Spa Therapies Of Indonesia
Traditional Lulur:
The lulur, Javanese for ‘coating the skin’, is most often associated with the luxurious pre-wedding ritual of Indonesian women. The treatment traditionally lasts for over 40 days, during which the bride-to-be is kept in confinement. These 40 days are also a time of female bonding, where personal stories are exchanged. Today, modern brides opt for a seven-day treatment without the confinement, rather than the traditional 40. One of the most pampering treatments available in spas, the lulur is today no longer a privilege only for brides-to-be. It generally comprises an aromatic massage, an exfoliating scrub, and a relaxing floral bath. The treatment may vary slightly between spas – an additional massage to moisturise, soften and hydrate the skin sometimes follows the exfoliating scrub; a brief shower to rinse off all ingredients may precede the floral bath. But these variations do not in the slightest affect the enjoyment of the lulur.
This recipe for a luxurious lulur from Pita Maha Spa A Tjampuhan Resort And Spa restores the natural pH balance of your skin and moisturises it.
Traditional Lulur:
Ingredients: 2 tsp rice powder; 1/2 tsp ground Sandalwood; 2 tsp Turmeric; 3 drops Jasmine essential oil; 2 cups Yogurt; a little water;
Combine the rice powder and sandalwood with the turmeric and jasmine essential oil to make the lulur paste. Massage your body with your choice of massage oil, then apply the lulur paste generously over yourself. Once it dries, gently rub the paste off to exfoliate your skin. Apply the yogurt to your skin. Finally, rinse and dip into a floral bath.
