Fresh grated ginger root, steeped in hot water

Boreh

• 4 tsp. sandalwood powder
• 2 tsp. whole cloves
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. coriander
• 1-2 tsp. rice powder
• 1 tsp. turmeric
• 1 tsp. ginger spice oil
• 1 tsp. galangal water (place shredded galangal root and water and let soak over night, then strain the water)
• Grind together the first 7 using a motor and pestle. Add the ginger spice and water to make a thick paste. Add more rice powder if the paste is to hot on your skin.

For your beauty ritual:

1. Draw a warm bath with the flower petals.
2. Apply the boreh paste with your hands, using a thin layer across your body.
   
3. Wrap up in a towel and relax for 20 minutes.
4. Slip into the warm bath and stay as long you like and sip on your ginger root tea. (make sure the water stays warm)
5. After the bath, massage oil into your body starting at the feet and moving up.