Ayurvedic Beauty Tips for All Skin Types

Ayurveda gives importance to a balanced approach to achieve true beauty of self. Balanced approach means cleansing of inner as well as outer body. It identifies three different skin types- Vata Skin, Pitta Skin, and Kapha Skin representing the commonly known dry skin, normal skin and oily skin respectively. The skin types are categorized on the basis of three main metabolic principles- the doshas - present in everyone, but to different degrees. The dosha, most dominant in your body, will determine your skin type. Here are some beauty tips to keep all the skin types glowing. Vata Skin- the Dry Skin
Dry skin is most prone to symptoms of early aging and develop wrinkles earlier than other skin types because of its tendency to dryness and thinness. You have to take care of inner system as well as outer skin to keep it glowing

• • Keep your digestion or “Ahaar Pachan” in balance.
• • Have warm and healthy oily diet. Ghee and olive oil are best for you.
• • Sour, salty and naturally sweets like fruits (not refined sugar) balance vata.
• • Don't dry foods like crackers.
• • Drink 6-8 glasses of warm water during daytime. cold water is not good for dry skin.
• • Sweet and juicy fruits are good for you.
• • Sleeping early, say by, 10 PM will positively influence the dry skin type.
• • Avoid cleansing and beauty products that further dry the skin, for example, alcohol-based cleansers.
• • Abhyanga or Ayurvedic oil massage in the morning before shower is the best way to keep dry skin glowing.

Pitta Skin- the Normal Skin

Although, the equivalent of pitta skin is called the normal skin, yet ayurveda says that this type of skin develops rashes, rosacea, acne, liver spots or pigment disorders. It can not tolerate heat or sun very well.

• • Avoid excessive sunlight or tanning treatments. Heating therapies within beauty treatments like facial massage or whole body steams are also not good for you.
• • Avoid hot and spicy foods.
• • Bitter and sweet foods that balance pitta are good for such skin type. Naturally sweet should be taken. Take sweet juicy fruits like those of melons and pears.
• • Cooked greens and rose petal preserves are very effective for pitta skin type.
• • Drinking plenty of water to helps wash toxins out of highly sensitive pitta skin.
• • Avoid synthetic chemicals. Pitta skin types react a lots when such chemicals are used.
• • Avoid skin care products that are abrasive (scrubs), heating or contain artificial colors or preservatives. Use herbal products instead of artificial cosmetics.
• • Avoid emotional stress through exercise, yoga and meditation.

Kapha Skin- the Oily Skin

People with oily skin are fortunate enough to develop wrinkles much later in their lives. However, excessive oily skin faces such problems as eczema, blackheads, acne or pimples. It is also more prone to fungal infections.

• • Cleanse oily skin more often.
• • Avoid greasy creams.
• • Also avoid heavy and tough to digest foods like fried and fatty foods, meats, cheeses and rich desserts. Habe bitter and pungent foods as they balance kapha. You can make these foods spicey but they should not be fried.
• • Use olive oil as cooking medium.
• • Have ginger and lime juice before meals. It gives energy to dull digestive system characteristic to oily skin types.
• • Warm baths gentle cleansers open up the skin pores of kapha skin.
• • Avoid getting constipation. Have Isabgol to treat if you tend to have this problem.
• • Do some exercise daily to increase circulation and help purify the skin through the sweating.