What we truly love about glowing skin is that it never lies? There is no shortcut to achieving radiant skin and Ayurveda, being a believer of “beauty comes from within,” educates about the process better than any other skincare routine. 

The centuries-old science is known for preaching the benefits of balancing the body, supportive digestive health, working with energy, and understanding your body’s dosha rather than just depending on a couple of beauty products and doctors. 

Once you understand the importance of balancing your body, your skin and hair will find enough support to reach their healthier self. Natural glow cannot be achieved by a set of products but by focusing on your overall wellness. Good products, however, can boost the process. Traditionally, the Ayurveda regime talks about applying more oil than creams and lotions and detoxing the body on a regular basis.  

Achieving natural glow isn’t an overnight deal, it takes its time but when done right like most of our ancestors did, it has the potential to stay forever. If you’re ready to start the process, here’s all you need to know about making your skin glow the Ayurveda way. 

Looking for a way to get that glowing skin? Go on and add Ayurveda to your daily skin care routine.

Why? You ask.

Well, although Ayurveda believes that “beauty comes from within”, it can’t hurt to glow from the outside as well as from the inside. Ayurveda has different properties like anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory properties that helps improve your skin. Not only is Ayurveda good for your skin but for your hair as well; it helps to strengthen and nourish your hair and its roots.

But you’re here for the Ultimate Ayurvedic Skincare Routine to get your skin glowing.

The first thing to know before adding Ayurveda to your skincare routine is your dosha. Every individual is different and that includes your dosha which helps to determine your personality and health. (1)

Types of Doshas

There are three Doshas and you fall in one of the categories. If not, then there’s one that you definitely relate to more than the other two.

Vata dosha:

Because Vata is represented by Autumn due to its cool days, people in this category have high sensitivity to cold and should avoid cold weather as well as consume warm to hot food and drinks. Their mood is affected by the weather among other things in their surroundings, therefore they need to engage in calming activities to manage their stress.

They tend to have dry skin texture, wrinkles and fine lines. (2) 

Pitta dosha: 

Hot and Sunny. Pitta is represented by Summer and people in this category need to avoid high temperatures because they are acne and inflammation prone. Although they are strong, determined and have healthy skin and hair, they can be impatient, conflict prone and aggressive.

They have an oily skin type and are prone to breakouts.

Kapha dosha: 

Spring, an end period of hibernation, represents Pitta. Hence, people in this category are sluggish and tend to oversleep and risk falling into depression. Therefore, they need regular encouragement and motivation, need to exercise regularly and keep their body temperature warm.

They are trusting, caring, patient and happy, rarely getting upset. They tend to have dull and oily skin with blackheads, cystic acne and enlarged pores.

Ayurvedic Skincare Routine

Now, let’s get into that Ayurvedic daily skin care routine to get you that naturally glowing skin.

Allow seasons to dictate your skincare routine

Although you might have found your Dosha, the weather can be a factor that affects your Dosha making you switch between two or all three Doshas. You need to be in tune with your body to notice those changes internally and externally to make the necessary changes to your skin care routine.

For example: you might be a Pitta Dosha during Summer and then in Winter, you become Vata Dosha which would mean you have to increase the hydration for your skin.

Proper Ayurvedic Skincare Routine

Here are some Ayurvedic beauty tips to achieve that glowing skin: 

• Using Raw Milk:

 Raw Milk is a good cleanser and has anti-ageing properties (3), and can help get rid of clogged pores, acne, blackheads and whiteheads (4). You can have a long soak in Raw milk and simply just cleanse your face using a cotton pad.

• Rose water Toner:

Rose water acts as a good toner because it not only hydrates your skin, it gets rid of excess oil preventing acne, blackheads and whiteheads (5). Some chemical based toners may strip your skin off its natural moisture, but finding the right toner for your skin type gives you those benefits.

• Moisturise:

While you may have oily skin, never skip moisturiser. If you have dry skin, then that is a step you cannot skip to avoid flaky, dry and dull looking skin. Always moisturise.

• Apply Aloe Vera Gel:

Here is another important tip for glowing skin. Aloe Vera contains antioxidant and antibacterial properties (6) which protects the skin from certain bacteria that can cause skin infections. Because of these properties, wounds and skin problems can be treated. Add Just Herbs  Aloe Vera Facial Massage Gel to your nighttime skincare routine by massaging gently into your face for that glowing skin effect. 

• Exfoliate your Skin with Sugar:

It is advised to exfoliate your skin two to three times per week. Sugar helps to draw moisture from your skin’s surrounding and retains that moisture the skin absorbs (7). This leaves your skin looking and feeling smoother and healthier. 

• Face Mask:

 Yes, Face Masks helps hydrate your skin by adding moisture but finding the right mask for your skin type is important. Here are some DIY face masks for the different doshas.

• 1. tbsp of chickpea flour.
• Add a pinch of turmeric.
• Mix with rose, yoghurt/cold milk.
• Make a paste.
• Apply to a clean face.
• Leave for 10-15 minutes or till it dries.
• Rinse off with lukewarm water.
• Moisturise your face after.

