Monoi isn't the only oil Tahitian women keep in their arsenal. Tamanu oil is used for minor cuts, rashes, scarring, stretch marks and abrasions. Their ancestors believed that the branches of this sacred plant hid the gods, and that it was a gift to protect them from the harsh sun, strong winds and salt water.

Besides being endorsed by ancient Tahitians, tamanu oil (known as domba oil in Europe) was shown to have a 70 to 75 percent success rate in treating both rheumatism and scabies. Tamanu oil in pure form can be found in health food stores that carry essential oils, or as a skin-healing ingredient in products like Origins Plantscription Youth Renewing Face Oil and The Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion.

Why rely on a store-bought body wash when you can get fresh, skin-softening coconut milk for free on the side of the road? At least, that's the Tahitian philosophy. Coconuts grow everywhere in Tahiti, so achieving silky-soft skin is as easy as plucking one from the tree in your backyard. Tahitians bathe their skin and hair in it before showering.

To try this beauty secret at home, soak 2.5 ounces of freshly grated coconut (the peak season is October through December) in a bowl of 1 1/2 cups of hot simmered water. Allow it to cool to room temperature, and then pour the liquid through a strainer into a bowl. Squeeze the remaining coconut in a cheesecloth to get the rest of the liquid.