| If you are concerned about the health and | | | | Ayurvedic Principles of Healthy Skin Care |
| appearance of your skin, you can very well depend | | | | Once you know the type of skin you have, you can |
| on Ayurveda. Ayurveda gives you the answers for all | | | | take appropriate measures to keep it healthy. Dry |
| your skin care problems. Healthy glowing skin is part | | | | Vata type skin benefits from application of oils, while |
| of your general health. The food you eat, your daily | | | | dry cleansers will be needed to balance the excessive |
| routines and the kind of materials you use as | | | | oil of Kapha type skin. Appropriate type of herbs and |
| cosmetics also play an important role in the health | | | | minerals help in maintaining the balance of skin and to |
| and radiance of your skin. Ayurveda skin care | | | | keeping it healthy and glowing, while safeguarding |
| primarily takes into account one's prakriti | | | | against the effects of excess of dosha. |
| (constitution) in determining the appropriate skin care | | | | Ayurvedic Home Remedies for Skin Problems |
| procedures and products. | | | | Different skin types require different treatments, |
| Recognizing Your Skin Type | | | | which are briefly described below. |
| Listed below are the basic guidelines that help you | | | | Vata Remedies - Vata type skin requires nourishment |
| determine the type of skin you have. | | | | to keep it warm and moisturized. Fat content of |
| Vata - Healthy Vata skin is soft, delicate and with a | | | | ghee is beneficial for such persons and they can |
| clear radiance. When imbalanced, it is dry, lined and | | | | include food items prepared with ghee in their diet. |
| flaky. At times, skin appears too thin and transparent. | | | | They can also use moisturizing products that contain |
| Vata type skin is also characterized by smaller pores | | | | olive oil, almond oil, etc, which can nourish theskin and |
| when compared to other skin types. You can | | | | keep it moisturized. |
| occasionally find grayish or bluish hue for the skin. | | | | Take 4 oz. of milk, 1 oz. of water, 2 tsp. each of |
| This can be attributed to the presence of minimal | | | | Shatavari root, Hibiscus flowers, and Vithari root |
| number of capillaries in the skin. Skin below eye area, | | | | powder and boil them together for a few minutes. |
| forehead and ears are particularly vulnerable for skin | | | | Mix it with 3 parts of plain yogurt. You can use this |
| conditions like darkening and discoloration, wrinkles, | | | | as a face pack. Leave the pack on your face and |
| etc. The discoloration below eye areas is mainly due | | | | neck for 10 minutes in the morning and in the |
| to accumulation of hemoglobin in the soft tissues | | | | evening. |
| there. Forehead and ears are also considered to be | | | | Pitta Remedies - Cooling oils and herbs are ideal |
| Vata dominant areas, as the skin there tends to be | | | | choices for Pitta skin types. It is easy to regain the |
| of Vata type. | | | | natural luster and radiance. Neem, turmeric, manjistha, |
| Pitta - Skin is primarily a Pitta organ. Pitta skin is | | | | cucumber, ghee, coconut, khus, rose, and |
| healthy glowing and rosy. When exposed to sunlight, | | | | sandalwood etc are all herbs that can help. The skin |
| it can become bloodshot. External factors can also | | | | care products with these herbs as ingredients are |
| cause inflammations and wrinkles. The central areas | | | | best choice for predominantly Pitta type skins. Pitta is |
| of the face including nose, the back of neck and | | | | hot and the diet should be cooling. Avoid acidic and |
| scalp and predominantly are predominantly Pitta areas. | | | | heavily spicy food items. |
| Pitta skin type persons are susceptible to pimples, | | | | Combine in a glass jar 8 oz. coconut oil, 2oz. ghee, 2 |
| acne and lesions. | | | | tsp. each of the powders of neem leaf, turmeric |
| Kapha - Kapha skin is smooth, oily and mostly free | | | | root, haritaki fruit, sandalwood, and rose petal, and 1 |
| from wrinkles and dryness. Excess Kapha can cause | | | | small grated cucumber. Mix well, cover, and allow it to |
| problems like cystic acne, which can leave scars. | | | | stay for 7 days in a cool place. Transfer the jar |
| Excessively oily skin is the most common type of | | | | outdoors under the moonlight in the evening and |
| vitiated Kapha skin. The Kapha areas of skin are chin | | | | replace in a cool area during the day. Strain and store |
| and neck. This skin type is also at higher risk of | | | | in another clean glass jar. Apply oil to skin morning |
| edema than the other two skin types. | | | | and evening for 5-10 minutes or longer. |