Ayurvedic Beauty Tips For An Everlasting Radiant And Healthy Skin

Most of us oftentimes glance at celebrities and set their glamour as a benchmark for “beauty” to be measured. We admire and crave to be beautiful and stunning like them. But Ayurveda says beauty is not about your body shape, skin tone, weight or how flat your tummy is, but true beauty is all about “Rūpaṁ, guṇaṁ, vāyasṭyāga, iti śubhāṅgā kāraṇaṁ”. In this article, Dr Kausthub Desikachar discusses Ayurvedic tips for everlasting radiant and healthy skin.

It’s time we reformulate what staying beautiful truly implies to us. Ayurveda, an ancient natural healing science that dawned from India, embraces all aspects of life, including beauty. Ayurveda believes in the mantra “beauty comes from within” and hence defined beauty as “Rūpaṁ, guṇaṁ, vāyasṭyāga, iti śubhāṅgā kāraṇaṁ”. 

Here, 

Rūpaṁ indicates outer beauty illustrated by lustrous, healthy hair and clear, radiant skin.

Guṇaṁ indicates the inner beauty represented by a sympathetic nature, kind-hearted and naive mind.

Vāyasṭyāga indicates enduring beauty by feeling and looking youthful and healthful correlated with physical and mental health.

Dr Kausthub Desikachar says that this doesn’t imply you should neglect skin and hair care. In fact, Ayurveda has got bounteous beauty practices encouraging your overall wellness while they give you a natural radiance.

Staying healthy, feeling and looking beautiful and radiant, in Ayurveda, is based on clearing your body from āma (toxins) first. Your digestive fire (agni) gets more active when your body is relieved from toxins and rehabilitates nourishment, thereby assisting in having excellent health and natural radiance from within. Ayurveda strongly believes that bright and radiant skin and hair begin with proper nutrition, efficient digestion and regular elimination.

Ancient Ayurvedic Detox Remedies that You Can Incorporate Daily Into Your Routine

1.  Scrape your tongue gently every morning. As you sleep, your body detoxifies, and a layer of toxins forms on the tongue. Tongue scraping, also known as Jihva prakṣāḷana in Ayurveda, eliminates the toxin residue from your tongue, thereby enhancing your overall health and bettering your immune system. Ayurveda recommends using a copper tongue scraper.
2.  Oil pulling, also known as kavala or gandhusha in Ayurveda, is an ancient Ayurvedic detox technique that entails swishing a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth on an empty stomach for around 20 minutes for a minimum of two weeks continuously. This act believably pulls out toxins from the body and improves your overall health.
3. Start your mornings with a cup of lukewarm water and lemon. Ayurveda says the health benefits of lemon water include nutrients like antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. This Ayurvedic practice assists in rehydrating your body, help clear the digestive tract of toxins that have built up overnight and is an excellent form of gut detox for your body.
4. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. There’s nothing better than water to detoxify your body. You can also add in some orange, mint leaves, strawberries, cucumber and lemons to make it a detox drink that is healthful and tasty.
5. Try changing the diet for a day or two. Instead of heavy meals, have some vegetables and fruits. This would give some break to your digestive tract and eliminate toxins from the body. 
6. Give yourself a massage. Abhyanga, also known as an oil massage in Ayurveda, is a traditional ritual that expels toxins from the body. Doing so releases toxins from the tissues, moving them to the GI tract, where they can then be eliminated. Dr Kausthub Desikachar recommends applying oil in an upward motion to the limbs and clockwise circular motions around joints and abdomen.
7. Avoid heavy, indigestible, cold food and take more light, warm and nutritious wholesome food.
8. Do not mix incompatible foods even if you love them. Avoid foods like milk and fruits, dairy and meat, cold drinks after a meal, ghee and honey. They cause opposite reactions to the body and cause imbalance and other health complications. 
   
   

Dr Kausthub Desikachar says while practising detox, you can pamper your skin with some natural ayurvedic remedies that will leave you with everlasting beautiful, radiant skin. The ancient practice of Ayurveda holds manifold natural ways to improve beauty and skin health.

