Ancient remedies meet the runway glow

Growing up between different cultures allowed me to value my roots. As a proud Slavic woman, I’ve always admired women like Irina Shayk and Barbara Palvin, not only for their beauty but for the quiet confidence they carry.

My grandmother, a ballet teacher, always reminded me that grace was the foundation of beauty. She believed no ritual or product mattered if you didn’t know how to carry yourself with poise. That sense of presence is, to me, the face of Slavic beauty, an elegance passed down through generations.

From a young age, girls are immersed in activities: art school, music, languages, horseback riding, tennis. Parents make sure their daughters are well-rounded, disciplined, and exposed to many forms of expression. This foundation shapes more than skill, it shapes presence. And that presence carries into adulthood, where elegance is part of everyday life. For example, you’ll never see a Slavic woman leave the gym in her workout clothes or walk around with bad posture.

That sense of beauty also lives in our environment. Flowers, especially roses, are a constant presence at home. A fresh bouquet on the dining table is not decoration but a daily reminder of grace and femininity. It reflects the Slavic understanding that beauty should not be reserved for special occasions, it should live with you, around you, always.

When it comes to the rituals of skincare, slavic women favour simplicity over clutter: a gentle cleanser, a nourishing moisturizer, and SPF are the essentials. To that, we add one timeless practice: skin icing. Cold spoons under the eyes or ice cubes swept across the face depuff and awaken the complexion instantly. You may have seen Bella Hadid plunging her face into bowls of ice, but for us, this has always been a morning ritual. Some days, the best thing you can do for your skin is nothing at all. Letting it breathe without makeup is as important as any product.

Of course, beauty is built from within as much as it is cared for on the surface. In Slavic households, the kitchen doubles as an apothecary. Fermented foods like kefir, sauerkraut, and kombucha are staples, keeping digestion balanced and skin luminous. Buckwheat, fresh vegetables, and herbs such as dill and parsley round out the plate. They embody the belief that true beauty begins in the body, not on the bathroom shelf.

Rest is treated with the same seriousness. Sleep is not seen as a luxury but as a non-negotiable. Seven to nine hours each night allow the skin to repair, hormones to rebalance, and energy to return. As Irina Shayk once said, “Stay away from the sun, drink tons of water, and definitely tons of sleep. When you’re rested you feel so much more energized.” No serum can replicate what a well-rested body and mind reveal in the morning.

Heat and water rituals extend this philosophy. The banya, with its steam, scrubs, and plunges into cold water, is both beauty and therapy. It stimulates circulation, clears the skin, and restores balance. If a banya or sauna isn’t accessible, a hot bath with Epsom salts can offer the same sense of release. These rituals are part of a weekly rhythm, repeated two or three times to sustain the benefits.

From there, touch takes center stage. Monthly massages are not indulgence but maintenance. For the face, buccal and sculptural lifting massages tone, drain, and contour naturally. For the body, lymphatic drainage smooths the skin and reduces bloating, while honey massage detoxifies and energises. Inside the banya, the venik ritual with birch branches remains iconic: combining circulation, detox, and deep relaxation in one. These practices keep beauty connected to health, reminding us that self-care is not selfish, but essential.

Cleansing milks protect the skin barrier where harsh foams would strip it. Hair care begins with the scalp, where stimulating tonics and nourishing masks keep strands strong and glossy. Nails are shaped through e-manicures, a precise technique that maintains health as much as polish.

If you're not ready for the full immersion of spa routines, you can dip your toes into traditional homemade recipes that have stood the test of time. Egg yolk blended with honey and olive oil has long been used to strengthen hair, rich in vitamins A, E, and biotin. Cucumber mixed with honey soothes inflammation, eliminates puffiness, and tones the skin. Lemon juice rubbed into nails brightens and fortifies, while flaxseed oil baths restore brittle cuticles with their omega fatty acids. Castor oil, massaged into the scalp or brows, is another trusted staple, stimulating growth and fortifying strands.

But maybe the best kept secret isn’t a cream or a sauna at all. It’s the women themselves. surround yourself with slavic women and let yourself be influenced. If you ever get the chance, visit a Slavic country. Go to the banyas, sip the kefir, pick up fresh herbs at the market, bring roses home for no reason. Take what feels right for you. That’s the fun of womanhood, trading secrets, lifting each other up, and passing on the little things that make us glow from the inside out.

In the end, the glow is never about the product, it’s about the ritual that becomes part of you.

From Forest to Vanity: The Slavic Beauty Rituals

Ancient remedies meet the runway glow

Boa Vida Magazine