The oldest references to ayurvedic skincare routine in beauty can be credited to the first Veda ever written, ‘Rigveda,’ which talks about skin and hair in depth.

“imā nārirvidhavāh supatnīrānjanena sarpiṣā saṃ viśaṃtu.”

“Let these unwindowed dames with noble husbands adorn themselves with fragrant balm and unguent.” – Ṛgveda.X.18.7

Ayurveda The eternal science asks us to focus on holistic beauty, which comprises of internal and external beauty, which, when followed religiously, can bestow lifelong grace to the one who diligently practices it over time.

This intelligent science focuses on balancing your mind, body, and soul as you navigate your way through life. When we have the knowledge to understand ourselves better, we have the power to live our life accordingly. Thus, having the knowledge of Dosha—or three basic life energies that govern different facets of bodies and mind functioning is mandatory. The unique blend of these 3 doshas is what makes us—US.

Vata controls movement and comprises air and ether from the panchamahabhuta.

Pitta controls metabolism and comprises fire and water.

Kapha control’s structure and is made up of water and earth.

Most of us tend towards one or two even though we have all three doshas within us.
Once we understand the unique skin types based of Dosha and its unique requirements, then we can build an effective Ayurvedic skincare routine. Ayurvedic skincare benefits outweigh the chemical-based strong, harsh products that do not add ‘PRANA’ to your skin.

Vata Dosha

Due to the predominance of air and ether energies, Vata skin is dry, thin, and sensitive. It is rough to touch, and fine lines and wrinkles appear early. Due to lack of body fat and lean hands and legs, veins are more prominent. Just as air dries up water, similarly, Vata suffers from dehydration the most.

Vata Skincare Routine:

An Ayurvedic skincare routine for dry skin means to keep Vata balanced, and the inclusion of healthy oil is of utmost importance. Oil has opposite qualities than Vata; hence, it reduces the cold, acrid nature of Vata. Vata can follow the skin care regime below:

• Cleansing: To retain hydration, a gentle, creamy cleanser without any sulphates is advised to avoid stripping the natural moisture from the skin.
• Toning: Hydrating toners like rose water or infusion of more flowers helps refresh and rehydrate the skin. Use alcohol-free toners to avoid further dehydration.
• Moisturizing: Day creams or lotions that are rich in oils like sesame, almond, or ghee-infused moisturizers help balance the sebum and keeps the skin protected.
• Night Ritual: Night is the time to repair and rest. Applying ghee or saffron-infused oils or night creams helps for deep nourishment and repair.

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• Day and Night Serums: Vata is prone to aging faster; hence, they should be aware to add age-defying serums to their regime. They help in collagen boosting as well as skin brightening benefits. Ayurvedic skincare routine emphasizes the addition of CTTM consistently to get the best results. The FE newly launched VARUNA AND SAMSARA are one-of-a-kind serums formulated with a unique complex created by a fermentation of 10 Ayurvedic herbs along with modern actives to help reverse aging.

Pitta Dosha

Due to the predominance of fire and water Pitta skin tends to be sensitive, acne-prone, and prone to redness and pigmentation.

Pitta Skincare Routine:

• Cleansing: Pitta skin being prone to redness and inflammation, it is best to use a cooling cleanser infused with ingredients like sandalwood and aloe vera.
• Exfoliation: A gentle scrub is recommended for Pitta skin as it is prone to tanning quickly. To remove the daily tan Ubtan, which is the traditional recipe with sun dried hand pounded herbs and flowers can be used.
• Toning: Cooling toners like rose water or Mogra water are the best to calm the angry pitta skin.
• Moisturizing: Pitta skin is thin and hates heavy moisturizers. Opt for lightweight moisturizers to help delicately moisturize and protect the skin.
• Sun protection: Although sunscreen is mandatory for all skin types, Pitta skin is prone to pigmentation, so it is important to always protect the Pitta skin. SPF 50 or more is recommended if there is a direct exposure to the sun. Forest Essentials SunFluid is a lightweight sun protection with no white cast. It is also infused with tender coconut water, basil leaf and turmeric to have anti-inflammatory properties on the burnt skin.

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• Night Ritual: After the day of running around, the skin needs calming down. Just like our mind and body, pitta skin needs comfort and a cool atmosphere in the form of an Ayurvedic night skincare routine. Pitta energy is easily frazzled during the day. Spraying calming scents in the surroundings and applying a night cream or serum will help to brighten and nourish the parched skin while calming the mind.

Kapha Dosha

Kapha Dosha due to heavy elements of water and earth are prone to clog the pores. The Kapha skin is oily, thick, and congested skin prone to acne breakouts along with blackheads and whiteheads.

Kapha Skincare Routine:

• Cleansing: Kapha skin is prone to secreting more sebum, in turn making the skin look too oily. Cleansing is an extremely important step for Kapha. They are advised to use a detoxifying cleanser with ingredients like neem, saffron, and lemon to purify the skin.
• Exfoliation: Removing the dead skin cells, which may obstruct the pores, is an important ritual for Kapha skin. It is recommended to at least scrub 2 times a week with gentle ingredients like aloe vera infused with finely hand-milled walnuts, similar in the FE Kashmiri walnut scrub, which is a recipe in Ayurveda for glowing skin.

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• Toning: A purifying toner with the capacity to help reduce pores is important to control excess oil and acne breakouts. Ingredients like tea tree, Tulsi, and clove oil are important.
• Moisturizing: Kapha skin dislikes heavy textured cream; hence, using light moisturizers keeps the skin breathable and helps control the sebum production.
• Mask Ritual: Kapha skin suffers from open pores and wishes to tighten the skin making the pores less visible. For this masking, once a week is an excellent idea, as they are the powerhouse of nutrients that focus on deep nourishment and instant glow. Neem Varnya Lepa is one such bestseller to complete the Ayurvedic skincare routine for Kapha.

Ayurvedic Skincare Tips for All Doshas

Moderation is everything. Find the minute balance between your wants and needs and take only as much as you can digest. Be it food or information or stress.

Drink lukewarm water, preferably during the day, to cleanse from within. (except pitta in summer)
To remove the fatigue, follow a daily self-massage (Abhyanga) for improved circulation and for de-stress.
Eat seasonal, fresh foods to maintain balance and make sure your digestion is taken care of to increase Ojas (internal beauty).
Using the best Ayurvedic skincare products is a long-term investment that prizes us in prolonging the signs of aging and making the skin glow.

FAQs

References:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3827509/#sec1-3