A skincare routine is absolutely essential to your skin as physical exercise is for your body. It helps in giving you clear and beautiful skin but more importantly skin that is healthy and glows from within. The routine must ideally be encouraged by parents from pre-teen years and be followed throughout one’s life. A healthy-balanced and nutritious diet is absolutely essential to achieve this and plays a big part in the health of your skin. This article will give you an overview of ayurvedic skin care techniques according to your dosha.
1. Cleansing
Cleansing not only removes surface grime, make-up and impurities, it also stimulates your skin and preps it for topical nourishment. For the face and neck, it’s a must-do each morning and night.
.Choose a non-soap cleanser appropriate for your skin type, or a tridoshic formulation balanced to work on all skin types.
.If you have dry Vata skin, choose a rich, nourishing cleanser that won’t strip the natural oils from the skin, with ingredients like oatmeal, almond meal and cream.
.If you have sensitive Pitta skin, choose a gentle herbal cleanser that will purify without irritating the skin. Sandalwood in fine oatmeal with a little cooling milk and rose water makes a gentle Pitta-pacifying cleanser.
.For oily earth or water predominant Kapha skin, a stimulating product that contains oil-balancing herbs such as lavender, lemon, neem and tulsi helps cleanse and clarify.
.Prepare your cleanser if you are starting with a dry mix. Then splash your face with lukewarm water to open the pores. Never use hot water on your skin; it will cause your skin to wilt.
.Using your fingertips or a soft washcloth, gently apply the cleanser to your face and neck in smooth upward strokes.
.The skin surface should get stimulated without being pulled or stretched. Rinse off with warm water, and finish with a final splash of cool water.
.If you wear make-up, two cleansing of the face at night may be appropriate to make sure all of it is cleansed off.
2. Toning
Toning is an important step in the daily skincare routine because it removes any lingering impurities or greasy residue and helps balance the pH of the skin. It closes the pores and stimulates circulation, helping to prepare the skin to absorb nutrition from the moisturizer that follows. Choose a toner appropriate for your skin type, and look for toners without alcohol, colors or artificial fragrance. Rose, sandalwood and cucumber would be good choices for Vata, Pitta and Kapha skin respectively.
If your toner is a spritzer, close your eyes and gently mist on face and neck. Dab any excess gently with a ball of cotton. Alternatively, apply the toner to the face and neck with a ball of cotton, using smooth, gentle upward strokes.
3. Moisturizing
All types of skin need a moisturizer. Moisturizers seal in surface moisture and help keep skin soft and supple. If enriched with skin-friendly herbs and essential oils, moisturizers also nourish the skin and enhance skin immunity. Natural ayurvedic moisturizers contain herbal extracts and essential oils in an oil base – richer oils for dry skin and light oils for oily skin. Gotu kola, Shatavari, Turmeric, Sandalwood, Brahmi, Amalaki, Tulsi and Neem are examples of nourishing, ojas-building herbs that are considered skin rasayanas in ayurveda.
Apply moisturizer immediately after the toner, while your skin is still slightly damp. If using a facial oil, all you need are 3-4 drops. Gently massage the moisturizer into facial skin with smooth upward strokes.
Dosha specific advice:
Kapha skin needs exfoliation every once a week.
Vata and Pitta skin types can do it every other week with the ingredients mentioned above.
