Everyone has a busy schedule these days, constantly juggling between tasks. If you are also struggling with a strict routine, make time for yourself at least once a week and start focusing on your wellness.
Staying healthy and taking care of your body is the best way to be happy and live a healthy life. You must know that it is incredibly essential to pamper yourself by establishing a skincare routine and eating meals rich in nutrients, or taking supplements to stay fit.Â
As an individual who prefers an eco-friendly routine, Ayurveda emphasises natural skincare products that align with sustainable practices to help you achieve a radiant complexion.Â
You can memorise this ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, originating in India thousands of years ago, that offers a refreshing return to nature for skincare. So, if you are looking for a skincare routine at home that nourishes, heals, and rejuvenates using ingredients straight from nature's pantry, here’s a pure Ayurvedic skincare guide you need.
What is Ayurvedic Skin Care?
Ayurvedic skincare is more than just applying ingredients that make your skin sparkle; it's a knowledge that's based on centuries of tradition. The holistic medicine includes the concept of the world that's made of five elements, including Aakash (space), Jala (water), Prithvi (earth), Teja (fire), and Vayu (air).
The combination of these elements results in three distinct Doshas: Vata, Kapha, and Pitta. These doshas are believed to be responsible for an individual's mental, emotional, and physiological health. Ayurveda doctors claim that incorporating dosha-specific health benefits into your life can lead to improved overall well-being and better balance.Â
Therefore, an effective Ayurvedic skincare routine aims to balance your specific dosha through the careful selection of herbs, oils, and other powerful ingredients. These natural skincare products focus on gentle cleansing, deep nourishment, and providing radiant skin from within.
Unlike many modern products, Ayurvedic skincare products do not include harsh chemicals, added fragrances, or artificial colours. They focus on delivering the immense healing properties of natural ingredients.
Building an Ayurvedic Skincare Routine At Home
Creating an Ayurvedic skincare routine at home doesn't have to be difficult. To get the best results that you can only imagine in your dreams, it's essential to understand your skin type and maintain consistency with your routine. Here's a simple yet effective routine you can follow at home to achieve results:
4 Steps Morning Skincare Routine
Do you know what the first thing you should do before getting out of bed is? Follow a skincare routine to maintain a youthful and fresh appearance throughout the day. This will also help remove excessive oil buildup from your face. A pure Ayurvedic routine is essential as it holds a significant impact on your overall productivity and helps promote healthy habits.Â
Cleansing (Snana)
Start your day with a gentle cleanse. Instead of harsh soaps, opt for a pure Ayurvedic skincare routine by using a natural ubtan (herbal paste) mixed with water or rose water. This gently removes impurities without stripping the skin's natural oils.
Toning (Gandusha/Kavala)
Follow with a natural toner, such as rose water or witch hazel. This helps to balance the skin's pH and prepare it for further nourishment. You can also splash your face with cool water to awaken the skin.
Nourishing (Abhyanga/Lepana)
You can apply a few drops of a suitable facial oil to your damp skin. For Vata skin, use sesame or almond oil. For Pitta, use coconut or sunflower oil. If you have Kapha skin, use jojoba or grapeseed oil. Gently massage in upward strokes for better absorption.
Protection (Surya Raksha)
How can we ignore sunscreen when going out? Ayurvedic skincare places a strong emphasis on protecting your skin barrier by using natural sun protection. You can use various ingredients, such as sandalwood and zinc oxide, which offer natural sun protection.
4 Steps of Evening Skincare Routine
An evening routine is just as vital as following a morning routine. You want to look good and feel fresh? An evening routine is what you need after a demanding and busy day.Â
Double Cleansing (Vamana/Shodhana)
If you've been using makeup or exposed to pollution, start with an oil cleanse to remove any impurities from your skin. You can follow with your ubtan or gentle cleanser, like adding chickpea flour (besan) to water and then washing your face with this mixture.
Toning (Gandusha/Kavala)
Repeat the similar toning step to have a fresh feeling.
Treatment (Chikitsa)
Apply a targeted treatment specifically designed to address your unique skin concerns. This could be a herbal face pack, a spot treatment for blemishes, or a nourishing night cream made with Ayurvedic ingredients.
