Application of ubtan is an age-old, in-home beautification routine performed on a daily basis – especially back in the day, when readymade cosmetic products and services were not easily accessible. In fact, as most Indian kids would testify, grandma’s homemade ubtan used to be a very detailed recipe than its modern-day counterparts. Needless to say, more effective than anything today!
According to the 6000 year old natural healing system of Ayurveda, ubtans were traditionally prepared from with a coarsely ground legume as the base. While a self oil massage with a herb-infused dosha balancing oil marks the beginning of Ayurvedic skin care, the next step is cleansing with an ubtan.
As per Ayurveda, you should tailor the ubtan in accordance with your dosha or the specifically imbalanced dosha that you are experiencing at that moment. A Vata dosha facial ubtan warms and moisturizes the skin and should be used at body temperature. On the other hand, Pitta facial ubtan should be used as a cool paste that cools the skin and extracts heat toxins. Third is the Kapha facial ubtan – extremely beneficial when used with a warm liquid as it stimulates the natural flow of body fluids.
However, with a repertoire of modern skincare products available in the market, many of us have forgotten the essence of our traditional formulations. Think of pre-wedding Haldi, for instance. The tradition involves applying ubtan, on both the bride and the groom. A typical Haldi ceremony ubtan is primarily Turmeric-based, along with the addition of Sandalwood, Saffron Powder and Rose Petals.
While Turmeric is a powerful anti-oxidant, Rose petals have cooling, soothing and moisturizing properties that hydrate the skin leaving it feeling soft and supple. Sandalwood is known to be purifying while Saffron evens out skin tone and colour.
Forest Essential’s Soundarya Facial Ubtan is a slightly modified version of the typical Haldi-Kesar ubtan with many additional ingredients including Jasmine Petals that neutralize oil production, Neem Powder with antiseptic properties and Orange Peel that helps remove unwanted tan.