If you are concerned about the health and appearance of your skin, you can trust Ayurveda. Ayurveda gives you the answers to all your skin care problems. Healthy, glowing skin is part of your overall health. The foods you eat, your daily routines, and the type of materials you use as cosmetics also play an important role in the health and glow of your skin. Ayurvedic skin care primarily considers one’s prakriti (constitution) to determine appropriate skin care procedures and products.
Recognize your skin type
Listed below are basic guidelines that will help you determine the type of skin you have.
Vata: Healthy Vata skin is smooth, delicate, and with a clear glow. When unbalanced, it is dry, lined, and flaky. Sometimes the skin seems too thin and transparent. Vata type skin is also characterized by having smaller pores compared to other skin types. Occasionally you may find a grayish or bluish tone to the skin. This can be attributed to the presence of a minimal number of capillaries in the skin. The skin under the eye area, forehead, and ears are particularly vulnerable to skin conditions such as darkening and discoloration, wrinkles, etc. Discoloration under the eye areas is primarily due to hemoglobin buildup in the soft tissues. The forehead and ears are also considered Vata-dominant areas, as the skin tends to be of the Vata type.
Pitta – The skin is primarily a Pitta organ. Pitta skin is healthy, shiny, and rosy. When exposed to sunlight, it can be injected into the blood. External factors can also cause inflammation and wrinkles. The central areas of the face, including the nose, back of the neck, and scalp, are effectively pitta areas. Pitta skin types are susceptible to pimples, acne, and lesions.
Kapha – Kapha skin is smooth, oily, and mostly free of wrinkles and dryness. Excess Kapha can cause problems like cystic acne, which can leave scars. Excessively oily skin is the most common type of flawed Kapha skin. The Kapha areas of the skin are the chin and neck. This skin type also has a higher risk of edema than the other two skin types.
Ayurvedic principles of healthy skin care
Once you know the type of skin you have, you can take the right steps to keep it healthy. Dry Vata-type skin benefits from the application of oils, while dry cleansers will be necessary to balance the excess oils of Kapha-type skin. The right type of herbs and minerals help maintain the skin’s balance and keep it healthy and glowing, while protecting against the effects of excess dosha.
Ayurvedic home remedies for skin problems
Different skin types require different treatments, which are briefly described below.
Vata Remedies – Vata type skin requires nutrition to keep it warm and hydrated. The fat content of ghee is beneficial for these people and they can include foods made with ghee in their diet. They can also use moisturizing products that contain olive oil, almond oil, etc., which can nourish the
skin and keep it hydrated.
Take 4 oz. of milk, 1 oz. of water, 2 tsp. each of Shatavari root, Hibiscus flowers and Vithari root powder and boil them together for a few minutes. Mix it with 3 parts natural yogurt. You can use this as a face pack. Leave the pack on the face and neck for 10 minutes morning and night.
Pitta Remedies – Cooling oils and herbs are ideal choices for Pitta skin types. It is easy to restore the natural shine and luminosity. Neem, turmeric, manjistha, cucumber, ghee, coconut, khus, rose and sandalwood etc. are herbs that can help. Skin care products with these herbs as ingredients are the best option for Pitta type skin efficiently. Pitta is hot and the diet should be refreshing. Avoid acidic and very spicy foods.
Combine in a glass jar 8 oz. coconut oil, 2 oz. butter, 2 tsp. each of neem leaf, turmeric root, haritaki fruit, sandalwood, and rose petal powders, and 1 small grated cucumber. Mix well, cover, and let sit for 7 days in a cool place. Transfer the jar outdoors under moonlight at night, and move it back to a cool area during the day. Strain and store in another clean glass jar. Apply oil to the skin in the morning and at night for 5 to 10 minutes or more.
Kapha Remedies – Kapha skin is largely oily and supple, acne and pimples associated with oily skin are the usual problems. Toners and cleansers provide good skin care. Aloe vera, sage leaf, lotus petals, rose petals, etc. are good herbs for Kapha type skin.