Ayurvedic Beauty

Herbs for Beauty

Look for the following herbs in Ayurvedic beauty products:

• Amla (also known as amalaki)-antioxidant-rich herb used to exfoliate and brighten the skin
• Ashwagandha-clears skin impurities
• BhriNgraj-improves skin texture
• Ginger-stimulates circulation
  and helps remove toxins from skin
• Gotu Kola-increases collagen production while lifting away
  toxins that cause skin blemishes
• Guggul-purifying agent that rejuvenates skin cells and tissue
• Neem-promotes skin elasticity, normalizes oil production, and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties
• Tulsi-antioxidant properties keep skin looking young and radiant
• Turmeric-antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, corrects hyperpigmentation, and softens the skin

The Ayurvedic approach to beauty is based on India’s 5,000-year-old system of natural healing, which takes into account not only your body’s constitution, but your personality as well, in order to keep both in balance.

“We consider the way a person sleeps, digests foods, deals with stress, and processes the elements through the body,” says Patty Schmucker, a Los Angeles-based Ayurvedic beauty consultant. “With this holistic approach, creating radiant skin is addressed not only by quality natural and botanical products applied to the surface of the skin, but also with adequate hydration, an organic diet, mediation, and exercise. Ayurvedic products inspire people to make overall lifestyle choices that support radiant health.”

Ayurveda provides a treasure trove of sound health and beauty recommendations that have now been validated for effectiveness by Western science. You can easily incorporate Ayurveda into your skin care routine by looking for natural products made with traditional therapeutic ingredients such as neem, ashwagandha, amla, tulsi (holy basil), ginger, and turmeric.

What’s Your Dosha?

Because Ayurveda brings characteristics of our constitutions (doshas) together, it is important to know your dosha type (vata, pitta, or kapha) when choosing cosmetics and skin care products.

The vata dosha is light, dry, and cool. If your skin is thin, dry, fine-pored, and delicate, you probably have vata skin. When out of balance, it may become excessively dry or subject to eczema. Vata skin tends to wrinkle more as it ages. Look for products containing hydrating ingredients such as olive oil, sesame oil, jojoba, shea butter, and vitamin E.

Pitta skin is fair or rosy, soft, warm, and medium thickness. When out of balance, pitta skin types can suffer from rashes, breakouts, acne, liver spots, or rosacea. Look for cosmetics with soothing, natural ingredients such as aloe or chamomile to calm the skin.

Kapha skin is cool to the touch and is thicker, softer, oilier, and smoother than the other two types. When out of balance, kapha skin can suffer from excessive oiliness, enlarged pores, blackheads, and pimples. Tea tree oil helps with oiliness and clears acne.

Product Examples (left to right):

Replenish your hair and scalp with Auromère Ayurvedic Pre-Shampoo Conditioner (a hair oil) that strengthens roots and counteracts the drying effects of most shampoos, while smoothing tangles and restoring natural balance for a healthy scalp and vibrant hair.

Soothe, nourish, and moisturize even the most sensitive skin with TheraNeem Leaf & Oil Lotion from Organix South. The light lotion absorbs easily into hands and body and leaves a fresh botanic scent.

Customize your skin care according to your Ayurvedic constitution with DoshaCare. This comprehensive skin care caters to the three doshas-vata, pitta, and kapha-and allows you to create a skin care regimen to address all of your skin’s characteristics. Vata types will appreciate the deep hydration from the Hydrating Moisturizer, a rich cream and essential oil combination that also targets fine lines and wrinkles.

Refresh and pamper your complexion with Kama Ayurveda Les Jardins D’Inde Pure Rosewater. Replace your toner with fragrant steam distilled rosewater, which is a natural astringent that balances and restores skin’s pH level and tightens pores. It also sets makeup.