Deep Nourishment (Poshana)
We know that everyone wants radiant skin, a face that attracts everyone around and looks plump and with no signs of tiredness or fatigue. Therefore, it is recommended to complete your skincare routine at home with a richer face oil or balm for overnight repair and rejuvenation.
Moreover, you can also include VitaGenius supplement from iCare Naturals, which has moringa, turmeric, ginger, garlic, and other Ayurvedic ingredients that help with joint pain relief, reduce elevated blood lipid levels, aid digestion, and more.
Your Weekly Skincare Rituals at Home
To achieve a weekly skincare routine, follow these simple steps and notice a significant difference in your skin's complexion.Â
Exfoliation (Ushna Snana)
Use a gentle ubtan scrub to exfoliate dead skin cells, once or twice a week. You should avoid harsh scrubbing, especially if you know that you have sensitive skin.
Face Mask (Lepana)
For spotless skin, you can apply a nourishing face mask once a week. This is an excellent opportunity to address specific concerns, such as dryness, acne, or dullness, using targeted herbal pastes.
Oil Massage (Murdha Taila)
Go for a weekly head massage with warm oil (like brahmi or bhringraj oil). Oil massages are indeed extremely relaxing and also promote healthy hair. Surprisingly, this also supports your skin positively and improves its overall condition.
3 Ayurveda Skin Care Recipes
Here are three popular and effective Ayurvedic skincare recipes you can easily make at home. You can find most of these ingredients already available in your cabinets.
Kumkumadi Tailam (Saffron Oil) For Radiance and Anti-Ageing
Saffron is one of the widely used Ayurvedic ingredients all around the world. People add it to their meals for extra benefits. Here’s how you can include it in your skincare regimen:
Ingredients
Saffron strands
Red sandalwood powder
Turmeric powder
Manjistha powder
Liquorice powder
Use oil like sesame or jojoba oil as the base.
Preparation
Add the saffron and other powders to the base oil over very low heat for several hours. You can keep this mixture in the sun as well for several days. Once the oil base has fully absorbed all the nutrients and healthy additions from these ingredients, you can strain the oil.
Benefits
It reduces blemishes, brightens complexion, improves skin texture, and minimises signs of ageing.
Besan and Turmeric Ubtan (Cleanser and Exfoliator)
You can use simple and easy-to-make besan and turmeric ubtan for a glowing skin, and use it as a cleanser and exfoliator.
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients:Â
Two tablespoons of gram flour (besan)
Half a teaspoon of wild turmeric powder (kasturi haldi)
A pinch of sandalwood powder (optional)
Milk, yoghurt, or rose water to form a paste.
Preparation
Mix all the dry ingredients, then gradually add the liquid until a smooth paste forms.
Benefits
Gently cleanses, exfoliates dead skin cells, brightens skin tone, and reduces excess oil.
Neem and Multani Mitti Face Pack (For Acne and Oily Skin)
Are you experiencing painful acne, or do you have oily skin and want to manage the excessive oil production on your face? No worries, this Neem and Multani Mitti face pack is the best supplement for acne reduction and give you a smooth, flawless face. Here’s what you need to do:
Ingredients
One tablespoon of neem powder
One tablespoon Multani Mitti (Fuller's Earth)
A pinch of camphor powder (optional)
Enough rose water or plain water to make a paste.
Preparation
Combine powders, then slowly add liquid until a smooth consistency is achieved.
Benefits
Deep cleanses pores, absorbs excess oil, calms inflammation, and helps combat acne and breakouts.
Conclusion
Building a pure Ayurvedic skincare routine at home is a highly rewarding journey that leads to achieving radiant skin and holistic well-being. By identifying your unique dosha, you can create a list of natural ingredients that best suit your skin type. The primary goal is to maintain consistency in your skincare routine to achieve healthy, glowing skin.
No need to invest in those modern and harsh beauty products full of skin-damaging chemicals. Your Ayurvedic skincare will not only connect you with nature's wisdom but also nurture your skin from the inside out. However, you will also notice numerous benefits of a genuinely holistic approach to achieve maximum beauty.
