A Timeless Balinese Skincare Ritual Passed Down Through Generations of Women

In Ubud, a simple question led us back to a piece of wisdom we had almost forgotten.

That afternoon, golden light filtered through the frangipani trees surrounding a traditional family compound in Ubud. I was sitting with Ibu Wayan Suryani, a 64-year-old woman who has been crafting canang sari offerings since she was 17.

The first thing I noticed wasn’t her warm smile or her brightly coloured batik. It was her skin.

Smooth. Even-toned. Radiant in a way that couldn’t be explained by makeup or an Instagram filter.

“What skincare do you use?” I asked.

She laughed softly.

“Rice. Turmeric. Coconut oil. The same things my ancestors used.”

I paused for a moment.

Here I was, having spent millions of rupiah on vitamin C serums, retinol, and countless products labelled “brightening,” while this woman relied on ingredients growing in her own backyard.

I cannot claim that her glowing skin is solely the result of these ancestral rituals. Genetics, diet, and a slower, less stressful lifestyle may all play a role. Yet one thought immediately came to mind: there is something within this tradition that deserves far more attention than we currently give it.

In Bali, caring for the body has never been merely about appearance.

The tradition of melukat, a sacred cleansing ritual using water infused with flowers and herbs, has long been part of daily spiritual life. Before major ceremonies, women often undergo traditional body treatments made from freshly ground rice, turmeric, sandalwood, and frangipani flowers.

These practices were never conceived as beauty treatments in the modern sense. They were ways of nurturing a relationship with one’s own body, a philosophy that, perhaps surprisingly, aligns with many principles recognised by modern dermatology today.

Coarsely ground rice acts as a gentle mechanical exfoliant, helping remove dead skin cells without excessively disrupting the skin barrier. Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound widely studied for its anti-inflammatory properties, although researchers continue to investigate how effectively it is absorbed when applied topically. Sandalwood has been noted in phytopharmaceutical literature for its mild antiseptic qualities. Frangipani contains antioxidant compounds from the flavonoid family, though clinical research on its effects in humans remains limited.

None of these ingredients can be presented as miracle solutions. Yet as a skincare ecosystem working in harmony, they form a ritual that makes practical sense—and one that has been tested by generations far longer than any modern skincare trend.

What is perhaps most fascinating is why such simple practices are often absent from our much more sophisticated and expensive routines.

We live in cities with access to some of the world’s finest skincare products, yet many of us still struggle with dullness, uneven texture, and dehydrated skin.

The answer is not particularly surprising if we are willing to be honest with ourselves.

Air pollution leaves a layer of microscopic particles on the skin’s surface which, when not thoroughly removed, can interfere with how effectively skincare products perform. This is not speculation but a phenomenon well documented in dermatological literature.

Air conditioning, meanwhile, dramatically lowers indoor humidity, accelerating moisture loss from the skin. Hard water, common in many urban environments, leaves mineral residues behind each time we shower, gradually creating a layer that can reduce the effectiveness of moisturisers applied afterwards.

Ironically, our response is often to add more products.

More serums. More toners. More essences. More ampoules.

Yet the most fundamental step is frequently overlooked: first remove what has accumulated on the skin’s surface, then replenish the moisture it needs.

This principle is widely recognised within dermatology. Consistent exfoliation can help improve the skin’s ability to absorb and retain hydration. It is not the most glamorous step, nor the one most often featured in beauty content, but it may be one of the most important.

This is where the Balinese body scrub ritual finds its relevance, not as nostalgia, but as a reminder.

The ritual itself is simple: gently exfoliate using natural ingredients, then immediately replenish moisture before freshly revealed skin loses its hydration.

Two steps. Twice a week. Practised consistently rather than hurriedly.

No one can promise exactly how many days it will take for skin to transform, because every individual’s skin is different and no routine delivers identical results for everyone. What science can tell us is that skin regularly freed from accumulated dead cells and supported with adequate hydration is better positioned to function optimally—more capable of renewing itself and more responsive to any care that follows.

Ibu Wayan has never studied transepidermal water loss or skin cell turnover.

Yet through generations of inherited knowledge, her ancestors arrived at much the same conclusion.

Skincare is not always about adding more and more.

Sometimes it is about returning to the two most fundamental things we often overlook:

Cleanse properly. Moisturise promptly.

That wisdom has never disappeared.

It has simply been waiting for us to rediscover it.

Today, a growing number of local brands are bringing these traditional ingredients: Javanese turmeric, Balinese rice, and sandalwood from eastern Indonesia, into modern formulations designed for contemporary lifestyles.

One of them is Etnaprana by Essentia Apothecary, a body scrub and body lotion collection inspired by Indonesia’s botanical heritage and created to reintroduce these rituals into everyday urban living.

Not as a promise of instant transformation, but as an invitation to care for your skin in a way that is more mindful, more consistent, and ultimately more meaningful.

Results may vary depending on individual skin type and condition.