According to Ayurveda, a person’s skin type is based on the three doshas – Vāta, Pitta, Kapha, that make up the body’s constitution, skin type, hair and the mind. Now, let’s learn the different Ayurvedic body types and Ayurvedic skin care tips for the three different Doshas.

Vāta (wind)

A person with Vāta dominance has dry and rough skin. If not moisturized daily, the skin tends to get even more dry, flaky, and prone to fine lines and wrinkles on the face at an early age. 

Ayurvedic Skin Care For Dry Skin

1.Milk Cream And Saffron Face Pack

This has been an age-old skincare regime that brings a beautiful glow to your skin and, at the same time, keep your dry skin problems at bay by giving the hydration and moisturization your skin needs. 

How To Apply:

– Take 2 to 3 Tablespoons of pure milk cream.

– Add 3 to 5 strands of saffron, mix well and set aside for 15 minutes.

– Apply the mixture on clean damp skin and leave it on for 30 minutes.

– Wash off with water.

– You can repeat this weekly thrice to see the best results.

2.Banana, Honey And Almond Oil Face Pack 

Banana is utterly moisturizing for the skin and has anti-ageing properties. Honey and almond oil deeply nourish and condition your skin, leaving it wrinkle-free. 

How To Apply:

– Take half a riped banana and mash it or make it into a puree consistency.

– Mix 1 tablespoon of honey and almond oil into the banana puree.

– Apply all over your face evenly and leave it on for 15 minutes.

– Wash off with water.

– Apply this face pack not more than once a week. 

Pitta (fire)

Pitta skin type has oily and sensitive skin and is quickly prone to tan, rashes and breakouts.

Ayurvedic Skin Care For Sensitive Skin

1.Use Rose Water As A Toner

Rosewater is known for its healing benefits. Rosewater being an astringent, balance the skin’s pH level, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that soothe the irritated skin, reduces the itching, gently hydrates your skin and leaves a natural glow on the skin. 

How To Apply:

– Just spritz rose water on your face every morning.

– Spritz rosewater every time your skin feels irritated or itchy to hydrate and soothe your skin.

– Make sure you buy pure organic rosewater, or you could even make it at home.

2.Aloe Vera And Cucumber Face Pack

Aloe vera and cucumber gives your skin a hydration boost, nourishes and leaves your skin radiant. With this face pack, you can have itch-free and flawless skin. 

How To Apply:

– Take 1 tablespoon of grated cucumber puree.

– Mix pure aloe vera gel with the grated cucumber puree.

– Apply on clean face and leave it on for 30 minutes.

– Wash off with water.

– Apply this face pack thrice a week. 

Kapha (water and earth)

Kapha skin type tends to be soft, delicate. This skin type attracts more impurities from the environment and is prone to enlarged pores, blackheads, and pimples.

Ayurvedic Skin Care For Oily Skin

1.Tomato And Multani Mitti (Fuller’s Earth) Face Pack

Tomatoes are considered the best ayurvedic food with high antioxidant properties that slows down ageing and keeps your face young and radiant. Multani mitti removes excess oil secretion, deep cleanses your skin, removes impurities, treats pigmentation, and brightens the complexion. 

How To Apply:

– Make puree from two tomatoes.

– Mix it with multani mitti.

– Apply an equal layer and leave it for 20 minutes.

– Wash off with cold water.

– You can repeat using this pack thrice a week.

2.Honey And lemon Face Pack

Ayurveda considers honey and lemon the best gifts humankind can have.

Honey being antibacterial, prevents and treats acne, and gently moisturizes your skin and leaves a natural glow. Lemon containing Vitamin C is antimicrobial and antiseptic that helps fade the scars from the skin and lighten your skin tone.

How To Apply:

– Mix the juice of lemon with honey.

– Apply an equal layer on the face and leave it on for 15 minutes.

– Wash off with water.

– You can apply this face pack not more than twice a week.

Conclusion

Dr Kausthub Desikachar says if you are looking for Ayurvedic beauty tips to make your skin glow, try out the detox and the face packs mentioned above. They are not only inexpensive but also natural and safe, giving your skin an everlasting beautiful and healthy radiance.