JAKARTA (indo.com): Most women would agree that beauty is not just a matter of outer looks but also inner beauty. This is what is usually referred to as the holistic approach to looking at beauty. A lot of local or imported cosmetic brands may help women look younger, but recently there has been a growing trend of many women turning to traditional treatments that use less chemical materials. Chemical materials are often found to have longer-term destructive effects on the skin rather than making one's face fresh.

Indonesia has been famous for its spices for hundreds of years, originally for culinary purposes, but more recently for maintaining health and beauty. These traditions are cultural heritages handed down from one generation to the next. Natural ingredients such as cloves, cinnamon, potent leaf, roots and many others are the main material of Indonesian traditional cosmetics. Mustika Ratu and Sari Ayu are two well-known brands which offer a plethora of traditional herbal recipes.

Recently, a number of spas have sprung up also offering a wide range of health and beauty treatments. A spa is a beauty and health center which utilizes water as the basic ingredient and source of energy, offering rejuvenation of both body and soul. A spa can be pampering, rejuvenating, nurturing, caring, and calming. It also can be so relaxing, both physically and more importantly, spiritually. A spa can help you improve fitness, detoxify, commune with nature, and learn about nutrition. At a spa, you can regain your inner balance and manage stress, enhance feelings of tranquility and well being, and heal.

There are approximately 200 spas scattered across Indonesia, the second largest number of spas in any one country after the US. The best-known Indonesian spa treatment is traditional massage or aromatherapy. Indonesian massage usually uses traditional herbal cosmetics, for example: luluran. The purpose of this kind of massage is to lighten the skin and make it look much fresher.

Indonesian spa treatments normally offer also traditional drinks made of herbs and roots, known locally as "jamu". Most Indonesians believe that jamu is a powerful remedy to alleviate light ailments such as fatigue, headaches, aching bones or a chills.

As the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta also offers the full range of traditional health and beauty treatments. Many hotels offer spas with their own tailor made treatments, for example the Cempaka Hotel in the heart of Central Jakarta, near the trade centers of Senen and Mangga Dua. Gaya Spa and Salon (located on Jalan Wolter Mongisidi No.25), Zanadu, Puri Ayu (owned by noted beautician Martha Tilaar) and Thalia Le Spa are among the more noted of the city's spas.

Puri Ayu offers facial treatments, manicure, pedicure, and body treatments including herbal medicines. The spa treatments, ingredients and facilities here are arranged to be used according to the stages of life beginning from birth, and all follow traditional Javanese philosophies.

Thalia Le Spa also offers similar treatments to those of Puri Ayu. A service perhaps unique to the Thalia Le Spa is the spa body care, which offers body massage, body polish, hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, body wrap and body masks.

Tamansari Royal Spa, owned by businesswoman Mooryati Sudibyo, is also a popular one. The Spa is set to open its branch office in London and Cairo.

According to www.spas.about.com, in terms facilities, treatment and duration, spas are categorized as Club Spa, Day Spa, Cruise Ship Spa, Destination Spa, Holistic Spa, Medical Spa, Mineral Springs Spa, Resort Spa, Sports/Adventure Spa and Structured Spa.


Club Spa
spa facilities whose primary purpose is fitness and which offers a variety of professionally administered spa services on a day use basis.

Day Spa
spa facilities that have no overnight accommodation, but offer beauty, wellness and relaxation programs that may last an hour, in morning or day hours.

Cruise Ship Spa
a spa aboard a cruise ship providing professionally administered spa services, fitness, and wellness components as well as spa cuisine choices.

Destination Spa
Spas offering overnight accommodations and usually offering multi-day, all inclusive programs including exercise classes, body treatments, mind-enrichment and stress-reduction activities and spa cuisine. To help understand the high-perceived cost, think of it as employing your own personal trainer, maid, chef and beauty consultant on your journey of personal discovery.

Holistic Spa
spas focusing on alternative healing methods and nutrition, mainly vegetarian or macrobiotic holistic healing seeking "higher levels of wellness", integrating body and mind in a higher consciousness.

Medical Spa
individuals, solo practices, groups, and institutions comprised of medical and spa professionals whose primary purpose is to provide comprehensive medical and wellness care in an environment which integrates spa services, as well as conventional and complimentary therapies and treatments.

Mineral Springs Spa
a spa offering an on-site source of natural mineral, thermal or seawater used in hydrotherapy treatments.

Resort Spa
usually located far from civilization and in beautiful environments, resort spas offer a variety of professionally administered spa services, fitness, and wellness programs to invigorate mind and body as well as entertain.

Sports/Adventure Spa
hotel or resort providing therapeutic baths and body treatment and that offer special sports and outdoor adventure programs that include anything from golf to skiing, fly-fishing to marathon conditioning.

Structured Spa
spas with a strict set of rules whose entire facility is geared towards the achievement of a particular goal such as weight loss, or fitness.


So the choice is yours!