Pitta Face Mask: 

• Soak a few cotton pads in a small amount of rose water.
• Dab the damp cotton pad on skin.
• Apply aloe vera gel (with no added ingredients) and leave for 10-15 minutes.
• Rinse off with lukewarm water.
• Apply a gentle moisturiser.
• Repeat 2-3 times a week.

Kapha Face Mask:

• 1. tbsp of Honey.
• Mix with a pinch of turmeric.
• Apply on a clean face.
• Leave for 10 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water.

For all skin type:

• 2. tbsp of fine oats flour.
• Add 2. tbsp of almond flour.
• Add a pinch of turmeric.
• Mix with 2-5 drops of any oil of your preference.
• Apply a thick coat on a clean face.
• Leave for 15 minutes then wash off with lukewarm water.

• Treat spots with Neem oil:

 Neem oil contains antioxidants, fatty acids, limonoids, vitamin E (8) and a few more ingredients which have extreme benefits for the skin like treating acne, dry skin and wrinkles, healing wounds and reducing scars. Apply neem oil with a cotton pad directly to prefered areas and leave overnight.

• Learn the art of Self Massage & Oiling:

 Massages help reduce/manage stress and boosts radiance when done with herbal oils. (9)

Abhyanga:

A full body ayurvedic massage done with hot herbal oils chosen based on the patient’s medical conditions. There are pressure points that are focused on to stimulate energies to help release toxins and improve blood circulation.

Pizhichil:

Kindi, a special type of vessel, is used to apply warm massage oil on the body. This ayurvedic massage improves digestion, neurological conditions and removes pain.

Udvartana:

This an ayurvedic powder massage where herbal powders are used. The drying nature of the powder exfoliates the skin and helps improve muscle tone.

Garshana:

This massage doesn’t involve the use of oils, powders or any lubricants. A silk glove is used to stimulate the body, exfoliating it and adding a glow to it. It gets rid of toxins and breaks down the body’s fat cells.

Shirodhara:

This is a sort of scalp massage with herbal oil that stimulates the nerves in the head. It helps relieve headaches, clears your mind and helps you focus.

Njavarkijhi:

Herbal oils are massaged into the body to help boost the body’s perspiration process. (10)

Ubtaan and Elakijhi:

Various herbal products are used in this massage in treating and rejuvenation of the skin. This massage nourishes the body and improves the quality of the skin.

Some Ayurvedic ingredients you can add to your skincare for a naturally glowing skin are: Haldi, Tulsi, Amla, Ginseng, Ashwagandha, and Giloy. (11)

Haldi, Tulsi, Amla and Ginseng helps get rid of fine-lines and wrinkles due to its anti-ageing properties. Amla also tightens the skin and adds a healthy glow to it.

Ashwagandha is known to relieve stress but it helps rejuvenate your skin. Giloy has properties that can boost your immunity and fight inflammation.

Ayurvedic Beauty Guides 

Other ayurvedic beauty tips include: doing yoga and drinking enough water to keep your skin hydrated and glowing, and having a proper and healthy diet.

Conclusion

Remember, what’s going on on the inside is just as important as what’s going on on the outside, maybe even more so. Ayurveda encourages you to not just take care of what’s on the outside but on the inside as well. Find most, if not all, organic and ayurvedic products from skincare products to cosmetics at Just Herbs.

FAQs

1. Which Ayurvedic medicine is best for glowing skin?

Ans: Made from 16 herbs and oil, Kumkumadi Tailam is known to be Ayurveda’s most effective remedy for glowing skin. The name Kumkumadi comes from Kumkuma in Sanskrit which means red-gold saffron. It is one of the ingredients in Kumkumadi Tailam. 

2. Are Ayurvedic products good for skin?

Ans: Toxins can lead your skin to inflammation, acne, and blemishes. The chemicals in a regular beauty product might also cause harm to your skin in the ways that you may or may not observe. However, Ayurveda eliminates such problems by detoxifying and cleansing the body from the inside out. Ayurvedic skin remedies and treatments have the nutrition to restore clear and healthier skin. 

3. What are the best vitamins for dry skin?

Ans: Vitamin A, C, E, and B vitamins are highly beneficial in maintaining your skin’s elasticity and overall health. They contribute to the production of collagen which is a necessary type of protein for skin and hair. Apart from these, zinc and iodine also help in clarifying and strengthening the skin cells.  

4. Which dosha is responsible for acne?

A: Pitta Dosha. People in this category have oily skin and are prone to acne/breakouts.

5. What is beauty according to Ayurveda?

A: Ayurveda believes that “Beauty comes from within” and focuses on whole-body healing.

6. Is Ayurvedic skincare effective?

A: Yes. It is effective when you’re taking the right steps to caring for your skin type by figuring out your dosha type.

References:

1. https://bit.ly/3lzB9BG
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/
3. https://www.healthifyme.com/blog/10-benefits-sugarcane-juice-health-skin/
4. https://famkjnhbvilydoctor.org/health-guides-health-state-mind-body/
5. https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/lockdown-detox-skin-fasting-aids-healing/1932589/
6. https://www.westlakedermatology.com/blog/skin-cleansing-101-why-washing-your-face-is-important/